Nitte (Deemed to be University) has been established by Nitte Education Trust, which has in its fold 36 institutions spread on 3 campuses at Nitte, Mangalore and Bangalore. A centre of excellence in education and community service in Karnataka State, Nitte Health Care institutions are duly recognized by the Government of India. Nitte (Deemed to be University) is recognised as a Grade A university by MHRD, Govt of India. The University has been accredited by NAAC with ‘A+' Grade with a CGPA of 3.40 in March 2021. The NIRF has ranked Nitte (Deemed to be University) as 74th in the country in 2020 and it has been in the top 100 universities for the fourth successive year. Nitte (Deemed to be University) has been awarded “Diamond” rating by QS I-GAUGE Indian University Ratings. Nitte ( Deemed to be University) is placed in the rank band of 100-200 among participating Universities from all over the world in three categories of the Impact Rankings 2021 released by Times Higher Education(THE) on 21st April 2021. With a Top 200 ranking in Good Health and Well Being, Gender Equality and Clean Water and Sanitation, Nitte University was overall among the Top 400-600 Institutions globally in 2021.

All the constituent institutions, namely, K. S. Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA), A. B. Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences (ABSMIDS), Nitte Gulabi Shetty Memorial Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (NGSMIPS), Nitte Usha Institute of Nursing Sciences (NUINS), Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy (NIPT), Nitte Institute of Architecture (NIA), Nitte University Centre for Science Education & Research (NUCSER) and Nitte Institute of Communication (NICO) are housed in independent buildings with the best of infrastructure and amenities and are located on a sprawling campus of over 50 acres at Deralakatte and Paneer, Mangalore. One of the unique features of this university is the concept of giving back to the society through the extensive network of 21 rural health centres and 3 rural hospitals spread across 5 districts of two states, where more than 2.5 million people are provided with free health care annually.