Maharaja's College Mysuru

About Maharaja's College Mysuru

Maharaja's College, Mysuru was founded in 1879 by the Wadiyar royal family of Mysore — not as a revenue project, but as a deliberate push to make liberal education accessible in the princely state. That origin still shows in how the institution operates: it runs on government fees (under ₹2,000 per year for BA), holds NAAC A+ accreditation, and has produced more Jnanpith Award winners, IAS officers and Kannada writers than most private colleges manage in several times the budget.

The college is affiliated to the University of Mysore and located at Crawford Hall campus, roughly 2 km from Mysuru City railway station. Its central library holds over 1,00,000 volumes and a rare Kannada manuscript collection — one of the most significant in Karnataka — which the NAAC peer team cited specifically in their assessment.

Courses and Fees

SC/ST students qualify for full fee waiver under the Karnataka government's post-matric scholarship scheme. Boys' hostel is available on campus — apply at the time of admission as seats are limited.

Admission Process

BA admissions open through the Karnataka Government Degree Colleges online portal in June each year. There is no entrance exam — merit in 12th standard is the sole criterion. The college reserves seats under SC (15%), ST (3%) and OBC (32%) categories as per Karnataka state norms. MA admissions are based on BA aggregate marks submitted through the University of Mysore portal. Competition for MA Kannada is particularly high because of the department's literary reputation.

Campus and Facilities

The Indo-Saracenic architecture of the main building — built in 1900 — is a heritage structure and one of Mysuru's landmarks. The campus includes a central library with rare palm-leaf manuscripts, a well-maintained reading room, a science block, an auditorium that seats 800, NCC and NSS wings, and a playground. The boys' hostel accommodates approximately 150 outstation students. The college does not currently have a girls' hostel — women students from outside Mysuru typically arrange accommodation in private PGs in the Saraswathipuram and Vijayanagar areas nearby.

Career Scope

A BA from Maharaja's College carries weight in Karnataka government recruitment. Several alumni have cleared KPSC (Karnataka Public Service Commission) and gone on to IAS and IPS. The Kannada and History departments have a track record of producing university-rank holders and research scholars. For students targeting Karnataka Judicial Services, teaching, journalism or civil services, the college's library and faculty access are genuine assets. The placement cell is not active in the commercial sense — this is not a college that runs bulk corporate drives. Students who come here expecting that are in the wrong place.

Notable Alumni

Dr S L Bhyrappa (Sahitya Akademi and Saraswati Samman awardee), Girish Karnad (Jnanpith awardee, playwright, actor), and multiple Karnataka High Court judges and IAS officers from the 1960s–1990s batches are alumni. The college's annual Maharaja's College Literary Festival — running for over four decades — remains one of Mysuru's oldest cultural events.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fee for BA at Maharaja's College Mysuru?

BA annual fee at Maharaja's College is approximately ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 under the Karnataka government aided fee structure. SC/ST students get a full fee waiver under the state post-matric scholarship. There are no capitation fees or management quota seats — all admissions are merit-based through the government portal.

Is Maharaja's College Mysuru NAAC accredited?

Yes. Maharaja's College holds NAAC A+ accreditation — the highest grade. The NAAC peer team specifically noted the college's manuscript collection and the quality of its Kannada and History departments. Reaccreditation reviews happen every five years under UGC norms.

Does Maharaja's College have a hostel?

The college has a boys' hostel on campus with approximately 150 seats. There is no girls' hostel. Women students from outside Mysuru typically arrange accommodation in private paying guest facilities in Saraswathipuram, which is a 10-minute auto ride from the campus.

What is the cut-off for BA admission at Maharaja's College?

There is no fixed cut-off — admissions are merit-based on 12th marks. In practice, given the college's reputation, most general category seats fill at 70%+ in 12th. SC/ST seats are less competitive due to reservations. Apply through the Karnataka Government Degree Colleges portal the moment it opens in June — late applications consistently miss seats here.