The University dates its foundation to the establishment of Osaka Technical College (大阪専門学校 Ōsaka semmon gakkō?) in 1925.
Kinki University started in 1949 when the founder college merged with Osaka Science and Engineering University (大阪理工科大学 Ōsaka rikōka daigaku?),
established in 1943. The first president was Koichi Seko.