Torland has 56 universities and colleges, comprised of 16 public, 15 private, 22 state, and 3 military schools. The history of universities and colleges in Torland is tied directly to colonization and independence efforts surrounding a rapidly growing population. Collegiate athletics in Torland are organized under the banner of Universities of Torland Athletics Commission, which was founded in 1946. The governing body for higher education in Torland is based in Waterdee, Granago.

The first college in Torland was founded in Kirlow in 1801 by European settlers which was named Wingate. Soon after, in 1805, a second college was founded in Portarra called Gavas. These schools were the early pioneers of higher education in Colonial Torland as European settlers began migrating to the new colony.

Other institutions of higher learning began to spring up as nations began to also attempt to colonize the island. Conover was founded in 1809 in Moriga under Spanish rule, along with such colleges as Templeton in Hilversale in 1823, Saint Serra in San Ferrio in 1825, Madford in Barleserta in 1828, and Pantoja in 1829.

Meanwhile, French-Canadian and English settlers in northeast Torland founded two colleges in 1812 with Quebel on the Alrene Isles and Saint Clair in Chasonne 1812. Robinette in Narva followed in 1820. Lecayne was founded in 1833 by French scholars and Catholic missionaries.

The Russian colonies were loathe to commit resources to build infrastructure but Fulcher was founded in Yubay in 1845, while Kimaesee was the product of local learning and grew in Kurohara in 1851. Part of the beginning of western Torland colonists seeking independence founded Bevin in Fort Bevin in 1849, which grew out of a frustration of Russian influence and the desire to train and arm the people. With that in mind, the Torland Military Academy (later called Renfro Prep) was founded in 1850 in Vensessor.

The pre-war era saw an increase in public universities as more and more immigrants flocked to the island. The University of Abrieden was founded in 1830 by Swiss scholars. Cromwell University was founded in Perna by Welsh Protestants in 1836. Immigrants in Galapetra formed together to form a public school in Rosran in 1837 which was called Howerton State. Swedish immigrants to Lismane founded Hemstrand in Newhall in 1850.

A contingent of Spanish Catholic missionaries founded Rosa Nence in Alko in 1883. A large public university campus was established in Trowburgh in 1910, while a smaller privately-funded school was established in Dosa City in 1899 called Coulston-Dunlis College.

A significant arm of the Torland plan for independence was the establishment of new state universities. As such, with the 1903 declaration of independence, the plan allowed for charters of state schools. The first group to be established were Granago, New Dosa, Maienzona, and Solinza in 1903. By 1909 the war efforts were ending and the remaining charters were established as Forstana State, Granago State, and Isles State, originally called Alrene Isles State, but later shortened to Isles.

Cabriga State, Lismane State, Pakola State, and Tamokeva State followed in 1910. The lone holdout in the state charter expansion was the state of Galapetra, who didn't want to expand and simply kept Bevin and Howerton State as their primary institutions. This allowed Granago to receive two state charters.

With so many universities and colleges now running in Torland with a variety of sports and athletics clubs, a commission was formed and simply called University Athletics Commission to oversee athletic activities.

Torland politician Malcolm Mury, a graduate of Rose Nence who became president in 1934, helped spur the growth of higher education in Torland. He personally helped found a public school in the Cabriga Isles city of Engor called Mitchlea in 1910, a combination of the names of his father and mother.

The first state system to add a satellite campus was Pakola State with a huge new campus in Alko in 1911. Pak State later added another campus in Emerald City in 1917. The Solinza system followed suit with a large campus in Bancana in 1919 and a smaller campus in Antedon, called Pinkerton State, in 1923. The University of New Dosa also added two new campuses to their system with Cauldron Valley State in Kalper in 1915, and Dosa State in Dosa City in 1922. Isles State established a campus in Kirkenport in 1933, using local infrastructure from Kirkenport Academy which was founded in 1929 but was suffering extreme financial woes.

Just months before his tragic assassination, president Thomas Earl Foster had enacted a new education bill that infused several government and state subsidies to higher education in Torland, including a reorganization of the rapidly expanding UTAC. This included state systems adding more satellite campuses in the early 70's. Pakola State led the charge with Pak State Tangi in 1970 and Pak State Silkeboro in 1972. The University of Solinza added a Reto Bay campus in 1971. The University of Maienzona was expanded with additions in San Ferrio in 1970, which took over the previous San Ferrio State campus, formerly founded in 1960, and a brand new campus in Harpar which opened in 1972. The University of New Dosa expanded their footprint with a new campus in Prestonburg in 1972 despite the close proximity due to the cramped quarters in Vensessor.

Meanwhile in 1972, a handful of schools made status and charter changes with Cauldron Valley becoming a public charter away from UND and Dosa State deciding to relocate away from Dosa City into a larger campus based in Zeckley but keeping the same name. Pinkerton State College decided to privatize, leaving the Solinza system but also keeping their original name. The Emerald campus of Pakola State left the system to become a public institution called Emerald University.