Kerala Universities and Colleges Excel in NIRF 2025 Rankings

Thirvananthapuram: Kerala’s higher education institutions have made remarkable progress in the latest National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) by the Union Ministry of Education, which evaluates academic excellence and institutional advancement across the country. Once again, universities from Kerala have secured strong positions in the rankings.

The rankings are determined based on a range of factors, including student participation, teacher-student ratio, the academic and research credentials of permanent faculty, financial resources and their utilisation, the number and quality of research publications, the volume of research projects, exam conduct and result declaration, the number of research degrees awarded, student admissions from other states and countries, employability of graduates, achievements in arts and sports, national and international recognitions, representation of women in academic areas, facilities and support for students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, a student-friendly learning environment, and provisions for students facing physical or mental challenges.

It is a matter of pride that two of the top 10 public universities in India are from Kerala. Four universities from the state have made it to the top 50 list.

Key Performances from Kerala Universities:

• University of Kerala showcased an impressive performance with 42nd rank overall, 25th in the university category, and 5th among state public universities.

• Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) followed closely with 50th rank overall, 32nd in the university category, and 6th among state public universities.

• Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) maintained a strong presence with 79th rank overall, 43rd in the university category, and 17th among state public universities.

• University of Calicut ranked in the 151–200 band overall, 101–150 band in the university category, and 38th among state public universities.

• Kannur University secured a position in the 51–100 band among state public universities.

In the NIRF 2025 rankings for colleges, also the state made significant progress, with 74 institutions making it to the top 300. This is an increase from 68 last year. The number of colleges in the top 100 has also increased from 16 to 18 this time. Among the top 100 colleges, Kerala has 18 institutions, including 4 government colleges. In the 101–150 band, there are 10 colleges – 5 government and 5 private.

In the 151–200 band, 9 colleges are listed, including 3 government colleges. In the 201–300 band, 37 colleges are featured, including 6 government colleges. Overall, 18 government colleges and 56 private colleges.

"The state’s implementation of the four-year undergraduate program, emphasising employability, skill development, and research, has contributed significantly to this success," says R Bindu, Higher Education Minister.