Education is the greatest invention of mankind, connecting people from all over the world through classrooms. While this is the typical way of learning, still it isn’t enough to remove the physical barrier between the student and teacher. Sometimes students may come from remote places, traveling for hours, and even exposing themselves to road accidents and such. While this physical limitation may not fall anytime soon, modern technology may have already solved that!
Distance learning has existed for more than half a decade now. It is constantly trying to remove the physical barrier and connect students with their mentors through modern technology like video calls, digital teaching materials, online assessment tests, and so on. So, if you are a seeker who is looking for the best distance university in India, then you are in the right place. We have prepared this list of the best distance education university in India just for you!
Top 10 Distance Education Universities in India
Distance education started popping off since the covid era. The work-from-home and learn-from-home mindsets became commonplace, giving these kinds of programs much-needed attention. Now most prestigious universities in India offer distance programs as an alternative to the on-campus ones. So, without any further ado, let’s see what the best distance university in India actually looks like:
1. Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)
IGNOU is undoubtedly one of the best open university in India, all thanks to its cheap course fees and a vast amount of courses to choose from. Most government colleges have a dedicated IGNOU cell, giving a chance for students to directly visit the office in the university and register their candidacy easily. While it’s fully funded by the government, it is still notoriously known as the most lackluster distance learning solution. Still, that doesn’t mean this situation will happen in every IGNOU branch. But, make no mistake, this is an expected occurrence.
- Low course fee.
- More than 300 programs to choose from.
- Number 1 in Open University.
- An extensive number of study centers.
- The most well-known establishment out of all.
2. Amity University ODL (Open Distance Learning)
Amity University is an internationally recognized institution known for its crazy high-tech facilities. Thanks to that, their distance education offers a better quality of life improvement from IGNOU, making it a perfect place for those students who need constant monitoring or seek a regular audience with their teachers. There are also occasional group studies, on-campus classes, up-to-date industry projects, and so on. That’s why it deserves a top spot within the best distance education university in India.
- Over 50 courses to choose from.
- High fee structure.
- Leading the charts with science and technology-related fields.
- Ranked in the top 3% globally.
- On-campus classes every 15 days, or twice a month.
- Periodic one-on-one sessions between students and mentors.
3. Delhi University SOL (School of Open Learning)
Open learning, or distance learning, was first established at Delhi University in 1962, making it the oldest university to ever support this new way of learning. It is situated in the heart of India, which gives it the right to be included in our top 10 distance education universities in India based on reputation alone. But that doesn’t mean they are lacking in the quality or quantity department. Most mainstream courses like BA, BSc, and BCom are offered, including their master’s or postgraduate counterparts.
- Over 25 courses to choose from.
- Expensive programs.
- Direct admission to all programs.
- Low fee structure.
- Most popular in northern regions of India.
4. Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning (SCDL)
SCDL is known for its corporate-related courses, or we can say commerce. It has been appearing in the ranking constantly for teaching future business owners and international personas through its extensive online facilities. They provide almost everything that Amity University provides, but it has one unique trait, and it’s the on-demand examination. Yes, students pick their exam dates, including time slots, and appear on their own accord. This gives the candidates all the freedom they need without worrying about uncertain events like traffic jams. So if you are aiming for the IT sector, commerce sector, HR sector, etc., then SCDL is the best distance university in India for you!
- Over 70 courses to choose from.
- Placement assistance.
- Best for commerce streams.
- One-to-one mentorship system.
- A full physical and digital version of the syllabus is available.
- On-demand examination.
5. NMIMS CDOE Center for Distance and Online Education (NMIMS CDOE)
This is a peculiar case; while most names on our list are known for their quality, NMIMS, on the other hand, is known not for their quality. Sounds confusing? Let us break it down. Towards the start of 2023, NMIMS got blasted with a ban from the University Grants Commission (UGC) for not providing quality materials for their distance learning. Students were getting ignored, the self-learning materials were lacking, and their promises were starting to fade. A lot of students started complaining, and you can guess what happened next. But they showed a big commitment to making a change, and as of August 2024, the ban has been lifted. Despite the controversy, it is still one of the top 10 distance education universities in India based on reputation alone.
- Known for its MBA programs.
- Technology-driven system.
- On-campus immersion programs.
- Bootcamps.
- Live lectures with real-time interaction.
6. Annamalai University CDOE (Center for Distance and Online Education)
Annamalai is a well-known icon in the southern side of India. Known for its almost 2-century-old history and a wide range of programs in the ODL discipline. There are more than 400 courses, almost 50% more than IGNOU and 20 times more than Delhi University. While it’s not as fancy as the above counterparts, it makes up for that with its huge selection of studies. So if you are wondering about which university is best for distance education and happen to be living in Tamil Nadu or any southern state, then Annamalai University should be your go-to pick.
- 400+ courses to choose from.
- Low fee structure.
- Favors the non-Hindi speakers.
- It has the largest reach in the southern side of the nation.
- Preferred choice for yoga and music-related programs.
7. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University (BRAOU)
BRAOU is known to be the first open university in India, established on 26th August 1982. This is where the magic happened, which led to the full-scale deployment of open and distance learning across India. Formerly known as Andhra Pradesh Open University, BRAOU also doesn’t have any fancy attire like the private ones or the ones in the top five. But when it comes to getting what you ask for without paying a huge sum, well, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University never fails in that regard.
- Over 60 courses to choose from.
- Low fee structure.
- Allows life-sentenced inmates to enroll.
- More than 200 study centers in the nearest states and one each in others.
8. Lovely Professional University Online (LPU Online)
A growing name in the field of distance learning with its up-to-date programs and a modern approach to study. For example, regular webinars hosted by successful personas in your desired field, an eye-catchy student portal, hands-on experience on live projects, and so on. You may have also seen tons of funny ads from LPU on TV. It should come as no surprise that most of them are filed by students from the university itself. Some even performed and received a career boost immediately. So, if your aim is to try something new, then this can be your best distance education university to enroll in.
- Known for its MBA and MCA courses.
- Medium to high fee structure.
- Direct placement opportunity through Incubation Centers or Live Projects.
- Offers No-Cost EMI for its programs.
- Massive online repository.
- Mock Interviews.
- Regular webinars for all.
9. Yashwantrao Chavan Maharashtra Open University (YCMOU)
YCMOU stands on the holy grounds of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, spreading the power of knowledge by destroying the barriers of age, place, and pace. It is known for its exceptional vocational courses and skill-based programs and even received many awards for its institutional remarks by the International Award of Institutional Excellence, Canada, twice. Also, this is the only ODL university in this list that has a strong relationship with Hinduism, which is signified by its emblem of choice, the peacock, the vehicle of Devi Saraswati, aka the Goddess of Knowledge.
- 100+ courses to choose from.
- Low and affordable fee structure.
- Excellent skill-based and vocational courses.
- Preferred choice for farmers and farm women.
10. Sikkim Manipal University (SMU-DE)
SMU had a similar case as NMIMS, where it was unrecognized by IGNOU and other prestigious ODL universities since 2012. But that doesn’t disregard the value of the certificate itself. At the end of the day, all that matters is the approval rating from UGC, and yes, all distance courses are duly approved. However, take note that their study sessions aren’t known for quality. And a lot of students have complained about not being able to take the exam from their nearest center. They had to travel to Sikkim itself. That’s why we ranked it last in our top 10 distance education universities in India.
- Provides undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD programs.
- Low fee structure.
- Good eLearning materials with the help of mobile apps and EduNxt™.
- Flexi Payment support (EMI)
- Dedicated student support portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What does distance learning mean?
Ans. Distance or open learning refers to the way to complete your education without visiting the campus on a daily basis, making it a preferred choice for students who live in a remote place but also want to learn more with the help of modern video conferencing solutions like video calls, digital repositories, online exams, and so on.
Q2. Which university is best for distance education?
Ans. IGNOU is the best university for open and distance education in India. It has a wider reach than others, and its certificates are often valued over the other open universities.
Q3. Should I go for distance education or normal education?
Ans. We will always recommend going for the on-campus, or normal education, if you can afford it. It will provide much more real-world experience and allow you to make connections for a better future. Meanwhile, distance education is best for those students who live far, far away from the university.
Q4. Can I find good job opportunities with distance learning?
Ans. Yes, you can find all the job opportunities similar to an on-campus certificate. The employer will not care about how you got your education, as long as you have skills to back it up.
Q5. How many open UGC approved distance education universities does India have?
Ans. As of 2025, 82 colleges and universities have passed the approval process for the University Grants Commission in the Open Distance Learning category.
