The Negros Oriental State University, Bayawan – Sta. Catalina Campus of Bayawan City was first established in 1947 as the Tolong Junior High School (TJHS) located in the heart of the Municipality of Bayawan where the Rizal Park and the Amphi-theater now is located. It was renamed as the Tolong Junior High School (TJHS) two years thereafter which was eventually transferred to the Balabag site where the Bayawan National High School and City Agriculturist Office is now located.

Republic Act 561 converted TJHS into the Negros Oriental Rural School (NORS) on 15 June 1950. In 1954, NORS was transferred to its present site between the two barangays, Barangay Caranoche in the Municipality of Sta. Catalina, Negros Oriental and Barangay Villareal of Bayawan City. On June 22,1963, it was converted into Negros Oriental National Agricultural School (NONAS) by virtue of Republic Act 3649. Briefly for six months in 1966, NONAS was converted into Negros Oriental Regional Agricultural School (NONRAS).

The Bureau of Vocational Education Circular No. 8, s. 1973 authorized NONAS to offer 2-year Agriculture Technician Course (ATC). With the approval of Batas Pambansa Blg. 467 in June 10, 1983, NONAS was authorized to offer its present degree program on 9 November 1983. In the year 2000, by virtue of Republic Act 8299 also known as the “Higher Education Modernization Act”, NONAS was integrated to the Central Visayas Polytechnic College of Dumaguete City which was eventually converted into Negros Oriental State University in June 25, 2005 by virtue of Republic Act 9299.