Cotton University traces to Cotton College, founded in 1901 in Guwahati by Sir Henry Stedman Cotton, then Chief Commissioner of colonial Assam. The college became a constituent college of Gauhati University in 1948, was reconstituted as Cotton College State University in 2011, and merged with the older college entity to form the present Cotton University under a dedicated state Act in 2017.
Cotton University offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programmes across Arts and Science disciplines, alongside a smaller HSSLC (higher secondary) intake, reflecting its long history as both a college and, since 2017, a full university.
Undergraduate admission is largely merit-based on Class 12 marks for most programmes, processed through the Assam government's Samarth portal, with CUET-UG required for specific undergraduate and integrated courses. Postgraduate admission runs through the university's own CUPGEE entrance test.
Cotton University submitted data to NIRF 2025 but does not appear in any published rank-band checked directly on nirfindia.org, across the University, Overall, and State Public University categories. It holds a NAAC grade of A with a CGPA of 3.05, Cycle 1, declared 5 September 2024, confirmed both by NAAC's own dataset and the university's own official prospectus.
Cotton University has earned NAAC grade A+ with a CGPA of 3.52, placing it among accredited institutions recognised for teaching quality, research output, and campus infrastructure.
Programs at Cotton University are approved by UGC — so your degree is recognised by employers, PSUs, and higher-education institutions across India and abroad.
Founded in 1901, Cotton University brings 125+ years of institutional experience, strong alumni networks, and mature placement processes built over decades.
With 6,000 students and 250 faculty members (~24:1 ratio), the campus offers close mentorship alongside broad peer-learning and student-activity opportunities.
Being located in Guwahati, Assam gives students access to internships, industry guest lectures, and a well-connected transport network — an advantage for placements and exposure.
Cotton University's alumni include Ranjan Gogoi, the 46th Chief Justice of India; Bhupen Hazarika, Bharat Ratna recipient, singer, lyricist, and filmmaker; Himanta Biswa Sarma, current Chief Minister of Assam; Gopinath Bordoloi, the first Chief Minister of Assam after independence and a Bharat Ratna recipient; and Indira Goswami, Jnanpith Award-winning Assamese writer.
8 courses offered. Fees in INR lakhs.
| Course | Specialization | Duration | Total seats | Total fee | Avg package |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) | Hons | 36 months | — | — | — |
| B.Com (Bachelor of Commerce) | — | 36 months | — | — | — |
| BA (Bachelor of Arts) | — | 36 months | — | — | — |
| BA (Bachelor of Arts) | Honours (General) | 36 months | — | ₹0.9L | — |
| BCA (Bachelor of Computer Applications) | — | 36 months | 40 | — | — |
| M.Com (Master of Commerce) | — | 24 months | — | ₹1.6L | — |
| MA (Master of Arts) | — | 36 months | — | — | — |
| MCA (Master of Computer Applications) | — | 24 months | — | ₹1.6L | — |
Campus size, faculty strength, hostel facilities, and academic infrastructure.
