The CNU campus was used as headquarters of the Kempetai or Military Police of the Japanese Imperial Army during the second World War.

On March 26, 1945, 5 Filipino suspected guerrillas and 2 captured American airmen were summarily executed by the Kempetai in the southeast corner of the campus.

On March 26, 1945, Allied forces landed on Cansojong Beach in Talisay, starting the liberation of Cebu.

The National Historical Commission confirmed its creation in 1902 with Samuel MacClintock as the first principal which was not known by the previous university administration.

CNU offers academic programs at the nursery, kindergarten, elementary, junior high, undergraduate, and graduate levels.

The CNU undergraduate schools comprise the following: The College of Nursing of Cebu Normal University was created through CSC Board Resolution No.

Through this board, Cebu Normal University entered into a consortium with Southern Islands Hospital (now known as Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center).

[14] Under the College of Teacher Education is the Integrated Laboratory School wherein fourth-year BEEd & BSEd students perform their practicum.

The umbrella department is composed of programs from nursery to junior high school with most grade levels having one section, and some having two.

Undergraduate programs include Bachelor of Arts in Communication, English Language, Literature, and Filipino.

[17] The CNU Graduate School offers Masters-level and Doctorate programs across the disciplines covered by the three colleges.

CNU and VSMMC administrators conducted a meeting in 2018 to establish the first state-run College of Medicine in Central Visayas.

[18] It will offer a five-year degree program in Doctor of Medicine with Masters in Public Health Governance.

[19] The program was expected to admit 50 students in August 2020 but due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the admission was moved to the Academic Year 2021–2022.

Application for Undergraduate admissions starts on October and ends on December with the college entrance examinations scheduled from January to March the following year.

CNU is certified with International Standards Organization (ISO) 9001:2015 Quality Management System for Administration and Management of Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Board of Regents (BOR) approved programs including the essential support to operations services and facilities as of August 2018 by Globalgroup.

[22] In March 2023, the university was declared a Three (3) Stars Institution by the Quacquarelli Symond (QS) Stars Rating System, which means that CNU is a “well-recognised [institution] nationally and may have also begun to attract international recognition.” [23] The seal of the university, as approved by the Board of Regents, is as follows: At the center of the circular field is the lamp of knowledge; leaning against it is a “kuryapi” which was the musical instrument played by Visayan men during the pre-Hispanic era.

CNU was established and operated as normal school before it expanded its faculties and was organized as a state research university.

Cebu Normal University We hail your name with pride To you we give our loyalty Your light will be our guide Cebu Normal University We hail your name with pride To you we give our loyalty Your light will be our guide Your nurtured dreams of crimson and gold Through generations we will uphold Your might and fame throughout will reign Oh CNU, of thee we sing In glory, in adversity With vision, we move on Cebu Normal, beloved University Alma Mater, Carry on!

Ang Suga also holds activities, contests, and events, such as the annual Art and Journ Festival which act as an outlet for the expression of the ideas, opinions and creative attempts of the university's undergraduate and graduate students.

Ang Suga paper was the first campus publication to have a permanent Cebuano section, Tudling Sugbuanon, when most of the academe scoffed at the vernacular as being unworthy of an institution of higher learning.

Every year, CNU organizes the university-wide annual sportsfest, the University Intramurals which is participated by five teams: the three colleges and the two external campuses.

It calls for original articles (research studies, reviews, theoretical and methodological principles and analyses) on issues concerning the different professions from a multidisciplinary perspective.