CBSUA was established as the Camarines Sur Agricultural School in 1918, which is exclusively for boys. In 1920, it became a national school offering secondary curriculum, then five years later, it was renamed Camarines Sur Agricultural High School. It was renamed Camarines Sur Regional Agricultural School in 1954 and then as the Camarines Sur Agricultural College.

CBSUA was the first seat of the Bicol Agricultural Resources Research Consortium (BARRC) being the regional research center and lead agency. By virtue of Batas Pambansa Bilang 198 on March 16, 1982, the College was converted into Camarines Sur State Agricultural College. The 1986 Constitution through Executive Order No.117, rationalized agricultural institutions into the National Agricultural Education System (NAES), identifying CSSAC as a Regional Agricultural College.

Two higher education institutions in Camarines Sur were integrated to CSSAC, namely, the Bicol Institute of Science and Technology (BIST) in Sipocot, Camarines Sur and the Calabanga Polytechnic College (CPC) in Calabanga, Camarines Sur. In June 2002, the higher education program of CASIFMAS was transferred to CSSAC; opening extension classes in Pasacao, Camarines Sur. The Pasacao campus was provided a regular allocation in CY 2003 General Appropriations Act as a Special Project under CSSAC, and now an extension campus of the University.

Effective October 30, 2009, the former CSSAC is now the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture. Now, it is envisioning to be known as a Center of Organic Agriculture in the whole Philippines and a host of agriculture-related development programs for Bicolanos.