The Punjab Engineering College has recently been granted the status of deemed university.

In 1994 Punjab Engineering College (PEC) was adjudged the best technical college in India by the National Foundation of Engineers. It occupies a 146-acre campus with facilities for all sorts of sports, a gymnasium and swimming pool, playing fields and numerous specialized laboratories and libraries for the various engineering disciplines. Up to 1962, the college was comprised of engineering departments of Civil, Electrical and Mechanical Engineering. Thereafter the college expanded & five new departments in the fields of Aeronautical Engineering, Electronics & Electrical Communication Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Production Engineering and Computer Science Engineering were added gradually. Recently a new department of Information & Technology has been added. In the year 1957, Highway Engineering was added as the first post-graduate course in the college. Gradually other post-graduate courses were subsequently added.

Presently there are eleven post-graduate courses leading to Masters of Engineering degrees in Highways, Structures, Hydraulics and Irrigation, Rotodynamic Machines, Electrical Power Systems, Environmental Engineering (Interdisciplinary), Electronics Metallurgical Engineering and C.I.M. Facilities for post-graduate studies exist for regular as well as for part time students. PEC has facilities for research work leading to the award of Ph.D. degree in engineering in certain selected fields of different disciplines. PEC also offers consultancy services in different disciplines. PEC was given the Deemed University status in 2004.

The reputed Chandigarh College of Architecture finds its expected place in the campus of PEC. The college gives the degree of B Arch. It ranks as one of the top colleges of India within its field. It was established by LeCorbusier, the man who designed the city of Chandigarh.

The PEC campus extends over an area of 146 acres of the land situated close to the beautiful Shivalik hills. The campus is divided into various functional zones such as hostels, Main College Building, Administration Block, Residential Complex for staff and faculty and a shopping centre. In addition to Lecture theatres, tutorial rooms and drawing halls, the college has an Auditorium, library, computer centre, reading rooms, workshops and well equipped laboratories. The college has spacious playgrounds, tennis courts, squash courts, a swimming pool, gymnasium and a students centre. Adequate Hostel facilities for both boys and girls are available on campus

For the all round development of the student, the college provides a host of various student activities. These activities range from sports, personal-hobbies to technical interests. The students are encouraged to become the member of these bodies to help broaden their horizons. These student bodies not only help the students explore their hidden talent but also help in areas such as personality development and inculcating in the students the spirit of organization by providing them with a platform for hosting their respective club presentations.

The social life in PEC is reflected by the facts that the college roads may be found to be flooded by students and teachers for evening walks as well as morning exercises. After commencement of college, various students take part in extra-curricular activities like sports, dramatics, music etc. Various club activities are organized at intervals as a platform for the students to show their potential. Also the annual festival of PECFEST is organized by the students to perform managerial acts and hold positions of responsibility in the organization.