The school was established in 195 1, and is affiliated to the Central Ministry of Fuel Industry. 1958 upgraded to Xi 'an Petroleum Institute. 1969, the college closed its doors and changed factories. 1980, Xi petroleum institute resumed its school, which belongs to the Ministry of petroleum industry. In 2000, it was transferred from China Petroleum and Natural Gas Group Company to the central and local governments, and was mainly managed by Shaanxi Provincial People's Government. In 2003, the school was renamed Xi Youshi University. 20 1 1 was selected as a high-level university construction institution in Shaanxi province.

Xi Youshi University is the only multi-disciplinary general institution of higher learning in northwest China featuring petroleum and petrochemical industry. It is an institution jointly established by the Shaanxi Provincial People's Government and the three major national oil companies, a high-level university construction institution in Shaanxi Province, and a self-enrollment institution for foreign students studying in China with China municipal government scholarships.