UFC is a public and tuition-free university, with several academic programs in most areas of knowledge.

The campus of Sobral has a Medical School, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Finance, Economy, Dentistry, Psychology and Teaching Music.

UFC was created by the Brazilian federal government in 1955 and is under the Ministry of Education.

The University was created as the result of great public debate, which had begun in 1949.

The University itself was created by Law #2.373, ratified in December 1954 and began to function on June 25, 1955.