Kottayam is one of Kerala's notable education centers, with a long history in schooling, theological learning, higher education, and publishing culture.
### Major institutions - **Mahatma Gandhi University** — A major public university headquartered in the Kottayam area, serving a large network of affiliated colleges. - **CMS College, Kottayam** — One of the oldest colleges in India and a landmark institution in Kerala's educational history. - **Baselius College, Kottayam** — A well-known arts and science college with deep local roots. - **Mannanam campus institutions / St. Berchmans College (near Kottayam)** — One of Kerala's respected higher education institutions in the wider Kottayam region. - **Medical College, Kottayam** — A key medical education and healthcare institution serving central Kerala. - **School of Medical Education, Gandhinagar** — Part of the professional education landscape in the Kottayam area. - **Baker Memorial Girls Higher Secondary School** — A long-established school associated with the city's educational tradition. - **M D Seminary Higher Secondary School** — A prominent school linked to Kottayam's historic academic and religious institutions.
### Educational profile - Strong presence of aided, private, and government schools - Significant church-managed and community-managed educational institutions - Good access to arts, science, commerce, teacher training, nursing, and professional courses - Libraries and reading culture have historically been important in the city
### Libraries and learning culture Kottayam's identity as a publishing center has fostered a strong reading culture, with school libraries, college libraries, church libraries, and public reading spaces contributing to local intellectual life.
For a city of its size, Kottayam has an unusually strong educational footprint, which continues to shape its economy, civic culture, and regional influence.