The UGC has recognized the university.

National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has accredited the university as Three Star.

In 1983, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) and the University Grants Commission (UGC) extended financial support to the M.Tech. course.

In 1988, the University Grants Commission has sanctioned CUSAT assistance of Rs.57.85 Lakhs to the Department for the development of postgraduate education and research in the areas of Microprocessor applications and Microwave antennas.

In 1994, the Department was selected by UGC under the Special Assistance Programme at the Departmental Research Support level in the thrust area of Ocean Electronics with a financial assistance of Rs. 70.75 lakhs for a period of 5 years.

The Ministry of Human Resources Development, Govt. of India has adjudged CUSAT as an institution to be upgraded to the level of IIT.

Several Academic Courses are offered under Departments dedicated to specific Disciplines.

• School of Engineering
• School of Environmental Studies
• Department of Culture and Heritage
• Department of Hindi
• School of Legal Studies
• School of Marine Sciences
• School of Industrial Fisheries
• Department of Atmospheric Sciences
• Department of Chemical Oceanography
• Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology & Biochemistry
• Department of Marine Geology and Geophysics
• Department of Physical Oceanography
• Department of Applied Chemistry
• Department of Biotechnology
• Department of Mathematics
• Department of Physics
• Department of Statistics
• Department of Applied Economics
• School of Management Studies
• Centre of Excellence in Laser and Optoelectronic Sciences
• Cochin University College of Engineering
• Department of Electronics
• Department of Instrumentation
• Department of Polymer Science & Rubber Technology
• Department of Ship Technology
• International School of Photonics
• Department of Computer Applications
• Department of Computer Science

The university has a 180 acre campus at Thrikkakara and a Lakeside campus at Kochi besides an Engineering College campus at Pulinkunnu, Alappuzha, called the 'rice bowl' of Kerala.

The university has Hostels for both boys & girls, Guest houses, Visiting Faculty Complex, Coffee house, centre for Information Resource Management, University library, Post office, Bank, Health centre.

The university has Playgrounds, Courts and a Gymnasium besides the main Administrative Building.

Central Library building is functional and modular in construction. It has an area of 17000 sq.ft in four floors with two main halls of 1800 sq.ft. One reference hall is partially converted to Internet hall. Stack room (three in number) has a total carpet area of 6300 sq.ft. At present the collection exceeds 95,000 inclusive of several valuable reference books, doctoral theses and back volumes of periodicals, patents, CD-ROM etc.

The university provides Digital Library facility also.

The university has a very good placement record.