St. Xavier's College, Vaikom, was established in the year 1981 under the aegis of St. Xavier’s Church, Kothavara. The only College of this kind in this region has immensely contributed to the cause of higher learning and development since its inception. The College is situated at Kothavara, a pristine hamlet in
Thalayazham Panchayath, 10 kms away from Vaikom Muncipal Town. The population of Kothavara comprises mostly of smalltime farmers, toddy tappers, fishermen, mat weavers and other part-time labourers. The establishment of the College has to a large extend been able to alleviate the backwardness of this region through various academic, economic and developmental activities. The College campus spreads over 18 acres of land presents a calm and serene ambience frontiered by the Vembanad Lake and Kariyar Spillway.
The College started functioning of its academic activities in a humble way as a Junior College offering Pre-Degree courses in Arts and Commerce. The Management’s relentless efforts to raise the institution to higher levels of learning began showing results by getting sanction for all Pre-Degree Courses and Under Graduate Courses viz; B.Sc. Physics (1991), B.A. Economics (1993) and B.Com. (1995). Its long cherished desire to give vocational orientation to higher education soared great heights by getting sanction for B.Sc. Zoology with Aquaculture in 1998, B.A. Politics with Journalism in 1991 and B.Sc. Chemistry with Industrial Chemistry in 2001. Apart from these regular streams, the College offers a foundation course in Karnatic Music and an English Language Enhancing Programme for the students.
Library :The College has a General Library and Departmental Libraries. The introduction of computerised automation has contributed to improve the services of the Library. Free browsing facility is provided to the students. Library is equipped with computers, internet andreprographic facility. A Library committee constituted with six Heads of Departments, the Librarian and the Principal, supervise the proper functioning of the library.