[14] The campus sits on the historic Rancho San Pedro, the oldest land grant in the Los Angeles area.

[15] The land was in the continuous possession of the Dominguez family through seven generations – from its concession to Juan Jose Domínguez in 1784 to its acquisition by the state of California for the university.

[16] The foundation for what would become CSU Dominguez Hills was built in 1960 when then Governor of California Pat Brown provided state funds to begin development of the campus.

[22] The university was established, in large part, as a response to the African American outcry for higher education standards and opportunities.

The campus' Innovation and Instruction Building is the home of the university's College of Business Administration and Public Policy.

[27] Within contemporary history, in the year 2022 Cal State Dominguez Hills had the distinction of having five of its graduates simultaneously serving as mayors of cities in LA County.

Dominguez Hills is also the administrative headquarters of the California State University's Statewide Nursing Program.

[41] The campus is home to the American Indian Institute, which has the goal of increasing the number of Indigenous students who enroll and graduate from the CSU system.

[42] Starting in 2011, CSUDH and the AII began hosting the "Honoring the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas" Pow Wow.

It is named after NASA mission specialist Ronald McNair, who died in the 1986 Space Shuttle Challenger explosion.

The program's goal is to support and fund first-generation, low-income, and/or underrepresented students preparing for future doctoral studies.

[46] In 2014, following its acquisition of 21 new Steinway-designed pianos, CSUDH was named an All-Steinway School, the first public four-year university in California to receive the designation.

The university was Presidential Winner of the 2014 President's Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll.

[49] The Presidential Award is the highest federal recognition an institution can receive for its commitment to community, service-learning, and civic engagement.

[61] Popular majors for undergraduates in 2018 included Business Administration (Management and Operations) at 18.04%, Psychology (General) at 11.29%, Sociology at 8.01%.

Among the collections maintained at the Gerth Archives are: CSUDH's athletic teams are known as the 'Cal State Dominguez Hills Toros', and the university's colors are burgundy and gold.

[80] CSUDH competes against other universities in nine varsity sports, in Division II of the NCAA in the California Collegiate Athletic Association.

The CSUDH baseball team is a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) in NCAA Division II.

Several Toro alumni have gone on to play in Major League Baseball: The CSUDH women's track and field 4X4 relay team won the NCAA Division II Championship in 2011.

Its most notable alumna is Carmelita Jeter, who won gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

[82] In 2021, it was announced that CSUDH would be constructing a new Esports Incubation Lab on the second floor of the Leo F. Cain Library on campus, to open in Spring 2022.

The facility will include a broadcasting booth, competition stage, and classroom with furnishings and technology provided through partnerships with electronics companies ViewSonic and HyperX.

[citation needed] Dignity Health Sports Park was the site of the 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup Final.

The United States men's and women's national soccer teams often use the facility for training camps and some home matches.