The University began its academic activities by offering in degree programs in Agriculture and Veterinary disciplines. Later degree program in Fisheries science was added with the establishment of Fishery college at Mangalore. Due to need for horticulture specialization, degree program in Horticulture was added with the establishment of Horticulture college at Mudigere. The degree program in Dairy science was added by starting the Dairy Science College, at Hebbal. The Department of Agricultural Marketing and Cooperation was newly created which commenced the degree program in Agricultural Marketing and Cooperation. The new college of Forestry in Ponnampet, South Kodagu, offered the degree program in Forestry, the new college of Sericulture at Chintamani offered the degree program in Sericulture. The Chintamani campus also offers BSc(Agri) program from 2007. The Department of Agricultural Engineering offered the Bachelors degree in Agricultural Engineering. This heralded ruralization of education utilizing the facilities in the already existing Agricultural Research Stations.

Currently the recently and newly created Karnataka Veterinary, Animal and Fisheries Sciences University with headquarters at Bidar, is offering the Veterinary science, Dairy science and Fishery science degree programs