Stella Maris College is an institution of higher education for women in Chennai, India. It is an autonomous college affiliated to the University of Madras and is partly residential. The college, which is under the direction of the Society of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, is a minority institution.
It has five hostels – Snehalaya, Our Lady's, Klemens, St. Josephs and Nava Nirmana.
It is ranked 30th among colleges in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2024.
Contents
Departments
Advanced Zoology and Biotechnology
Bioinformatics
Biotechnology
Business Administration
Chemistry
Commerce
Computer Applications
Economics
English
History & Tourism
Information Technology
International Studies
Languages
Mathematics
Physics
Plant Biology and Plant Biotechnology
Psychology
Public Relations
Religion and Value Education
Social Work
Sociology
Visual Arts
Vocational Programmes:
Sustainable Energy Management
Food Processing and Quality Control
Diploma Courses:
Computer Science
Medical Laboratory Technology
Conservation
As of 2014, the college has undertaken around twelve environmental initiatives including light-emitting diode cluster lights, solar-powered streetlights, source segregation, vermi-composting, and waste water recycling plant. In January 2014, the college opted for green energy with the installation of a 50-kilo watt roof-top solar power plant on its campus. The plant, installed by Omega Natural Polarity Private Limited at a cost of ₹ 5 million, has 200 solar panels and caters to six percent of the total power requirement on the campus, powering lights and fans in the college.
Notable alumni
Alarmel Valli, classical dancer
Anita Coleman, researcher
Anju Bhargava, political operative
Anuradha Menon, Comedian
Bala Devi Chandrashekar, Bharatanatyam dancer
Brindha Sivakumar, Singer
Divya Ajith Kumar, army officer
G. Thilakavathi IPS, police officer and Tamil writer
Geeta Menon, academic, educator; Dean of New York University
Jayalalithaa, actress-turned-politician, former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Malini Parthasarathy, editor, The Hindu
Lekha Washington, actress
Manjima Mohan, Actress, Award winner.
Preetha Reddy, managing director of Apollo Hospitals
Samantha Ruth Prabhu, actress
Savitha Sastry, dancer
Shweta Mohan, singer
Christabelle Howie, Miss India 1991
Sheela Murthy, U.S. immigration attorney