Karnataka State Open University: Courses, Fees, Admission 2025 & Ranking

Karnataka State Open University (KSOU), Mysuru, is a State Public University established by the act of State Legislature in 1992, and was brought into force on 1st June 1996. Ever since its establishment, KSOU has been pro-actively engaged in fulfilling the national objectives of higher education i.e., to achieve ACCESS, EQUITY, QUALITY, AFFORDABILITY and ACCOUNTABILITY.

A Pioneer and Premier Centre of Higher Education under Open and Distance Learning (ODL) system, KSOU was carved out of illustrious University of Mysore in 1996. Before becoming the university, KSOU was an Institute of Correspondence Courses and Continuing Education (ICC&CE) of the University of Mysore which was established in 1969.

The motto of KSOU - “HIGHER EDUCATION FOR EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE”, promises to reach out to those unreached - to all those higher education aspirants. The Open University was established in pursuance of National Policy on Education, NPE-1986 on the recommendation of Central Education Advisory Board MHRD, Government of India.

The working professionals, households, the disadvantaged sections of the society and people from backward regions, who cannot pursue education through ‘in-class’/conventional mode get new opportunities to learn through distance education mode.​

The Karnataka State is a leading state in the higher education sector with a GER of 25.3% (for 2018-19, AISHE), the role of KSOU is vital in enhancing the GER of the state to much higher level. The KSOU has created an excellent academic and administrative infrastructure, not only at its headquarters in Mysore, but also at its 21 regional centers across the state.​