The University of Presov is a public and self-governing institution that freely carries out creative scientific, educational, artistic, and cultural activities. Teaching activities at the university are based on the latest findings in science, including the results of its own scientific research. The mission of the University of Presov is to develop harmonious personality, knowledge, wisdom, goodness, and creativity in man and to contribute to the development of education, science, culture, and health for the well-being of the whole society, and thus contribute to the development of a knowledgeable and creative society. The university is responsible for the development of education in the spirit of the values of democracy, humanism and tolerance and guides students towards creative, critical, and independent thinking, healthy self-esteem, understanding, preservation, dissemination and enhancement of national cultural heritage and diverse cultures in the spirit of cultural pluralism. The University of Presov cooperates with domestic and foreign universities, scientific and research institutions, and other legal entities, supports joint international projects, and creates conditions for the participation of members of the academic community in this cooperation.

The institution defended its status of a university in 2010. It is a member of Danube Rectors Conference, the European Universities Association and the National Rectors Conference with the main aim to promote a unified system of higher education in Europe. The University of Presov is also a co-founder of the Alliance of the Central-Eastern European Universities and Euro-Mediterranean University. In November 2011, University of Presov was awarded the National Prize of the Slovak Republic for the Quality in category C3 (Other public sector organizations) as the only university in Slovakia.

The university runs a wide range of study programmes in all three degrees (Bachelor, Master and Doctoral) and in both full-time and part-time form. At present, the education is provided by eight faculties and by several university centres. The study fields and study programmes are related to a variety of study fields, such as Biology, Ecology and Environmental Science, Physics, Earth Sciences, Economics and Management, Media and Communication Studies, Political Sciences, Psychology, Social Work, Philology, Philosophy, Historical Sciences, Theology, Teacher Training and Pedagogical Sciences, Nursing, Midwifery, Sport Studies, Health Care Studies. The university caters for training highly qualified professionals, while developing creative and critical thinking, learning, understanding, and stimulating personal involvement. Particular attention is paid to the students with special needs and likewise to the talented students who are supported through the system of incentive scholarships. In addition to traditional classroom teaching, innovative teaching and learning techniques are used. By linking theory and practice, simulation of real-life situations and student’s practice, the students are trained for their future professions. Student’s practice or undergraduate practice can also be performed within the Erasmus+ programme at foreign institutions.

Students can spend their study time in a university library that offers a wide range of publications. Accommodation is provided in student housing facilities with 2-4 bedrooms in a housing unit. Food is provided to students by the university canteen and snack bars, situated on the campus. The campus also caters for students' leisure time activities carried out at indoor swimming pool, in gymnasiums or stadiums. Some students become members of university sports clubs, such as Slávia PU, football mini-league, or the UNIPO Warriors hockey team. Cultural activities are traditionally performed by ensembles, such as the Torysa folk ensemble, choirs, or student theatres. Students can further develop their talents as members of the editorial board of the Na PUlze (On the PUlse) university newsletter, the UNIPO PRESS online student journal, the PaF student radio, and the Mediálka student TV. Special festivals such as Akademický Prešov festival, University Opening Night, UNIPODAY, UNIPOFEST, and others are of special significance.

The motto of the university is "magis quam eruditio", meaning "more than education". The symbol of the university is the coat of arms, the author of which is the academic painter Dušan Srvátka. It consists of a purple circle in which, in a white field, there are purple outlines of a girl's head with long hair and three heraldic roses with the inscription "UNIVERSITAS PRESOVIENSIS 1997". This symbol also serves as the logo of the university.