Kerala universities climb NIRF 2025 rankings; 74 colleges in top-300

Higher education institutions in Kerala have made impressive strides in the India Rankings 2025 released on Thursday under the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).

Among State Public Universities, Kerala University and the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat) climbed to the fifth and sixth positions respectively, up from ninth and tenth last year. Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) and Calicut University were placed 17th and 38th in the category. Notably, two universities from Kerala featured in the top 50 across both the overall and university-specific categories.

Kerala University stood out with an impressive overall rank of 42 and 25th position in the university category. Cusat followed closely with 50th overall rank and 32nd in the university list. MGU also maintained a strong presence, ranking 79th and 43rd among universities

In a landmark achievement, Rajagiri College of Social Sciences, Ernakulam, the top-ranked arts and science college in Kerala, jumped from 20th to 12th place nationally. University College, Thiruvananthapuram, also made a mark with the 23rd rank.

Overall, 74 institutions from the State secured spots in the top 300 colleges in India, an increase from 71 last year. These included 18 government and 56 private colleges. The number of colleges in the top 100 also rose from 16 to 18 this year, including four government institutions.

The Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology achieved an impressive 17th rank among medical institutions. The College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram, remained in the 101-150 rank band among engineering colleges. In the dental category, Government Dental Colleges in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode secured the 35th and 38th ranks.

In the agricultural and allied sectors, Kerala Agricultural University ranked 12^th, while the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies was placed at 31st.

Central institutions in Kerala also posted strong performances. Among engineering colleges, the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Calicut; Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram; and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Palakkad; secured ranks 21st, 61st and 64th respectively. The Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Kozhikode, was ranked the third-best business school in the country, while the NIT-Calicut emerged as the second-best institution in the architecture and planning category.

Higher Education Minister R. Bindu attributed the collective achievement to the reforms and strategic interventions undertaken by the State in recent years.

The successful implementation of the four-year undergraduate programme, with a strong emphasis on skill development, employability and research, has played a significant role in elevating academic standards.

“Besides, Kerala’s restructuring of curriculum, examination systems and evaluation methods also contributed to the improved rankings. Equally important has been the focus on ensuring opportunities for students from economically and socially disadvantaged backgrounds, as well as the support mechanisms created for students facing physical and mental health challenges,” she said.