Attempts to open a university in Isparta first began in 1969, but the first step towards the opening of our university was the 1976 inauguration of the Isparta State Academy of Architecture and Engineering. However, the academic units operating in our university have been operating under the roof of other universities until 1992.  
One of the most important steps taken by Isparta on the way to found a university is the Isparta Higher Education Foundation, which was founded in 1984. In 1984, the first construction foundations of our current campus were laid. In those days, Isparta Higher Education Foundation erected a signboard at the campus entrance that says “The Future University of Isparta”. The faculty moved to its own campus in 1988 after the completion of the general administration building constructed by Göltaş A.Ş. under the leadership of Şevket Demirel.  
Süleyman Demirel University was officially established in 1992 by taking its name from Süleyman Demirel, the 9th President of the Turkish Republic. Thus, the efforts of founding a university in Isparta initiated in 1980s were embodied in 1992. 
Süleyman Demirel University has been among the leading universities of Turkey in academic, scientific and technological fields with its rapid growth momentum in qualitative and quantitative fields since 1992, its foundation year.