Capilano University's degree programs are approved by the Government of British Columbia’s Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training.

[13] The university was originally founded as Capilano College by school boards and residents of the North Shore and Howe Sound in 1968 based on the need for a public institution serving the local communities immediately northwest of Vancouver.

[1] In 2008, the province changed Capilano College's designation to a university and, as of 2019, it has grown to enrol approximately 12,700 students per year.

[14][5] Capilano University's academic offerings include nationally and internationally recognized liberal arts, professional, and career programs which lead to degrees, diplomas, and certificates.

[15] The school boards of North and West Vancouver, Howe Sound and Sechelt formed a committee to determine the need for a community college to serve the region.

Capilano College opened on September 10, 1968, with 784 students attending classes after hours at West Vancouver Secondary.

In 1996, the Birch building at the North Vancouver campus was completed, housing a performance theatre, classrooms, student services, and teaching space.

In 2004, Capilano College was also named by the provincial government as host of the British Columbia Centre for Tourism Leadership and Innovation, in preparations for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

[22] CapU also joined the OpenCourseWare consortium, and began the process for accreditation from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (which it received in 2012).

[23] The 18-acre purpose-built campus includes academic teaching and learning spaces, student housing, a dining area, a library, an athletic centre and a FIFA-grade turf field.

[31] Within the Faculty of Arts & Sciences,[27] there is the School of Social Sciences (with programs in Arts, Academic Studies, Applied Behaviour Analysis (Autism), Psychology, and Liberal Studies); the School of Humanities (with programs in Arts, Creative Writing, English, Liberal Studies, and Lil'wat Nation, Sechelt, or Squamish Nation Language and Cultural Studies); and the School of Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics or STEM (with programs in Biology, Science, Engineering, and Health Career Pathways).

[32] It has dual degree and post graduate programs, as well as development partnerships with a number of schools abroad.

[37] The real estate development company, Woodbridge Northwest Communities, is proposing a Capilano University Village including a six-floor condominium tower, three and four-floor townhouses, 60 dormitories for CapU students, and an amenities building at the North Vancouver campus.

The company's plan also includes personalized student kitchens, a swimming pool, clubhouse and children's play area.

[38] Another North Vancouver developer is offering to build rental apartments exclusively for Capilano University's students and staff.

The CSU provides services to its members, including a low-cost transit pass, free day planner, a used book sale, and health and dental benefits.

[46] In 2019, singer and songwriter Sarah McLachlan received the degree of Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa from Capilano University.