![Kerala University - [KU]](https://image-static.collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/logos/1395485529Kerala University.png?h=71.7&w=71.7&mode=stretch)
Kerala University Rankings 2025
The University of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, holds rank 42 in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2025 Overall category and rank 25 in the NIRF 2025 Universities category, making it the top-ranked university in Kerala in both lists. In 2022, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) awarded the University of Kerala its highest A++ grade with a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.67, valid through June 2027.
Across national ranking bodies, the University of Kerala holds a consistent top-50 position in India for overall standing and a top-5 position among state public universities.
- Collegedunia 2026 ranks the University of Kerala in five streams: Education (22nd), Agriculture (45th), Law (87th), Hotel Management (71st), and Architecture (164th).
- NIRF 2025 places the university 5th among State Public Universities in India, with a score of 67.93.
- Outlook 2025 ranks the university 62nd among State Public Universities (score 778.54) and 4th among Fisheries Universities (score 919.25).
- India Today 2025 ranks the university 16th among universities in India.
- The University of Kerala holds a NAAC A++ grade (CGPA 3.67), the highest accreditation level awarded by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), valid through June 2027.
Kerala University Ranking in India
The University of Kerala has been assessed by multiple national ranking agencies including Collegedunia, NIRF, Outlook, and India Today. The table below brings together the latest available ranks from each body to give a consolidated national picture, with multi-year NIRF data for trend context.
| Agency | Category | 2025 Rank | 2025 Score | 2024 Rank | 2023 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia | Education (2026) | 22 | 732.7 | - | - |
| Collegedunia | Agriculture (2026) | 45 | 323.6 | - | - |
| Collegedunia | Law (2026) | 87 | 310.3 | - | - |
| Collegedunia | Hotel Management (2026) | 71 | 295.7 | - | - |
| Collegedunia | Architecture (2026) | 164 | 199.1 | - | - |
| NIRF | Overall | 42 | 56.26 | 38 | 47 |
| NIRF | Universities | 25 | 59.05 | 21 | 24 |
| NIRF | State Public Universities | 5 | 67.93 | 9 | - |
| Outlook | State Public Universities | 62 | 778.54 | - | - |
| Outlook | Fisheries Universities | 4 | 919.25 | - | - |
| India Today | Universities | 16 | - | 16 | - |
Key Takeaways:
- The University of Kerala improved from rank 9 to rank 5 in the NIRF State Public Universities category between 2024 and 2025, a gain of four positions in a single cycle.
- NIRF ranks the university at 5th among state public universities but at 42nd in the Overall category, reflecting the broader and more competitive pool in the Overall list.
- India Today has consistently placed the university at rank 16 across both 2024 and 2025, indicating stable recognition among national peers.
Kerala University Collegedunia Ranking
In Collegedunia’s 2026 rankings, the University of Kerala appears across five streams: Education, Agriculture, Law, Hotel Management, and Architecture. Each stream is ranked independently based on Collegedunia’s composite index, which factors in academic quality, outcomes, and institutional data.
| Stream | Collegedunia 2026 Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Education | 22 | 732.7 |
| Agriculture | 45 | 323.6 |
| Hotel Management | 71 | 295.7 |
| Law | 87 | 310.3 |
| Architecture | 164 | 199.1 |
The university’s strongest Collegedunia position is in Education (22nd), where it scores 732.7. Its score in Agriculture (323.6) places it 45th nationally, reflecting its role as a multidisciplinary university with departments spanning science, social sciences, and applied fields.
Kerala University NIRF Ranking
The University of Kerala is assessed by the Ministry of Education’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) across three categories: Overall, Universities, and State Public Universities. NIRF evaluates institutions on five parameters: Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR, covering student-faculty ratio, qualifications, and financial resources), Research and Professional Practice (RPC), Graduate Outcomes (GO), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI), and Peer Perception (PR). The university has been consistently ranked in the top 50 in the Overall list and top 25 in the Universities list over the past three years.
Kerala University NIRF Overall Ranking 2025
In the NIRF 2025 Overall category, the University of Kerala ranks 42nd in India with a score of 56.26. The Overall category is the broadest NIRF list and includes institutions from all sectors: IITs, IIMs, central universities, state universities, and autonomous colleges.
| Year | NIRF Overall Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 42 | 56.26 |
| 2024 | 38 | 55.61 |
| 2023 | 47 | 52.75 |
The university’s NIRF Overall rank moved from 47 in 2023 to 38 in 2024, then settled at 42 in 2025. The score rose from 52.75 in 2023 to 56.26 in 2025, indicating an improvement in absolute performance even as the rank fluctuated within a narrow band due to changes in the competitive pool each year.
Kerala University NIRF Universities Ranking 2025
In the NIRF 2025 Universities category, the University of Kerala holds rank 25 with a score of 59.05. The Universities category specifically compares degree-granting universities and excludes standalone colleges and technical institutes, making it a more relevant benchmark for the university tier.
| Year | NIRF Universities Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 25 | 59.05 |
| 2024 | 21 | 58.48 |
| 2023 | 24 | 55.50 |
The University of Kerala’s score in the Universities category rose from 55.50 in 2023 to 59.05 in 2025, a gain of 3.55 points over two cycles. The rank moved from 24 in 2023 to 21 in 2024, then to 25 in 2025. The 2025 position reflects a modestly larger and more competitive participant pool rather than a fall in the university’s absolute performance, given the continuing score improvement.
Kerala University NIRF State Public Universities Ranking 2025
In the NIRF 2025 State Public Universities category, the University of Kerala ranks 5th in India with a score of 67.93. This category directly compares universities under state government purview, excluding central, deemed, and private universities, and is regarded by many as the most relevant benchmark for state-funded institutions.
| Year | NIRF State Public Universities Rank | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 67.93 |
| 2024 | 9 | 65.15 |
The University of Kerala gained four positions in the State Public Universities category between 2024 and 2025, moving from rank 9 to rank 5. The score improved from 65.15 to 67.93, making it the highest-ranked state public university in Kerala in NIRF 2025. NIRF introduced the State Public Universities category in recent cycles to allow more contextualised comparisons within this institutional type.
Kerala University World Ranking
The University of Kerala appears in two global ranking systems: the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and the QS Asia University Rankings. Global rankings assess a different set of metrics from national frameworks, including international faculty and student ratios, research citations per paper, and academic and employer reputation surveys.
| Agency | Category | Rank / Band | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Times Higher Education (THE) | World University Rankings | 1201-1500 | 2026 |
| QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) | Asia University Rankings | 339 | 2025 |
The THE World University Rankings 2026 places the University of Kerala in the 1201-1500 band. Global rankings of this type assess a very large pool of institutions worldwide, and a position in this band reflects inclusion among the globally assessed universities rather than a specific single-number rank. The QS Asia University Rankings 2025 list the university at 339, covering institutions across the Asian region.
Kerala University Ranking: Data Freshness
The ranking data cited in this article covers the latest available releases from each agency as of July 2026. The NIRF 2025 cycle results were announced in 2025. The next NIRF cycle is expected to be released in 2026. The Collegedunia 2026 rankings represent the most recent Collegedunia cycle at the time of writing.
Kerala University Ranking FAQs
Ques. What is Kerala University’s NIRF rank in 2025?
Ans. The University of Kerala holds three NIRF 2025 ranks: rank 42 in the Overall category (score 56.26), rank 25 in the Universities category (score 59.05), and rank 5 in the State Public Universities category (score 67.93). The State Public Universities rank of 5 is the most directly comparable figure for a state-funded university, as it measures Kerala University against institutions in the same governance tier.
Ques. Has Kerala University’s NIRF ranking improved over the last three years?
Ans. In the NIRF Overall category, the university’s score rose from 52.75 in 2023 to 56.26 in 2025, a gain of 3.51 points. The rank moved from 47 in 2023 to 38 in 2024 before settling at 42 in 2025. In the Universities category, the score improved from 55.50 in 2023 to 59.05 in 2025. The most notable single-year gain was in the State Public Universities category, where the university moved from rank 9 in 2024 to rank 5 in 2025.
Ques. What streams does Collegedunia rank Kerala University in for 2026?
Ans. Collegedunia 2026 ranks the University of Kerala in five streams: Education (22nd, score 732.7), Agriculture (45th, score 323.6), Law (87th, score 310.3), Hotel Management (71st, score 295.7), and Architecture (164th, score 199.1). The university’s highest Collegedunia rank is in the Education stream, reflecting its standing among institutions offering teacher education and education-related programmes.
Ques. Is Kerala University ranked globally?
Ans. Yes. The Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026 place the University of Kerala in the 1201-1500 band globally. The QS Asia University Rankings 2025 list the university at rank 339 in the Asian region. Global rankings use different metrics from national frameworks, including international research citations and reputation surveys, so the position in global lists differs significantly from the NIRF position.
Ques. What is Kerala University’s NAAC accreditation status?
Ans. The University of Kerala holds a NAAC A++ grade with a CGPA of 3.67, awarded in June 2022 and valid through June 2027. A++ is the highest grade issued by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). NAAC accreditation feeds directly into NIRF’s Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) and Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR) parameters, and is a factor considered by ranking agencies in assessing institutional quality.
Comments