It was originally an offsite branch of the University of Georgia's College of Agriculture and Mechanical and was created with funds from the Morrill Act.

The first graduating class of four consisted of three men and one woman, making North Georgia the first public institution in the state to award a degree to a female.

The National Defense Act of 1916 that created the ROTC also helped establish the military presence that is felt on the campus today.

After the war, the college grew because of young servicemen and veterans using their GI bill benefits to attend school.

It was also at this time that similar efforts to gold leaf Price Memorial Hall were begun, a project that did not see fruition until 1973.

Over time, the school expanded, opening branch campuses in Watkinsville, Georgia, and Cumming, Georgia (which was a joint venture with North Georgia College and State University called University Center 400 that opened in August 2012 and then renamed to Cumming Campus in January 2013 at consolidation), and changing its name to Gainesville College and then Gainesville State College.

Before consolidation with the North Georgia College and State University, the school had already begun to shift towards allowing four-year baccalaureate programs.

[7] The University of North Georgia has campuses located in Dahlonega, Oakwood (Gainesville), Watkinsville (Oconee), Cumming, and Blue Ridge.

It was not until 1879 that the oldest surviving structure, Price Memorial Hall, was constructed upon the former site of the Dahlonega Mint.

[9] Today the gold-leafed steeple of the Price Memorial Hall building remains one of the most striking features of the UNG skyline.

[12] On August 13, 2015, UNG opened a new campus in Blue Ridge, GA.[13] The purpose of the Blue Ridge Campus is to offer dual-enrollment options for high school students, classes for first-time freshmen, classes for adult learners, and continuing and professional education programs.

[20] For undergraduates, the University of North Georgia offers 129 associate and baccalaureate degrees, as well as pre-professional and certificate programs.

Accommodations for events include conference rooms, auditoriums, classrooms, dining, wireless internet, and parking.

[24] By contacting the professional and continuing education department any business can hold an event at UNG as well as outside camps.

[26] The University of North Georgia has several clubs and organizations on the Dahlonega, Gainesville, and Oconee campuses that students may join.

Traditional style housing entails single or double-occupancy bedrooms with community bathrooms on the hall.

[33] Apartment-style housing entails single-occupancy bedrooms with a shared living room, kitchen, and bathrooms.

[33] North Georgia Suites is a co-ed residence hall for freshmen and upperclassmen that has suite-style single and double-occupancy rooms.

[33] The Commons is a co-ed residence hall for freshmen and upperclassmen that has suite-style single and double-occupancy rooms.

Students are eligible to live off campus if they are 21 years of age or older, or if they have completed 60 credit hours.

Bill, the recent economic recovery in Georgia, and the leadership of college president Jonathan Clark Rogers.

The Blue Ridge Rifles drill platoon unit was formed at North Georgia College in 1950 as the Honor Platoon, and took the name Blue Ridge Rifles in 1958 in homage to a Civil War unit that served in Dahlonega.

[36] In 1971, the Blue Ridge Rifles won first place in the East Tennessee State University Drill Meet.

Every spring the band tours the Southeastern United States, entertaining audiences that come to see the military reviews and processions.

[37] Unlike other military units at UNG, the Golden Eagle Band is open to both cadet and civilian students.

UNG is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Peach Belt Conference (PBC) since the 2005–06 academic year;[38] while its rifle team competes in the Southern Conference (SoCon) in the NCAA Division I ranks.

[39] Margaret Poitevint, Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics & Computer Science, is the NCAA-designated Faculty Athletics Representative.