Utsunomiya University was established in 1949 by integrating three national colleges: Utsunomiya Agricultural and Forestry College (宇都宮農林専門学校, Utsunomiya nōrin semmon gakkō; founded in 1922), Tochigi Normal School (栃木師範学校, Tochigi shihan gakkō; founded in 1873) and Tochigi Normal School for Youth (栃木青年師範学校, Tochigi seinen shihan gakkō; founded in 1922).
The university at first had two faculties: Faculty of Agriculture (in Mine Campus) and Faculty of Liberal Arts (in Takaragi Campus).
1955: The Faculty of Liberal Arts was removed to Mine Campus.
1964: Utsunomiya Technical Junior College (宇都宮工業短期大学) was merged with the university to constitute Faculty of Engineering (in Yoto Campus).
1966: The Faculty of Liberal Arts was renamed Faculty of Education.
1994: The Faculty of International Studies was added.