During the period of the Fifth National Economic and Social Development Plan, the Royal Thai Government promoted the creation of higher education opportunities in the regional and rural areas.

       Thus, in 1984, the Ministry of University Affairs (Now, Office of
Commission on Higher Education, a part of Ministry of Education) proposed the establishment of five new regional universities: one each in the North, the South, and the East; and two in the Northeast. In the Northeast, in particular, the Ministry proposed colleges affiliated with Khon Kaen University at Ubon Ratchathani and Nakhon Ratchasima provinces. The college at Nakhon Ratchasima would be called "Suranaree College."

     Its site would be 1,120 hectare area of degraded forest land in the Huay Yang Reservoir, Muang District, Nakhon Ratchasima.

       Later on, the Royal Thai Government, headed by General Chatichai Choonhavan as Prime Minister, realized the urgency of establishing more universities in the region in response to national development needs.
On 13 September 1988, the Cabinet resolved to upgrade the five regional colleges to independent universities. The Cabinet also appointed the Suranaree University Establishment Committee with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of University Affairs (Prof. Dr. Wichit Srisa-an) as the Chair.

       Subsequently, the Committee submitted the Suranaree University of Technology Establishment Project to the Government. The draft of the Suranaree University of Technology Establishment Bill was brought before The House of Representatives in its 1989 session.

       On 27 July 1990, His Majesty the King graciously signed the Bill into effect. Announced in the Royal Gazette, the law became effective on 30 July 1990.
        Suranaree University of Technology thus adopted 27 July
1990 as its Founding day. Between July 1990 and May 1993, the university developed its site.
       Suranaree University of Technology Foundation Stone was laid on 23 March 1990. Most construction was completed prior to student admissions in May of 1993.
        Along with constructing various university buildings, the university developed its operational systems following those laid down by the University Establishment Committee, such as Finance and Property, Personnel Management, Academic Administration, and General Management.
       In academic year 1993, SUT launched the first operation admitting 731 undergraduate students for a total of 9 engineering and agricultural technology program clusters.
        In addition, SUT offered new undergraduate program clusters: 3 in Information Technology in academic year 1997, and 2 in Health Science in academic year 1999.