Chennai colleges dominate Tamil Nadu’s most preferred government institutions list

Four Chennai-based institutions have emerged among the top five most preferred government arts and science colleges in Tamil Nadu for the 2026 admission cycle, reflecting continued student demand for established campuses offering strong academics, infrastructure and placement-oriented programmes.

Among 181 government colleges across the state, Presidency College has received the highest number of applications so far, recording 32,808 applications for 2,380 seats. The institution was followed by Government Arts College, Dr Ambedkar Government Arts College and Queen Mary’s College, making Chennai the dominant hub among the state’s most sought-after government colleges.

Officials said traditional arts and science programmes continue to attract strong interest from students despite the growing popularity of professional and skill-oriented courses. Among all programmes offered in government colleges, BA Tamil has emerged as the most preferred course this year. Offered in 154 colleges, the course has received more than two lakh preferences from applicants. BSc Computer Science and BCom (General) were the next most popular choices among students. Courses such as BA English, BBA, BSc Chemistry and BA Economics have also witnessed high demand.

Speaking about the continued popularity of Presidency College, principal R Raman said the institution remains one of the preferred destinations for students pursuing core science subjects including physics, chemistry and botany. He attributed the trend to the college’s long academic legacy, laboratory infrastructure and qualified faculty members.

“Presidency College still is one of the best colleges to study basic science programmes such as physics, chemistry and botany, along with Loyola College. We have the best lab facilities since the British period. All faculty members hold PhDs,” he said.

The college also offers hostel accommodation for more than 2,000 students and provides extensive co-curricular activities, factors that continue to attract applicants from different districts.

Meanwhile, Government Arts College, Nandanam has received over 25,000 applications for 1,430 seats this year. Principal D Thangarajan said the college has witnessed increased interest after becoming a co-educational institution two years ago. He added that course diversity and central location have further contributed to its popularity.

Tamil Nadu government arts and science colleges collectively offer around 1.25 lakh seats. According to admission data, the state has recorded 2,05,485 registrations so far, while 1,52,997 students have completed fee payment. Of them, 92,848 are girls, 60,086 are boys, and 63 transgender applicants have also registered.

The last date for submission of applications is May 29, while admissions are expected to begin in the first week of June based on merit lists released by the colleges.