The college formally started functioning on 16 June 1948 with 505 students at the Pre-University level. It was upgraded into a degree college in the following year. It was the first college in Kerala to start a post graduate course.

Presently the college offers 14 undergraduate and 12 postgraduate courses with six Departments as approved research centres. Apart from maintaining a high standard in teaching and research, the institution has earned reputation in the field of co-curricular and extension activities too. The students of this institution consistently win laurels in sports, games, arts and literary competitions along with ranks and medals in academic pursuits every year.

Other facilities and amenities available on the campus include a Study Centre of the University of Kerala that caters to the teachers, students, and research scholars of Kollam, a University Career Guidance and Information Centre, a Study Centre of the Indira Gandhi National Open University offering distance education courses, units of National Service Scheme and NCC, and a Computer Centre. The college has a staff strength of more than 270 out of which 190 are members of the teaching faculty. Among the eminent former principals who presided over this institution, Dr. M. Sreenivasan deserves special mention as he was at the helm of the college for 20 years and his tenure was highly rewarding for the growth of the institution.

Principal	Prof.K.Sasikumar Tel: 0474-741793(O); 746169(Res)
Courses offered	B.A	English	40
		Malayalam	30
		Hindi	30
		Sanskrit (Vedanta)	25
		Politics	60
		History	40
		Economics	60
		Philosophy	50
	B.Sc	Mathematics	60
		Physics	32
		Chemistry	52
		Botany& Biotechnology	24
		Zoology	40
		Botany	40
		Physics&Computer Applications	24
			60
	B.Com
	M.A.	English	15
		Malayalam	15
		Hindi	15
		Politics	20
		History	15
		Economics	15
	M.Com		15
	M.Sc.	Mathematics	15
		Physics	14
		Chemistr	12
		Analytical Chemistry	10
		Botany	12
		Zoology	12

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