Created on October 7, 1970, it started its activities in classroom mode with the careers of Agronomy, Business Management, Administration and Accounting; and Chemical Engineering. By 1977, it included the careers of Medicine, Nursing, and Law, Social and Political Sciences.

Currently, the classroom mode of the Catholic University of Cuenca, its academic offerings are divided into 25 undergraduate and 14 graduate programs distributed strategically throughout the Headquarters in Cuenca, Azogues Office, Macas Office and the Cañar and San Pablo de la Troncal Extensions.

The University as an essential part of its activities is based on the Organizational Principles, which are: Affordability, Accessibility, Adaptability and Acceptability with which it must comply:

• Provide regularly academic quality programs and services to satisfy the requirements of applicants and society, as well as laws and regulations applicable to higher education institutions,
• Seek to increase students' and society's overall satisfaction through the efficient implementation of an Institutional Development Model to account the complexity of university procedures, including those related with constant quality assurance in accordance with society, legal and regulatory requirements;
• Contribute to the current and future development of society.

Among the University' s strengths are:

• Available audio-visual media, production and community support units.
• Having a Research, Innovation and Technology Transfer Center with unique laboratories in the area and the country.
• Infrastructure and management capability in postgraduate programs. (classrooms, laboratories, clinics).
• Broad range of academic projects and programs in several provinces of the country with their proper infrastructure.
• A Diagnosis, Psychopedagogical Research and Support to Inclusion Unit DIPSAI as a reference in the area. 
• Dentistry career with nationwide prestige, distinguished by its infrastructure, research laboratories, clinic, equipment with a social approach.
• Gradual and sustained growth of the brand in the region.
• Count on a qualified staff of both national and international researchers.
• Flexible academic sessions and schedules according to society's requests.
• Committed authorities, academic and administrative staff with a sense of belonging.
• Private university with the greatest number of applicants in terms of quota policies in the country.
• Administrative capability and committed leadership support in establishing links with national and international organizations.
• First Digital Manufacturing Lab (Fab Lab) at the service of the community.
• Researchers' residence accommodation offered.