In 1988, DigiPen was founded by Claude Comair in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada as a research and development institute for computer science and animation.

In 1990, DigiPen began offering its first dedicated educational program in the subject of 3D computer animation through the Vancouver Film School.

[citation needed] With Nintendo's support, DigiPen Applied Computer Graphics School accepted its first class of video game programming students in 1994.

Also in 2008, DigiPen's Research & Development arm created an artificial intelligence system regarding human behavioral modeling and simulation, titled B-HIVE, for Boeing and their Phantom Works division.

In 2011, DigiPen Institute of Technology opened its campus in the Greater Bilbao area, in the municipality of Zierbena.

Moreover, this campus regularly offers unaccredited Specialist Diploma Programs jointly with Workforce Singapore.

[10] DigiPen's Europe campus is located in Ribera de Zorrotzaurre, 2 in the city of Bilbao.