The Autonomous University of Chihuahua (in Spanish: Universidad Autónoma de Chihuahua, UACH) is a Mexican public university based in the city of Chihuahua, Chihuahua, but with several campuses across the state. In December 8, 1954, the State Legislature, with Governor Oscar Soto Maynez, issued the decree 171, which founded the Autonomous University of Chihuahua (UACh). UACh was granted its autonomy in 1968, with the freedom to define its own curriculum and manage its own budget without interference from the government.

The Literary and Scientific Institute of Chihuahua was founded on March 19, 1835. In order to promote cultural development in the emerging city of Chihuahua, it offered to the community studies of Latin and Spanish grammar. In the beginning there were 21 students, and between the years 1835 and 1900 around 996 people received education in its classrooms.

The demand for education in the state grew, so that many students had to leave the entity to Mexico City for their studies. Many of them stayed in that city, and for that reason the State lost many important personalities.

The building occupied by the Literary and Scientific Institute is now employed as the Rectory of the Autonomous University of Chihuahua (UACh).

Because of the demand of the school population for open spaces sufficient for education, the State Legislature, with Governor of Oscar Soto Maynez, issued the decree 171, which founded the Autonomous University of Chihuahua (UACh) on December 8, 1954.

In its early years the school served a population of barely a thousand in each school year's enrollment. At that time Mexico's total population stood at only 26 million people, with three quarters of a million in Chihuahua. Back then, Mexico's total enrollment in higher education was 29,000 students.

UACH began with schools of Medicine, Engineering, Law, Physical Education and Pharmacy.

In September 1956 the ranching school was founded, which is the Faculty of Animal Science today.