Model Engineering College was established in 1989 by the IHRD to provide quality engineering education in the industrial centre of Kerala. It was established as a self-financing college with a fair degree of autonomy. The college started functioning in August 1989 in the premises of High School, Edapally with three degree courses offered in Biomedical , Computer and Electronics Engineering. On its inception, Model Engineering College was the first self-financing college under the Government of Kerala and was the first college affiliated to CUSAT.

The college was shifted to the present campus at Thrikkakara in September 1994 and has grown into an institution of excellence . Currently, MEC is one of the most sought after destinations among Engineering colleges in Kerala. Our fame has spread throughout the country and students from different parts of the country have MEC as their preferred destination. The college has been constantly ranked at the very top in various surveys of Engineering colleges in Kerala, the MINT ranking being a good example.