[3] In 2020, CTU became the first university in Cebu to be awarded an overall rating of three stars by global higher education analyst Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) Stars team, following CHED's announcement of being one of the grantees of the “Fostering World Class Philippines Universities Project” in July 2019.

The university traces its roots way back in 1901, to the Manual Arts department of the Cebu Normal School.

It was part of many trade schools that were introduced in the Philippines during the American colonial period, designed to develop technical skills for domestic- as well as commercially viable arts and crafts.

Classes in the Los Martires campus resumed on January 1, 1947, just after the American troops had left.

By virtue of Batas Pambansa Bilang 412 on June 10, 1983, CSAT, along with nine other local public schools around the province of Cebu, were integrated into a new state college system, to be called the Cebu State College of Science and Technology (CSCST).

It was mandated that the new state college "shall expand its curricular programs focusing on higher technological education".

The integrated local colleges include: On December 16, 2003, to fully standardize and to highly institutionalize the entire management of its educational system, Cebu State College of Science and Technology was granted Certificate of Registration by Anglo-Japanese American (AJA) Registrars Incorporated in accordance with ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System Standards, with Certification No.

The President of Cebu Technological University is selected and appointed by the Board of Regents/Trustees, upon the recommendation of a search committee.

All aspiring students, except for BS Nursing applicants, must take and pass the CTU Entrance Exam.

Admission to selected programs is based on test scores, availability of slots, and the student's grade point average in senior high school.

Applicants must also have not obtained any failing grade in the academic year prior to admission, with the exception of degree programs aimed towards persons with disabilities.

[16] In addition, applicants must have had not obtained any failing grade in the academic year prior to admission.