St. Joseph's College for Women

St. Joseph's College for Women, located at Convent Square on National Highway 47 in Alappuzha, Kerala, is a Catholic women's college affiliated with the University of Kerala. Established in 1954 by the Canossian Daughters of Charity, an international congregation of missionary sisters founded by St. Magdalene of Canossa, it was the first such college in Alappuzha district. The foundation stone was laid on 18 April 1953 by Sri. Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, and the college officially opened on 1 July 1954 under its first principal, Rev. M. Fernanda Riva. The college offers 10 undergraduate programs, 4 postgraduate programs, and doctoral programs in Chemistry and Physics. It has departments including Botany, Chemistry, Commerce, English, History, Zoology, and Physics, each with distinct histories dating back to the 1950s-1990s. In 2023, the college secured a position in the NIRF BAND 150-200, and in 2024 it received an 'A+' NAAC grade with a CGPA of 3.44 out of 4, along with 13th position in KIRF rankings. The institution has about 1,275 students, 62 faculty members, and 22 non-teaching staff. Notable alumni include actresses Jalaja and Saranya Mohan, dancer Devi Chandana, and IAS officer Mini Antony.