Giresun University was established on March 1, 2006, under Article 65 added to the Higher Education Organization Law No. 2809 by Law No. 5467. Through this law, Giresun Education Faculty, Faculty of Science and Letters, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, Giresun Vocational School, Tirebolu Vocational School, and the School of Health, which were affiliated with Karadeniz Technical University, along with Alucra Vocational School and Şebinkarahisar Vocational School, which were affiliated with Cumhuriyet University, were incorporated into Giresun University. Additionally, the Institute of Science and the Institute of Social Sciences were established during this period.

The foundation of the Education Faculty affiliated with Giresun University dates back to the three-year Girls’ Teacher School established in 1962. This school continued its activities under different names and statuses over the years. The Faculty of Science and Letters was established in 1998, and the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences was established in 2003, both later becoming part of Giresun University. The School of Health began its activities in the 1992-1993 academic year and was incorporated into Giresun University in 2006. This school was renamed the Faculty of Health Sciences by a Council of Ministers decision dated October 15, 2008.

Today, Giresun University provides education across 19 campuses, with 13 faculties, 3 institutes, 5 schools, 1 state conservatory, 13 vocational schools, 21 application and research centers, and 5 departments. In the central campuses of Güre, Gazipaşa, Coastal Social Facilities, Central Rectorate, and Gazi Street; and in district campuses in Alucra, Bulancak, Dereli, Espiye, Eynesil, Görele, Keşap, Piraziz, Şebinkarahisar, and Tirebolu, the university continues its activities with 171 associate degree programs, 99 undergraduate programs, 44 master's programs, and 10 doctoral programs.

Giresun University operates with a total of 1,670 staff members, including 1,022 academic, 379 administrative, 34 contractual, and 235 permanent workers, and educates a total of 27,029 students, consisting of 11,403 associate degree students, 14,046 undergraduate students, and 1,580 graduate students.