Ethiraj College for Women is an autonomous women’s college in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, founded in 1948 by the Late Shri V.L. Ethiraj. The college is affiliated to the University of Madras and offers both government-aided and self-supporting courses. It has NAAC A+ accreditation and the UGC status of "College with Potential for Excellence" (CPE).

In the NIRF Colleges 2025 list, Ethiraj College for Women holds rank 64 out of 300 colleges in India with a score of 57.64. Its earlier NIRF rank was 79 out of 300 in 2024.

The college campus covers 9 acres in Egmore, central Chennai. Students use science labs, computer labs, a central library, seminar halls and a sports ground. Outstation students can apply for the girls’ hostel, where the fee goes up to INR 32,000 per year.

Ethiraj College offers women-only programmes through six broad academic areas:

  • Arts and Social Sciences - BA courses in Economics, History, English, Tamil, Travel and Tourism and Business Economics
  • Science and Allied Sciences - B.Sc courses in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Botany, Zoology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Computer Science, Cyber Security, Data Science, Psychology, Nutrition, Visual Communication and Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Commerce and Management - B.Com in General, Accounting and Finance, Banking Management, Corporate Secretaryship and Hons., along with BBA and MBA
  • Computing - BCA and MCA programmes
  • Postgraduate Programmes - MA, M.Sc, M.Com, MSW, MBA, MCA and M.Phil options across 30+ subjects
  • Research - PhD programmes in several fields, including Commerce, English, Sciences and Mathematics

The two-year MBA has a total fee of INR 4.02 Lakhs. BBA and B.Com cost INR 3.22 Lakhs for three years. Aided BA and B.Sc programmes under government regulation begin from INR 0.31 Lakhs for the full three-year course.

Eligible students may apply for Tamil Nadu government scholarships, central government SC/ST and minority schemes and alumnae-funded awards.

For 2024 placements, Ethiraj College reported 195 postgraduate students placed with a median salary of INR 3.60 LPA. Its alumnae network helps students move into fields such as education, banking and information technology.

Admission Update: PG applications for MA, M.Sc and M.Com are available on a rolling basis. Students should check ethirajcollege.edu.in for the latest merit list and admission notices.

Ethiraj College Admission Dates 2026

Ethiraj College for Women admits UG students through Class 12 merit. MBA and MCA admission is based on TANCET, while MA, M.Sc, M.Com and MSW admission is decided through UG marks. PG applications for selected courses are accepted on a rolling basis through the official admission portal.

EventDate
PG MA, M.Sc and M.Com applicationsRolling basis, check ethirajcollege.edu.in

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

The table below shows the exam or selection route followed for each programme group.

ProgrammeExam AcceptedMode of Selection
All UG Programmes (BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BBA, BCA)No entrance examClass 12 merit under TN reservation norms
All PG Programmes (MA, M.Sc, M.Com, MSW)No entrance examUG marks, merit-based
MBATANCETTANCET merit rank, TN reservation norms
MCATANCETTANCET merit rank, TN reservation norms
PhDUniversity of Madras PhD entranceEntrance test and interview

Ethiraj College Courses and Fees

Ethiraj College for Women has more than 50 UG and PG courses. Its aided programmes have government-regulated fees, while self-supporting courses have a higher fee range. The amounts below are total fees for the full course duration.

CourseDurationEligibilityFee
BA (Aided: Economics, History, Travel and Tourism)3 years10+2 relevant stream, merit-basedINR 0.31 Lakhs
BA (Self-supporting: English, Business Economics)3 years10+2 any stream, 50%INR 1.54 Lakhs to INR 2.18 Lakhs
B.Sc (Aided: Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics)3 years10+2 with relevant science subjectsINR 0.30 Lakhs to INR 0.32 Lakhs
B.Sc (Self-supporting: Computer Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Psychology, Data Science, Cyber Security, Visual Communication)3 years10+2 relevant stream, 50%INR 2.11 Lakhs to INR 3.70 Lakhs
B.Com (General, Hons., Accounting and Finance, Banking Management, Corporate Secretaryship)3 years10+2 any stream, 50%INR 3.07 Lakhs to INR 3.31 Lakhs
BBA3 years10+2 any stream, 50%INR 3.22 Lakhs
BCA3 years10+2 with Mathematics, 50%INR 3.10 Lakhs
MA (Aided: Economics, History, Tamil)2 yearsRelevant BA degree, 50%INR 0.22 Lakhs
M.Sc (Self-supporting: Computer Science, Applied Microbiology, Biochemistry, Applied Psychology, Food Nutrition, Physics)2 yearsRelevant B.Sc, 50%INR 0.95 Lakhs to INR 1.90 Lakhs
M.Com2 yearsB.Com degree, 50%INR 1.01 Lakhs to INR 1.37 Lakhs
MBA2 yearsGraduation in any stream, 50% (45% for SC/ST), valid TANCET scoreINR 4.02 Lakhs
MCA2 yearsGraduation with Mathematics, 50% (45% for SC/ST), valid TANCET scoreINR 2.82 Lakhs

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

BBA and B.Com are self-supporting courses. The aided track does not include BBA, BCA or MBA seats. Aided science seats are available in Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with subsidised fees under Tamil Nadu government rules.

Ethiraj College Admission Process

Ethiraj College for Women accepts only women candidates. Selection is merit-based, and the college does not offer management quota admission. Tamil Nadu government reservation rules apply to aided as well as self-supporting programmes.

UG Admission

For BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BBA and BCA, admission depends only on Class 12 aggregate marks. Students do not have to appear for an entrance test. The process is:

  • Register at ethirajcollege.edu.in after Class 12 results are announced
  • Pay the application fee of INR 50 and enter Class 12 marks with course preferences
  • Check the merit list on the official portal on the notified date
  • Submit original documents and pay the semester fee to secure the allotted seat

Aided seats in BA Economics, History, Travel and Tourism and B.Sc Botany, Zoology, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics receive high demand because of their low fee. Final allotment follows Tamil Nadu reservation categories such as OC, BC, MBC, SC and ST.

MBA and MCA Admission

MBA and MCA applicants need a valid TANCET score. Anna University conducts TANCET for the Tamil Nadu government. Ethiraj College does not accept CAT, MAT or other national-level exam scores for these two programmes.

  • Appear for the TANCET MBA or MCA paper
  • Register at ethirajcollege.edu.in and upload graduation mark sheets with the TANCET scorecard
  • Wait for admission based on TANCET merit rank within the relevant reservation category
  • Complete the process without any college-level group discussion or personal interview

TANCET is usually conducted once every year. Applicants who do not have a valid TANCET score must wait for the next exam cycle for MBA or MCA admission.

PG (MA, M.Sc, M.Com, MSW) Admission

MA, M.Sc, M.Com and MSW seats are filled through UG marks. There is no separate entrance exam for these programmes. Women candidates can apply at ethirajcollege.edu.in after their final-year UG results, and merit lists are prepared under Tamil Nadu reservation rules.

Ethiraj College Placements

Ethiraj College for Women gives importance to career preparation along with placement support. The placement cell mainly works with BBA, B.Com, BCA and postgraduate students. In 2024, the college placed 195 postgraduate students, and the median salary was INR 3.60 LPA.

MBA, MCA and M.Sc Computer Science students generally see stronger placement outcomes. BBA and B.Com graduates enter areas such as banking, insurance and retail. Students from aided science courses often move toward higher studies, research programmes and government exams.

Programme GroupTypical Career PathwaysMedian Starting Package
MBABFSI, HR, marketing roles in Chennai-based firmsINR 3.60 LPA to INR 5 LPA
MCA and B.Sc Computer ScienceSoftware development, IT support, data analyticsINR 3 LPA to INR 5 LPA
BBA, B.ComBanking, insurance, accounts, retail managementINR 2.5 LPA to INR 4 LPA
M.Sc Sciences (Biochemistry, Microbiology)Pharma, clinical research, research labs, higher studiesINR 2.5 LPA to INR 4 LPA
MA, B.Sc (aided disciplines)Higher studies, government examinations, teachingVaries by career path

Campus drives have included companies from the IT and BFSI sectors. The placement figures given above are for postgraduate students, while separate published placement data for UG students is not available.

Ethiraj College Rankings

Ethiraj College for Women appears in national rankings for Arts, Science, Commerce and Management. In NIRF Colleges, it was ranked 64 out of 300 in 2025 after holding rank 79 out of 300 in 2024.

Ranking BodyCategory2025 Rank2024 Rank
NIRFColleges (India)64 out of 30079 out of 300
India TodayScience (India)#27 out of 236-
India TodayMBA (India)#46 out of 232-
The WeekScience (India)#19 out of 109-
The WeekArts (India)#20 out of 99-
OutlookMBA (India)#14 out of 130-
OutlookScience (India)#20 out of 95-

The Outlook MBA rank of #14 out of 130 is one of the college’s strongest national ranks and reflects its two-year MBA programme.

Ethiraj College Scholarships

Students at Ethiraj College for Women can apply for government scholarships and college-supported awards. Students in aided programmes can also use several state schemes after admission.

ScholarshipEligibilityHow to Apply
Tamil Nadu Government Merit ScholarshipFirst class in qualifying exam, students in government-aided collegesTamil Nadu Higher Education Department portal
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)SC or ST students in aided programmesTamil Nadu Social Welfare Department portal
NSP Central Minority Scholarship (Merit-cum-Means)Minority students meeting income criteriascholarships.gov.in within notified deadline
Ethiraj Alumnae ScholarshipsMerit and need-based, current students, assessed case-by-caseCollege admissions office

The college also helps students apply for the Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child. This University Grants Commission scholarship is meant for women students who are the only child in their family and are studying at the UG level.

Ethiraj College Campus and Infrastructure

Ethiraj College for Women has a 9-acre campus in Egmore, central Chennai. The location is close to Chennai Central Railway Station and Egmore bus stand, so day-scholars from Chennai and nearby suburbs can commute easily.

The college has science laboratories for chemistry, physics, botany, zoology, microbiology and biochemistry. Computer labs are used by BCA, B.Sc Computer Science and MCA students. A central library supports study in all disciplines, while seminar halls and an auditorium are used for academic events, cultural programmes and the annual sports meet.

The girls’ hostel is available for outstation women students, with fees up to INR 32,000 per year. Hostel facilities include supervised accommodation, meals and study space. Day-scholars use CMRL and CMBT bus routes that connect Egmore with major residential areas of Chennai.

Ethiraj College vs Stella Maris College vs Women’s Christian College

Women students looking for autonomous women’s colleges in Chennai often compare Ethiraj College for Women with Stella Maris College and Women’s Christian College. All three are affiliated to the University of Madras, have NAAC accreditation and offer aided as well as self-supporting courses.

ParameterEthiraj CollegeStella Maris CollegeWomen’s Christian College
Founded194819471915
LocationEgmore, Central ChennaiCathedral Road, ChennaiNungambakkam, Chennai
TypeAutonomous, aided, women-onlyAutonomous, aided, women-onlyAutonomous, aided, women-only
NAAC GradeA+A++A+
Programmes50+ across Arts, Science, Commerce, Management50+ across Arts, Science, Commerce, Management50+ across Arts, Science, Commerce
MBAYes (INR 4.02 Lakhs total)YesNo

Stella Maris has the only NAAC A++ grade among the three and is highly competitive, especially for science and commerce. Ethiraj College has an edge in management courses because it offers MBA and MCA. Women’s Christian College has the oldest legacy among the three and is known for arts and social sciences. For most applicants, the availability of aided seats is an important factor.

Ethiraj College FAQs

Ques. Is Ethiraj College for Women run by the government?

Ans. Ethiraj College for Women is a private aided autonomous college. It is not a government college. The college is affiliated to the University of Madras and receives government support for aided programmes, while it also runs self-supporting courses.

Ques. Are men allowed to apply for Ethiraj College courses?

Ans. No. Ethiraj College for Women admits only women candidates. This applies to UG, PG, MBA, MCA and PhD programmes. Male candidates cannot apply for any course at the college.

Ques. What rank did Ethiraj College get in NIRF Colleges 2025?

Ans. Ethiraj College for Women was ranked 64 out of 300 colleges in India in NIRF Colleges 2025, with a score of 57.64. Its NIRF rank in 2024 was 79 out of 300.

Ques. How much does the MBA programme cost at Ethiraj College?

Ans. The full fee for the two-year MBA at Ethiraj College for Women is INR 4.02 Lakhs. Students need a valid TANCET score for MBA admission, and Anna University conducts TANCET once a year.

Ques. Does Ethiraj College provide hostel accommodation?

Ans. Yes. Ethiraj College for Women has a girls’ hostel for students from outside Chennai. The hostel fee is up to INR 32,000 per year, and the facility includes accommodation and meals.

Ques. Do UG applicants need an entrance exam for Ethiraj College?

Ans. No entrance test is needed for UG courses at Ethiraj College. BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BBA and BCA admission is based on Class 12 merit under Tamil Nadu government reservation norms. TANCET is required only for MBA and MCA.

Ques. Can students get direct admission through management quota at Ethiraj College?

Ans. No. Ethiraj College for Women does not offer management quota admission. Seats are filled by merit as per University of Madras rules and Tamil Nadu government reservation norms. Direct admission or payment seats are not available.