[9] PUP traces its roots from the Manila Business School, which was founded by the Civil Government of the Philippines and was established on October 19, 1904.

[10] The school moved out from its Arlegui building and continued its operation at Goldenberg Mansion located on Gen. Solano Street in San Miguel which was formerly occupied by the Bureau of Audits and the Philippine Senate.

During the merger that lasted 12 years, PSC was administered by the PNS Superintendent and its students who completed their courses were considered graduates of Philippine Normal School.

Two years later, Congressman Manuel A. Alazarte together with the Department Head of the Philippine School of Commerce Luis F. Reyes, formulated a bill to this effect and presented it to Congress.

Because of its unbearable condition, the school made representations in the Philippine Alien Property Administrator, through Malacañang and the Department of Foreign Affairs, for the acquisition of the Lepanto site in Sampaloc.

Three years later, President Diosdado Macapagal proclaimed that the Pandacan site of the Bureau of Animal Industry (which is a slaughterhouse) to be reserved for the exclusive use of the college.

By February 2000, PUP was conferred by the Commission on Higher Education as a Center of Development for Excellence (CODE) in Information Technology.

PUP made the world's largest human rainbow during its centennial celebration held in Rizal Park to highlight the signing of the Declaration of Peace to be put before the United Nations.

Among the notable structures built during this time include the Mabini Obelisk, Freedom Plaza, and the Fort Santiago replica walls of the Luntiang Pilipinas Forest Park.

[19] Despite these achievements, however, Dr. Guevarra's tenure was also controversial due to allegations of graft and corruption, which was linked to the assassination of the Vice President for Administration during his term, Augustus Cezar.

[24][25][26] Because of his unsatisfactory performance after the recent events, he was suspended from his duty as the President of PUP along with other University officials that are believed to be involved in the aforementioned the scandals.

PUP participated in a successful attempt to set a world record for most organ donation pledges in 2014, a project spearheaded by the Department of Health.

Engineering students John Paul Santos and Christian Santa Romana won the award for their invention, the ELECTRIFILTER (Electricity Generation from Filthy Water).

[31][32] In September 2019, multiple bills have been filed in the House of Representatives and the Senate to elevate the status of PUP into the national polytechnic university.

[43] PUP unsuccessfully tries to takeover lot measuring 2,407 meters owned by Golden Horizon Realty Corporation inside the NDC Compound whose case is very similar to that of the Firestone Ceramics years earlier.

[44] In 2007, PUP purchased two five-storey condotel-hostel buildings near its NDC Campus from the Government Service Insurance System to accommodate its growing student population.

[49] In 2021, the Department of Public Works and Highways started the construction of a new seven-storey building for the College of Law in the north area of the campus.

[51] Governance of PUP is vested upon the Board of Regents, which exercises policy-making functions to carry out the mission and programs of the university by virtue of Republic Act No.

[citation needed] PUP's bachelor's program in Filipinology and Journalism were recognized by the Commission on Higher Education as Centers of Development.

Following the shift to international school calendar, the classes for Academic Year 2017-2018 was supposed to start in August,[64] but was reverted to June due to the issues regarding the proposed transitional semester by the administration.

Pride events are held on March in the university to spread awareness on LGBT rights and push for passage of policies including the Anti-discrimination bill.

In 2017, Anakbayan claimed that the university administration ordered “the takeover of campus student publications through an administration office called Student Publication Section.” PUP President Emanuel de Guzman debunked the claim, stating that he "decided to restore the office that will oversee that selection of writers and editors" and it will be composed of advisers and former editors-in-chief of The Catalyst, which has been historically militant.

[citation needed] PUP's varsity teams compete in the National Capital Region Conference of the State Colleges and Universities Athletic Association.

[citation needed] The team was the replacement for the De La Salle Lady Spikers who pulled out of the league due to its commitment in other tournaments.

[90] They are also accompanied by PUP graduates in the national government, including Celia Capadocia-Yango, former Secretary of Social Welfare and Development; Antonieta Fortuna-Ibe, former Securities and Exchange Commission commissioner and former Professional Regulation Commission chair, and Diosdado N. Silva, Assistant General Manager of the Philippine National Railways.

[90] PUP alumni in the field of education are also recognized by the Metrobank Foundation: Galcoso C. Alburo for Filipino literature, Ed Teovisio for psychology, and Nelson Galvez Agoyaoy for history.

Filipino TV hosts that are graduates of PUP include Love Añover, and broadcaster and former politician Mario Teodoro Failon Etong.

Notable reporters that are graduates of PUP include Steve Dailisan, Maricel Halili, Marc Logan, and Maan Macapagal, as well as radio disc jockey John Gemperle, better known as Papa Jack.

Other alumni in entertainment include 2006 Binibining Pilipinas-International titleholder Denille Lou Valmonte; actors Bayani Agbayani,[95] and Tado Jimenez; singer Liezel Garcia; comedians such as Micheal "Pekto" Nacua, Albert Sumaya Jr., popularly known as Betong, and James Ronald and Rodfil Obeso, the duo brothers who are better known as Moymoy Palaboy.

[citation needed] Internationally known alumni include drag artist Marina Summers, who placed runner-up in the inaugural season of Drag Race Philippines,[96] and photographer Jophel Botero Ybiosa, who received various international awards and nine Ani ng Dangal national awards from the Philippine National Commission for Culture and the Arts.