Nanjing University of Finance and Economics was founded in 1956 as the Nanjing Grain School of the Ministry of Food, which was one of the first grain schools founded by the People's Republic of China. In 2011, the People's Government of Jiangsu Province signed a contract with the State Grain Administration to build Nanjing University of Finance and Economics. In 2019, the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the People's Government of Jiangsu Province. In 2021, the university was approved to review the additional doctoral degree awarding units that need to be strengthened.

The university adheres to the principle of open education and constantly deepens international exchanges and cooperation. It has established cooperation and exchange relations with more than 60 universities from more than 20 countries and regions and international organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. It has established international platforms for student cooperation and exchange with university of California, Berkeley, Cornell University, Imperial College London, Wageningen University in the Netherlands, Massey University in New Zealand and other universities.