The school traces its roots back to the Garowe School of Management, a women's school in Garowe offering courses in accounting, computer skills, business English and business management. After a year of operation, which saw the graduation of 60 women, the school was expanded to a two-year structure and renamed to Puntland Community College. In 2004, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Program and USIU Nairobi, PCC was expanded to include four-year programs. It was also renamed Puntland State University (PSU).