It is considered the first technological university and one of top ten engineering schools in Brazil.

On April 16, 1968, the university changed its name to Escola Federal de Engenharia de Itajubá (Itajubá Federal Engineering School).

In 2002, it earned the title of University, and was renamed as Universidade Federal de Itajubá (Itajubá Federal University), by the Brazilian Law 10,435, approved by the former president, Fernando Henrique Cardoso.

[2][3] It was elected in 2009 one of the top ten universities in Brazil by two different rankings, occupying the first position in one of them.

[5][6] The university owns and operates its own AM radio station, called Rádio Universitária 1570 kHz (University Radio) ZYL-242, operating in the 1570 kHz band since early 1961.