Corporate governance is a key determinant of university sustainability. Although there is a theoretical background describing the interaction of these constructs, no empirical studies on the causal relationship between them have been reported. To fill this knowledge gap, this study assessed the impact of corporate governance on university sustainability in an accredited public institution in Colombia. The novelty lies in the fact that corporate governance is presented as the primary construct that affects university sustainability from the management perspective since, in the reported studies, it appears only as an isolated indicator in evaluating sustainability. The theoretical model was underpinned through the theoretical lens of new institutionalism, resource-based vision theory and new stakeholder theory. The research was developed using deductive reasoning. It applied a structural equation model by least squares using the Smart PLS software version 4.1.0.9, with which the reflective measurement model and the structural model were evaluated. The empirical analysis found that corporate governance, consisting of the administrative process, university autonomy, stakeholders and the accountability system, positively affects university sustainability, which includes education for sustainable development and a sustainable campus. The study provides valuable recommendations that can help assess university sustainability, considering the strategic significance of corporate governance, which is relevant to self-regulation and continuous improvement.