[2] At the time of its founding, Pacific Bible Institute was located in a large home at 1095 N. Van Ness Ave.

The Bible Institute became an accredited junior college in 1961, and decided to develop a four-year program two years later, in 1963.

By 1967, the decision was made to add graduate courses, and the accreditation for the first master of arts program was received from WASC in 1975.

It also offers advanced degrees or credentials in the fields of Education, Business, Leadership & Organizational Studies, Social Work, Kinesiology, Nursing, Divinity, Ministry, and Marriage & Family Therapy.

The university also maintains four regional campuses in Central California: The Fresno Pacific athletic teams are called the Sunbirds.

The university is a member of the Division II level of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), primarily competing in the Pacific West Conference (PacWest) for most of its sports since the 2012–13 academic year.