## Education Statistics
Kerala is widely recognized for having **one of the highest literacy rates in India** and for strong social development outcomes relative to many other states.
### Education profile - **Literacy:** Kerala has consistently ranked at or near the top among Indian states in census and survey reporting. - **School participation:** The state is known for broad access to schooling across urban and rural areas. - **Public education footprint:** Government and aided schools remain important, alongside private schools. - **Gender gap:** Educational attainment gaps between men and women are narrower than in many parts of India. - **Higher education:** Kerala has a large network of universities, colleges, professional institutes, and research centers.
### Universities and major institutions - **University of Kerala** - **Mahatma Gandhi University** - **University of Calicut** - **Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT)** - **Kerala Agricultural University** - **APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University** - **Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit** - **Kannur University** - **National Institute of Technology Calicut (NIT Calicut)** - **Indian Institute of Technology Palakkad (IIT Palakkad)** - **Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode)** - **Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology**
### Global and national reputation - Institutions such as **IIM Kozhikode**, **NIT Calicut**, and some medical and science institutes are regularly cited in national rankings. - International ranking positions vary by methodology and year; readers should check current **NIRF**, QS, or Times Higher Education listings for up-to-date placement.
### School outcomes - Kerala is often associated with: - high basic literacy - relatively strong public health and education indicators - good female educational participation - high exam participation rates
### Notes on statistics - Exact literacy, graduation, and school ranking figures change by census year, survey, and ranking framework. - For current district-level numbers, official sources such as the **Government of Kerala**, **Department of General Education**, **Directorate of Higher Secondary Education**, **AISHE**, and **NIRF** are the most reliable.
| Indicator | Overview | |---|---| | Literacy | Among the highest in India | | Female education | Strong relative performance | | Higher education | Broad statewide network | | Nationally known institutes | IIM Kozhikode, NIT Calicut, IIT Palakkad, CUSAT | | Official source types | Census, NSS, AISHE, NIRF, state education departments |
