Jagannath Kishore College, Purulia was established in 1948 to promote the higher education in this region. Its affiliated to University of Burdwan.

This is a private aided college. The aim of the college is to provide students with the knowledge and skills they need in this era of information and teaching. The curriculum is designed by the Boards of Studies of Burdwan University. The college offers under graduate and Post graduate courses in Arts, Commerce and Science stream. The college has state-of-the-art technologies and infrastructure. 

J. K. College being the premier institution of the district in the field of higher education, it behoves us to become the beacon light of learning in the district, and constantly create and protect the ambience of search for truth and knowledge. The mission of the College is 'Pursuit of Knowledge', both theoretical and applied, technical and spiritual, both within and outside the institution. The College received COLLEGE WITH POTENTIAL FOR EXCELLENCE (CPE) status from UGC. The College is affiliated to the Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University, Purulia. At present the college is offering 19 Undergraduate programmes, Post-Graduate programme in Mathematics. 

The college functioned as a private college till it was recognized by the then Government of Bihar as a Govt. aided institution in 1951. The foundation stone for the present Arts Building of the main campus was laid by Sri Krishna Singh, the then Chief Minister of Bihar on 9th September, 1953, and the inauguration of this building was officiated by Sri Anugraha Narayan Singh, the then Finance Minister of Bihar, on 10th October the same year.

The district of Purulia emerged on 1st November, 1956 after Bengal annexation, and the college came under CalcuttaUniversity. J.K.College was affiliated to The University of Burdwan in 1961, and in 1963 the college was taken over as a sponsored college by the Government of West Bengal.

No less significant is the fact that J.K. College came under newly established Sidho-Kanho-Birsha University (SKBU),Purulia from 2010. The campus office of this new University was J.K. College, and the building of the University is being built at a site at Ranchi road, on a land of some approximately 40 bighas donated by J.K. College to the SKB University for this noble project in the year 2011.This is how J.K. College passed through sunshine and shower for 66 years to be now recognized as the premier institution in higher education not only in Purulia, but one of the best in West Bengal. The college was accredited by NAAC in 2005 and obtained B+ Grade. In 2010 it was recognized as a College with Potential Excellence (CPE) by UGC. The college has submitted letter of intent (LOI) to NAAC in April, 2013 and is going to be reaccredited shortly.

VISION

• To help students from the economically challenged background overcome all sorts of barriers – social, financial as well as mental.
• To be an eminent centre of education, synchronizing the values of traditional culture &brilliance of modern knowledge.
• To focus in catering to the needs of the young talents of rich potentialities by satisfying their thrust for inquisitiveness to a great possible extent.
• To create a great mass of educated human beings of exemplary character &integrated personalities.
•  To equip the students to meet the unique challenges and opportunities of a globalized economy

MISSION

• To sustain and strive for further academic excellence.
• To enhance infrastructural facilities to accommodate diverse academic programmes.
• To inculcate humane values and greater responsibilities in students.
• To cultivate healthy and sustainable ecological practices.
• To promote environment of free thinking and research.