It was established in April 1924 as the Kaohsiung District Pingtung Extension School of Agriculture and over the years it has undergone several restructurings and name changes.

[5] National Pingtung University of Science and Technology offers one of the world's only graduate programs focussing on aquarium fish.

NPUST is approximately 20 kilometers (12.5 miles) from the Pingtung Train Station and the trip takes around 30 minutes by car; the campus is also served by regular buses.

[citation needed] In addition to the Neipu Campus, NPUST has 285 hectares in the Baoli Forest of Kenting National Park and the 576-hectare Daren Ranch in Taitung County.

[7] NPUST is cooperating with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to establish an International Education College.