Holy Cross College (Autonomous) Tiruchirappalli is a leading Arts and Science College for Women in the state of Tamil Nadu. Situated at the heart of ‘The Rock City’ on the banks of the River Cauvery, Holy Cross College has a unique history of academic excellence. Holy Cross College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli has been in the forefront of women’s education for a century. It is a leading Arts and Science College for women in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is a Catholic Institution established in the year 1923 for the benefit of the young girls of Tiruchirappalli, when higher education for women was considered almost a transgression against the age-old respected customs concerning higher education for girls. It has a unique history with excellence for ten decades. Holy Cross College admits students, irrespective of their caste, creed and state. The college administered by the Sisters of the Cross of Chavanod, Province of Tiruchirappalli, is affiliated to the Bharathidasan University and it is one among the oldest college for women in South India.

It started functioning with 5 students in 1923 as an intermediate course with Ancient History, Indian History, Modern History and Logic. As recognition of its outstanding service for the cause of women’s education by Mother Sophie, a French missionary, it was granted Autonomous status in 1987, the college is empowered to frame its own course of studies and adopt novel methods of teaching and evaluation. The University degrees will be granted to the students passing the examinations conducted by the college. It was the first affiliated college in the Bharathidasan University, to launch the Choice-Based Credit System in June 2000, to provide flexible choice of subjects to the students. At present keeping in view the globalization of higher education the college has designed a new undergraduate course Curriculum which enables students to choose courses from a combination of disciplines, to suit individual needs with career opportunities.

From its humble beginning, it has steadily grown, attained the status of a college in 1923, became a Second Grade College in 1928 and Post Graduate College in 1964. In recognition of its services to the cause of women’s education, for several decades, the college was granted autonomous status in 1987 by the Bharathidasan University. It was accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC ) in 1999 with 5 stars and re-accredited in 2005 with ‘A’ grade and in 2012(3rd Cycle) with A Grade in 2020(4th Cycle) with A++ with CGPA Score of 3.75 on a 4.0 Scale by NAAC. The college was recognised by UGC as ‘College with Potential for Excellence’ in October 2011 and the CPE status has been extended till 2022. As per the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) by MHRD, the college was ranked 26 th for the year 2017, 42 nd for the year 2018, 85 th in 2019, 66 th in 2020, 49 th in 2021, 67 th in 2022 and 40 th in 2023. At present the College offers 23 UG, 21 PG and 13 Ph.D. programs in various departments. There are 186 teaching staff holding doctoral degree out of 303. There are 129 non-teaching staff in service.

The college made a leap in research through acquiring funds for research activities. Simultaneously the departments started research programmes and guiding students that led to enormous publications in national and international journals with impact factors. With the existing ambience in research activities in the campus, Holy Cross College will soon become a prominent Research Centre.

Holy Cross College continues to explore newer terrains with marked signpost of excellence to nurture holistic education. With its magnificent history, the college pursues to widen its horizon to raise ennobling millennials with a head, heart and hand that can think, connect and be of service for the society. The College continues to march forward into the next century in its mission to empower the young minds with knowledge, values and skills necessary to be locally resourceful and globally competent.