Top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu is about those educational institutions that are considered to have created a space for themselves in the field of higher learning. These institutions offer courses at undergraduate, postgraduate and doctorate levels. Some of these top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu offer engineering courses, certain others offer medicine courses, couple of them provide courses in arts, humanities, sciences and commerce.
Students can choose any one of these top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu keeping in mind their requirements. The purpose behind this story about top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu is to inform students about institutions considered to be the best so as to help them make the right choice.
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The list of top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu is provided below:
1. NIT Trichy
NIT Tiruchy is a public technical and research university near the city of Tiruchirappalli in Tamil Nadu, India.
It was founded in 1964, it is one of India’s oldest, most selective, and most prestigious technical universities. It is located in a campus of 800 acres.
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NIT Tiruchy is recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India under the National Institutes of Technology Act, 2007 and is one of the institutions of the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) system. The university focuses exclusively on science, technology, engineering, management, and architecture.
Good quality teaching and excellent infrastructure has made this reputed institution earn a place among top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website of the educational institution is ‘https://www.nitt.edu/’
2. Christian Medical College (Vellore)
CMC is located in Vellore in Tamil Nadu and is a known name for medical services and also education.
Needless to say, its excellent services to the field of teaching and medical service have earned this institution a position in list of top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu.
This Institute includes a network of primary, secondary and tertiary care hospitals in and around Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
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The institute, constituent college is affiliated with the Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University.
Founded in 1900 by an American missionary, Dr Ida S. Scudder, CMC Vellore has brought many significant achievements to India. More information about CMC Vellore can be obtained on its official website ‘https://www.cmch-vellore.edu/’
3. Madras Medical College
South India has no dearth of good institutions that have carved a space for themselves in the field of medical education. This institution is also known as MMC is one of the oldest educational institutions in India.
This is the first name one will perhaps hear when it comes to well-known medical colleges in Chennai. The first batch of students graduated in 1852 and were granted the Diploma of Graduate of the Madras Medical College.
In 1857, it gained affiliation to the University of Madras. After the affiliation in 1857 the College moved to be a center of excellence imparting training in all the specialties in the field of medicine and surgery and it is now one of the premier institutions in the country with under graduate, post graduate and super specialty courses.
The Courses offered by the Madras Medical College are affiliated from 1988 to the The Tamilnadu Dr. MGR Medical University. This College has nine affiliated institutions with hospitals, each one of them recognized for excellence in Health care services. No wonder why this college is one of the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website to know more is ‘http://www.mmc.ac.in/mmc/’
4. Amrita Institute of Medical Science and Research
Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS) had a phenomenal growth in a short period of 22 years and today excellence has become its specialty in healthcare delivery, education and research.
The campus is situated over a space of 125 acres. Its services under the guidance of its able team have earned this institute a position among top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu.
With AIMS Model of Care and its 670 strong faculty members drawn from the best institutes across the world, over 2500 students annually will be well prepared to succeed in any medical practice setting, from private practice, to academic medicine, to global outreach healthcare.
It offers MBBS, MD/MS courses along with Bachelor in Dental Sciences. The college also offers nursing at both graduate and post graduate levels and also masters in dental sciences.
More information about AIMS can be obtained on its official website ‘https://www.amrita.edu/campus/healthscience’ or ‘http://www.amritahospitals.org/’
5. Stanley Medical College
This is also among the most prestigious institutes in Chennai that is worth considering for studying medicine. This is also one of the oldest educational institutions in Chennai and is considered as a historical landmark too.
Hospital attached to it is more than 200 years old and the college was formally established on 2 July 1938. In 1933, a five-year D.M. & S (Diploma in Medicine & Surgery) course was inaugurated by Lieutenant Colonel Sir George Fredrick Stanley, a British parliamentarian.
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This was expanded to seven medical and surgical units in 1964. In 1938, 72 students studied, and then from 1963, 150 students were admitted each year. In 1990, the Institute of Social Paediatrics was established.
Initially established as a centre for children and for improving research programmes. This institute is also among the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. More information is available at the official website ‘http://www.stanleymedicalcollege.ac.in/stanleymedicalcollege/’
6. Saveetha Medical College
This is also among the finest institutions in Chennai that can be considered to purse medicine course at graduation level. That is not all, this is a good place even to pursue medicine at post graduation level. MS in Anatomy, MD in Physiology, MD in Community Medicine are among the courses at post graduate level that are offered here.
This is also an abode for undertaking supers specialty study in medical realms. DM in Cardiology, DM in Nephrology, DM in Neurology are among the super specialty courses. These are not the only among the courses offered at super specialty level, there are much more.
After students become a part of this institution, they carry out academic work in a very ideal atmosphere and students are well taught by highly qualified faculty.
So this too is among the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. More information about this college can be obtained from its official website ‘https://www.saveethamedicalcollege.com/’
7. PGP College of Agricultural Science
South India has no dearth of high worth institutions as far as agriculture education is concerned. Agriculture is one of the sectors which offers bright career prospects and lot of students approach colleges offering courses in agriculture every year.
PGP College of Agricultural Sciences was established in 2013 and is approved by Government of Tamil Nadu and affiliated to Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore.
The college is situated in an area of more than 150 acres green campus with Kolli hills as backdrop and surrounded by farms and villages. BSc Hons in Agriculture is offered here which is of four year duration.
The amenities here are world class and atmosphere in the institutions only motivates the students to bring out the best in them. This is one among the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website to know more is ‘https://pgpagricollege.ac.in/courses.html’
8. Institute of Hotel Management Chennai
The institute is also popularly known as IHM Chennai and is abode of hospitality management education. The organisation has provided high quality courses in Hotel & Catering for over 50 years and has excellent links with the industry and has made a name at global and national level providing personnel for the industry both at Home and abroad.
Students of this institution have proved their mettle at all corners of the globe. The institute was established in 1963 with a joint sponsorship Government of Tamil Nadu and the Government of India.
This is said to be one of the pioneer institutes in India for imparting quality training in Three Year Degree B.Sc in Hospitality and Hotel Administration, Two Year M.Sc in Hospitality Administration and also 1 ½ Years Diploma and Craft Courses.
This is also one among the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website to know more is ‘http://www.ihmchennai.org/ihmchennai/’
9. National College Trichy
The talk about top educational institutions in southern part of India is bound to remain incomplete sans the mention of this college. The institution was founded on 11 June 1919 and is considered to be one of the oldest institutions in Tamil Nadu.
The founders conceived the idea of a national institution to promote among its youth the highest and the loftiest ideals which constitute the essence of Indian Culture and Nationalism.
True to its name, National College continues to impart cultural values and fulfil its role as one of the premiere nation-building institutions of the country.
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The college functioned in the old Teppakulam campus for nearly four decades from 1919. The shifting of the College campus from Teppakulam to the Junction area began with the acquisition of land in 1957-58.
Forty years after its inception, on the 8 July 1959, the College was shifted to the present campus within easy reach from the railway Junction and the central bus stand on the Tiruchirappalli – Dindigul highway.
College offers nineteen Postgraduate Programmes and twenty-one Undergraduate Programmes. It has been recognised as one of the Centres of Advanced Learning and has been accorded permission for registering candidates for research leading to the award of PhD degree in fourteen departments. This is also one among the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website to know more is ‘https://www.nct.ac.in/’
10. Queen Marys College
The talk about education in Chennai will definitely bring out the name of this college. This is considered to be one of the finest institutions that offers courses in various streams of education. There are many institutions that have created history in the southern part of India and this institution is one of them.
It is also popularly known as QMC or Queen Mary’s. Music course is offered here at undergraduate and postgraduate level. At the undegraduate level, the course is known as BA Music and at postgraduate level, the course offered is MA (Indian Music).
Queen Mary’s College has been in the forefront of the education of women ever since July 1914, when the Government of Madras instituted the Madras Women’s College. The initial intake of 33 students was housed in a modest building called ‘Capper House’.
However, by 1915, the college premises were expanded through the government’s annexure of the area surrounding Capper House. At this stage it offered only Intermediate courses. In 1916 under graduate courses were offered in History and Economics.
Eventually Intermediate courses in subjects like Geography, Indian Music, Physics, Chemistry and Home Science were introduced. This is also one of the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website to know more is
‘https://queenmaryscollege.edu.in/index.html’
11. Women’s Christian College
The institution is also popularly known as WCC and is one of the high worth institutions situated in Chennai in Tamil Nadu. The college is centrally located which can be easily reached through any means of transport.
It is also one of the finest women’s colleges in India. Study in a college like this enhances the esteem of the students. This is also a college with historic importance and its innings commenced in 1915. And attained autonomous status in 1982.
WCC won many awards in its journey towards excellence and is a home to courses not only in basic sciences but also to most advanced courses like biotechnology.
Among the popular subjects of science are chemistry, physics, plant biology and plant biotechnology. The college also offers courses in other streams also.
This college is rightly positioned as one of the top 20 Colleges in Tamil Nadu as the institution strikes a perfect balance between academics and extra curricular activities. The website to know more about the college is ‘https://wcc.edu.in/’
12. Ethiraj College for Women
Founded in 1948 in Chennai in Tamil Nadu, the formative years witnessed a strong foundation through introduction of undergraduate courses in Economics, Botany, Chemistry, History, Zoology and English Literature.
The infrastructural facilities on the campus are Science Block, Hostel, Open Air Theatre and the Old Library Block.
The landmark development was the auditorium, which remains the pride of the College.
The decade of 1968 – 1978 saw the growth of the College with the introduction of Commerce, Mathematics and Physics at the UG level, and a number of post-graduate (PG) courses and the construction of the PG block.
A significant development of the next phase was the introduction of Evening College in 1981.
Research also received a keen focus with introduction of M.Phil and Ph.D. programmes.
The addition of the Annexe Campus of 59 grounds augured a new direction in the growth of the College.
With the college being an abode to wide variety of science courses, it becomes one of the Top 20 Colleges in Tamil Nadu.
The website to know more about the college is ‘https://www.ethirajcollege.edu.in/’
13. Madras Christian College
South India has lot of educational institutions that created a space for themselves in the academic world. This institution which is also popularly known as MCC is a hub for learning that gets lot of attention from students.
Madras Christian College traces its origin to the General Assembly School founded by the Rev. John Anderson, a Missionary from the Church of Scotland on 3rd April 1837.
Anderson was a pioneer in introducing English medium education in South India. He was ably assisted by Rev. Johnston, Rev. Braidwood and Margaret Locher Anderson.
Rev. William Miller who arrived in 1862 upgraded the school to a college by adding F.A. and B.A. courses in 1865 and 1867. Along with a few other Protestant missions in Madras, Miller transformed the institution and named it ‘Madras Christian College’ on 1 January 1877.
Miller’s bold academic vision, supported by the generous contribution from his family members, old students and the Madras Government raised the most impressive array of college buildings and hostels (student homes) opposite the High Court complex.
Miller was succeeded by worthy leaders like Professors Skinner, E.M. Macphail, Meston and Hogg.
This is also academic excellence, spiritual vitality and social relevance have remained the guiding principles of the Institution throughout its history. This is also one among the top 20 Colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website to know more is ‘https://mcc.edu.in/’
14. DG Vaishnav College
There is no dearth of educational institution that high quality education in Chennai in Tamil Nadu. Botany, Biotechnology, Physics, Microbiology are among the courses that are offered here.
The institution is also popularly known as Dwaraka Doss Goverdhan Doss Vaishnav College. It is a linguistic minority institution established in the year 1964 by the Rajasthanis and Gujaratis settled in Chennai for the cause of higher education.
The college with a sole purpose of imparting knowledge and value based education saw its grand day on 30 June 1964 with one course in B.Sc. Mathematics with Shri. Totadri Iyengar ( teacher of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam) as its first Principal.
The curriculum is reviewed and updated periodically, in keeping with the changes in the diverse disciplines of arts, commerce, science and technology.
An interdisciplinary, multi disciplinary approach in designing the course work is adopted to ensure industry – academia collaboration. The college has entered into collaborations with many reputed institutions.
This is also one among the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website to know more is ‘https://www.dgvaishnavcollege.edu.in/’
15. MOP Vaishnav College For Women (Tamil Nadu)
Sri Vallabhacharya Vidya Sabha, the prominent managing body of D.G Vaishnav College, in its silver jubilee year, collaborated with Dewan Bahadur M. O. Parthasarathy Iyengar Charities for the establishment of this women’s college in 1992.
The establishment of this college was a dream realisation and the result of the determination and sustained efforts of the two trusts.
Both these organisations have eminent industrialists, administrators and people committed to the cause of women’s education.
Since its inception, the college has been committed to attracting and supporting top calibre women students providing them the right arenas for higher education.
MOP Vaishnav College for Women also has the distinction of being one of the youngest colleges in the country to have been granted autonomy by the University Grants Commission and the University of Madras.
Excellency has become a norm here long ago only to make it one among the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website to know more about the institution is ‘http://mopvc.edu.in/’
16. Sri Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya College of Arts and Science
The college was started in 1964 with the blessings of Srimat Swami Madhavanandaji Maharaj and has completed 55 years of purposeful service to the student community and society.
Swami Vivekananda believed that for any nation to be great, the youth of that nation should be strong in character and intellect, empathetic towards the society, broad-minded and self-disciplined.
The college has a mission of developing the youth by imparting intellectual training, equipping them with vocational skills so as to make them employable, inculcating in them the right attitudes, values and moral character, and developing a holistic personality of its students with a balanced development of head, heart and hand.
College offers 17 UG programmes and 6 PG programmes and one PG Dimloma Programme. Several reputed industries conduct campus interviews every year thereby recruiting our students.
Courses offered are Physics, Chemistry, Commerce, English Literature and others. This is also one among the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website to know more is ‘https://srkv.org/institutes/college-of-arts-science/’
17. Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College
The college was established in 1963 is a standing testimony to the wisdom and farsightedness of legendary P. Ayya Nadar, a farsighted industrial architect of Sivakasi town and renowned academician and his equally generous wife Thirumathi A. Janaki Ammal.
It caters the need of rural sector for higher education. As this Institution was established by their Munificence, the College was fittingly named after them.
The college is located on a campus sprawling over one hundred and fifty seven acres on the Sivakasi – Srivilliputhur Road, five kilometre away from Sivakasi town, serves as a beacon-light in the backward area of Virudhunagar District and emphasizes teaching, learning and research programmes in different faculties to the benefit of thousands of students who pursue higher education.
This is also one among the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website to know more is ‘https://www.anjaconline.org/’
18. Stella Maris College For Women
The vision of the college is to build a vibrant and inclusive learning community in a culture of excellence sustained by a sound value system that promotes responsible citizenship and effects social change.
A student-centric, participatory teaching-learning-evaluation system assures the students of optimal educational benefits. The College is at the forefront of higher education in India by balancing its commitment to academic excellence with emphasis on all-round development of students.
Offering courses in traditional Arts and Science courses and in emerging areas such as International Studies, Information Technology, Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, the curriculum promotes national development, fosters global competencies and facilitates skills training to meet the challenges of a competitive workplace.
This is also one among the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website to know more is ‘https://stellamariscollege.edu.in/’
19. Sri Krishna Arts and Science College
This institution offers 32 undergraduate programmes, 13 postgraduate programmes, 7 research programmes and one integrated programme.
Sri Krishna Arts and Science College was established in the year 1997 is an autonomous institution imparting quality education imbibing scientific and artistic knowledge to the needs of the current generation.
The college has evolving curriculum that is designed at par with UGC standards of choice based credit system. The college follows Knowledge-based Learning, Industry-Exposure & Training and Capstone Evaluation Model that are all linked with the Outcome- based Education which enable the students to be job-ready right when they complete their degree at Sri Krishna Arts and Science College.
The mission of the college is to mould the students into able citizens who can contribute towards the progress of the nation. This is also one among the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website to know more is ‘http://skasc.ac.in/’
20. Virudhunagar Hindu Nadars Senthikumara Nadar College
This college is also known as VHNSNC (Virudhunagar Hindu Nadars Senthikumara Nadar College) and its mission is providing future-oriented, value-based and quality-centered education and research programmes at an affordable cost in a gender-conducive academic ambience and moulding competent personalities from socially and economically backward areas.
The institution began its innings in 1947, it was established on 11 August 1947. A committee was formed to run the college which comprised Mr. W.P.A.Soundra Pandian Nadar (President), Mr. P.S.Chidambara Nadar (Vice – President), Mr. V.V.Ramasamy (Secretary and Correspondent) and Mr. M.S.Periasamy Nadar (Treasurer).
Rao Bahadur Senthikumara Nadar was appointed the Patron of the college. In 1948, the Hindu Nadar Mahamai Tharappu took over the administration of the college.
The successive Managing Boards of this college consisted of solid and simple men who were successful business magnates in their respective enterprises.
They nurtured the nascent institution. Under their benevolent patronage, the college registered a phenomenal development, blossoming into a Post-Graduate Institution in 1967.
The faculty here is well-qualified who leave no stone unturned into moulding the students into highly qualified persons who can take over challenges with great vigor.
The atmosphere for learning is very ideal at this college. The amenities are also world class and all these make this college one among the top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu. The website to know more is ‘https://www.vhnsnc.edu.in/index.php’
Conclusion (Top 20 Colleges in Tamil Nadu)
The aim behind providing the list of top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu is to help students make better choices when it comes to selecting a college for studying the course of their choice.
Students willing to study in any one of these top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu must remember that good number of these institutions may have a tough entrance system. It may involve writing entrance tests that may be really tough. Couple of educational institutions have their own entrance exams also for admitting students into courses offered by them.
Students must be prepared to handle the admission process. Applicants of these top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu are advised to visit the respective official website of the colleges and know the admission process well in advance, so as to minimize rejection.
Candidates must also remember that these top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu are an icon of standards in the field of education and hard work with determination can only help gain admission in these institutions. Top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu maintain high standards and their popularity has crossed the boundaries of this nation.
What makes these top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu separate from other institutions is the high standards they follow with regards to teaching and learning. Even amenities for students in these top 20 colleges in Tamil Nadu are said to be world class.