Presidency College, Chennai

Presidency College, Chennai, established in 1840, is a prestigious government autonomous arts & science college affiliated with the University of Madras. Offering UG, PG, and PhD programmes in Arts, Science, Commerce, Computer Applications, it ranks among the top colleges in India (NIRF: 15 in 2025). It has a placement cell that placed 264 UG students and 176 PG students in 2024, with median packages of ₹1.80 LPA (UG) and ₹2.40 LPA (PG). Fees are very modest (e.g. ₹3,900 approx for many UG courses), making it high value.

Presidency College, Chennai
Overview
Courses & Fee
Admission
Scholarships
Placements
Campus
About Presidency College, Chennai

Founded during British India, Presidency College is one of the oldest and most respected colleges in Chennai. It operates with autonomy and is affiliated to the University of Madras. It offers a wide set of courses: BA, B.Sc, B.Com, BCA at undergraduate level; MA, M.Sc, M.Com, MCA, MSW, and PhD at postgraduate/research levels. 

Courses are offered in both English and Tamil mediums, often in two shifts. The fee structure is highly affordable, with many UG courses costing under ₹4,000 per year. PG courses also are low-cost. 

The college has strong demand: Presidency College is among the most preferred government colleges in Tamil Nadu, with tens of thousands of applicants for a few thousand seats. It has a good reputation for academics, faculty, and heritage. But many students note that placement opportunities are modest compared to engineering/tech colleges

Academic Courses- 
LevelPopular CoursesEligibilityApprox Fees*
UGB.Sc (Psychology, Physics, Advanced Zoology & Biotechnology, etc.), B.Com (General, Corporate Secretaryship), BA (Economics, Political Science, etc.), BCA10+2 for most; BCA may require Maths/appropriate subject₹ 3,900 for full UG courses depending on subject. 
PGM.Sc (Microbiology, Chemistry, etc.), MA, M.Com, MCA, MSWGraduation in relevant subject; for MCA some specific eligibilityPG fees  ₹ 1,700–₹ 2,850 depending on specialization. 
PhD / ResearchVarious Arts & Science / Commerce disciplinesAs per university normsFees for research programs vary; some low as ₹ 2,200 etc. 
Placement Highlights:
ParticularUG (3-year)PG (2-year)
Students Placed (2023)200 out of  892 eligible; median salary ₹1.68 LPA 176 out of ~ 439 eligible; median salary ₹2.04 LPA 
Highest Package Reported₹ 15 LPA (unofficial / from student-reports) 
Fee Structure 2025
Courses Tuition Fees Eligibility
B.Sc.(3 courses) – / – Exams :
B.A.(1 course) – / – Exams :
MCA(1 course) – / – Graduation : 50 %Exams :

Scholarship Statistics 2025
Gender
Male
Female
Total
57
90
OBC
0
0
SC
1
1
ST
45
60
Muslim
2
8
PWD
0
0
Minority Community
9
21
St. Joseph’s College Placement Report 2025
Particulars
Statistics
Placement Percentage
90%
Number of Companies Visited
50
Number of Students Placed
90%
Number of Offers Made
300
Average Package Offered
Rs 4 LPA
Highest Package Offered
Rs 10 LPA
Campus Facilities
Campus Facilities
Presidency College Chennai Admission Process 2025

Presidency College Chennai admission is a blend of merit and entrance-based, depending on the course. The institute considers exam scores for certain courses, while merit achieved in the last qualifying exam is considered to shortlist students for the remaining programmes. Students can pursue a variety of courses at UG and PG levels.

Some of the exams accepted by the institute are TANCET, CBSE 12th, and Tamilnadu 12th, and more. Students must secure a valid score in the relevant exam, and meet the eligibility

Presidency College Chennai – UG – 3 years NIRF Placements Data: Colleges

UG 3 years

2020-21

2021-22

2022-23

Median salary

1.5 LPA

1.68 LPA

1.68 LPA

% Students Placed

23%

25%

18%

Students placed

266

292

200

% Passing Students

80%

87%

81%

Students admitted

1176

1179

1098

Students opted for higher studies

307

422

392

Students graduated

944

1030

892

 

Want to Know More about Presidency College, Chennai Tamil Nadu (IN)

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