Mangalore University campus at Mangalagangothri, located about 20 km to the south-east of the historic coastal town of Mangalore, sets the tone for the educational endeavors of the three districts under the jurisdiction of the University. It is a picturesque campus that sprawls over 333 acres, overlooking the confluence of the river Nethravathi with the Arabian Sea on the one side, and the cloud-capped Western Ghats on the other. It grew out of a modest post-graduate centre of the University of Mysore to become the focal point of an independent University in 1980. The campus, which once housed a mere three postgraduate departments, now has twenty-five postgraduate departments, supported by modern infrastructure and experienced faculty.
The University campus is a self-contained facility that provides all the essential facilities and infrastructure for the pursuit of excellence in higher education. Among the several central facilities at Mangalagangothri, mention may be made of the spacious and modern library, the University Science Instrumentation Centre, the Microtron Centre, the Humanities Block, the new MBA Block and the cyber cafe. There is an impressive administrative building, two guest houses for visiting dignitaries and faculty, a well-equipped health centre, a useful shopping complex, two nationalized banks, and an ATM centre. There is a post office and a telephone exchange on the campus. The University has provided residential quarters for its employees on the campus itself.