The university has schools in fourteen cities throughout the state of Guanajuato.

The university traces its history back to the educational institute called the Hospice of the Holy Trinity, which was established on October 1, 1732.

Programs founded around this time included Mining, Law, Painting, Sculpture and Architecture.

During the following decade, technical programs at the school grew rapidly, as did research.

Finally, in 1945, the college changed its name to the University of Guanajuato, and the school was granted autonomy by the state legislature beginning on May 21, 1994.