Life University was founded and established in 1993 as an exempt institution to confer degrees. It was organized under California Law as a non-profit corporation.

In August 1995, the university applied to the Council for Private, Postsecondary, and Vocational Education (CPPVE) for approval to operate as a degree-granting institution under California Education Code Section 94310 (later changed to Section 94760). In October of 1995 Life University obtained a temporary approval.

A year later the university received institutional approval status from the Bureau for Private, Postsecondary, and Vocational Education (BPPVE) and has retained the approval status since then. After receiving institutional approval, Life University opened programs to confer degrees in Business Administration, Oriental Medicine, Theology, and Languages.