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.