It was upgraded to a college in 1879 under the University of Madras, under the leadership of Principal C. Chandrasekhara Sastri, Professor of English and Sanskrit, and scaled thereafter with the aid of the 10th Maharaja, Sir Pusapati Ananda Gajapathi Raju.

[2] The college has 21 departments offering 19 undergraduate and postgraduate courses in arts and science streams affiliated to the Andhra University.

There are about 150 permanent and temporary academic and support staff members with an annual intake of about 2,192 students in 2009.

The Maharajah's College is spread over 18 acres, hosting six buildings with a built-up area of 115,307 sq ft (10,712.4 m2).

There are seminar halls, health centre, hostels, sports facilities and a gymnasium in the campus.