NMIT is a Unit of Nitte Education Trust(R) Mangalore who are pioneers in the field of education since 30 years and thus bring in their expertise of 24 institutions which include Nitte University and institutions of higher education like Engineering, Management, Medicine, Dental, Pharmaceuticals, Paramedical, Higher Education and several other schools in Mangalore with around 10,000 students and 3500 Employees. Nitte Education Trust was founded in 1979 by the committed philanthropist and legal luminary, Justice K S Hegde, who strongly believed that education was pivotal to the progress of a community. The group includes the well-known industrialist, Mr. N V Hegde and eminent educationist, Dr. N R Shetty, who share the same concern and commitment to the cause of education and community development. Since inception, the mission continues to reflect the vision of its founding father in a wider perspective.

Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (NMIT) is an Autonomous Institution affiliated to the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), with the concurrence of VTU / Govt. of Karnataka / UGC and Accredited by AICTE, Govt. of India. NMIT is the youngest Engineering College to be conferred the prestigious Autonomous status by VTU / State of Karnataka/UGC.

NMIT is the only unaided private engineering college in Karnataka state selected by Govt. of India for world bank funding under TEQIP (Technical Education Quality Improvement Program)