The move to the purpose-built campus off Major Innes Road is planned to start today.

The bulk of the move will occur over the weekend in preparation for staff to begin day one at the new campus on Monday.

April 26, when students return from the mid-session break, will mark the start of classes at the new campus.

Charles Sturt University Port Macquarie head of campus Professor Heather Cavanagh said CSU was here to stay.

"It is really a turning point," Professor Cavanagh said about the new campus.

"We have felt part of the community since the day we arrived, but suddenly this physical presence, and the fact we have the capacity to share that physical presence with our community partners and the public, it's almost like growing up.

"As excited as we are about Monday and getting the building operational, we can't wait to start on stage two and three."

Future stages are subject to demand and funding.

The university owns 11 hectares of land off Major Innes Drive.

The multi-level stage one building is set around a landscaped courtyard.

Stage one includes flexible teaching spaces, learning commons and library, student central, specialised simulation space, Indigenous courtyard with an amphitheatre, and administrative areas.

Professor Cavanagh said the campus design embedded a new style of learning that reflected a change in what students wanted, how they learnt, and how they engaged across the disciplines.

CSU opened its doors at the interim Grant Street campus in 2012 with an intake of 34 students.

The student body has grown to 625 this year, while there are about 110 staff.

Professor Cavanagh said the new campus meant everyone would be back together again after being divided across four sites: Grant Street, Munster Street, Clarence Street and Highfields Circuit.

About 1000 students are predicted on campus next year with 20 programs planned for 2017.

The development of the campus cost $47 million, with the federal government funding $20 million and CSU providing the remainder.

Professor Cavanagh thanked Port Macquarie Library, St Columba Anglican School and the University of NSW for opening their doors to CSU in the period of transition.

Construction company Watpac built the first stage of the campus.

The campus is also available to the university's distance education students.

"We feel like we have been here [Port Macquarie] for a long time and now we feel we've come home," Professor Cavanagh said about the new campus.