Top 20
Top 20 Arts Colleges in India
There are plenty of best and top ranking Arts colleges in India offering undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral programmes in different specialisations to students. Pursuing academic courses in Arts stream will allow students to shape their dreams and achieve career opportunities.
Pursuing Courses in Arts and Career Scope
Arts is one of the streams like Science and Commerce which is commonly taken up by a large number of students at various higher secondary schools, colleges and universities in India. This stream allows students to take on the path of teaching, law, politics, journalism, artist and many more diverse roles in life. Students enrol in the three-year Bachelor of Arts (B. A.) and two-year Master of Arts (M. A.) degree as well as Doctoral (PhD) programmes in disciplines such as History, Economics, Political Science, Languages, Performing Art and more. There are plenty of courses that are offered to students who are willing to go for it.
Arts have a major focus on the diverse nature of Literature, Sociology, Economics, Political Science, Journalism, Psychology, Languages, Poetry, Writing, Performing Art, Music, Dance, Theatre, Theatrical Studies, Drawing, Painting, Sculpting, Architecture and several other specialisations. Students can enrol in one or more courses and learn. All of these different courses give aspirants a plethora of professional alternatives and prospects and much more.
Furthermore, students can also apply for many government-based jobs by clearing out the exams with an Arts degree. There are various exams like UPSC and other Civil Services and administrative exams where candidates need to have an Arts degree. And, that is why many students from this stream go for such public services exams more than others.
Also, read our blog about:
Top 20 Commerce Colleges in India
Let us now take a look at some of the top-ranking Arts colleges in India.
20 Best Colleges for Pursuing Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral Degrees in Arts in India
Below is an alphabetically sorted list consisting of twenty top ranking Arts colleges of Dehradun, Uttarakhand for students seeking to pursue courses with specialisation in different fields.
1. Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College
Place: New Delhi, Delhi
Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College (ARSD College) is an Indian government-operated co-educational college. It was established in 1959 by the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS), a Hindu organization based in Saint Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. ARSD College is affiliated with the University of Delhi Board.
The college offers degree and certificate programmes to candidates at the undergraduate and post-graduate levels. The UG programmes include B.Sc. (Hons.), B.Sc., B.Com (Prog), B.Com (Hons.), B.A. (Prog) and B.A. (Hons.). The PG level includes M.A. and M.Com programmes. There are a total of 12 courses offered to the B.A. students and 3 courses to M.A. students. The duration of all the UG and PG programmes is three and two years, respectively.
2. CHRIST (Deemed to be University)
Place: Bengaluru, Karnataka
Christ University, formerly known as Christ College, is a prestigious institution in India. It was established in 1969 and was recently renamed as Christ (Deemed to be University). The university is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. It is managed by the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), a religious Catholic body. Christ University holds accreditation from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with an ‘A+’ grade, which highlights its commitment to quality education and academic excellence.
Christ (Deemed to be University) is an institution that welcomes students from various nationalities, granting admission to both national and foreign students. The university provides a wide range of educational opportunities, offering undergraduate, post-graduate, and research programs. The undergraduate degree programs at Christ University encompass subjects such as humanities, social sciences, law, science, engineering, commerce, and management.
CHRIST (Deemed to be University) is a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) and International Federation of Catholic Universities (IFCU).
3. Fergusson College
Place: Pune, Maharashtra
Fergusson College, which now is converted into a university, is a college of Arts and Science. The college was established in 1885 in Pune, Maharashtra, and named after Sir James Fergusson, who served as the Governor of Bombay at that time. The college is affiliated to Savitribai Phule Pune University and UGC, and accredited with A Grade by NAAC. Fergusson College is also given a special heritage status by UGC.
The college has two sections; the Junior Wing (or Junior College), which is for students graduating from school. The courses are offered in Arts and Science streams, at the end of which students can appear for the Higher Secondary State Certificate examination. The other section is the Senior Wing, which offers bachelor’s degrees in 29 disciplines and master’s degrees in 16 disciplines.
4. Gargi College
Place: New Delhi, Delhi
Gargi College, established in 1967, is a renowned women’s college in India. Named after the esteemed ancient female sage and philosopher, Gargi Vachaknavi, the college holds a distinguished position among the top colleges in the country. With its location in New Delhi, the college is affiliated with the University of Delhi board. Gargi College is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), emphasizing its commitment to providing quality education for women.
The college is comprised of nine departments which include botany, chemistry, commerce, elementary education, microbiology, physics, psychology, zoology, and the women’s development centre.
In addition to offering undergraduate and post-graduate degree programmes, Gargi College also provides facilities to the students and staff and allow the students to participate in extra-curricular activities.
5. Hansraj College
Place: New Delhi, Delhi
Hansraj College in India is a renowned co-educational institution. Originally established as a college exclusively for boys in 1948, it underwent a transformation and became a co-educational college. Affiliated with the University of Delhi, Hansraj College is also one of the largest constituent colleges affiliated with the university.
The college provides a wide range of degree programs for both undergraduate and post-graduate students in various departments such as liberal arts, science, and commerce. Additionally, the college offers additional certification courses in exciting fields like radio jockeying (RJ), anchoring & TV journalism, acting and film-making, mass communication, and advertising & marketing.
6. Hindu College
Place: New Delhi, Delhi
The Hindu College, established in 1899 by nationalist freedom fighter Krishan Dassji Gurwale, is a prestigious government-operated co-educational institution regarded as one of India’s top arts colleges. Its founding vision aimed to create a college that was inclusive and unbiased, avoiding elitism and sectarianism. Initially affiliated with Punjab University, the college later became affiliated with the University of Delhi. Throughout India’s pre-independence era, the Hindu College played a significant role in shaping the nation’s history.
The institution offers undergraduate and post-graduate degree programmes in disciplines like Botany, Chemistry, Commerce, Economics, English, Hindi, History, Humanities, Mathematics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Sanskrit, Sociology, Statistics, and Zoology etc.
The Hindu College offers separate hostels for male and female students. However, due to limited availability, admission to the institute’s hostels is only granted to highly meritorious college students.
7. Lady Shri Ram College for Women
Place: New Delhi, Delhi
Lady Shri Ram College (LSR) is a leading arts college in India exclusively for women. It is an autonomous institution affiliated with the University of Delhi, which serves as LSR’s parent institution. This esteemed college was founded in 1956 by the late Lala Shri Ram, also known as Sir Shri Ram, who was a renowned industrialist and philanthropist. In honor of his wife, Phoolan Devi, the institution is named “Lady Shri Ram.”
The institute offers academic programmes to the students which consist of undergraduate and post-graduate courses in various disciplines. The courses include bachelor’s degree in Arts, Commerce and Science streams, with a selection of Honours subjects in Economics, Mathematics, Statistics, Political Science, Sociology, History, Philosophy, Journalism, Mass Communication, Psychology, Sanskrit, Hindi, and English, respectively. The institute also offers B. A. Programme, B. El. Ed (Bachelor of Elementary Education), and a post-graduate diploma course in Conflict Transformation and Peace-building (CTPB).
Aside from academic programmes, LSR college also provide extra-curricular activities to the students. The institute also holds its annual cultural festivals, where students participate in activities such as fine arts, drama, dance, music, film, debate, and quiz etc.
8. Lovely Professional University
Place: Phagwara, Punjab
Lovely Professional University (LPU) is one of the top ranking universities situated in Phagwara, Punjab, and established in 2005. LPU is a privately-owned co-educational university recognised by UGC and is a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). The institute is also approved by the NCTE, COA, ACU, PCI, IAP, BCI, ACBSP, and ICAR boards. The university is managed by the Lovely International Trust.
LPU is a constituent of several schools in different departments, where each department offers undergraduate, post-graduate, and doctoral degree courses and research programmes to the students. LPU’s School of Arts & Languages offers courses to students who are interested in enrolling for the Arts stream.
The distance education programmes offered by LPU are approved by the Distance Education Bureau (DEB).
9. Loyola College
Place: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Loyola College, located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, is a renowned co-educational institute for arts. It was founded in 1925 by French priest Francis Bertram and initially served as a Roman Catholic minority community college exclusively for boys. The college is operated by the Society of Jesus, also known as Jesuits. Loyola College is affiliated with the University of Madras, now known as Chennai. In recent years, the college has transitioned into a co-educational institution, welcoming both male and female students.
The institute provides various academic programs at both undergraduate and post-graduate levels, granting degrees in liberal arts, commerce, and sciences. Loyola College offers a range of courses in the arts and humanities, such as sociology, history, economics, commerce, Tamil, and English. Additionally, they offer science courses including physics, chemistry, botany, zoology, statistics, and computer science.
Additionally, the institute also mandates its students to participate in extra-curricular, cultural, and social work activities, in which the students earn non-academic credits required prior to being conferred with degrees.
10. Madras Christian College
Place: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
The Madras Christian College (MCC) is among the oldest colleges in Asia and best colleges in India. MCC is a Liberal Arts and Sciences college situated in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The college was established in the year 1837 and is affiliated to the University of Madras. Initially, the college was started as a boys-only institute, and later, it was converted into an autonomous co-educational college, and providing hostel facilities to the students.
MCC offers over 30 regular courses in undergraduate and post-graduate programmes in Arts, Sciences and Commerce. The college also offers undergraduate programmes in vocational streams of Archaeology and Musicology; and post-graduate programmes in Social Work (MSW) and Computer Applications (MCA). Additionally, a number of departments at the college offers M. Phil and Ph.D. programmes to the students.
MCC is associated with the Madras Christian College Higher Secondary School (MCCHSS) board in Chetput, Chennai, and three other schools in Tambaram, namely the Oxfam, RSL and the Campus School.
11. Miranda House (W)
Place: New Delhi, Delhi
Miranda House (W) is one of the top ranking and best Arts college in India for women. The college is affiliated with the University of Delhi. It was founded in the year 1948 by Sir Maurice Gwyer. There are quite a few reasons as to why Sir Maurice chose the name “Miranda” for the women’s-only educational institution. The college also provides accommodation (hostel) for the students as well as academic and non-academic staff within its campus.
The institute offers undergraduate and post-graduate degree programmes (including B. A., B. Sc., M. A., and M. Sc. Honours) in subjects like Bengali, Economics, English, Geography, Hindi, History, Hindustani Music (Vocal/Instrumental), Philosophy, Political Science, Anthropology, Sanskrit, Sociology, Botany, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, and Zoology.
Additionally, Miranda House (W) college also offers courses in Foreign Languages and short duration (usually 2 months) Certification in Computer Applications for the visually challenged students.
12. Mithibai College of Arts
Place: Mumbai, Maharashtra
Mithibai College of Arts is a well-known educational institution situated in Vile Parle, Mumbai, Maharashtra. The college was established in 1961 by the Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal (SVPKM) trust, which also operates many educational schools, colleges and institutions across India. Mithibai College is accredited by NAAC with ‘A’ Grade and affiliated with the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) and the University of Mumbai.
Mithibai College offers undergraduate, post-graduate and PhD degree programmes. The B.A. courses offered include subjects like Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Psychology, Multimedia and Mass Communication, Gujarati and English. The subjects for M.A. courses are Economics, Psychology and English.
The college also offers other courses including Bachelor of Management Studies (BMS), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) and Master of Science (M.Sc.) degree courses in subjects like Biochemistry, Biotechnology and Computer Science.
13. Presidency University
Place: Kolkata, West Bengal
Presidency University is ranked among the best institutes for studying Arts in India. The institute was established in the year 1817 as Hindu College, and later changed its name to Presidency College. The college was granted status of a university in the year 2010, and so, it is now known as Presidency University. The co-educational institution is affiliated with the University of Calcutta. It is accredited by NAAC with ‘A’ Grade status and is recognised as an Institute of National Eminence (INI) by UGC and AIU.
The institution offers undergraduate, post-graduate and doctoral degree programmes to the students, however, the scope of departments is very few. The currently available departments include Performing Arts, Political Science, Philosophy, History, Geography, Biotechnology, Life Science, Geology, Statistics, Chemistry, Economics, Sociology, Physics, Mathematics, Bengali, Hindi and English.
The Presidency University’s department also consist of the Institute of Health Sciences and School of Astrophysics.
14. Ramjas College
Place: New Delhi, Delhi
Ramjas College is a co-educational institute and one of the best colleges for studying Arts in India. The institution was founded in the year 1917 by Rai Kedar Nath, who was a great educationist and philanthropist. The college is named after the founder’s father, Lala Ramjas. It is now affiliated with the University of Delhi, and prior to that, the college was run by the Ramjas Foundation. The college is recognised by UGC.
Ramjas College offers undergraduate and post-graduate degree programmes to the students, including Sciences, Humanities and Commerce streams. The college also provides various certification as well as foreign language courses.
There is also a separate on-campus hostel each for boys and girls. However, accommodation is very limited.
15. Sacred Heart College, Thevara
Place: Kochi, Kerala
Sacred Heart College (SHC) is ranked one of the top colleges in India. It was established in 1944 by the Sacred Heart Monastery, a unit of the CMI (Carmelites of Mary Immaculate) Congregation in Thevara of Kochi city, Kerala. The autonomous co-educational college is accredited by NAAC with a Five-star rating and ‘A+’ Grade status. SHC, which is also a higher education institution in the state of Kerala, is affiliated with the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, but previously, was affiliated to the University of Kerala.
The college offers full-time UG, PG, Diploma and M. Phil programmes to the students in Arts, Science and Commerce streams. It has also been recognised as a research centre offering PhD programmes under the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. The B.A. and M.A. courses include subjects like Economics, Sociology, Mass Communication and Journalism, Animation and Graphic Design, Animation and Video Effects, English Copy Editor (Model II), and English Language and Literature (Model I).
Admission to all courses are in the college is based on merit and can be applied online through the college website. The seat reservation of the college is mainly categorised into Nominees, Persons with Disabilities, Special and Mandatory reservation.
16. Sri Venkateswara College
Place: New Delhi, Delhi
Sri Venkateswara College has been ranked under all its popular streams including Arts, Science Commerce. The co-educational college was established in 1961 and is managed by both the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust and UGC, and is affiliated to the University of Delhi. Sri Venkateswara College is situated in the Dhaula Kuan region of New Delhi and also provides hostel, extra-curricular and other facilities for boys and girls.
Sri Venkateswara College offers undergraduate and post-graduate courses across three of the popular streams, i.e. Science, Arts and Commerce. In addition to this, it also offers a few diploma, certificate and short-term add-on courses like Foreign Language, Management and Science.
The B.A. (Hons.) courses offered include subjects like Economics, History, Political Science, Sociology, Sanskrit, Hindi and English. The M.A. courses include subjects like Mathematics, Statistics, History, Sanskrit and English.
17. St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata
Place: Kolkata, West Bengal
St. Xavier’s College situated in Kolkata, West Bengal, is one of the oldest and best Arts college in India. The co-educational institute which is named after a 16th century Spanish Jesuit saint, St. Francis Xavier, was established in the year 1860 in Calcutta (now Kolkata). It is affiliated with the University of Calcutta and is presently managed by the Society of Jesus (called Jesuits) of the Roman Catholic religious community in India.
In addition to being an autonomous institute, St. Xavier’s College is also a higher education institution that is aided by the Govt. of India. The institute’s Arts department offers undergraduate degree programmes, including Honours, in various subjects like English, Bengali, Political Science, Sociology, Microbiology, Computer Science, Animation and Multimedia, Mass Communication and Videography, Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, and Economics.
St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata is a well-equipped institution that provide facilities to the students in addition to offering bachelor’s degree programmes. There is also a commemorative postage stamp issued by the Indian Post in the year 1985 bearing the institute’s building.
18. St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
Place: Mumbai, Maharashtra
St. Xavier’s College situated in Mumbai, Maharashtra is another well-known college for Arts in India. The co-educational institute which is named after a 16th century Spanish Jesuit saint, St. Francis Xavier, was established in the year 1869 by Jesuits of German-origin that came to Bombay (now Mumbai). It is affiliated with the University of Mumbai and is presently managed by the Society of Jesus (called Jesuits) of the Roman Catholic religious community in India. It is accredited by the UGC and NAAC with A+ (Five-star) Grade status.
The institute offers undergraduate and post-graduate courses in Arts, Science, Business, Commerce or Public Policy departments. Diploma and Certification courses are also offered to the students. In addition to this, the institution gives special considerations to students belonging to Catholic community, economically and socially disadvantaged applicants, as well as students belonging to Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST).
19. Stella Maris College
Place: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Stella Maris College, located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is a highly regarded semi-residential college exclusively for women. Founded in 1947, the college is managed by the Society of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary and is affiliated with the University of Madras. It holds the distinction of being the first women’s college in Madras (now Chennai) to introduce M.A. degree programs in English, Economics, and Fine Arts.
The college provides a diverse range of educational opportunities including 19 undergraduate courses, 12 post-graduate degree programs, and research programs such as M.Phil, PhD, and post-graduate diploma courses. These programs are an integral part of the college’s academic curriculum. Notably, the college takes pride in being the pioneer in offering bachelor’s degrees in Western Music and History of Fine Arts, along with master’s degrees in Social Work and Indian Music.
The college also provides hostel facilities to its students, a total of five which are named as Snehalaya, Our Lady’s, Klemens, St. Josephs and Nava Nirmana, respectively.
20. Symbiosis College of Arts & Commerce
Place: Pune, Maharashtra
Symbiosis College of Arts & Commerce, situated in Pune, Maharashtra, is a prestigious educational institution in India. It operates autonomously under the management of the Symbiosis Society, which is also responsible for overseeing Symbiosis International University (SIU). The college holds recognition from the University Grants Commission (UGC) and has been awarded the esteemed status of ‘College with Potential for Excellence (CPE).’ Additionally, it has received an ‘A+’ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). It is important to note that all degrees conferred by the college are issued by Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune.
The institute provides specialized 3-year programs in Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), as well as a 2-year program in Master of Commerce (M.Com.). Additionally, it offers diploma (PhD) and certificate courses in liberal arts, all under the Symbiosis Centre for Liberal Arts (SCLA), which is an initiative of Symbiosis Arts & Commerce College.
The institute has recently introduced an honours degree program for B.A. and B.Com. students. Additionally, they now offer the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) course along with their regular graduation programs. This initiative aims to provide students with an internationally recognized certification, enhancing their knowledge and skillset to a global standard.
More Best Arts Colleges in India to Consider
Here are a few more names of colleges and universities throughout India to pursue Arts in different disciplines of one’s choice or interest.
- Delhi College of Arts & Commerce (New Delhi, Delhi)
- Jai Hind College (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
- Jesus and Mary College (New Delhi, Delhi)
- K. J. Somaiya College of Arts & Commerce (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
- RV University (Bengaluru, Karnataka)
Conclusion
The best Arts colleges in India that are mentioned above provide competitive education for their undergraduate, post-graduate degree and doctoral programmes to students.
