Started as a Computer Center in a Dehradun Suburb with 2 Computers with an initial fund of INR 29,000- Started with AUTOCAD/Graphics training for ONGC Officers. Leading to the founding of Graphic Era Training Institute, at Capri Trade Centre

Graphic Era Institute of Technology (GEIT) was established as an institution offering engineering programs. GEIT had the distinction of being first Self- financed educational institute in the state of Uttarakhand.

GEIT started setting the benchmarks for higher education in the state, and started BCA and BMIT with affiliation to HNB Garhwal University with a 60 seat intake.

Our current flagship B.Tech Computer Science/ Information Technology and Electronics and Communication Engineering programs was initiated with a 180 seat intake. With the Founder and Chairman, Prof. Kamal Ghanshala, taking the lead in the academics, the programs grew to become the most popular in the region with the best placements

On August 14, 2008 GEIT was accorded the status of Deemed University under Section 3 of the UGC Act, 1956 Vide Notification F.9-48/2007-U.3(A) Approved by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India and was renamed as Graphic Era Deemed to be University.

On April 28, 2011, Graphic Era Hill University was established under the state act no 0f 2011 Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956 under the aegis of Graphic Era Educational Society, Dehradun. Primarily created as separate entity to boost the education credentials of the promising students of the state of Uttarakhand, banking on excellence academic credentials and the best infrastructure in the region, the University has carved out a space for itself in record time.

Graphic Era Deemed to be University was accredited by NAAC with grade ‘A’ with the highest score in all of North India. NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) is an autonomous body established by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India to assess and accredit institutions of higher education in the country for upholding the quality of higher education.

In April, Graphic Era University received NIRF RANK 101-150 April under Engineering Category, with along with NITs and other top educational institutions of the country

April 2018 Graphic Era (Deemed to be University) was placed on the NIRF RANK BAND of 101-150, under Engineering & University category for the second consecutive year. On 10th April, received approval of AICTE for Engineering, Management, and MCA Programs becoming the only University in the state of Uttarakhand to have this approval. Awarded Regular Status by Ministry of HRD Vide Letter No. F.9-48/2007-U3(A) PT.1. The same year, the University also received the approval for the programs Computer Science Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Electronics & Communication Engineering from the prestigious National Board of Accreditation (NBA).

The year 2019 witnessed the university achieve the greatest of laurels. Graphic Era was awarded rank 2 all over Uttarakhand, right after IIT Roorkee, under the category of "Top Engineering Institutions" in the region. The university ranked 104 in the nation after a thorough and rigorous assessment by MHRD NIRF 2019 for the "Engineering University" category. The university was also awarded the prestigious QS-IGauge Diamond Category Overall Award in the "Overall Institutions" Category. Graphic Era deemed to be University, the only triumphant institute from North India, has surpassed all categories of QS-IGauge’s 360° perspective of Indian Institutions for higher learning, including impeccable teaching and learning, employability and social responsibility, and more.

The university set a new milestone with 1082 placements offers in just the first week for the class of 2020, with the highest package being 43.95 Lacs at Adobe. In June 2020, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University) conferred NIRF rank 89 in the Engineering Category and rank 97 in the University Category, the highest in Uttarakhand, and is placed among the top-ranked institutions of the country.

In September 2021, Graphic Era (Deemed to be University) conferred NIRF rank 75 in the Engineering Category, 64 in the Management Category and rank 98 in the University Category, the highest in Uttarakhand, and is placed among the top-ranked institutions of the country.