[7] The university's largest and oldest college campus is located in Hayward, with additional centers in the nearby cities of Oakland and Concord.

In 1961, the school was moved to its present location in the Hayward Hills and renamed Alameda County State College.

in Broadcast & Electronic Communication Arts), became the sixth president of CSU East Bay on January 4, 2021, following the announcement of her appointment to the position by the Board of Trustees on October, 29, 2020.

[13] CSUEB also has a branch in Concord, California in Contra Costa County, and a professional development center in Oakland.

Warren Hall was rated the least earthquake-safe building in the California State University system by the CSU Seismic Review Board.

Solar panels were installed on four campus rooftops and are used to generate supplemental power during peak periods and is one of the largest photovoltaic systems in Northern California.

Since its completion in 2004 the university has received recognition on a regional and national level for the project; those include: On April 8, 2010, the California Public Utilities Commission approved a fuel cell project of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) allowing Cal State East Bay's Hayward campus to become one of the first college campuses in Northern California to have a fuel cell.

Once installed, the waste heat generated by the fuel cell will be converted into hot water to be used in campus buildings.

California State University, East Bay's Associated Student Incorporated also hosts concerts with artists like Lupe Fiasco and Goapele.

In 2005, Cal State East Bay began to build three new facilities: the Wayne and Gladys Valley Business and Technology Center (VBT), the Pioneer Heights student housing expansion and the University Union annex.

[19] Construction continued with the anticipated dedication of the new Student Services and Administration building in Summer 2010[20] and the Recreation and Wellness Center in Fall 2010.

The museum, open to the public, has rotating exhibits, and archives including records of 18 Bay Area archaeological sites.

[21][22][23] The university is best known for its College of Business and Economics; a strong Education Department, where a large percentage of California teachers receive their certification; and the thriving Music Department where the California State University, East Bay Jazz Ensemble, directed by Dave Eshelman (retired June 2007), holds annual performances in Yoshi's at Jack London Square in Oakland and frequently tours Europe and parts of South America.

In 2008, the administration again did not allow ASI to hold a referendum on increasing student fees to fund athletic scholarship for a move to Division II sports.

The Pioneers previously competed in the California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1998–99 to 2008–09.

In the years since, the mascot took a more terrestrial image; first as a frontiersman with a coonskin cap and then as a cowboy named Pioneer Pete.

The Pioneers of CSU East Bay has earned 2 NCAA team championships at the Division II level.