Vidyasagar College was earlier known as Metropolitan Institute. The college was founded by Pandit Iswarchandra Vidyasagar  in 1872. With the passing away of Vidyasagar, the college was named after him. Last quarter of 18th century witnessed momentous development in the classical learning in Bengal. Calcutta became the Florence of Asia in enlightening the society. Nobel personalities like Iswarchandra Vidyasagar came forward for renaissance of Bengal. Born in 1820  and nurtured in the façade of intellectual background, Vidyasagar combined in his person a happy blending of classical and western learning. He passed through vicissitudes of various educational assignments.

He was Sheristadar of the College of Fort William, Assistant Secretary to the Government Sanskrit College, Head Writer and Treasurer of the College of Fort William, Professor of Literature and Principal  in the Sanskrit College, Assistant Inspector of Schools, South Bengal.

Vidyasagar took Metropolitan Institute as a model Indian school. Having put this Model School into working order, he turned his attention to the propagation of female education and established 40 Girl’s School in the districts of Nadia, Hooghly, Bardhaman and Midnapore  of Bengal. He observed prophetically, “ A change may be said to have come over the spirit of the times, and this may be reckoned as a new era in the history of education in Bengal”. Unfortunately, these girls' schools were not approved by the government and in protest, Vidyasagar resigned from the post of Inspector of Schools, South Bengal.  Of ourse, the girls';  schools were approved later.

A new chapter opened in Vidyasagar's life after his resignation when he applied himself to the preparation of  school books, by the sale of which his salary of Rs. 500 per month was to be compensated. He also started a campaign against widow marriage non-cooperation movement.

Vidyasagar joined Metropolitan Institute as Principal member of the school committee. The onerous burden of managing the school alongside his other activities which Vidyasagar shouldered with single minded devotion evoked admiration even from official quarter. He started college classes in January 1978 after having approval of the University of Calcutta.