How Lucknow is Becoming an Education Hub of North India
Lucknow is no longer synonymous with Nawabi culture and delicious kebabs. It is slowly becoming one of the best places to receive an education hub in North India, and here is why this matters—and what it means for students and families looking for more than a school.
Lucknow University Shines in National Rankings
LUU (Lucknow University), one of the oldest and most prestigious public state universities in India, is back in the news for ranking 5th, among state universities located in urban areas, with a respectable score of 951.62 out of 1,000, in the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2025. It received a 5th place ranking for publicly funded non-technical state universities, as the highest ranking for this category from Uttar Pradesh and 3rd nationwide. This accolades indicates the emerging academic power of the city.
Growing Global Appeal: International Student Applications Surge
LU has experienced a remarkable increment in international student applications, which grew from 637 in 2021-22 to 2,379 applications in 2025-26 (an increase of over threefold) in only five years. The added applications are from approximately 76 countries, some of which have never had any entrants, such as Poland and Taiwan, providing clear evidence that Lucknow is beyond a regional center and has become globally competitive and welcoming.
Massive Technical Education Ecosystem
Lucknow is not just a home for universities. Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), one of the largest technical universities in Asia, has courses of study with approximately 400,000 enrolled students with 785 affiliated institutions, as of 2019. The district of Lucknow has roughly 80 affiliated colleges. This type of scale is uncommon and indicates serious reach.
IIM Lucknow Boosts Higher Education Prestige
A discussion about the education system in Lucknow would not be complete without the mention of the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow). Founded in 1984, it is one of the premier management institutes in the country, ranked sixth in the NIRF 2023 Management Rankings. The institute provides opportunities for students from all corners of the country and outside of India to enroll in the Post Graduate Programs (PGP), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Executive MBA and Doctoral studies at IIM Lucknow.
IIM Lucknow has strong national and international partnerships with many industries and global academic institutions. As such, IIM Lucknow plays a key role in reinforcing the identity of the city of Lucknow as an education hub city in North India. IIM Lucknow’s 200-acre campus on the outskirts of Lucknow contributes to a very active and vibrant student life in Lucknow by providing a large green space with opportunities to endure the rigors of student life and a wholesome learning ecosystem.
La Martiniere College Strengthening Education in Lucknow
When considering Lucknow as an educational hub and all that lucknow brings to the table, La Martiniere College is without a doubt the crown jewel of Lucknow. Founded in 1845, the college is an old-world institution with a world-class education, values, discipline, and comprehensive learning experiences. The college’s alumni section, including filmmaker Muzaffar Ali, author Amitav Ghosh, and cricketing great Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, showcases the wide-reaching global impact of La Martiniere College’s education.
The college’s notoriety attracts students from all over Uttar Pradesh, solidifying the notion that Lucknow offers schools which can compete with the best metro cities in India. Together, the historic and contemporary learning help to not only foster individual excellence, it also highlights why Lucknow is universally accepted as a great educational hub of North India.
A Diverse University System with High Enrollment
A huge university, the University of Lucknow runs under the umbrella of 556 colleges, 10 faculties and 23 institutes, with an overall enrolment of 20028 students, including 10776 undergraduates and 6280 postgraduates. It’s also the only public university in UP to hold the “Category-I” status by the UGC and an NAAC A++ accreditation, reflecting quality higher education of international standing and modern academic quality.
Impressive School Infrastructure and Reach
Even before a child reaches the college level, Lucknow is obviously not bereft of a solid school ecosystem:
- A recent report stated that there are 466 schools in the city that cater to several boards e.g., CBSE, ICSE, IB, IGCSE and State Boards, while other reports indicate well over 500, substantiating the educational density of the city.
- City Montessori School has over 61345 students and is the largest school in the world by enrollment.
These figures represent not only a measure of scale, but variety and verve, from schools of global scale to niche and alternative education settings.
Experiential Learning for Professionals
Lucknow University’s new Executive MBA program, launched just last year, had 240 applications and 30 available seats – clearly demonstrating growing demand! This flexible format is suited to the working professional, and helps enhance LU’s reputation as a practical, career-oriented institution.
So What Do These Numbers Mean for You
- Top-Notch Institutions: LU has a strong IIRF rank and A++ rating, so you are looking at quality coming at par with metro cities
- International Experience: a growing number of international students demonstrates a diverse and inclusive environment in Lucknow.
- Large Academic Landscape: there is a combination of technical colleges, big schools, and executive programs to offer programmed learning for all levels of learners and to support all career paths.
- Active Student Life: with tens of thousands of students at the university level, and hundreds of thousands in schools and tech education (testing) out there, peer networks and opportunities to grow are plentiful.
Final Words
Lucknow is not only entering the education map as an education hub, it is transforming it. With world-class universities, growth in international interest, technical education at massive scale, and lively school education, fiction as education hub in North of India now has its badge.
For students, parents and educators, it means quality learning, multiple options, affordability, and local pride all in one location. As more institutions invest, Lucknow will create a new brand of academic hub.
