In the 32 years of its existence, the newly established Manipal School of Architecture and Planning has seen a tremendous growth from a humble beginning under the Department of Civil Engineering offering specialization in Architecture into an institute. It came into existence in 1978 with just a few students. It started the B. Arch degree under the Mysore University. It came under the newly established Mangalore University in 1980 as Department of Architecture. In October 2003, Manipal University renamed the Department of Architecture as Faculty of Architecture and Head of the Department as Dean. The Council of Architecture, the regulatory body for architects in India, in the year 2009 expressed its concern regarding autonomy of Faculty of Architecture and in 2010 it emphasized for an independent school of architecture and planning with the increase in the number of students.

On 15th December, 2010 it became the 22nd institute of Manipal University under Prof. (Dr) N.K . Garg, the Dean, Faculty of Architecture and he became the first director of Manipal School of Architecture and Planning.

Presently Manipal School of Architecture & Planning has an intake of 120 students in the Bachelor of Architecture programme, 40 in Bachelor of Interior Design and an intake of 20 students in the Master of Architecture programme. It attracts students from all over India, and foreign countries like Australia, Europe and Gulf. It has highly qualified and experienced teaching staff. The Manipal School of Architecture and Planning offers students an extensive range of facilities and equipment to support their architectural studies