The University of Pangasinan started operation in 1925 as the Dagupan Institute, which offered elementary, secondary and vocational courses.

In 1937, the College of Liberal Arts was established with the president Blas F. Rayos Sr. as its first dean.

In 1950, the school assumed the name Dagupan Colleges, and the Graduate School added courses leading to the degrees of Master of Arts in Philosophy and Master of Science in Business Administration.

Eventually, review classes in Accounting, Civil Engineering and Law were offered.

In the next decade following were added: the organization of Naval Reserve Officers' Training Corps (NROTC) and the Naval Women's Auxiliary Corps in 1960, and the offering of the Sanitary Engineering course in 1965.