Government First Grade College, Tenkanidiyur (Udupi Dist.) was also known as Government First Grade College & Centre for PG Studies, Tenkanidiyur, and GFGC, Tenkanidiyur was established on 16th September 1993 by the Government of Karnataka.

It is one of the premier government co-educational colleges established to impart & provide in the field of higher education for the deserving candidates and prove to be a milestone in the part of progress.

The college is affiliated to Mangalore University, Mangaluru and recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) under section 2(f) on 12th January 2005 & 12(B) 4th December 2006 under Act, 1956.
 
It is re-accredited by National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) with "B" Grade - (CGPA Score 2.61 on a 4 Point Scale in 2nd Cycle) in 2013.

The college has been rendering yeoman service in educating the youth from the backward sections of the society for the last two decades.

The Temple Town Udupi has won public acclaim for private entrepreneurship and leadership. It is recognized for its great strides in the field of education.

As the reports show, the percentage of passes in plus two or P.U.C. in Udupi district is very high. But a large number of students give up their ambition as they cannot afford higher education in a private college or end up joining courses which they really don’t prefer otherwise.   Govt. First Grade College, Udupi was founded to meet the aspirations of such students.

The college is the outcome of the initiative taken by the local Philanthropists and the people’s representatives. Their concern for the rural youth and their talent in learning led to the establishment of Govt. First Grade College Udupi

The college was started in 1993 on the campus of Govt. P.U. College, Udupi, popularly known as Board High School, one of the oldest educational institutions in Udupi.
It provides an opportunity for the education of the youth at an affordable cost, especially for the girl students, in the villages surrounding Udupi town.

The college offers Bachelor as well as Masters Degree Programmes viz., B.A., B.Sc., B.Com., B.B.M.

BSW, and B.C.A.at Bachelors level and M.A.(Kannada), M.A (English), M.A (Economics), M.A (Sociology), MSW and M.Com at Masters level. To supplement these programs the college has also conducted English Speaking Course, Sahayog, Manavathe, HRD training programs, Naipunya Nidhi, Educate, NSS, Rover Ranger, Red Cross, Sports, cultural and various co-curricular and extra-curricular activities.

Vision:

• To enable all students of the state to become good human beings, productive and socially responsible citizens to acquire the prescribed competencies and values so as to achieve excellence

Mission:

• To provide educational opportunities to rural poor and the marginalized sections of the society so that the light of knowledge may empower these youth to assert their identity and self-respect, and to enable them to attain social and economic opportunities

Goals:

• To enrich lives, improve society and address global challenges by producing Wise and able human beings
• To provide an opportunity for higher education to economically weaker sections of the locality at the least possible cost
• To produce healthy, morally and spiritually upright citizens with desirable and acceptable personal and social values