In International Women’s Year (1975) the scenic town of Dhenkanal witnessed the establishment of the present institution being initially christened as Nandini Devi Mahila Mahavidyalaya. The college was exactly established on 13.08.1975 as a Government institution and is affiliated to the Utkal University. Since then it has served as the premier institute for women education in central Odisha.The College started functioning in the premises of the local Secondary Training School for women with 112 students in 1st year of Intermediate Arts (I.A) classes and six teachers as staffs. In 1981,the college was shifted to its own picturesque campus in the mango grove of the Mali Garden at the foot of Pani-Ohla Hills.B.A (Pass) classes began here in 1977 and subsequently Honours teaching in Odia,Ecomonics,Home Science and History commenced in 1981,1982,1985 and 1989 respectly.Sanskrit and Psychology were added as Honours subjected in 1995.Govenment has given the permission to open Honours classes in Political Science, Education and English from the academic session 2014-2015.Science stream in +3 classes with Honours in Physics ,Chemistry, Botany and Zoology has been allowed also from the session2014-2015.Of course, science faculty in +2 level was opened in 1998.
As a result of the bifurcation of the College, the Government Women’s Junior College has taken its shape from the session 2001-2002 and it is affiliated to Council of Higher Secondary Education (CHSE), Odisha.Commerce stream in +2 levels has been permitted from the session 2014-2015.
Dhenkanal Mahila Mahavidyalaya was accredited at the B+ level on 21.05.2006 by the Executive committee of the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) on the recommendation of the duly appointed Peer Team comprising Prof. M.I.Savadatti, Prof.A.K.Panday and Prof.P.Subash.
With Joint Venture between Computer Point & Higher Education Department, PGDCA course has commenced from November, 2013.It is making rapid stride in imparting computer education to a number of students on the payment of Government prescribed subscription.
The college which started function with little more than hundred students in a desolate corner of the Secondary Training School now has emerged as an expending, respectable and qualitative educational institution with more than nine hundred students. The institution has certainly served as the educational hub for the girls students of the region and has a bright prospect.