Jiwaji University was formed as an affiliating and teaching university in the year 1964 on the 23rd of May. The university was formed under the provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Government Ordinance and the foundation stone for the university was laid by the first president of India on the 11th of December 1964. The jurisdiction of the university is spread over six districts of the state of Madhya Pradesh namely Datia, Shivpuri, Guna, Bhind, Morena and Gwalior. The central library of the university has a collection of over 8000 research journals and 1,40,000 books. Initially, the university had only 29 colleges under its jurisdiction, but now the number has increased considerably. Some of the colleges coming under the jurisdiction of this university were developed as approved research centers. The category-wise list of colleges affiliated to the university is given below:

Medical Colleges:

• Govt. Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Rewa

• Shyam Shah Medical College, Rewa

Engineering Colleges:

• Maharana Pratap College of Technology, Gwalior

Management Colleges:

• Master of Business Adnimistration, Gwalior

• Boston College For Professional Studies, Gwalior

• Institute of Distance Education, Gwalior

Other Colleges:

• Ambah P G College, Ambah

• Chaudhary Yadunath Singh College, Bhind

• Degree College Alampur, Bhind

• Dr. Bhagnat Sahai Govt. College, Gwalior

• Govt College, Datia

• Govt College Guna

• Govt College, Morar

• Govt College of Edueatwn, Tapsen Road, Gwalior

• Govt Chattarshal College Pichhore, Shjvpuri

• Govt Degree College, Sheopurkalan.

• Govt Girls Degree College, Morar

• Govt. Nehru Degree College, Ashoknagar, Guna

• Govt P G College, Ambah Road, Morena

• G L College, Banmore

• Govt PG College, Shivpuri

• Govt College, Chachnoda Beenaganj

• Govt College, Jaura

• Govt College, Kolaras

• Govt College, Mihona

• Govt College, Porsa

• Govt Science College, Gwalior

• Govt Girls College. Shivpuri

• Govt Degree College, Karera, Shivpuri

• Govt College, Mungawali

• Govt College, Mehagaon.

• Govt. Naveena College, Arone.

• Govt. Naveen Girls College, Tansen Nagar, Gwalior

• Govt College, Lahar, (Bhind)

• Govt College, Attair (Bhind)

• Govind Degre College, Seondha, Datia

• Govt. Gandhi Degree College Balaji Mihona

• Govt Girls Degree College, Morena

• Govt. L S G K College, Pohri, Shivpur

• Govt. Madhav Mahavidyalaya, Chanderi, Guna

• Jain Degree College, Bhind

• J G Girls Degree College, Gwalior

• Kamla Raja Girls College, Gwalior

• Kusum Bai Jain Kanya Mahavidyalaya, Bhind

• Kasturba Kanya Govt. Degree College, Guna

• Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, Shakti Nagar, Gwalior

• Maharaja Jiwaji Rao Sciendia College, Bhind

• M L B Arts & Commerce College, Gwalior

• Madhav Mahavidyalaya, Gwalior

• Maharaja Mansingh College, Gwalior

• Maharishi Arvind Govt. Degree College, Gohad, Distt. Bhind

• Nehru Degree College Sabalgarh, Distt. Morena

• P G Vigyan Mahavidyalaya, Lashkar, Gwalior

• Parvati Bai Gokhale Viggyan Mahavidyalaya, Gwalior

• Rishi Galav Mahavidyalya, Morena

• Rishiwar Mahavidyalaya, Phoop, Bhind

• S V R S Mahavidyalaya, Adhokhar (Bhind)

• Shri D P Sarraf Degee College, Daboh

• Shyamlal Pandviya Mahavidyalaya, Morar, Gwalior

• Smt. Vijayraja Scendia Degree College, Adhokar, Bhind

• T T State College Physical Education, Shivpuri

• Vardhman Girls Degree College, Guna

• Virnda Sahai Govt College, Dabra, Gwalior

Jiwaji University gradually introduced some new courses when it started to grow. The postgraduate research and teaching was started from the academic year 1966-67 with the formation of schools of studies and Zoology and Botany. Two years later, in the academic year 1969-70 schools of studies in archaeology, culture, ancient history, chemistry and physics were started by the university. From the academic year 1978-79, schools of studies in mathematics and economics were started by the university. From the academic year 1980-81, the commerce school and in the year 1986-87 biochemistry school were introduced by the university.  Later in the year 1987, MBA course was also introduced by the university under the school of commerce.