Yangtze University is the largest comprehensive university in Hubei Province with a comprehensive range of disciplines. It has been selected as one of the four high-level universities under the national "Education Strong Country Promotion Project" and is one of the four key universities under construction in Hubei Province. It is also known as the "Domestic First Class University Construction University" in Hubei Province. It is also a joint venture between the People's Government of Hubei Province, China National Petroleum and Natural Gas Corporation Limited, and China Petroleum and Chemical Corporation Limited A university jointly built by China National Offshore Oil Corporation Limited and the People's Government of Hubei Province and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The School of Historical Development was established in May 2003 with the approval of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China. It was later merged and established by the former Jianghan Petroleum Institute, Hubei Agricultural University, Jingzhou Normal University, and Hubei Health Workers Medical College, following the approval of the People's Government of Hubei Province. The predecessor of the former Jianghan Petroleum Institute was Beijing Petroleum Industry Vocational College founded in 1950. It began offering regular undergraduate education in 1978 and was affiliated with China National Petroleum Corporation. Since 2000, it has been jointly built by the central and local governments and transferred to Hubei Province for management. The predecessor of Hubei Agricultural College was the Jingzhou Branch of Huazhong Agricultural College, founded in 1977. It was approved by the National Education Commission as a regular undergraduate institution in 1989. The predecessor of the former Jingzhou Normal University was the Hubei Fourth District Simple Normal School established in 1936. In 1978, Jingzhou Normal College was established, and in 1999, it was approved by the Ministry of Education to be rebuilt as Jingzhou Normal University. The predecessor of the former Hubei Provincial Health Workers Medical College was the Shashi Health School in Hubei Province, founded in 1951. It was renamed as the Jingzhou Branch of Wuhan Medical College in 1977 and the Hubei Provincial Health Workers Medical College in 1984.

The school is located in Jingzhou City and Wuhan City, with beautiful campus environments and pleasant scenery. It has been rated as a garden style higher education institution in Hubei Province. The Jingzhou Campus is located in Jingzhou City, Hubei Province, a historic and cultural city in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. It was the capital of the Chu state during the Spring and Autumn period, the birthplace of Chu culture, and the concentration of the Three Kingdoms culture. With a long history and splendid culture, the campus is built along the Yangtze River, with beautiful scenery. The Wuhan Campus is located in Caidian District, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, known as the "Hometown of Zhiyin and the Sino French New City". It is bordered by the Yangtze River to the south and the Han River to the north, and is a thoroughfare to nine provinces with convenient transportation. The shimmering Zhiyin Lake surrounds the campus on three sides. The story of "Boyaziqi Meeting and Becoming a Zhiyin" during the Spring and Autumn Period takes place here.

The school covers an area of 5118 acres, with a building area of 1.1275 million square meters and fixed assets of 3.312 billion yuan. There are currently 108 national and provincial level laboratories and experimental centers, as well as 450 on campus and off campus internship bases. The total value of teaching and research instruments and equipment is 839 million yuan. The library has a paper collection of 4.34 million books, 39000 full-text electronic journals, 1.51 million full-text electronic books, and 67 databases in various Chinese and foreign languages. There is a sports stadium, comprehensive training center, swimming pool, football, tennis and other venues, and various sports venues are fully equipped.

The school currently has 3107 faculty members and 2361 full-time teachers. Among full-time teachers, there are 338 professors and 867 associate professors; 2143 teachers with doctoral and master's degrees, including those with doctoral degrees.