Punjab is served by several public institutes of higher education. All the major arts, humanities, science, engineering, law, medicine, veterinary science, and business courses are offered, leading to first degrees as well as postgraduate awards.

The universities of Punjab are: Panjab University, Guru Nanak Dev University, Punjabi University, Swami Sarvanand Giri Panjab University Regional Centre, Punjab Agricultural University, Punjab Technical University and Punjab Veterinary Sciences University.

To begin with is the Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, which has received the highest Five Star Level Status from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). A residential and an affiliating institution, the University disseminates knowledge in the arenas of science, art, management, information technology, industrial technology, environment, planning and architecture.

The Punjab Agricultural University is widely acclaimed as one of the best agricultural universities in Asia. Located in Ludhiana, the University offers five bachelors, fifty-one Masters and forty-two Doctorate programmes in fifty departments of five constituent colleges.

The Punjabi University in Patiala seeks to develop and encourage the growth of the Punjabi language, literature and culture. It has also received the highest Five Star Level Status from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).

The Punjab Technical University at Jalandhar imparts technical, management and pharmaceutical education in the state. The Distance Education offered by the University is well known with three hundred and fifty Learning Centres in all regions of Punjab and across India.

Swami Sarvanand Giri Panjab University Regional Centre is a NAAC accredited "Five Star" Panjab University, Chandigarh. This is the most versatile off-campus establishment of Panjab University. The courses offered are Bachelor degrees in Electronics and Communication Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Information & Technology Engineering, Bachelor of Laws (L.L.B), Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws B.A LL.B. (Honours) and Electrical and Electronics Engineering.

Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (GADVASU) was established with the objective of promoting livestock production, health and prevention of diseases. It is located at Ludhiana.

The College of Fisheries under it is the only college in the states of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir for producing professionally and technically qualified manpower to cater developing fisheries sector.