Guru Nanak Dev University: The university was established on 24 November 1969 to mark the 500th birth anniversary of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak Dev. Today, it is among the three most well known universities in the state.

Khalsa College: The college was founded in 1892 to provide western style education to the Indian youth. The college is often associated with the Sikh renaissance and in spite of its religious name; the college has maintained secular traditions since its inception.

Government Medical College: Established in 1943, it is one of the oldest medical colleges in India. The college was originally founded as a medical school in 1864 in the city of Lahore, now in Pakistan. It was later shifted to Amritsar and today it is spread over an area of 163 acres and is affiliated to Baba Farid University of Health Sciences.

Amritsar College of Engineering and Technology: Established in 2002, the college is affiliated to the Punjab Technical University and it offers a wide range of courses at both graduate and post-graduate levels.

Shiv Shankar Institute of Engineering and Technology: Also affiliated to the Punjab Technical University and established in 2004, the college is one of the premier institutions in the city to do for pursuing an MBA degree.