Founded in 1940 by the Adrian Dominican Sisters,[5] it is one of the largest Catholic universities in the Southeast and is located within the Archdiocese of Miami.

The university has had six Adrian Dominican Sisters serve as president since its inception: M. Gerald Barry,[9] 1940–61; M. Genevieve Weber, 1962–63; M. Dorothy Browne, 1963–74; M. Trinita Flood, 1974–81; Jeanne O'Laughlin, 1981–2004; and Linda Bevilacqua, 2004–2019.

Mike Allen began his tenure as the seventh president of Barry University on July 1, 2019.

[10] It was financed with the aid of Margaret Brady Farrell, a parishioner of St. Patrick's Church in Miami Beach.

[10] Traces of Romanesque architecture can be seen in the inside of the chapel which "was built in choir style with wood wainscoting and a canopy over the altar".

[10] A stained-glass window of amber color, containing the image of a Celtic cross, is visible from the main entrance of the campus.

While the main campus is in Miami Shores, Barry University offers several continuing adult education classes at other locations in Florida.

[20] Multiple alumni of Barry's baseball team have gone on to play Major League Baseball, including pitcher Henry Owens, catcher Yan Gomes, pitcher Tyler Kinley, and second baseman Alex De Goti.

[21] MLB pitcher Josh James also briefly attended Barry before transferring to Western Oklahoma State College.

The Barry Buccaneer is the student newspaper, ranging from 8 to 16 pages, and is published at the first of every month starting in September and ending in May.

Sponsored by Barry's Department of Communications, WBUJ provides students the opportunity to gain knowledge of radio-industry practices and standards, hands-on technical skills, and marketable on-air experience.