Dayalbagh Educational Institute has a long drawn history before it finally became a deemed University. It began its journey from January 1st, 1917 as a coeducational Middle School, which was open to all. Within six months it became a High School and intermediate classes were started in 1922.

In the following years a host of other institutes were established namely in 1927, a technical school for imparting knowledge on automobile, electrical and mechanical engineering, 1930, Prem Vidalaya for the purpose of Women`s education (which is now an intermediate college) and also the Leather Working School. In 1947, it became a degree college, affiliated to the Agra University.

In 1973, Dayalbagh Educational Institute was established as a registered body, which brought under its wing all the educational institutions in Dayalbagh. The School of Comparative Study of Religion, the School of Languages and the School of Art and Culture were also incorporated in the institute. In the year, 1975, the Institute formulated a comprehensive programme of study, which was highly appreciated by the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the University Grants Commission. Following this, in 1981, the Ministry of Education, Government of India, conferred the status of a deemed University.

The Institute is located at Dayalbagh, which is at a distance of 2 kilometers from the city of Agra. The campus consists of well-equipped libraries, workshops and a computer lab. The Institute aims to excel in research and instruction within the fold of humanism, secularism and democracy. The institute imparts education in the fields of arts, commerce, engineering, science and social sciences. The institute academically and administratively controls the DEI Technical College, Dayalbagh, and the DEI Prem Vidyalaya Girls Intermediate College.