Farook college was the only First Grade College in Malabar at the time of its inception and was originally affiliated to Madras University. Following the states reorganization, the college came under the University of Kerala in 1957 and the University of Calicut in 1968. It offers 22 undergraduate and 16 post-graduate programmes. Eleven of the P.G. Departments are recognized research centres, offering Ph D programmes. The college has been re-accredited at A+ Grade (CGPA 3.51) by the NAAC and adjudged by the Government of Kerala to receive R. Sankar Award for the best special grade (Private) college in the state of Kerala for two years. The college has been identified by the UGC as a college with potential for excellence, the first college under the University of Calicut to receive the status.

Farook College won the Moulana Abul Kalam Azad Literacy Award instituted by Moulana Azad Education Foundation, New Delhi under the Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Govt. of India for promoting education among the educationally backward minorities. The college was granted minority status by the National commission for Minority Educational Institutions, Government of India. The autonomous status was conferred by the UGC in 2015. The college was included within hundred positions under NIRF ranking of MHRD, Govt. of India, for the year 2020 and continued to secure a position in the 2021 ranking list.