In the state of Tripura higher education began only in the year 1947 with the establishment of a college called Maharaja Bir Bikram College. This was the first institution for higher education in the state and it was affiliated to Calcutta University. This does not mean that the higher authorities of the state did not make any effort to  establish a college in the state. As early as 1901, an attempt to establish a degree college by Radhakishore Manikya was not approved by University of Calcutta on the grounds of not fulfilling the essential requirements. After this, several new colleges were slowly introduced in the state and the need for a university for the state has become a long felt need. With the request from many educationists, the government of Tripura decided to establish a university in the state as a result of which Tripura University Act was passed in the assembly in the year 1987 and the university came into being from the 2nd of October 1987. The category-wise list of colleges affiliated to the university is given below:

General Degree Colleges:

• MBB College, Agartala

• Ramkrishna Mahavidyalaya, Kailasahar

• Belonia College, Belonia

• Women’s College, Agartala

• Ramthakur College, Badharghat, A.D.Nagar

• Bir Bikram Memorial College, Agartala

• Dasarath Dev Memorial College, Khowai

• Govt. Degree College, Dharmanagar

• Netaji Subhas Mahavidyalaya, Udaipur

• Michael Madhusudan Datta College, Sabroom

• Govt. Degree College, Kamalpur

• Govt. Degree College, Amarpur

• Kabi Nazrul Mahavidyalaya, Sonamura

• Ambedkar College, Fatikroy

• Bhavan’s Tripura College of Science and Technology, Agartala

• Holy Cross College

Professional Colleges:

• Govt. Music College, Agartala

• Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Agartala

• Tripura Engineering College, Barjala

• Govt. College of Art and Craft, Agartala

• Regional College of Physical Education, Panisagar

• Tripura Govt. Law College, Agartala

• Regional Institute of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology (RIPSAT), Agartala

• Bhavan’s College for Teacher Education, Narsingarh

• Agartala Govt. Medical College

• Tripura Medical College

• Tripura Institute of Technology

PG College:

• Institute of Advanced Studies in Education, Agartala

Tripura University was awarded the status of central university from the year 2nd of July 2007 and it received recognition from the University Grant Commission in the year 1988 on the month of May. The campus of the university is spread over an area of 75 acres and 16 departments are functioning under the university. The university is currently offering 15 PG degrees and 15 doctoral degrees and 5 courses through directorate of distance education and 6 courses through directorate of professional studies.