The school was established initially as an intermediate school by the Thomasites, a group of American teachers brought by the United States during the early part of the American colonial period to revamp the system of education in the country.

In 2016, CvSU was also recognized as one of the top ten performing State Universities and Colleges in accreditation, capturing the rank 7 spot.

Subsequently, Americans Henry Wise and Joseph Coconower succeeded Workman as the school's principal.

As enrollment increased, the school site was expanded through the land donations of the citizens of Indang, including Francisco Ocampo and Don Severino de las Alas, Secretary of Interior during the Aguinaldo cabinet.

In recognition of the generosity of Don Severino de las Alas to the community, the province of Cavite and the nation, the name of the institution was changed to Don Severino National Agricultural School in 1958 by a congressional action.

The transition stage from 1988–1992 strengthened the instructional, research and extension programs through the implementation of the Institutional Development Assistance and Cooperation Project.

Subsequently, new campuses were established in other parts of the province, namely, Imus (2003), Trece Martires (2005), Silang (2006), and Tanza (2007).

Dr. Hernando Robles, former Campus Administrator of CvSU Naic, assumed the role of the University President in 2016.

Established in 1980, it has now grown to house around 92,000 volumes of books and more than 5,000 series titles such as magazines and newsletters.

[9] The Laya at Diwa brass artwork displayed at the main entrance to the Indang campus is meant to represent the university's vision of "truth, excellence and service".

The flame of the torch carries the letters CvSU for Cavite State University.

It occupies the plot of land that was set to become the Cavite Convention and Trade Center, but was transferred to the university for use as a satellite campus.

[11] The Silang campus was built in 2006 when the municipal government of the town donated land to the university.

[13] The Graduate School was established in 1985 with the first postgraduate degrees of the college: master of science in agricultural education; animal husbandry and agronomy.

Four departments emerged and were elevated into schools: Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, Education and Engineering.

The university also manages basic education units in its Indang campus, namely the Child Development Center offering pre-school and elementary programs; and the Laboratory Science High School, offering both junior and senior high school programs.

The Naic, Rosario and Silang campuses hosts junior and senior high school programs.

[15] In 2008, the university started to host the Southern Tagalog Agriculture, Aquatic and Resources Research, Development and Extension Consortium (STAARDEC).

The Affiliated Renewable Energy Center (AREC) for Region IV-A was established in 1987, one of the first in the country.

It is tasked to "encourag[e], and accelerat[e] the exploration, development and utilization of renewable energy resources" in the country.

In the fields of athletics, CvSU Green Hornets participate in the Southern Tagalog Regional Association of State Universities and Colleges.