Stella Maris College, a Catholic Institution for higher education for women, is affiliated to the University of Madras. The college, which is under the direction of the Society of the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, is an institution that provides University education for deserving students, irrespective of class and creed respecting their rights of conscience. The aim of Stella Maris is to prepare young women to continually search for Truth, to grow into mature and responsible women, ready to face the challenges of life at home and in society. The college, therefore, strives to inculcate in the students a sound philosophy of life based on faith in God, respect for the individual, concern for the less privileged, and the ideals of Truth, Justice and Peace inspired by the Christian vision.

Stella Maris College is currently headed by Sr. Annamma Philip. There are more than a 100 faculty members of whom 30 hold Doctoral Degrees, 58 hold M.Phil Degrees and several others are completing their research work. Also the college comprises 30 administrative staff. It has at present over 2000 students housed in large buildings on the beautiful campus of "The Cloisters" on Cathedral Road. The college seal represents a ship sailing on stormy waters, led by a star. This symbolizes the student's life guided by the light of the Star of the Sea - Stella Maris. Truth and Charity is the motto of the college. It is the desire of Stella Maris that this truth may be the goal of all the students and that everything in their life may bear the seal of charity. Credit system is followed, under which, each course offered in a semester is assigned a certain number of credits, depending on the quantum of work required of the student. Courses are designed with a weightage of 2, 3 or 4 credits each.