It was founded in 1919 as Glad Tidings Bible Institute at 1280 Webster Street, San Francisco, to be the training school for an inner-city ministry conducted by Robert and Mary Craig.

The Bethany campus buildings and grounds were put up for sale by the regional leadership of the Assemblies of God denomination.

[6][7] It has been rebuilt as the site of 1440 Multiversity, a health and wellness retreat and education center run by the 1440 Foundation, which was started by Joanie and Scott Kriens.

[13] Cordas C. Burnett Hall was a three-story men's dormitory on the northeast side of the Bethany University campus, named in honor of the previous college president.

The university was a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing in the California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac) from 1996–97 to 2010–11 (when the school closed).