Founded in 1847, it has over 140 programs from the Bachelor's level to the Doctorate, and is the largest and highest ranked university in Honduras.

By 1847, it received backing from President Juan Lindo, and was reestablished as the University of Honduras, operating in the Church of St. Francis.

Located in the city is the Observatorio Astronómico Centroamericano de Suyapa (OACS/UNAH), which uses a 42 cm Meade telescope.

UNAH's university city is home to a sports complex named the Palacio Universitario, which has the 7,500 seat Estadio Olímpico José Trinidad Reyes, opened to the public in 2014.

The UNAH Library system was founded in the late 1960s; the first principal was English librarian Mary Hallam (from 1968 to 1972).