Distinguished scholars visit this college every year to rekindle and refresh the minds of the young students about Upendra Bhanja and Bhanja literature. This institution strives to maintain the dignified heritage of this place. The College, also pays tribute to the brave tribal chieftain Chakra Bisoyee, the freedom fighter by naming its hostel as Chakra Bisoyee hostel. Besides, this almamater is proud of its innumerable products who have excelled in their spheres of life.
This College was established in 1960. Dr.Harekrushna Mahatab, the then Chief Minister of Orissa laid the foundation stone. It was initially named as Bhanjanagar College but in 1972-73 the elite of the town renamed it as Kabi Samrat Upendra Bhanja College to mark the greatness of the poet and to keep alive his great ideals. Earlier it was affiliated to Utkal University in the faculty of Arts in 1960 and Science in 1963. After the establishment of Berhampur University in 1967, the College got affiliated to it. Since then it has made remarkable progress and taken great strides to acquire the present status. Besides imparting teaching in all the three streams - Science, Arts and Commerce, and Honours in a number of subjects, the College has ventured to undertake a good deal of vocational courses and self financing courses under UGC aided schemes and the State Government. It has introduced Mass Communication, Computer Application at the +3 stage and information Technology at the +2 stage. Scholars of this institution provide up to date information through seminars and extramural lectures. The students are highly benefited by such academic exercises which help in preparing them to face the new challenges of life. The staff, the students and the elite of the town take great care to make this institution a model one. As the leading institution of this area it has Introduced latest courses like Biotechnology and material Science and the faculty is fully geared up to meet the challenges. Besides the regular courses, the students as well as ambitious people of the town take advantage of the novel courses, provided by this college Study centre of the Indira Gandhi National Open University. It has successfully spread the message "Education at door step" and attracted a good number of aspirants into its fold. Quality education is imparted by the qualified faculty supplemented by the rich infrastructure available in the college.
This college has a rich library, well equipped laboratory and vast stretch of play ground. There is an NCC unit and five NSS units to channelise the youth power in the nation building activities and to instil in them qualities of leadership, organisational ability and self confidence. The experienced non teaching staff work hard and help in the smooth running of this institution. The new Governing Body is keen on farther the developmental activities of the college. This premier institution has been identified by the UGC and also the State Government to be granted autonomous at the earliest. The College will soon acquire its independent status and new found identity as the centre of higher education at the national level.