The UTTC was founded in 1969 by an association of North Dakota's native tribes. The United Tribes of North Dakota Development Corporation chartered UTTC in Bismarck, North Dakota in 1969. The UTTC applied for, and was granted candidacy for accreditation status by the North Central Association in 1978. The UTTC received full membership in NCA as a vocational technical school in spring 1982. In 1987, the UTTC received authority from NCA to offer its first associate degree program. In 2003, the UTTC became the first Tribal College to receive accreditation for online programs offering associate of applied sciences degree programs.