Colleges in Kolar 2026-27 — Engineering, Medical, Degree Colleges, Fees and Admission

Kolar has 14 colleges across engineering, medical, dental, arts, science, commerce, nursing, pharmacy and education streams. The district is dominated by Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research (SDUAHER) — a deemed university that runs a medical college, nursing college, pharmacy college and an education college in Kolar. AECS Pavan College of Dental Sciences covers BDS. Kolar is 70 km from Bengaluru on the NH-75 — making it one of the closest Karnataka district headquarters to the state capital.

Why Kolar for Higher Education

Kolar district was famous for its Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) — once Asia's deepest gold mines. The KGF belt has since diversified into industrial and service sectors. Kolar district now has a strong horticultural economy — tomato, flowers and silk cocoons from Malur and Bangarpet taluks are significant commodity markets. Students from Malur, Bangarpet, Mulbagal and Srinivasapura taluks use Kolar city for professional education.

Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College Kolar is part of SDUAHER, a deemed university established to serve the health education needs of the Kolar-Bangalore Rural belt. It has 150 MBBS seats and a large teaching hospital. For students who want private MBBS close to Bengaluru, SDUAHER Kolar is among the most geographically accessible options.

Govt First Grade College Srinivasapura holds NAAC A — notable for a taluk-level government college and reflects the high educational quality of this Bengaluru-adjacent district.

Colleges in Kolar by Stream

Arts, Science and Commerce

College	Type	Accreditation	Programmes
Govt First Grade College Kolar	Government	NAAC B+	BA, BSc, BCom
Govt First Grade College Srinivasapura	Government	NAAC A	BA, BCom
Govt First Grade College Bangarpet	Government	NAAC B+	BA, BCom
Govt First Grade College Malur	Government	NAAC B+	BA, BCom
Govt First Grade College Mulbagal	Government	NAAC B+	BA, BCom

Engineering, Medical and Dental

College	Accreditation	Seats	Notable
Govt Engineering College Kolar	AICTE Approved	300	Government, VTU, lowest fees
Govt Polytechnic Kolar	AICTE Approved	300	Diploma
Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College	RGUHS Affiliated	150	SDUAHER deemed university
AECS Pavan College of Dental Sciences	NMC Approved	100	BDS, RGUHS
Sri Devaraj Urs College of Nursing	NAAC A	60	SDUAHER deemed
Sri Devaraj Urs College of Pharmacy	NAAC B	60	RGUHS affiliated

Fees at Colleges in Kolar

Type	Programme	Annual Fees
Government Degree	BA/BSc/BCom	Rs 3,000–5,000
GEC Kolar	BE/BTech	Rs 30,000–45,000
SDUAHER Medical	MBBS	Rs 6,00,000–10,00,000
AECS Pavan Dental	BDS	Rs 2,50,000–4,00,000

Admission Process

BA/BSc/BCom: Karnataka SATS portal, University of Mysore affiliated. GEC Kolar: KCET rank via KEA. SDUAHER Medical: NEET UG — deemed university quota plus KEA state quota. AECS Pavan Dental: NEET UG via KEA NEET counselling. BSc Nursing at SDUAHER: SDUAHER own admissions process.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kolar close to Bengaluru for college students?

Yes. Kolar is 70 km from Bengaluru on NH-75 — about 1.5 hours by road. This makes commuting feasible for some students and gives Kolar college students easy access to Bengaluru's internship and job market on weekends.

What is SDUAHER Kolar?

Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research (SDUAHER) is a deemed university in Kolar running a medical college (150 MBBS seats), nursing college (NAAC A), pharmacy college and education college. MBBS admission through NEET UG via deemed university quota and KEA state quota.

Which degree college is best in Kolar?

Government First Grade College Srinivasapura holds NAAC A — the highest accreditation among government degree colleges in Kolar district. GFC Kolar city (NAAC B+) is the main city-level option for BA, BSc and BCom, University of Mysore affiliated.

Scholarships and Accommodation in Kolar

Karnataka post-matric scholarships cover SC/ST students at all government and aided colleges in Kolar. Apply through the district Social Welfare Department before August. SDUAHER institutions have their own scholarship and financial aid programmes — contact the SDUAHER student welfare office at the time of admission. Government hostels for SC/ST students are available through the district welfare office. PG accommodation in Kolar city costs Rs 4,000–7,000 per month — notably the proximity to Bengaluru means some students commute rather than staying in Kolar.

Kolar's KGF Heritage and Current Economy

Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) — once Asia's deepest gold mines — shaped the district's industrial identity for over a century. The mines closed in 2001 but the KGF township retains a unique Anglo-Indian community and industrial heritage. The district economy has since diversified into horticulture (tomato, flowers, silkworm rearing), dairy and the Bengaluru spillover economy. Malur taluk has a significant industrial estate with textile, food processing and light engineering units — creating local employment for engineering and commerce graduates.

The Bengaluru proximity is Kolar's biggest career advantage — at 70 km from the state capital, Kolar college graduates can access Bengaluru's job market within 1.5 hours. Several Bengaluru IT companies have registered offices in Bangarpet and Malur industrial areas. SDUAHER medical graduates and nursing graduates from Kolar find employment across Bengaluru's hospital network given the geographic proximity. This Bengaluru adjacency distinguishes Kolar from most other Karnataka district headquarters.

Getting to Kolar

Kolar is on NH-75 (Bengaluru–Chennai highway) — 70 km from Bengaluru, about 1.5 hours by road. KSRTC buses connect Kolar to Bengaluru (every 30 minutes), Bangarpet, Mulbagal and Mysore. The Kolar railway station is on the Bengaluru–Chennai main line. The upcoming Bengaluru suburban rail network may eventually extend connectivity to Kolar, but road transport currently dominates. KGF (Kolar Gold Fields township) is 30 km from Kolar city — students from the KGF area typically come to Kolar city for professional education.

Sri Devaraj Urs Group — Kolar's Education Anchor

Sri Devaraj Urs Academy of Higher Education and Research (SDUAHER) is named after the late Karnataka Chief Minister D. Devaraj Urs, whose legacy of social justice for backward communities is institutionalised in this deemed university. SDUAHER runs a medical college, nursing college (NAAC A), pharmacy college and education college in Kolar — creating a self-contained healthcare education ecosystem. The medical college's teaching hospital serves Kolar, Chikkaballapur and parts of Bengaluru Rural districts — providing clinical exposure for MBBS and nursing students.

AECS Pavan College of Dental Sciences Kolar (100 BDS seats, NMC approved) is a private dental college affiliated to RGUHS. It's one of the closer dental colleges to Bengaluru — students who want BDS without competing for Bengaluru's expensive dental college seats sometimes find Kolar a practical option. Admission through NEET UG via KEA NEET counselling.

Kolar Gold Fields — KGF's Educational Legacy

The Kolar Gold Fields township 30 km from Kolar city has a unique educational heritage — English-medium schools established during the British mining era produced unusually high literacy rates in the township. KGF's Anglo-Indian community and the mining engineer families created a culture of education investment that continues in the third and fourth generation. Several families from KGF have alumni at RVCE, MSRIT and IITs — an outsized representation for a small township. Students from KGF studying in Kolar city colleges bring this academic tradition with them.

Frequently Asked Questions — Colleges in Kolar

Is GEC Kolar good for engineering?

Government Engineering College Kolar is AICTE approved and VTU affiliated with 300 seats. It participates in KCET counselling and offers government quota seats at low fees — under Rs 45,000 per year. For students who want to study engineering close to home in Kolar district, GEC Kolar is the most affordable option. For stronger accreditation and placement, Bengaluru engineering colleges (70 km away) are accessible given the proximity.

What is the fee at Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College Kolar?

Sri Devaraj Urs Medical College is a SDUAHER deemed university college with 150 MBBS seats. Fees vary by quota — state quota (KEA NEET allotment) fees are regulated and lower; management quota fees are significantly higher at approximately Rs 8–12 lakh per year. Confirm current fee structure with the college at the time of admission.

How far is Kolar from Bengaluru for daily commuting?

Kolar is 70 km from Bengaluru on NH-75 — about 1.5 hours by road under normal traffic. Daily commuting is feasible for some students, particularly those on the Bengaluru–Kolar bus route. KSRTC buses run every 30 minutes. However, most students doing professional courses like MBBS and engineering prefer to stay in Kolar given the time and cost of daily commuting. PG accommodation in Kolar costs Rs 4,000–7,000 per month — considerably lower than Bengaluru.

Kolar, KGF and the Bengaluru Proximity Advantage

Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) township 30 km from Kolar city has a unique educational heritage — English-medium schools from the British mining era produced high literacy rates. Several families from KGF have alumni at RVCE, MSRIT and IITs — outsized representation for a small township. The district economy has diversified into horticulture, dairy and the Bengaluru spillover economy. Malur taluk has an industrial estate with textile and food processing units creating local employment for engineering and commerce graduates.

For engineering students in Kolar, the Bengaluru proximity creates a different calculus than most Karnataka districts — students with KCET ranks accessing mid-tier Bengaluru engineering colleges (closing ranks 10,000–30,000) often prefer Bengaluru colleges over GEC Kolar for the IT industry exposure and placement network. GEC Kolar is the right choice for students who specifically need to stay in the district. SDUAHER medical graduates and nursing graduates from Kolar find employment across Bengaluru's hospital network given the 70 km proximity. PG accommodation in Kolar at Rs 4,000–7,000 per month is considerably lower than Bengaluru, making Kolar practical for students who want Bengaluru job access at lower living costs.

Kolar District — Article 371J Does Not Apply Here

Unlike the six Hyderabad-Karnataka districts, Kolar is not an Article 371(J) HKR district. Students from Kolar don't have HKR quota benefits. This means Kolar students compete on General Merit, OBC, SC or ST category ranks — the same as students from Bengaluru and other non-HKR districts. This is worth knowing explicitly because some students from border areas of Kolar mistakenly believe they qualify for HKR quota. Verify your domicile certificate and category carefully before KCET and NEET counselling.

Kolar district's University of Mysore affiliation means degree college students can pursue PG programmes at University of Mysore in Mysore city — about 130 km from Kolar. Students completing BA or BSc at GFC Kolar who want to continue to MA or MSc need to relocate to Mysore or consider distance learning through KSOU. KSOU (Karnataka State Open University), headquartered in Mysore, offers distance BA and BCom programmes that Kolar students can enrol in without relocating — fees under Rs 8,000 per year, UGC recognised.

Kolar District Scholarship and Support

Karnataka post-matric scholarships cover SC/ST students at all government and aided colleges in Kolar — full tuition fees plus monthly maintenance allowance. Apply through the Karnataka Scheduled Castes Welfare Department portal before August. SDUAHER institutions have their own financial aid programmes — contact the SDUAHER student welfare office at the time of admission, not after. Government hostels for SC/ST students are operated by the Kolar district welfare office — apply in April. Given Kolar's proximity to Bengaluru, some SC/ST students from Kolar access welfare hostels in Bengaluru rather than Kolar city — check both options and apply to the one with better seat availability.

Students from Kolar who get KCET ranks that access Bengaluru engineering colleges should check whether the Karnataka government fee reimbursement scheme covers their college — many government quota students at private VTU colleges in Bengaluru qualify for partial fee reimbursement, making Bengaluru engineering more affordable than the sticker price suggests. This is worth calculating before deciding between GEC Kolar and a mid-tier Bengaluru engineering college.

Official Sources: University of Mysore — uni-mysore.ac.in | KEA — kea.kar.nic.in | SDUAHER — sduu.ac.in

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Why Study in Kolar

Kolar district — 70km east of Bangalore on NH-75 — is historically famous as the Kolar Gold Fields (KGF), once Asia's deepest gold mine and India's richest gold mining zone from the 1880s to 2001. With 14 colleges covering arts, engineering, education and dental streams, Kolar has a modest but growing education ecosystem. The district's strongest advantage is Bangalore proximity — 70km, 1.5 hours — giving students daily access to Bangalore's employment market. Monthly living expenses in Kolar town: Rs 5,000-8,000. Kolar to Bangalore: 70km (1.5 hours). Kolar to Chikballapur: 30km (40 minutes). Kolar to Bangarpet: 25km (30 minutes).

Engineering and Dental in Kolar

Kolar has 2 engineering colleges — Government Engineering College Kolar (AICTE, VTU, KCET) is the government-fees option at Rs 35,000-65,000/year with SSP scholarship. For stronger engineering nearby, Bangalore (70km) has RVCE, BMSCE, MSRIT and 90 engineering colleges. Dental: Kolar has 2 dental colleges — a notable presence for a district of its size. BDS admission through NEET. Sri Siddhartha Dental College Tumkur and the Kolar dental colleges serve students who want BDS without Bangalore competition. Arts and degree: 5 government first grade colleges across Kolar, Mulbagal, Bangarpet, Srinivaspur and Malur taluks — BA/BCom/BSc through Bangalore University at Rs 5,000-15,000/year. Education: 2 B.Ed colleges for teacher training.

Kolar Gold Fields — KGF Legacy and Career

Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) is one of India's most evocative industrial heritage sites — 120 years of British-era and post-independence gold mining at depths exceeding 3 km created a unique Anglo-Indian mining culture, bilingual Kannada-Tamil community and a ghost town aesthetic when mining stopped in 2001. The KGF mines are among India's deepest man-made structures. Bharat Gold Mines Limited (BGML), the government company that operated KGF, explored mine revival options for years. Geology, mining engineering and environmental science students find KGF a primary field study site — the Geological Survey of India (GSI) maintains presence in the area. The KGF region's Tamil-speaking population (brought as labour during British mining period) gives Kolar district a bilingual character unique in Karnataka. For history, industrial heritage and geology students, KGF is a living case study of India's mining industrialisation and subsequent deindustrialisation — accessible as a field visit from Kolar town (30km).

Bangalore University Affiliation for Kolar Colleges

Government arts and degree colleges in Kolar are affiliated to Bangalore University — one of Karnataka's most recognised affiliating universities with strong postgraduate programmes at the Jnanabharathi campus (Bangalore, 70km). Kolar degree college graduates can pursue MA, MSc and MCom at Bangalore University at government fees after their BA/BCom/BSc — keeping them within the Bangalore educational ecosystem without the cost of undergraduate Bangalore education. Bangalore University distance education also serves Kolar students who want PG education while working locally. The proximity to Bangalore University means Kolar government college students compete in the same exam ecosystem as Bangalore students for UPSC, KPSC and banking recruitment — without paying Bangalore hostel costs during their undergraduate years.

Silk and Sericulture in Kolar

Kolar district (alongside Ramanagara and Chikballapur) is one of Karnataka's primary silk-producing regions. The mulberry cultivation and silkworm rearing culture of Kolar's farming communities creates specific agricultural employment contexts. Central Silk Board (CSB) offices in the Kolar-Chikballapur belt employ sericulture science graduates. Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) and private silk reeling units hire agriculture and science graduates in quality testing and production management. For students interested in textile entrepreneurship, sericulture science or agricultural commodity work, Kolar's silk economy provides a local industry context unavailable in most Karnataka college cities.

Scholarships for Kolar Students

SSP Post-Matric Scholarship at ssp.karnataka.gov.in — full fee reimbursement for SC/ST/OBC at government colleges. AICTE Pragati Scholarship Rs 30,000/year for girl students at Government Engineering College Kolar. Post-Matric Scholarship for Minorities at scholarships.gov.in. Central Sector Scholarship for families below Rs 4.5 lakh income. Backward Classes Welfare Department scholarships through Karnataka BC Welfare portal. For students who commute to Bangalore colleges from Kolar — SSP scholarship applies at the Bangalore institution of study, not restricted to Kolar colleges. The commute strategy (living in Kolar, studying in North or East Bangalore) combined with SSP scholarship coverage at a Bangalore government engineering or degree college produces Karnataka's strongest education value proposition for students from Kolar.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many colleges are in Kolar?

Kolar has 14 verified colleges in 2026-27 — 5 government arts and degree colleges, 2 engineering colleges, 2 dental colleges and education and science colleges. Bangalore (70km, 1.5 hours) is the natural destination for professional streams not available locally.

What is KGF and why is it significant?

Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) was Asia's deepest gold mine — operational from 1880s to 2001, reaching depths of 3km+. It created a unique Anglo-Indian mining culture in Kolar district. Now a heritage tourism and geology field study destination 30km from Kolar town. Bharat Gold Mines Limited (BGML) has explored mine revival proposals periodically.

Is Kolar good for dental education?

Kolar has 2 dental colleges offering BDS through NEET — more dental options than most comparable-sized Karnataka district headquarters. For students who miss Bangalore or Mysore dental colleges through NEET, Kolar dental colleges are accessible with NEET scores of 450-520 typically. Verify current NEET cutoffs at kea.kar.nic.in after results.

Official sources: KEA | SSP Karnataka

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