Kuvempu University has been given the second highest "B" rating by National Assessment and Accreditation Council. The university offers undergraduate and graduate degree programs in wide range of disciplines. It was recognized by the UGC in 1994 and is a member of the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).

The university has its headquarters at Jnana Sahyadri Campus, Shimoga. Its campus is called Jnana Sahyadri that means the Sahyadri of knowledge. It caters to the educational needs of districts of Shimoga and Chikmagalur, Davangere and Chitradurga. Jnana Sahyadri is the main campus of Kuvempu University which is at Shankaraghatta.

Logo of Kuvempu University
The logo of the university has a mythical animal with the trunk of an elephant and the body of a bird. This animal is called Gajahamsa which is commonly found in the Vijayanagara and the Keladi sculpture and temple art. It symbolises the combination of knowledge and wealth.

Departments of Kuvempu University
The university has 59 post-graduate departments of studies in the faculties of Arts, Science, Commerce, Education and Law offering 45 post-graduate (PG) programmes, four PG diplomas and one undergraduate programme.

Distance education of Kuvempu University
Kuvempu University started courses under the distance education scheme on the lines of IGNOU few years back. This Open University would provide M.A., M.Sc, M.Com. Information Technology Courses are also on offer including B.Sc IT and M.Sc IT. A B.Sc ITIM course that focuses on IT Infrastructure Management was introduced by the University in Distance Mode.

Schools and Departments of Kuvempu University
School of Languages, Literature and Fine Arts
Department of Kannada
Department of English
Department of Hindi
Department of Urdu
Department of Sanskrit
Department of Fine Arts

School of Social Sciences
Department of Sociology
Department of Political Science
Department of History and Archaeology
Department of Social Work (Jnana Sahyadri Campus) (Shivagangotri Campus)
Department of Journalism and Mass Communication
Department of Adult Continuing Education and Field Outreach

School of Economics and Business Studies
Department of Economics (Jnana Sahyadri Campus) (Jnana Sahyadri
Campus) (Shivagangotri Campus)
Department of Business Economics (MBE) (P.G. Centre, Kadur)
Department of Commerce (Jnana Sahyadri Campus) (Shivagangotri Campus)
Department of Accounting and Finance
Department of Business Administration (Jnana Sahyadri Campus)
(Shivagangotri Campus)(P.G. Centre, Kadur)
Department of Tourism Administration
Department of Master of Banking, Finance and Insurance

School of Physical Sciences
Department of Mathematics
Department of Computer Sciences
Department of Computer Applications (MCA)
Department of Industrial Mathematics and Computer Applications
Department of Physics
Department of Electronics
Department of Library and Information Science

School of Chemical Sciences
Department of Chemistry
Department of Industrial Chemistry
Department of Biochemistry (Jnana Sahyadri Campus) (Shivagangotri Campus)
Department of Organic Chemistry
Department of Analytical Chemistry
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry

School of Bio Sciences
Department of Applied Zoology
Department of Wild Life Management
Department of Applied Botany
Department of Biotechnology
Department of Bioinformatics
Department of Microbiology (Jnana Sahyadri Campus) (Shivagangotri Campus)
Department of Clinical Psychology

School of Earth Science and Environmental Sciences
Department of Applied Geology
Department of Remote Sensing Application
Department of Water Management and Water Harvesting
Department of Environmental Science

Department of Law
Department of LL.M (Business Law)

Department of Education
Department of Education (Jnana Sahyadri Campus) (Shivagangotri Campus)
Department of Physical Education