Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University (MSCBU) was founded under the Odisha University Act, 1989, and started its events in 1999, but was formerly known as North Orissa University. The university is located in Takatpur, Baripada and covers 98.84 acres and covers the tribal-dominated areas of Mayurbhanj and Keonjhar. MSCBU has a grade of A in NAAC under 2(f) and 12(B) and is a member of the Association of Indian Universities and the Association of Commonwealth Universities. It possesses 57 affiliated colleges, two autonomous colleges and a B.Ed. college and provides undergraduate and postgraduate courses in various subjects.

The university has the Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), which was founded in 2003 to offer flexible postgraduate programs to learners who want to receive quality education without physical restrictions. The CDOE has an advanced Learning Management System (LMS) which combines e-content, recorded lectures and virtual discussions as a way of facilitating self-paced and interactive learning. In the 2026-27 session, it has five postgraduate courses, including M.A.s in Economics, English, Odia, Sanskrit, and Social Work, that have been approved by UGC-DEB. The mission of MSCBU is to ensure the idea of education, research, and leadership that is inclusive, value-based, ethical, technological, and interdisciplinary.