1 September 1972 – the University opens its doors to the students. It has at the moment 4 Schools: Physics and Mathematics, History and Philology, Agriculture and Biology and Chemistry (former Natural Science School of Nadejda Krupskaya Teachers Training Institute)

25 November 1972 – the opening ceremony is held

May 1974 – Botany Department and Human and Animal Anatomy and Physiology Department are opened

21 May 1975 – Russian Language and Literature Department and Mari Language and Literature Department arise on the basis of Russian Language Department

- new Departments appear: General History, Plant Cultivation, Organic and Biological Chemistry

24 July 1977 - Mathematical Analysis and Function Theory Department is set up

2 June 1980 – Accounting, Analysis and Statistics Department is established

3 June 1981 - Agriculture School splits into Economics (qualifications: Agricultural economy and management; Accounting) and School of Agriculture.

- Zootechnics Department is divided into General and Special Zootechnics

- Mari Language and Literature Department is renamed into Mari Philology Department

9 June 1982 - Mathematics Department splits from Mathematical Analysis and Function Theory Department

30 June 1983 – Agriculture and Agricultural Production Mechanization Department splits into Agriculture Department and Agricultural Production Mechanization and Electrification Department

- Russian History Department splits from General history Department

8-10 February 1985 – first folk festival held by the University

25 July 1985 – Russian Language and Literature Department splits into Russian Language Studies and General Linguistics Department and Russian and Foreign Literature Studies Department

24 August 1987 – Agriculture Department joins Agricultural Chemistry and Soil Science Department under the name of Agriculture and Agricultural Chemistry Department

25 June 1992 – Law School is set up

2 August 1993 – Regional History Department is established

28 December 1994 – School of Energy Supply is set up

9 February 1995 - Crop Production Storing and Processing Technology Department is established at the Agriculture School

13 May 1995 – Departments of Mari Literature and Finno-Ugric Languages appear on the basis of the Department of Mari and Finno-Ugric Philology

12 February 1996 – Energy Supply School is set up on the basis of a Physics and Mathematics School Study program

30 December 1996 – Agriculture School is renamed into the Agrarian Technology School

September 1998 – School of Culture and Arts is opened

September 1999 – School of Linguistics and Intercultural Communication is established

16 December 1999 – Russian-Swedish Center is opened at the University

March 2001 – Culture and Arts Department is set up

June 2001 – Mari Language Department is established at the History and Philology School

September 2001 – 3 Foreign Languages Departments are opened at the Linguistics and Intercultural Communication School

February 2002 – Agrarian Technology School becomes Agrarian Technology Institute of Mari State University

- Plant Protection Department is opened

- School of Linguistics and Intercultural Communication is renamed into School of International Relations

May 2006 – Mari State University initiated the creation of international Association of Finno-Ugric Universities, the first meeting of members is held in Yoshkar-Ola

June 2007 – Hungarian Center is opened at School of History and Philology due to the donation from the Mayor of Budapest Mr. Gabor Demski

August 2007 – Mari State University and Nadejda Krupskaya Teachers Training Institute merge together. School of Foreign Languages, School of Primary Education, School of Pedagogy and Psychology, School of Physical Training and Sports, School of Technology and Vocational Training become part of the university

25 November 2007 – 35th Anniversary of MarSU

2008 – new structure of Mari State University approved; Institute of Finno-Ugric Studies is established on the basis of Departments of Mari Language and Culture and Finno-Ugric Languages; School of Philology and Journalism is formed by Departments of Russian Language and Literature and Journalism; School of Economics is transformed into the Institute of Economics, Management and Finances.

June 2009 – Mari State University is awarded with the gold medal «European Quality. 100 best universities of Russian Federation – 2009», MarSU Rector, Dr. Vitaly Makarov is awarded with the honorary breastplate «Best rector – 2009» by the Independent Public Council of the competition «European Quality: Gold Medal».