The university was founded in 1825 by Baron Sergey Stroganov. It specialised on the applied and decorative art. In 1843 the school became state-owned. In 1860 it was renamed Stroganov School for Technical Drawing.

After the October Revolution the school was reorganized and became a part of the State Free Art Shops, Vkhutemas and Vkhutein. Since 1930 it is Moscow Institute for the Decorative and Applied Arts, MIDIPI. In 1945, after the end of the World War II the school was restored as an applied art educational establishment. In 1996 the school got its present name Stroganov Moscow State University of Arts and Industry.

Currently it is one of the most diverse artistic schools in Russia. It has three departments and thirteen chairs preparing students of six major and sixteen minor specializations