The institute began as an agricultural school formed by the Dutch colonial regime in the early 20th century.

[4] The appointment of Hermanus Johannes Lovink as department director of agricultural education in 1910 marked a curriculum shift toward training for the government and private sides of colonial agribusiness, including basic biology classes augmented with practical education about cultivation techniques and technologies.

[7] Lovink argued that department officials in the Ministry of Agriculture "needed to familiarize themselves with Javanese farming practices.

"[7] In 1940, the Dutch government founded an Institution of Agricultural Higher Education in Bogor with the name Landbouw Hogeschool, which later on 31 October 1941 was called Landbouwkundige Faculteit (Agronomy Faculty).

The Nederlandsch Indische Veeartsenschool remained in operation, but its name was changed to Bogōru jūigakkō (ボゴール獣医学校) (Bogor Veterinary School).

In 1948 the PTKH or College of Veterinary Medicine was changed to Faculteit voor Diergeneeskunde under Universiteit van Indonesië (later the University of Indonesia).

[8] The logo consist of "Institut Pertanian Bogor" text, a tree with three branches and five leaves, and an open book which are all lined by a white circle on a blue background.

The logo reflects IPB as an academic institution, source of knowledge and technology, with the "Tridarma Perguruan Tinggi" obligation.

[10] IPB consists of eleven faculties or schools providing ranges of undergraduate and postgraduate program.