CSUCI is located on the Central Coast of California, at the intersection of the Oxnard Plain and northernmost edge of the Santa Monica Mountains range.

Planning for the University began in 1965, when State Senator Robert J. Lagomarsino co-authored Senate Bill 288 calling for establishment of a four-year public college in Ventura County, and Governor Pat Brown signed a bill authorizing a study for a state college for the county.

[15] In 1996, J. Handel Evans began as planning president charged with beginning development of a public, four-year university in the region.

In August 1999, The Ventura Learning Center moved as tenants to the Camarillo site as CSUN-CI, a satellite facility for CSU Northridge.

CSU's board of trustees appointed Richard R. Rush the founding president of California State University Channel Islands.

[16] On May 17, 2007, CSUCI graduated its inaugural freshman class and received its initial accreditation for seven years, the maximum period allowed by the WASC.

He was succeeded by Erika D. Beck who previously served as Provost and Executive Vice President of Nevada State College.

In November 2020, the CSU Chancellor named Erika D. Beck president of California State University Northridge (CSUN).

CSUCI is the only four-year public university in Ventura County and in 2010 it received Hispanic Serving Institution status (HSI).

Achieving HSI status has enabled the school to compete for funding and other financial support from the U.S. Department of Education.

The campus is located about two miles (3.2 km) south of the city of Camarillo, at the base of Long Grade Canyon.

[19] The school is set on rich agricultural land at the edge of the Oxnard Plain bordered by farms and nestled into the base of the Santa Monica Mountains.

[20] The flat site is marked by a lone peak called Round Mountain (the Chumash name is Sathwiwa).

Gaining official possession of the land in 1998 and then improvements began in 1999, on the 634-acre (257 ha) existing campus-style facility, primarily one to two-story buildings organized around three primary quads.

Development on the North Quad includes the 2012 Del Norte classroom building and Madera Hall, which primarily houses faculty.

Solano Hall and the Grand and Petit salons received additional renovations in 2012 and 2019, and house offices, classrooms, and a conference center.

It also complements the campus sustainability plan by using recyclable carpeting, natural lighting and combining the new structure with the existing buildings surrounding it.

Institutes and other centers are created with the intent to provide a necessary service, program, or disciplinary or interdisciplinary focus for the university and/or community.

[39] Throughout the year students can participate in intramural sports, health and fitness activities; join various student organizations; utilize waterfront programs (sailing, paddle boarding and kayaking); and participate in outdoor adventures (Group camping trips to the Channel Islands and day hikes), honor societies, leadership retreats and workshops, multicultural programs, sports clubs, block parties, and career and graduate fairs.

The Outdoor Adventure (OA) program provides students with experiences that promote personal growth, experiential learning, social responsibility, and environmental stewardship to the CI community.

Most single occupancy rooms are reserved for the Resident Assistants or "RAs," students employed by Housing and Residential Education.

Each dorm has a small kitchen and living area, two bathrooms, and four bedrooms housing six roommates in a two-double, two-single format.

The University Glen Community[44] contains 658 apartments (available for rent only), town homes and single-family residences (available for rental or purchase).