Periyar University, Salem: Latest Rankings, Courses, Fees, Admissions, 2025 Cutoffs, Reviews

The Government of Tamil Nadu established the Periyar University at Salem on 17th September 1997 as per the provisions of the Periyar University Act, 1997. The University covers the area comprising the districts of Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri. The University got the 12(B) and 2f status from the University Grants Commission and has been accredited by NAAC with B+ grade in 2007.

The University is named after the Great Social Reformer E.V.Ramasamy affectionally called "Thanthai Periyar". The University aims at developing knowledge in various fields to realize the maxim inscribed in the logo "Arival Vilayum Ulagu" (Wisdom Maketh World).

"Holistic development of the students" is the primary objective of the esteemed Periyar University.

The University is located on the National Highway (NH7) towards Bangalore at about 8 Kms from New Bus Stand, Salem. It is well connected by frequent city bus services linking Salem and other places like, Omalur, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri and Mettur.

Periyar University imparts higher education at three levels, i.e., through its Departments of Study and Research, Periyar Institute of Distance Education (PRIDE) and the affiliated colleges. The University has eighteen departments of study offering Post Graduate and Research Programmes and sixty six affiliated colleges.

Highlights of the university:

Every academic year, Periyar University in Salem accepts applications for undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and distance learning (ODL) programs. For the most part, the process is merit-based, but some courses require entrance exams.

Eligibility

• UG Courses: Completion of 10+2 (Higher Secondary) with required subjects.
• PG Courses: Relevant bachelor’s degree with minimum 50% aggregate (relaxations for reserved categories).
• PhD/MPhil: Postgraduate degree in relevant subject; admission throughCommon Entrance Test (CET) + interview.
• Distance/ODL: Open for select UG/PG programs, through the Centre for Distance and Open Education.
• Other University Graduates: Must obtain aneligibility certificate from Periyar University.

Admission Process

1. The notificationwill be posted on the official website in April 2025.
2. Application Submission online, followed by hard-copy submission with documents.
3. Entrance Test (for PhD and some PG courses like MBA/MCA via TANCET/AP ICET equivalent).
4. Merit List and Allotment Basedon Marks/Entrance Performance.

Key Dates (2025-26)

The dates are as follows:

Required Documents

• 10th, 12th, UG/PG mark sheets & certificates
• Transfer/Conduct certificate
• Community/reservation certificate (if applicable)
• Eligibility certificate (for non-PU graduates)
• Entrance exam scorecard (where required)

• Admissions to MBA / PGDM at Periyar University use TANCET scores.
• The MBA General (OC / Open / All India quota) cutoff in 2025 Round-1 had a closing mark of 73.23 in TANCET.
• For MBA General, SC category, the closing mark was 38.027 in 2025.
• For MBA in 2025, some published cutoffs: OC 73.23, MBC 40.627, BC 35.922 in Round 1.
• In 2025, the MBA/PGDM cutoff rank for General AI quota was 2436 (Round-1).
• In 2024, the General AI quota cutoff rank for MBA/PGDM was 2791.

Sample Cutoff Table

Notes & Observations

• The cutoff marks and ranks are for MBA / PGDM programmes at Periyar, not necessarily representative for all PG, UG or other courses.
• For most other PG courses (e.g. MA, M.Sc), admission and cutoffs are based on graduation marks / merit, not always entrance exams.
• The cutoff marks vary hugely across categories (OC vs SC etc.), and the lowest possible (for BCM category) in 2025 had one value as 1.89 in some rounds.
• For 2024 to 2025, cutoff trends show fluctuations: for example, the MBA General cutoff (mark) dropped from earlier years to Round 1 in 2025.

The Career Guidance and Placement Cell (CGPC) at Periyar University in Salem assists students by holding workshops, recruiting drives, and training sessions. With programs for skill development and career counseling, the cell also expands its operations to linked colleges, reaching thousands of students.

According to the NIRF 2025 data, the university placed 323 students in 2024, with 27 undergraduates (3-year courses) and 296 postgraduates (PG and integrated programs) securing jobs. For undergraduate students, the median salary was₹1.80 LPA; for graduate students, it ranged from ₹2.04 to ₹2.50 LPA.

Placement data from 2023 shows slightly higher salaries, with UG students receiving a median of ₹3.36 LPA and PG students at ₹3.12 LPA. Some students in professional and technical disciplines have received packages ranging from ₹3 to ₹7 LPA, with rare occurrences reaching ₹12 LPA, according to other sources.

Placement Data

Key Insights

• Better PG Placements: Postgraduate students benefit most from recruitment drives.
• Training Focus: Regular workshops, soft skills classes, and mock interviews are held.
• Challenges: Salaries are lower than at top universities, and UG placements are still small.

Utilizing departmental resources, alumni networks, and internships is essential for students looking to optimize their professional prospects.

• Periyar University has been awarded NAAC “A++” grade with a CGPA of 3.61 in Cycle 3.
  In NIRF 2025, Periyar University is ranked 56 in the ‘Overall’ Universities category. Among state public universities, it holds Rank 25.
• It covers 118 affiliated colleges and has 27 departments in its university departments.
• Periyar has also been recognized in several other ranking frameworks/achievement lists:
• Major departments like Mathematics, Physics, Geology, Microbiology, Food Science, Nutrition, and Biotechnology got recognition under the DST-FIST program.
• It is among top 5 Indian Universities in the Atal Ranking of Institutions on Innovation Achievements (ARIIA).

Periyar University provides a variety of scholarship and fellowship schemes, both from institution-level and central / state government policies. These are aimed at supporting meritorious students, economically weaker sections, SC/ST / disadvantaged categories, and research scholars.

Here are some of the major scholarship / aid schemes: