Originally established in 1947 as a private business school (then named Wyższa Szkoła Handlowa, or "Trade College"), it was nationalized in 1954 under the name Wyższa Szkoła Ekonomiczna ("College of Economics").

Changing the name to the Wrocław University of Economics (Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny we Wrocławiu) in 2008 removed Oskar Lange from the name of the university.

The main campus with three out of four departments is located on Ulica Komandorska near the center of Wrocław, whereas one faculty (Regional Economy and Tourism) resides in a separate campus in Jelenia Góra.

The university comprises the following schools (faculties): Altogether it employs 784 academic teachers including 142 professors.

There is strong interest in economic studies, in the 2023/2024 academic year the university has 8,941 students.