Top Colleges In India

Securing admission to top colleges in India can be challenging for students due to the large number of institutions offering diverse subjects across the country. Finding the right college that matches a student’s academic preferences is essential, as a degree from one of the best colleges in India provides a supportive environment for studying, gaining exposure, and securing good placement opportunities. To gain admission to these top institutions, students need high scores in the 12th board exams and must also perform well in the CUET. In this article, we list the best colleges in India, ranked by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), helping students make informed decisions for their future.

Best Colleges in India for Holistic Development and Career Growth

Education plays a pivotal role in a person’s holistic development, providing the tools needed to adapt to a changing world. Securing admission into one of India’s top colleges aids students in building their social, technical, moral, and economic skills while expanding their knowledge base. After passing the 10+2 exams, students aim to enroll in top colleges that will support their career ambitions and growth. Arts students often seek out the best arts colleges, science stream students look for the top science colleges in India, and commerce students aim for the best commerce colleges. Prospective students usually conduct extensive research and read reviews of the best colleges in India to ensure they choose the right institution for higher education.

1. IIT Madras-Indian Institute of Technology Madras, located in Chennai, is renowned for its excellence in engineering, technology, and research. Established in 1959, it offers a wide range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs. Admission to its B.Tech programs is through the JEE Advanced exam.
2. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru- IISc Bengaluru, founded in 1909, is a premier institution dedicated to advanced research and education in science and engineering. Known for its cutting-edge research, it offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs. Admission for undergraduate courses is based on scores from JEE Advanced, NEET, or KVPY.
3. IIT Bombay-IIT Bombay, located in Powai, Mumbai, is one of India's leading institutions for engineering and technology. Established in 1958, it offers a vibrant academic environment. Admission to its undergraduate programs is through JEE Advanced.
4. IIT Delhi-IIT Delhi, established in 1961, is a hub of innovation and excellence in engineering and research. Located in New Delhi, it offers a range of programs across disciplines. Admission is secured via JEE Advanced for undergraduate courses.
5. IIT Kanpur-IIT Kanpur is celebrated for its emphasis on research and innovation in science and engineering. Founded in 1959, the campus fosters a strong academic and cultural atmosphere. Admissions to undergraduate programs are based on JEE Advanced scores.
6. IIT Kharagpur-As the first IIT established in 1951, IIT Kharagpur is a pioneer in technical education in India. Known for its expansive campus and diverse programs, it admits students through the JEE Advanced exam for undergraduate studies.
7. AIIMS Delhi-The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi is a premier medical institution established in 1956. It offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and super-specialty medical courses. Admission to the MBBS program is through the NEET-UG exam.
8. IIT Roorkee- IIT Roorkee, established in 1847 as Thomason College of Civil Engineering, is one of the oldest engineering institutions in Asia. It became an IIT in 2001 and admits students to its undergraduate programs via JEE Advanced.
9. IIT Guwahati-Located on the banks of the Brahmaputra, IIT Guwahati is renowned for its scenic campus and academic rigor. Established in 1994, it offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs. Admissions are conducted through JEE Advanced
10. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)-JNU, located in New Delhi, is known for its focus on humanities, social sciences, and international studies. Established in 1969, it conducts admissions through the CUET for most programs and specific entrance exams for select courses.
11. Banaras Hindu University (BHU)-BHU, located in Varanasi and founded in 1916, is a prestigious institution offering programs in diverse disciplines. Admission to its undergraduate programs is conducted via the CUET for most courses.
12. IIT Hyderabad-Established in 2008, IIT Hyderabad is known for its modern infrastructure and innovative curriculum. Located in Telangana, it admits undergraduate students through the JEE Advanced exam.
13. Jamia Millia Islamia-Jamia Millia Islamia, a central university in New Delhi, was established in 1920. It offers programs in arts, sciences, and professional courses. Admissions are through the CUET or the university's entrance tests for specific programs.
14. Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE)-MAHE, formerly known as Manipal University, is a private institution offering diverse undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Admission to most programs is based on the Manipal Entrance Test (MET) or national-level exams.
15. University of Delhi-The University of Delhi is one of India's top public universities, established in 1922. It offers programs across sciences, humanities, and commerce. Admissions are conducted via the CUET for undergraduate programs.
16. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)-AMU, established in 1920, is a renowned institution offering a variety of programs in arts, sciences, and professional studies. Admissions are based on the CUET or specific university-conducted entrance exams.
17. Jadavpur University-Jadavpur University, located in Kolkata, is known for its strong emphasis on arts, engineering, and science programs. Admissions for undergraduate engineering courses are through WBJEE, while other programs may have separate criteria.
18. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham-Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is a private university offering programs in engineering, medicine, and management. Admissions to engineering programs are based on the AEEE or national-level exams like JEE Mains.
19. VIT (Vellore Institute of Technology)-VIT, located in Vellore, is a leading private institution offering engineering and other professional programs. Admission is through the VITEEE for undergraduate engineering courses.
20. Anna University-Anna University, based in Chennai, is known for its engineering programs. Established in 1978, it admits students to undergraduate engineering courses through the TNEA (Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions) process.
21. SRM Institute of Science and Technology-SRMIST, based in Chennai, offers diverse programs in engineering, medicine, and humanities. Admissions to engineering programs are conducted through the SRMJEEE exam.
22. Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences-Saveetha Institute, located in Chennai, specializes in medical and technical education. Admission to its programs is through NEET for medical courses and other exams for technical programs.
23. Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani-BITS Pilani is a premier private institute renowned for engineering and management programs. Admission to its undergraduate programs is through the BITSAT exam.
24. Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (SOA)-SOA University, based in Bhubaneswar, offers programs in engineering, medicine, and management. Admissions are through the SAAT exam or national-level entrance tests.
25. University of Hyderabad-UoH, established in 1974, is a leading public university known for its research-oriented programs. Admissions are based on the CUET or specific entrance exams for different courses.
26. Calcutta University-Calcutta University, founded in 1857, is one of India's oldest and most prestigious universities. It offers programs in arts, science, commerce, and law. Admission criteria vary by program, often requiring entrance exams.
27. Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI)-HBNI, established in 2005, is a research-focused institution offering programs in science and engineering. Admissions are based on the scores of national-level exams like GATE or JEST, depending on the program.
28. Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar (IITGN)- IITGandhinagar, established in 2008, focuses on innovation andmultidisciplinary research in engineering, technology, and sciences. Theinstitute admits students to its B.Tech programs through the JEE Advanced exam.
29. Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi- Locatedin Varanasi, IIT (BHU) offers a wide range of undergraduate andpostgraduate programs. It has a strong emphasis on engineering and technology.Admission to its B.Tech programs is through the JEE Advanced exam.
30. National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli (NITTrichy)- NIT Trichy, established in 1964, is one of India’s top NITs, knownfor its engineering and technical programs. Admission to its undergraduateprograms is through the JEE Main exam.
31. Chandigarh University- Chandigarh University offers awide range of programs in engineering, business, and arts. Known for itsinnovative curriculum, it admits students to undergraduate engineering programsthrough CUCET (Chandigarh University Common Entrance Test) and other nationalexams.
32. Indian Institute of Technology Indore (IIT Indore)-IITIndore, established in 2009, offers cutting-edge education in technologyand sciences. Students are admitted to its B.Tech programs through the JEEAdvanced exam.
33. National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela)-NITRourkela, located in Odisha, is known for its engineering programs andresearch. The institute admits students to undergraduate courses through JEEMain scores.
34. Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines)Dhanbad (IIT Dhanbad)-IIT Dhanbad, originally the Indian School of Mines,offers programs in engineering, technology, and mining sciences. Admission toB.Tech programs is through JEE Advanced.
35. JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research-Locatedin Mysuru, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research is known for itsprograms in health sciences and engineering. Admission to undergraduateprograms is through various entrance exams, including the JSSU Admission Test.
36. Savitribai Phule Pune University- Savitribai Phule PuneUniversity is a premier public university in Maharashtra, offering programsin sciences, humanities, and social sciences. Admissions are based on the CUETor university-specific entrance exams.
37. Kerala University- Kerala University, located inThiruvananthapuram, offers diverse undergraduate and postgraduate programs.Admission to most courses is through the CUET, with specific entrance exams forselect disciplines.
38. Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Educationand Research (JIPMER)- JIPMER, located in Puducherry, is a leading medicalinstitution offering MBBS, postgraduate, and super-specialty programs.Admission to the MBBS course is through the NEET-UG exam.
39. Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation University (K LCollege of Engineering)- K L University, located in Guntur, offers a widerange of engineering and technology programs. Admission to its undergraduatecourses is through the KLUEEE (Koneru Lakshmaiah University Entrance Exam).
40. Andhra University- Andhra University, based inVisakhapatnam, is one of the oldest universities in India. It offers programsin various fields, including engineering, arts, and science. Admission toengineering programs is through AP EAMCET or other national-level exams.