Sambalpur serves as the chief educational centre of the entire Western Part of Orissa. Situated in a sprawling campus of 800 acres, at a distance of 15 kilometres from Sambalpur and about 3 kilometres from the Hirakud Dam, Sambalpur University was established on 18^th January 1967. It is the second biggest affiliating University in the State of Orissa with jurisdiction exceeding over 10 districts of the Western part of Orissa (Sambalpur, Sundargarh, Bargarh, Jharsuguda, Bolangir, Deogarh, Boudh, Suvarnapur, Kalahandi, Nuapada and Athamalik subdivision of Angul).

It has 160 affiliated college including three autonomous colleges (Gangadhar Meher College - Sambalpur,  University College of Engineering - Burla,  Regional Engineering College - Roulkela),  one  Medical College with a Hospital.  These colleges  impart  teaching in Arts, Science, Commerce, Engineering, Medicine, Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Education, Law, Physical Education, Management, Computer Science, Electronics at Graduate and Post Graduate levels. The University has 19 Post Graduate teaching and research departments in the campus (English, History, Economics, Oriya, Political Science, Sociology, Anthropology, Physics, Chemistry, Life Science, Library Science, Business Management, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Earth Sciences, School of Sambalpuri Language, Home Science, Indian Culture)

Besides regular teaching formalities the University has a Distance Education Cell imparting self-training courses in BCA, PGDCA, PGDIT, PG - Diploma in Tourism  & Travel Management, Journalism and Mass Communication, Industrial Chemistry, Environmental Science and Management- Business Management. Administrative Staff College.