In 1506 Duke Guidubaldo I founded the "College of Doctors". In 1566 Pope Pius IV entrusted the college with the right to give degrees to poets, to award the qualification of doctor of canon law and of civil law and to nominate notaries. After the unification of Italy, the university adopted the name "autonomous provincial university" and then in 1923 it became the "autonomous university".

Now named after Carlo Bo, the university offers numerous degree courses and comprises ten faculties (Economics, Pharmacy, Law, Literature and Philosophy, Political Science, Modern Languages, Science and Technology, Sociology and Physical Education) and several advanced schools (Fine Arts Academy, Institute of Graphic Arts, Institute of Journalism).