The independence of India in 1947 was coupled with the tragic partition of Bengal. Thousands of rootless people swarmed into West Bengal to start life a new. Nadia is one of such districts, which accommodated a large section of these displaced persons. Ranaghat along with other principal towns of Nadia had to provide shelter to most of the refugees. In such a situation, a few educationists dreamt of disseminating the fruits of higher education among the people of the surrounding areas. It was thus that Ranaghat College made its humble beginning in a small room of Pal Chowdhury High School, Ranaghat, Nadia, in 1950 with affiliation to Calcutta University. Later it was shifted to its present premises by the side of the National Highway 34. The College, located on a land of 4.68 acres, is well connected by road and railways and ever since its inception it has been instrumental in serving students from all section of the society irrespective of caste, creed and religion presently affiliated to the University of Kalyani, Ranaghat college offers three undergraduate programmes leading to B.A, B.Sc and B.Com degrees with Honours, Major and General courses. Ranaghat College also offers regular Master Course in Bengali under the University of Kalyani, DODL under the University of Kalyani in Bengali, English, History and education from the year 2014. Ranaghat College is operating a regular study centre of IGNOU, The Central University with U.G, P.G, Certificate and Diploma Courses.

The eight existing buildings of the College have several rooms including lecture halls, practical laboratories for science subjects, one laboratory in the department of Geography, English Language laboratory, two Computer Centers, a Central Library apart from several departmental libraries, canteen, play ground, auditorium, separate common rooms for girls and boys, NSS and NCC rooms, Students Union rooms, adequate facilities for football, cricket, badminton and volley ball, a newly established computer room with Internet connectivity and an arboretum. Ranaghat College has been assessed and accredited by NAAC in 2007 and awarded B+ grade.