张家界学院前身为吉首大学张家界学院（独立学院），创办于2002年，2023年9月经教育部批准转设为独立设置的普通本科高等学校。学校坐落于国际著名旅游城市张家界市，占地面积1867亩，现有全日制本科学生15000多人，可招生本（专）科专业53个，专兼任教师800余人。

Zhangjiajie University, formerly Zhangjiajie College of Jishou University (an independent college), was founded in 2002. In September 2023, it was approved by the Ministry of Education to be transformed into an independent general undergraduate institution of higher education. Located in Zhangjiajie, an internationally renowned tourist city, the university covers an area of 1,867 mu, with over 15,000 full-time undergraduate students, offering 53 undergraduate (and junior college) programs, and more than 800 full-time and part-time teachers.

学校基础设施先进，拥有现代化教学楼、实验实训中心及环境优雅的图书馆，馆藏丰富。生活设施完备，建有21栋花园式学生公寓、标准化食堂、金融自助服务终端、医院、超市等，光纤网络免费覆盖。学校重视校园文化建设，建有武陵风艺术馆等场馆，培植了书香校园等十大校园精品文化活动，并推行通识教育导师制，定期举办天问论坛·通识名家讲座，营造浓厚学术氛围。

The university boasts advanced infrastructure, including modern teaching buildings, experimental training centers, and an elegant library with rich collections. It also has complete living facilities, such as 21 garden-style student apartments, standardized canteens, financial self-service terminals, a hospital, supermarkets, etc., with free fiber optic network coverage. Attaching great importance to campus culture construction, the university has built venues like the Wulingfeng Art Museum, developed ten excellent campus cultural activities such as the Scholarly Campus, implemented the general education tutor system, and regularly held Tianwen Forum·General Education Distinguished Lectures to create a strong academic atmosphere.

学校以“提高质量强校，以彰显特色名校”为宗旨，面向地方经济社会发展培养通识素养宽厚、专业基础扎实、实践创新能力强的应用型高级专门人才，取得了令人瞩目的办学成绩。2019年，张家界市爱乐乐团入驻学校并由其建设管理，乐团有来自俄罗斯、乌克兰、乌兹别克斯坦等国家的外籍演奏员40余人，为学校人才培养和社会服务增添了新力量。

With the mission of "strengthening the university through quality improvement and building a prestigious university with distinctive features", the university aims to cultivate applied senior professionals with broad general education, solid professional foundation, and strong practical and innovative abilities for local economic and social development, achieving remarkable educational achievements. In 2019, the Zhangjiajie Philharmonic Orchestra settled in the university and is managed by it. The orchestra has more than 40 foreign performers from countries such as Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan, adding new impetus to the university's talent cultivation and social services.