Lying on the eastern coast of India is the state of Orissa, which is known for its temples and beaches. Steeped in history, it was the former kingdom of Kalinga. Academically, the Universities of Orissa have produced some great scholars of the country. In fact the Universities of Orissa have excelled in research-oriented projects as well.

The Utkal University is the oldest University in Orissa and the seventeenth oldest university in India. The University is the largest affiliating University in the country with the territorial jurisdiction extending over nine districts, namely Angul, Cuttack, Dhenkanal, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapada, Khordha, Nayagarh and Puri.

The Sambalpur University located at Burla in the Sambalpur district of Orissa is a teaching as well as an affiliating university. The University started functioning from 1st January 1967.

The Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology is located in the city of Bhubaneshwar and was established in 1962. It is the second oldest agricultural university in the country. The University disseminates knowledge on agriculture and conducts agriculture related research. It has eight constituent colleges and also a postgraduate study center.

The Berhampur University is a state administered university located at Berhampur. The University is an affiliating institution with the territorial jurisdiction extending over the districts of Ganjam, Gajapati, Koraput, Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Malkangiri, Kandhamal and Boudh. There are twenty-one postgraduate departments in the University.

Shri Jagannath Sanskrit Viswavidyalaya was established in 1981 at Balukhand in Puri. It is the third Sanskrit university in India and consists of seven departments. The main objective of the University is to develop, promote and encourage research associated with Sanskrit, one of the oldest languages of the world.