List of Colleges in Thiruvananthapuram 2026: NIRF Ranks & Admission

Looking for a reliable list of colleges in Thiruvananthapuram for 2026? Kerala's capital, better known as Trivandrum, has a national space-science institute, an IISER, a top-25 state university, a medical research institute of national importance and some of the oldest government colleges in South India. This guide covers the best options across engineering, medicine, science, law, management and arts. For each one you get the NIRF 2025 rank (with its category), main courses, admission route, locality and official website.

We have used NIRF 2025 (India Rankings, released by the Ministry of Education on 4 September 2025) because NIRF 2026 results had not been confirmed when we wrote this. Where an institute is not in a published NIRF list, we say so plainly.

Top 12 colleges in Thiruvananthapuram at a glance (2026)

The order below is our editorial pick across streams. It takes NIRF results, national standing and student demand into account. NIRF ranks are only comparable within the same category.

Universities in Thiruvananthapuram

The city has a large state university, two newer specialised universities and a deemed university under the Department of Space. Many colleges in the district are affiliated to the University of Kerala. Engineering colleges come under APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU), which is also headquartered in the city.

University of Kerala

Founded in 1937 as the University of Travancore, this is the oldest university in the state. It was re-accredited by NAAC with an A++ grade (CGPA 3.67) in 2022. In NIRF 2025 it ranked 25th in the University category, 42nd Overall and 5th among State Public Universities.

• Established: 1937
• Type: State public university
• Popular courses: MA, MSc, MCom, MBA (through its Institute of Management in Kerala), MLISc, PhD
• Admission: PG entrance or merit lists for teaching departments. UG seats in affiliated colleges go through the university's online allotment.
• Fees: Government-regulated and low for most PG courses (approx. a few thousand rupees a year). Check the prospectus.

Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST)

IIST was set up in 2007 by the Department of Space and is a deemed-to-be university. It is one of the few places in India where space science is taught end to end. Its NIRF 2025 Engineering rank is 61, down from 51 in 2024.

• Established: 2007
• Type: Deemed university under the Department of Space
• Popular courses: B.Tech Aerospace Engineering, B.Tech Electronics and Communication (Avionics), dual degree in Engineering Physics, M.Tech, PhD
• Admission: Based on JEE Advanced scores, through IIST's own application process
• Fees: Tuition is approx. ₹62,500 per semester (2025 figures), plus hostel and mess charges

Engineering colleges in Thiruvananthapuram

Trivandrum is one of Kerala's main engineering hubs, helped by Technopark and the ISRO centres nearby. Most B.Tech seats outside IIST are filled through KEAM, the Kerala engineering entrance run by the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations. To compare these with options in Kochi and Kozhikode, see our guide to the top engineering colleges in Kerala.

College of Engineering Trivandrum (CET)

CET opened in 1939 and is Kerala's oldest engineering college. Its architecture department is one of the best in the country, ranked 15th in NIRF 2025 (Architecture). In the Engineering category it sits in the 101–150 band.

• Established: 1939
• Type: Government college, affiliated to KTU
• Popular courses: B.Tech in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, Electronics, Computer Science and more; B.Arch; M.Tech; MBA; MCA
• Admission: KEAM rank for B.Tech, NATA/JEE Main Paper 2 route for B.Arch, GATE for M.Tech
• Fees: Government-merit fees are modest (roughly tens of thousands of rupees a year, not lakhs). Check the current fee notice.

Medical and dental colleges in Thiruvananthapuram

The city's medical cluster is at Medical College / Ulloor. It includes the government medical college, the government dental college and SCTIMST's hospital wing. MBBS and BDS seats go through NEET UG. State-quota allotment is run by the CEE Kerala and the 15% All India Quota by MCC.

Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST)

SCTIMST is an Institute of National Importance under the Department of Science and Technology. It is known for cardiac and neuro care and for Indian-made medical devices such as heart valves. It placed 17th in the NIRF 2025 Medical category. It does not offer MBBS, so it is a PG and research destination for doctors, nurses and biomedical engineers.

Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram

Founded in 1951, this is Kerala's first medical college and is affiliated to the Kerala University of Health Sciences. It ranked 42nd in the NIRF 2024 Medical list, but we could not confirm a place in the NIRF 2025 top 50. Its very low government fees and heavy clinical load make it one of the most sought-after NEET choices in Kerala.

• Admission: NEET UG (state quota via CEE Kerala; All India Quota via MCC)
• Fees: Government-seat fees are among the lowest in India. Verify the current amount in the CEE Kerala prospectus.

Science and research institutes

Few Indian cities have this many national research centres. Students aiming for a research career in physics, chemistry, biology or development economics will find strong options here.

IISER Thiruvananthapuram

Set up in 2008 by the Ministry of Education, IISER TVM offers a five-year BS-MS degree with a strong research focus from the first year. In NIRF 2025 it is in the 151–200 band of the Overall category. Its main campus is at Vithura, a green hill area outside the city. BS-MS seats are filled through the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT), which is held each June.

Arts, science and commerce colleges

Thiruvananthapuram's government and aided arts colleges do very well in the NIRF College category. Four colleges from the district are in the national top 100. UG admission is through the University of Kerala's centralised online allotment, based on Class 12 marks.

University College Thiruvananthapuram

This is one of the oldest colleges in South India, with roots in the 1830s. It became a full college under the Travancore royal family in 1866. At 23rd in the NIRF 2025 College category, it is the highest-ranked college in the city. It is popular for physics, chemistry, mathematics, English and Malayalam.

Mar Ivanios College

Founded in 1949 and now autonomous, Mar Ivanios is known for its sciences, its campus life and its placement cell. It ranked 61st in the NIRF 2025 College category. As an autonomous college, it runs its own admission process alongside university norms.

Law colleges

Government Law College (founded 1875) has trained many of Kerala's judges and politicians. Neither college is in the NIRF Law list, which is dominated by National Law Universities. Students who want an NLU should take CLAT.

Management colleges

No Trivandrum B-school is in the NIRF 2025 Management list. Still, the city has solid MBA options linked to Technopark and the public sector.

• Institute of Management in Kerala (IMK): The University of Kerala's own MBA department at Kariavattom. Admission is via KMAT/CAT/CMAT and a group discussion and interview.
• CET School of Management: The MBA programme of College of Engineering Trivandrum. It is a government institution with low fees.
• Asian School of Business: A private B-school near Technopark (asb.ac.in). It is costlier, but has close industry links.
• Digital University Kerala: An MBA with a digital-innovation focus.

How admission works in Thiruvananthapuram

1. Pick your stream and exam: JEE Advanced (IIST), IISER IAT (IISER TVM), KEAM (CET and other Kerala B.Tech colleges), NEET UG (MBBS/BDS), the Kerala Law Entrance Exam (LLB), or Class 12 marks (arts and science colleges).
2. Register on the right portal: IIST and IISER run their own portals. KEAM, NEET state quota, LLB and nursing allotments run through the Commissioner for Entrance Examinations (CEE Kerala). Arts and science UG goes through the University of Kerala's online allotment.
3. Submit Kerala-specific documents: State-quota seats need nativity proof. Reservation needs community and income certificates.
4. Fill your options carefully: List government colleges first if fees matter. Within each college, rank branches by your interest, not only by cut-off.
5. Join on time: Pay the fee and report within the allotment window. Missing the deadline usually forfeits the seat.

How to choose the right college in Trivandrum

• Compare within the right NIRF category: A College rank of 23 and an Engineering rank of 61 measure different things.
• Check affiliation and approval: B.Tech colleges should be AICTE-approved and affiliated to KTU. Medical colleges should be NMC-recognised.
• Think about location: IIST (Valiamala), IISER (Vithura) and some private engineering colleges are well outside the city. Factor in hostel and travel.
• Look at outcomes: Ask for recent placement or higher-study data per branch, not just the single highest package.
• Weigh total cost: Government seats in Kerala are among the cheapest in India. Self-financing seats can cost several times more.

Scholarships for students in Thiruvananthapuram

Most government seats here are already low-cost, but hostel, books and travel still add up. Several schemes can help:

• National Scholarship Portal (NSP): Central schemes such as post-matric scholarships and the Central Sector Scheme for college students.
• Kerala state scholarships: Apply through the state's e-grantz and DCE scholarship portals for SC/ST, OBC and merit-based support.
• Institute support: IISER students can get the INSPIRE-SHE scholarship. Many colleges also offer fee waivers.
• AISEE: The All India Scholarship Entrance Examination gives merit-based tuition support to students joining engineering, medical and other courses. See the AISEE scholarship for engineering students.

Medical aspirants can also browse scholarships for medical students. For a wider view, see our list of scholarships after 12th in India.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the best college in Thiruvananthapuram?

It depends on the stream. For engineering, IIST (NIRF 2025 Engineering rank 61) and CET are the top choices. For medicine, SCTIMST (Medical rank 17) leads for PG study and Government Medical College for MBBS. For arts and science, University College (College rank 23) is the highest-ranked college.

What is the NIRF 2025 rank of the University of Kerala?

The University of Kerala ranked 25th in the University category, 42nd in the Overall category and 5th among State Public Universities in NIRF 2025.

How do I get admission to IIST Thiruvananthapuram?

You need to qualify JEE Main, then take JEE Advanced, and then apply on IIST's own admission portal. Seats are allotted on JEE Advanced performance, category and branch preference.

Does IISER Thiruvananthapuram accept JEE scores?

For the BS-MS programme, admission is through the IISER Aptitude Test (IAT), held each June. Check the official IISER admissions website for the current year's eligibility and any other channels.

Is College of Engineering Trivandrum good for B.Tech?

Yes. CET is Kerala's oldest engineering college, with low government fees and a strong alumni network. In NIRF 2025 it was in the Engineering 101–150 band and 15th in Architecture. Admission is through KEAM.

Which colleges in Thiruvananthapuram are in the NIRF college ranking?

In NIRF 2025, four Thiruvananthapuram-district colleges are in the top 100: University College (23), Government College for Women (54), Mar Ivanios College (61) and Government College, Attingal (99).

Conclusion: using this list of colleges in Thiruvananthapuram

This list of colleges in Thiruvananthapuram shows how much the city offers. There is space engineering at IIST, research at IISER, SCTIMST and RGCB, and affordable government seats at CET, the medical college and the city's historic arts colleges. Shortlist three to five institutes in your stream and note each one's 2026 entrance exam and deadlines. Check fees on the official websites, then plan your scholarship applications early so cost does not hold you back.