Calicut University Ranking 2026: NIRF, NAAC, India Today, Outlook, QS Asia, and Year-Wise Trend

The University of Calicut, established in 1968, is one of Kerala's largest and most reputed public universities. Located in Tenhipalam, Malappuram, it serves over 300,000 students across its affiliated colleges and departments. Over the decades, it has built a strong academic reputation in South India.

For students and parents, university rankings offer a reliable way to evaluate academic quality, research output, and overall institutional credibility. However, rankings from different bodies measure different parameters. So, looking at multiple ranking sources together gives a more complete picture.

In this blog, we break down Calicut University's rankings across all major frameworks. These include NIRF, NAAC, QS Asia, India Today, and Outlook. We also track the year-wise trend to show how the university has performed over time. This will help you make a well-informed decision about studying here.

Calicut University Rankings 2026: Quick Overview

Calicut University NIRF Rankings 2026 

The National Institutional Ranking Framework, commonly known as NIRF, is published by India's Ministry of Education every year. It ranks universities and colleges across multiple categories using five broad parameters. These are Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR), Research and Professional Practice (RP), Graduation Outcomes (GO), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI), and Peer Perception. NIRF is widely considered the most credible and transparent ranking system for Indian higher education institutions.

The University of Calicut has been participating in NIRF since 2017. As of NIRF 2025, the university appears in three separate categories. In the University Category, it holds a rank in the 101–150 band. In the Overall Category, it is placed in the 151–200 band. Additionally, it ranks 38th among State Public Universities in India, which is a notable achievement among government-funded institutions.

The university reached its best University category rank of 54 in 2020, then declined steadily to rank 89 by 2024 before moving into the 101–150 band in 2025. The total score has remained relatively stable (42–47 range) across all years — the declining rank is driven by an expanding pool of institutions submitting NIRF data, not a drop in absolute performance. The number of institutions participating in NIRF grew from under 3,000 in 2019 to over 5,000 by 2024, intensifying competition for every rank position.

NIRF Rankings: State Public University Category

NIRF maintains a separate State Public University category that ranks only state-government-funded universities. This is a more meaningful peer comparison for Calicut University than the broad University category, since it removes IITs, NITs, central universities, deemed universities, and private institutions from the comparison pool.

Calicut University improved from rank 43 (score 50.26) in 2024 to rank 38 (score 53.19) in 2025 in the State Public University category, a clear upward movement against its natural peer group. This improvement of 5 ranks year-on-year, alongside a 2.93-point score gain, reflects genuine progress in teaching resources, research, and graduation outcomes. Rank 38 places the university in the top 40 state-funded universities nationally, out of over 400 state universities in India.

NIRF 2025 Parameter Scores: State Public University Category (Rank 38)

The State Public University category uses the same five NIRF parameters.These scores are meaningfully higher than the 2024 University category scores, reflecting both actual improvement and the different institutional comparison pool.

The 2025 scores are notably higher across all five parameters compared to 2024. Part of this increase reflects genuine improvement — Research (16.09 → 22.74) and Graduation Outcomes (62.44 → 73.98) show the most significant gains. Part reflects the methodological difference between the University category comparison group (all universities) and the State Public University group (only state-funded universities), where Calicut University's relative standing is stronger. The Research score, while improved, remains the weakest parameter — a structural reality for large affiliating universities where the primary function is examination management and degree conferment rather than faculty-led research.

What the NIRF Scores Mean: Honest Assessment

Calicut University NAAC Accreditation: Grade and History

NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council) evaluates universities on Curricular Aspects, Teaching-Learning, Research and Innovation, Infrastructure and Learning Resources, Student Support, Governance, and Institutional Values. Calicut University has improved its NAAC CGPA across every assessment cycle.

The 4th Cycle assessment in 2022 awarded an A+ grade with a CGPA of 3.45/4, valid until September 2027. This is an improvement from A (3.13) in the 3rd cycle — demonstrating consistent institutional progress over two consecutive assessments. A CGPA of 3.45 places Calicut University among the higher-scoring affiliating universities nationally in the A+ band. The upgrade from A to A+ between cycles 3 and 4 reflects improvements in governance, digital learning infrastructure, and student support systems, all of which NAAC weighs heavily.

Calicut University NAAC Accreditation India Today Rankings: Year-Wise

India Today rankings evaluate institutions based on academic reputation, student quality, infrastructure, value for money, placement performance, and research output. Calicut University improved from rank 24 (2023) to 20 in 2024 & 2025. The India Today methodology weights student experience and perceived value heavily, areas where Calicut University performs relatively better than in research-focused frameworks like NIRF. The strong affordability profile and consistent graduate outcomes contribute to its high value-for-money scores in this ranking.

Calicut University India Today Ranking 2026

In the India Today MDRA Best Universities Ranking, Calicut University is categorised under the University (Government) segment. This is an important distinction because government universities are evaluated separately from private and deemed universities. As a result, the rankings reflect a fairer comparison among state-funded institutions.

Calicut University, India Today Year-Wise Ranking Trend

The table below shows how Calicut University has ranked in the India Today survey over the years.

The university held steady at 20th position in both 2024 and 2025. This consistency signals that the institution has maintained its academic standards and overall performance without significant drops. However, moving into the top 15 will require stronger improvements in research output and campus infrastructure.

Calicut University Outlook India Ranking 2026

In the Outlook-ICARE Rankings 2025, the University of Calicut is ranked 21st among the Top 75 State Public Universities in India. This is a strong and commendable position, especially considering that Calicut University competes against state public universities from across the country.

Here is how the University of Calicut scored across each parameter in the Outlook-ICARE 2025 rankings.

Outlook Rankings: How Calicut University Compares to Kerala Universities

Calicut University ranked 21st nationally, but it is useful to see how it compares against other Kerala universities in the same ranking.

Calicut University QS Asia Rankings 2026

The University of Calicut has been consistently appearing in the QS Asia Rankings for several years. As per the official data published on the university's ranking and accreditation page, Calicut University holds a QS Asia University Rank of #601–620 as of the most recently confirmed edition. This places it among a competitive band of Asian universities that have strong regional academic credentials but are still building their global research footprint.

Calicut University Year-Wise QS Asia Ranking Trend

The trend clearly shows a significant drop beginning in 2025. The university slipped from the 401–450 band to the 601–620 band, a decline of over 150 positions. Additionally, the Southern Asia rank has also worsened from 92nd in 2023 to 214th in 2026. This is a considerable drop over just three years.

Calicut University International Rankings: Scimago and Webometrics

Beyond national rankings, Calicut University also features in several international ranking frameworks. These global rankings evaluate universities on research output, web presence, academic citations, and scientific publications. While national rankings like NIRF and India Today are more relevant for domestic admissions, international rankings give a broader picture of the university's global academic standing.

In the Scimago Institutions Rankings 2025, the University of Calicut is ranked #3073 globally and #103 in India. Moreover, in the Webometrics Ranking 2024, the University of Calicut is ranked #4162 globally and #196 in India.

Calicut University Other Latest International Rankings

How Calicut University Compares to Other Kerala Universities?

Among affiliating state universities in Kerala, the University of Calicut and the University of Kerala are the top two by NIRF rank. Calicut University's NAAC CGPA of 3.45 is the highest among state affiliating universities in Kerala, and higher than the University of Kerala (3.27). CUSAT, as a technical university with a smaller student base, ranks higher in NIRF due to stronger research output. For undergraduate education, Calicut University's combination of high NAAC score, NIRF rank 38 among state public universities, and extensive program range across 500+ colleges makes it the dominant choice in north Kerala.

Calicut University vs National State University Peers

Among India's 400+ state universities, a rank of 38 in NIRF's State Public University category places Calicut University in the top 10% of state-funded universities nationally. This is a meaningful position — ahead of many larger, older state universities. The comparison also shows that all top-ranked state universities (Hyderabad, Jadavpur, Pune) are either technical/science-intensive or residential universities with strong research traditions. Calicut University, as a comprehensive affiliating university serving 3.5 lakh+ students through 500+ colleges, competes very differently and still holds a respectable rank 38 in this company.

Why has Calicut University's ranking declined in the NIRF University Category (2020 to 2025)?

What These Calicut University Rankings Mean for Students and Applicants

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Calicut University's NIRF ranking in 2025?

In NIRF 2025, Calicut University is ranked in the 101–150 band in the University Category and the 151–200 band in the Overall Category. Additionally, it holds the 38th position among State Public Universities in India, which is its strongest NIRF category performance.

What is Calicut University's NAAC grade and accreditation status?

Calicut University holds an A+ Grade with a CGPA of 3.45, awarded in its Fourth Cycle NAAC assessment in 2022. This is an improvement over its previous A Grade with 3.13 CGPA in the Third Cycle. The current accreditation is valid until September 2027.

What is Calicut University's QS Asia ranking in 2026?

In the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, Calicut University is placed in the 601–620 band in Asia and ranked 214th in Southern Asia. The university has seen a consistent decline in QS Asia rankings since 2024, dropping from the 401–450 band it held for several years.

How does Calicut University rank in the Outlook-ICARE Rankings 2025?

Calicut University is ranked 21st among the Top 75 State Public Universities in the Outlook-ICARE Rankings 2025, with a total score of 886.72 out of 1000. Among Kerala universities, it stands 3rd, behind Kerala University and Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT).

What is Calicut University's India Today ranking?

Calicut University is ranked 20th in the India Today MDRA Best Universities Survey under the Government University category. It has held this position consistently in both 2024 and 2025. The India Today 2026 rankings are yet to be officially released as of March 2026.

Is Calicut University recognised by UGC and other regulatory bodies?

Yes, Calicut University is fully recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC). It is also NAAC A+ accredited and consistently participates in NIRF rankings. These recognitions confirm that all its degrees are valid and accepted for higher education, government jobs, and professional opportunities across India.

How does Calicut University rank internationally?

In international rankings, Calicut University is placed at #3073 globally and #103 in India in the Scimago Institutions Rankings 2025. In the Webometrics Ranking 2024, it stands at #4162 globally and #196 in India. These rankings primarily reflect research output and web-based academic visibility.

Is Calicut University a good choice for higher education in Kerala?

Yes, Calicut University is among Kerala's top public universities. Its NAAC A+ accreditation, consistent NIRF presence, and 21st rank in Outlook-ICARE 2025 confirm strong academic quality. It is particularly well suited for students seeking affordable, government-recognised education with a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.