Chennai’s top Arts colleges are Madras Christian College Chennai, Loyola College Chennai, Stella Maris College Chennai, Women's Christian College Chennai, and Ethiraj College for Women Chennai. As per the Collegedunia India rankings, Madras Christian College Chennai is ranked 13th with an overall score of 1351, Loyola College Chennai is at 15th with an overall score of 1317, and Stella Maris College Chennai is at 32nd with an overall score of 1136.
Government Arts colleges have fees ranging from 28.69 K (Ethiraj College for Women Chennai) to 77.22 K (Stella Maris College Chennai), while Private Arts colleges have fees ranging from 36 K (SDNB Vaishnav College for Women Chennai) to 2.35 Lakh (SRMIST Chennai).
Top 20 Arts Colleges in Chennai 2026
| Ranking in Chennai | College Name | College Type | Course Type | Eligibility Criteria | Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Madras Christian College Chennai | Private | BA (Political Science) | 10+2 with 50% | 56.16 K |
| 2 | Loyola College Chennai | Private | BA (Economics) | 10+2 with 50% | 84.66 K |
| 3 | Stella Maris College Chennai | Government | BA (English) | 10+2 with 50% | 77.22 K |
| 4 | Women's Christian College Chennai | Private | BA (English) | 10+2 with 55% | 1.52 Lakh |
| 5 | Ethiraj College for Women Chennai | Government | BA (History) | 10+2 with 50% | 28.69 K |
| 6 | Guru Nanak College (Autonomous) Chennai | Government | BA (Defence & Strategic Studies) | 10+2 with 50% | 69.15 K |
| 7 | HICAS Chennai | Private | BA (Public Administration) | 10+2 with 50% | 1.32 Lakh |
| 8 | Anna Adarsh College for Women Chennai | Private | BA (English Literature) | 10+2 with 50% | 1.77 Lakh |
| 9 | CTTEWC Chennai | Private | BA (English) | 10+2 with 50% | 1.57 Lakh |
| 10 | SDNB Vaishnav College for Women Chennai | Private | BA (English Literature) | 10+2 with 50% | 36 K |
| 11 | Patrician College of Arts and science Chennai | Private | BA (English) | 10+2 with 50% | 1.35 Lakh |
| 12 | Shri Shankarlal Sundarbai Shasun Jain College for Women Chennai | Private | BA (English) | 10+2 with 50% | 1.11 Lakh |
| 13 | Vels Institute of Science, Technology & Advanced Studies Chennai | Private | BA (English) | 10+2 with 50% | 1.92 Lakh |
| 14 | Sri Kanyaka Parameswari Arts and Science College for Women Chennai | Private | BA (English) | 10+2 with 50% | 83.25 K |
| 15 | Annai Violet Arts and Science College Chennai | Private | BA (Economics) | 10+2 with 50% | 90 K |
| 16 | Thiruthangal Nadar College Chennai | Private | BA (Criminology and Police Administration) | 10+2 with 50% | 73.5 K |
| 17 | SRMIST Chennai | Private | BA (English) | 10+2 with 50% | 2.35 Lakh |
| 18 | Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology Chennai | Private | BA (English) | 10+2 with 50% | 2.03 Lakh |
| 19 | SRM Institute of Science and Technology Ramapuram Campus Chennai | Private | BA (English) | 10+2 with 50% | 1.5 Lakh |
| 20 | DDGDVC Chennai | Private | - | - | - |
Top-Ranked Arts Colleges in Chennai by Various Agencies
Madras Christian College Chennai holds the top position across all rankings, followed by Loyola College Chennai and Stella Maris College Chennai. Here is the list of the Collegedunia, NAAC, India Today, The Week, and Outlook rankings for the top Arts Colleges in Chennai.
| College Name | Collegedunia Rankings | NAAC | India Today (India) | The Week (India) | Outlook (India) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD Rank | CD Score (out of 2000) | |||||
| Madras Christian College Chennai | 13 | 1351 | A | 6 | 7 | 5 |
| Loyola College Chennai | 15 | 1317 | A++ | 7 | 5 | 8 |
| Stella Maris College Chennai | 32 | 1136 | A+ | 16 | 13 | 14 |
| Women's Christian College Chennai | 35 | 1115 | A+ | 18 | 37 | 16 |
| Ethiraj College for Women Chennai | 102 | 855 | A+ | 49 | 20 | 18 |
Student Ratings of Best Arts Colleges in Chennai
These are the ratings given by current students and alumni for the best Arts colleges in Chennai. They cover important aspects such as academics, faculty, infrastructure, accommodation, social life, and placements. Here is the list of student ratings for the best Arts Colleges in Chennai 2026.
| College Name | Academics | Faculty | Infrastructure | Accommodation | Social Life | Placements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madras Christian College Chennai | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.2 |
| Loyola College Chennai | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.1 | 4.4 | 4.2 |
| Stella Maris College Chennai | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.0 |
| Women's Christian College Chennai | 4.0 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.2 | 4.0 | 3.8 |
| Ethiraj College for Women Chennai | 4.2 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.0 |
Disclaimer: The data is based on student reviews and alumni reviews available on Collegedunia.
Student Perception of the Best Arts Colleges in Chennai
Arts colleges in Chennai, like Madras Christian College Chennai and Loyola College Chennai, provide genuine input on academics, faculty, facilities, placements, and more. Based on Collegedunia student reviews, the following table presents the most loved things & the areas of improvement.
| College Name | Overall Ratings | Most Loved Things | Area of Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madras Christian College Chennai | 4.3 (350 reviews) | Green campus & supportive faculty. | Outdated infrastructure & strict rules |
| Loyola College Chennai | 4.3 (303 reviews) | Strong faculty & vibrant campus life. | Strict rules & uneven teaching quality. |
| Stella Maris College Chennai | 4.2 (68 reviews) | Supportive faculty & active campus life. | Small campus & strict rules. |
| Women's Christian College Chennai | 3.8 (103 reviews) | Green campus & supportive faculty. | Strict rules & poor facilities issues. |
| Ethiraj College for Women Chennai | 4.1 (144 reviews) | Good faculty & placements. | Poor canteen & hygiene issues. |
Govt Arts Colleges in Chennai 2026
Out of 28 government-owned colleges, Stella Maris College Chennai, Ethiraj College for Women Chennai, and Guru Nanak College (Autonomous) Chennai are the top government arts colleges in Chennai. Fees range from 3.78 K at The New College Chennai, to 77.22 K at Stella Maris College Chennai. Following is a table listing the course details and total course fees of these colleges.
| College Name | Course Type | Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Stella Maris College Chennai | BA (English) | 77.22 K |
| Ethiraj College for Women Chennai | BA (History) | 28.69 K |
| Guru Nanak College (Autonomous) Chennai | BA (Defence & Strategic Studies) | 69.15 K |
| JBAS Chennai | BA (Political Science) | 33.18 K |
| The New College Chennai | BA (Economics) | 3.78 K |
Private Arts Colleges in Chennai 2026
Out of 100 private colleges, Madras Christian College Chennai, Loyola College Chennai, and Women's Christian College Chennai are the top Private Arts Colleges in Chennai. Fees range from 56.16 K at Madras Christian College Chennai, to 1.77 Lakh at Anna Adarsh College for Women Chennai. Following is a table listing the course details and total course fees of these colleges.
| College Name | Course Type | Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Madras Christian College Chennai | BA (Political Science) | 56.16 K |
| Loyola College Chennai | BA (Economics) | 84.66 K |
| Women's Christian College Chennai | BA (English) | 1.52 Lakh |
| HICAS Chennai | BA (Public Administration) | 1.32 Lakh |
| Anna Adarsh College for Women Chennai | BA (English Literature) | 1.77 Lakh |
Top Arts Colleges in Chennai: Admission 2026
The Arts colleges in Chennai offer admission through both merit-based and entrance exam-based processes, with merit-based selection being more common. Admission to BA programs is based on Class 12th marks, while MA admissions depend on graduation marks or entrance exams. Some institutions also accept CUET and AP OAMDC scores. Candidates must have completed Class 12th for BA or graduation for MA from a recognised board/university, and final-year students are also eligible to apply. Here is the list of the top Arts colleges, along with their admission details and timelines.
| College Name | Exam Accepted | Admission Timeline 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Madras Christian College Chennai | Merit-Based |
|
| Loyola College Chennai | Merit-Based, Entrance |
|
| Stella Maris College Chennai | Merit-Based |
|
| Women's Christian College Chennai | Merit-Based |
|
| Ethiraj College for Women Chennai | Merit-Based |
|
Top MA Colleges in Chennai 2026
Out of 132 Arts colleges in Chennai, 70 colleges offer MA. Madras Christian College Chennai, is a top MA College in Chennai. Here is the list of the top MA colleges in Chennai, along with their course fees, eligibility criteria, and top specialisations.
| College Name | Eligibility Criteria | Top Specialization | Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madras Christian College Chennai | Graduation with 50% | Communication | 56.91 K |
| Loyola College Chennai | Graduation with 50% | English | 58.52 K |
| Stella Maris College Chennai | Graduation with 50% | English | 55 K |
| Women's Christian College Chennai | Graduation with 50% | English | 1.87 Lakh |
| Ethiraj College for Women Chennai | Graduation with 50% | Human Resource Management | 98.18 K |
| Guru Nanak College (Autonomous) Chennai | Graduation with 50% | Defence And Strategic Studies | 1 Lakh |
| HICAS Chennai | - | Public Administration | - |
| Anna Adarsh College for Women Chennai | Graduation with 50% | Public Administration | 92 K |
| CTTEWC Chennai | Graduation with 50% | English | 1 Lakh |
| SDNB Vaishnav College for Women Chennai | Graduation with 50% | Human Resource Management | 37.5 K |
Top Full-Time Arts Colleges with the Cheapest Fees in Chennai 2026
Quaide-E-Millath Government College for Women Chennai, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College Chennai, and Queen Mary's College Chennai are top Arts colleges with the Cheapest Fees in Chennai, which have total fees ranging from 0.98 K to 1.7 K. Similarly, the following is a list of the top Arts colleges in Chennai with the Cheapest Fees.
| College Name | Course Duration | Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Quaide-E-Millath Government College for Women Chennai | 3 Years | 0.98 K |
| Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College Chennai | 1 Year | 1.06 K |
| Queen Mary's College Chennai | 2 Years | 1.13 K |
| BWC Chennai | 2 Years | 1.2 K |
| The New College Chennai | 3 Years | 1.7 K |
Top Specialisations offered by Arts Colleges in Chennai 2026
English is one of the most popular Arts programs in Chennai, with 84 colleges offering the course. Below is the list of the top Arts specialisations in Chennai, along with the total number of colleges offering the specialisations and the top 3 colleges for each specialisation.
Arts Colleges in Chennai FAQs
Ques. What is the admission process for Arts colleges in Chennai?
Ans. Admission is mainly merit-based, where students are selected based on Class 12 marks (for BA) or graduation marks (for MA). Some colleges also accept CUET and AP OAMDC scores or conduct entrance tests/interviews for specific courses.
Ques. What are the specialisations provided by Arts colleges in Chennai?
Ans. English, Economics, Tamil, Social Work, History, and Public Administration are the Best specializations offered by the Best Arts Colleges in Chennai.
Ques. How many colleges in Chennai offer part-time Arts programs?
Ans. 31 Arts colleges in Chennai offer a part-time Arts program. The top 3 on the list include:
Ques. How many colleges in Chennai offer Distance Arts programs?
Ans. 7 Arts colleges in Chennai offer a Distance Arts program. The top 3 on the list include:
Ques. How many colleges in Chennai offer Online Arts programs?
Ans. 7 Arts colleges in Chennai offer an Online Arts program. The top 3 on the list include:
Ques. How many women-only Arts colleges are in Chennai?
Ans. There are 20 women-only Arts colleges in Chennai. Here are the top 3 women-only Arts colleges in Chennai.
Ques. How many men-only Arts colleges are in Chennai?
Ans. There are 5 men-only Arts colleges in Chennai.
![Madras Christian College - [MCC] logo](https://image-static.collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/logos/1393668198Madras Christian College.png?h=43&w=43&mode=stretch)
2026
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