Which states have the highest number of colleges in India?

The Higher Education Analytics & Regional Trends (HEART) report by CollegeDekho reveals that India has the largest higher education landscape in the world with 79.5% enrollment in undergraduate, 12.1% in post-graduate, 6.8% in diploma, 1,1% integrated, and 0.5% Ph D courses. With over 54.5k colleges and universities spread over 28 states and 7 union territories, India has been a hub for higher education for over 4.33 crore students, and the number is constantly on the rise.

However, student enrollment in colleges is not evenly distributed across all states in India. While some states have a higher college count, some are yet to increase the college count to be at par with others. A gradual uprise has been noticed in the past 5 years in populous states, so more colleges are expected in the next 5 years. Based on the current scenario, you might wonder which states have the highest number of colleges in India. Refer to CollegeDekho's HEART report 2024 to gauge the shifting trends in the higher education sector and the requisites that you must fulfil for an increased ROI on your education.

Indian States with Highest Number of Colleges

According to CollegeDekho’s past three years detailed analysis, 10 states have the highest number of colleges in India. These states are Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan.

• Uttar Pradesh boasts 8375 colleges in 2024. In 2023, and 2022, the maximum number of colleges were 8114, and 7788, respectively. In UP, only two districts have the maximum number of colleges i.e., Prayagraj and Ghazipur.

• Maharashtra, being the second lead, has 4392 colleges in 2024. In 2023, and 2022, the numbers were 4532 and 4494 respectively.

• Karnataka, ranking third currently has 4430 colleges. In 2023, and 2022, the state had 4233 and 4047 colleges respectively.

Analysis

The graph proves that the top three states have witnessed consistent growth in college numbers over the past three years. The numbers for the other 7 states have also been highlighted. Although slow, steady growth has been observed for Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, and Rajasthan. However, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh faced a setback. Even though Madhya Pradesh gained momentum in 2024, the number of colleges for the other two states has collectively decreased in the past three years.

The data clearly shows that Uttar Pradesh’s growth in terms of colleges is unmatched and beyond comparison. Although in the second rank among the top 10, Maharashtra is way behind Uttar Pradesh’s evolution. The number of colleges in Uttar Pradesh is almost double that of Maharashtra. On the other hand, the college count difference between Karnataka and Maharashtra is just 38.

India’s college scenario has consistently changed over the years. It has grown from 40k to 54k colleges, including private and government institutions. So, the college density is anticipated to be higher in the upcoming years. More colleges might be established in the remaining states. UP can also set up more colleges in the upcoming years. With more options, students might be confused about which institution they should enroll in.

CollegeDekho understands these challenges and understands the Higher education sector well. With a record of having assisted over 200,000 students in enrolling in the best colleges in all Indian states, CollegeDekho strives to help all Indian students on their educational journey.