The origin of Unimep is linked to the Piracicabano College, founded in 1881 by the American missionary Martha Watts. The quality, the pioneering spirit and the differential in teaching gave rise, in 1964, to the first courses of higher level: economy, administration and accounting sciences, initially reunited as Faculdades Integradas. This expansion resulted in the recognition of Unimep by the Ministry of Education as the first Methodist university in Latin America in 1975.

Currently, Unimep offers more than 50 undergraduate courses (bachelor's, bachelor's and technological), as well as postgraduate courses (specialization, master's and doctorate). The institution, which began its activities with only one student, counts approximately 11 thousand students in its four campuses: Taquaral and Centro, both in Piracicaba, Santa Bárbara d'Oeste and Lins.

Unimep also has roots in tradition: it was born of the educational seed planted by the pioneer leader of the Methodist movement, John Wesley (1703-1791), who founded in 1748, in England, the first Methodist school: the Kingswood School. Since then, Methodist colleges, colleges and universities have multiplied throughout the world. The Methodist Education Network, to which Unimep is linked, today comprises a universe of more than 700 Methodist institutions in 67 countries.