The Catholic University of Manizales (UCM) was founded on February 11, 1954 by the Congregation of the Dominican Sisters of Charity of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, under the generalship of Mother Thérèse Augusta and with Mother Thérèse des Anges as provincial superior of the Province of Medellín.

The geographical place where the UCM has been operating corresponds to the country residence of the Sisters of the Colegio de la Presentación, corresponding to the current address carrera 23 #60-63, Barrio La Estrella.

The university campus of the IES Universidad Católica de Manizales is made up of 6 properties that add up to a total of 55,369.14 square meters and has a physical infrastructure represented in 24,176 square meters built, distributed in 14 buildings.