Carmelgiri College is a minority Christian institution governed and managed by CMC sisters under the heavenly patronage of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The college was established in 1987, following the visionary guardianship of our Heavenly Patron St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara, the founder of CMC. The college strives to foster individuals intellectually, spiritually, and physically so that they can have a mature vision of life. It is again the primary mission of our institution to enlighten young minds to be the reformers of society.

On its 25th anniversary, the college transitioned to a self-financing Arts and Science College on June 22, 2011, with an NOC from the Government of Kerala and affiliation from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam, under the name Stella Maris College for Women, Adimali. Initially, four programs were offered: B. Com. Model I (Computer Application), BA English Model III (Literature, Communication, and Journalism), B.Sc. Psychology, and B.Sc. Computer Science. In October 2013, the first batch of 91 students appeared for the first Semester University Examinations.

In 2014-15, three additional programs, including M. Com Finance, B. Com Model I (Finance and Taxation), and BA English Language and Literature Model I, were sanctioned to the college and received NOC from the Government of Kerala and affiliation from the university. Following the implementation of NEP in Kerala, the college introduced the Four-Year UG Programme (FYUGP, Honours) from the academic year 2024, in compliance with the regulations of MG University.

Due to the shortage of co-educational institutions in the nearby locality and demand from the public and well-wishers, the college management decided to convert the college into a co-educational institution. Permission for this change was obtained from the University, and the college was renamed Carmelgiri College on June 27, 2016.

At present, the College offers two postgraduate courses, M. Com Finance and MSW, and four undergraduate courses: B. Com Computer Application, B. Com Finance and Taxation, B.Sc. Psychology, and BSW, which was approved by the university in the academic year 2023-2024. The college has around 200 students, 21 faculty members, and 6 administrative staff members.