In 1898, a decision was made to open the United Mechanical and Chemical Technology School in Saratov. The construction was financed from the state treasury, and the project for the two-story building was developed by St. Petersburg architect V. P. Zeidler. The estimate was adjusted by A. N. Klementyev and A. M. Salko. On May 25, 1899, after a prayer service, the ceremonial laying of the building took place, and on September 8 (20), the school began operations in a rented space of the merchants' and townspeople's society at the corner of Radishcheva and Moskovskaya streets. Construction was completed a year later, and another year was spent on finishing and equipping. The first director was N. A. Panov, a graduate of the St. Petersburg Technological Institute, who, according to some sources, participated in the design of the building. The school quickly became one of the prestigious institutions in the city, with a teaching staff that included highly qualified specialists. In 1912, it represented Russia at the international exhibition in Liège and received the Grand Prix.

In the early years of Soviet power, the school changed its name and status several times: from 1919 it was a shock polytechnic, from 1921, a practical engineers' institute, from 1923, a secondary polytechnic, and from 1924, an industrial technical school. In 1941, the technical school became energy-mechanical, and in 1947 it was named after P. N. Yablochkov in honor of its 100th anniversary. In 1964, the building was damaged by fire, but by 1968 it was restored, and the educational institution became a technical school for electronic devices. In 1970, the reconstruction of the building was completed with the addition of a third and fourth floor.

In 1992, a college of radio electronics was established on the basis of the technical school, which in 1998 became part of Saratov State University. The modern college continues the traditions established in pre-revolutionary and Soviet times. Today, it offers training in specialties in the fields of microelectronics, software, technical maintenance of computing equipment, electrical and electromechanical equipment, biotechnical and medical systems, mechanical engineering, economics, land and property relations, public administration, advertising, tourism, finance, and radio engineering.