Yang-En University is located in Quanzhou, a famous historical and cultural city in the country. It is the first private university in the country with the qualification to issue national undergraduate diplomas and bachelor's degrees. The school is the patriotic education base of the China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.

Yang'en University was founded in 1987 with investment from the Yang'en Foundation. The founder is Wu Qingxing, a patriotic overseas Chinese.

The school was formerly known as Yangen College of Huaqiao University. In 1989, with the approval of the National Education Commission, it separated from Huaqiao University and established Yangen College. In 1992, it was renamed Yangen University.

As of August 2022, the school covers an area of ??more than 2,000 acres; it has 10 colleges, 4 directly affiliated departments, and 25 undergraduate majors.