Nur University of Bolivia was established as a Baháʼí school of higher education in August 1984 and started its first academic year in April 1985.
[2][3] The university has 4,000 registered students in 17 undergraduate and graduate programs offered full- or part-time or through distance education.
[2][3] In 2000 the university received the highest distinction granted by the Santa Cruz Municipal Government, the Municipal Merit Medal, given for the community service work developed by the university through UNIRSE (University Students in Service to the Community).
That same year Nur University received the "Pioneers in Education" prize, granted by the Bolivian Center for Research and Educational Action.
In 2002 Nur University was selected as a "Center for Educational Excellence" for the Andean region: an initiative launched at the Summit for the Americas, supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).