Northwest Normal University was founded in 1902 as National Beiping Normal University and Shi Jing University Teachers' Hall. 19 12 was changed to "National Beijing Normal University" and 1923 was changed to "National Beiping Normal University". 1937 after the "July 7th Incident", the National Beiping Normal University, together with the National Beiping University and Beiyang Institute of Technology, which moved westward at the same time, formed Northwest United University, and the National Beiping Normal University was reorganized into an education college under Northwest United University, and later changed to a normal college. 1939 The Teachers' College of Northwest United University was established independently, renamed as National Northwest Teachers' College, and moved to Lanzhou in 194 1 year. After War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression's victory, the National Northwest Normal College continued to run schools in Lanzhou. 1958 was placed under the leadership of Gansu Province by the Ministry of Education and renamed as Gansu Normal University. 198 1 renamed Northwest Normal University. 1988 was renamed Northwest Normal University.

The majors of the College of Liberal Arts are Chinese Language and Literature and Secretarial Studies.