Established in 1922, the college is considered to be one of the oldest and premier institutions of higher education in India.

St Berchmans College is the first higher education institution under the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanacherry.

After the establishment of St Berchmans English High School, Changanasserry by first Vicar Apostolic of Kottayam, Msgr.

Charles Lavigne and clergy of Catholic Church in 1891, he laid the foundation stone of the college in 1895 on seeing the need for an institution of higher education in Travancore and Malabar region.

[7] The college was established in 1922 by Venerable Mar Thomas Kurialacherry, Bishop of Changanassery diocese with the help of both the Catholic Church and the Travancore royal family.

In June 2022, the relics of St John Berchmans brought from Italy were placed in the College Chapel, as part of the centenary.

The Department of Economics was created when the college was founded in 1922, offering course in Humanities and Social Science.

BA Economics was started in 1934.The department was elevated to a research centre by Mahatma Gandhi University in 2010.

The department became an approved research centre in Mathematics under Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam in 2018.

A regional Herbarium of Kerala was installed in the college under the aegis of the University Grants Commission (UGC).

The dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit, the fleur-de-lis represents purity, and the coconut trees signify Kerala.

Waves depict the college's location, and the open book on the Greek cross symbolizes wisdom.

The Latin motto "Caritas Vera Nobilitas" and its Sanskrit equivalent "सैभ्रात्रं हि कूलीनता (saibhrātram hi kūlīnatā)" are inscribed below the shield.

Aided programs English Model 1, English Model 2 Vocational Journalism, Malayalam, Economics, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology, Psychology, Commerce FT+ ACCA/CMA Self-financing programs BSc Biotechnology and Botany, BSc Zoology and Industrial Microbiology, BCA, Commerce FT+ACCA/CMA, BCOM CA+ACCA/CMA, Bvoc Renewable Energy Management Aided programs English, Malayalam, Economics, Botany, Zoology, Mathematics, Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry, Physics, Physics NRE(New and Renewable Energy Management), MCom Finance, MSW, MBA Self-financing programs MSc Computer Science, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Library and Information Science, Mcom Finance, MBA [23] Over 800 hostellers were residing inside the campus.

The college conducted an international conference on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development participated in by delegates from 26 countries in 2005.

Apart from academics, the college has two units of National Service Scheme(NSS) in which 200 volunteers can be enrolled.

The popular extra-curricular societies and clubs engage in activities concerned with debating, drama, film club, social service, photography, Jesus Youth, National Cadet Corps, Mock United Nations (MUN), etc.

Berchmans Institute of Management Studies is recognized by All India Council for Technical Education, New Delhi.

[27] The college which was one of the last bastions of male exclusivity has opened its door to female students to various undergraduate programmes.

[28] The college is also appreciated for its beautiful combination of Victorian architecture, characterized by the use of red bricks, pointed and semicircular arches, ornate detailing, dome and towering structures, with a blend of Dutch colonial and Dravidian architecture,[29] especially in the college tower, Kurialacherry block and the chapel.

[30] The college also kept the 100 year old tradition of starting the day with the one minute hymn 'Lead, Kindly Light' by Cardinal Newman which is said to halt everyone from their work.

The college has produced a diverse alumni ranging from politicians to businessmen, writers to actors, religious leaders to scientists, athletes to military personnel and civil servants.

I also found time to attend the alumni meet on the Republic Day for the past few years.