List of institutions of higher education in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu has both private and public universities, which either the government of India or the government of Tamil Nadu owns and manages. whereas various bodies and societies manage the private universities. Here is a list of research organizations and higher educational institutions in the state.

Institutes of National Importance
The government of India gives the status of Institute of National Importance (INI) to the top institutes in India through the act of Parliament. An institute with the status of INI plays a crucial role in teaching and developing highly skilled students in the state or country. The government funds, recognizes, and supervises such institutions to develop learning centers in academics and research.

Universities
The higher education system in India includes both private and public universities. Universities in India are recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC), which draws its power from the University Grants Commission Act, 1956.

The types of universities include: