7 Best Emerging Design Colleges in India: Courses, Fees 2026, Eligibility & Placements

This article lists the Top 7 Best Emerging Design Colleges in India 2026 with complete details. It covers courses offered, fees, eligibility criteria, entrance exams, and placements. Students can compare specialisations like fashion design, UI/UX, product design, animation, and more. This easy guide helps students choose the right design college for a successful creative career.
Kirti Chauhan

Updated Mar 3, 2026 | 04:37 PM IST

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Design courses are becoming very popular in India. Many students now want to build careers in fashion design, product design, animation, interior design, UI/UX, game design, and communication design. Private universities and new-age institutes are offering modern design programmes with industry training, internships, global exposure, and strong placement support.
In this article, we list the Top 7 Best Emerging Design Colleges in India 2026 with complete details about courses, fees, eligibility criteria, entrance exams, and placement records. This will help students choose the right design college for their future.

Top 7 Private Design Colleges in India with Fees (2026)

University NameCourses OfferedDurationFees (Approx.)
BITS Design SchoolB.Des (Hons.)4 Years₹10.85 lakh (1st year including hostel)
Bennett UniversityB.Des (Hons.), M.DesUG: 4 Years PG: 2 YearsB.Des: ₹22.45 lakh (total) M.Des: ₹6.10 lakh (total)
IIT Indore (School of Innovation)B.Des4 Years₹1,06,300 (General Category)
Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD)UG & PG Design, BusinessUG: 4 Years PG: 2 Years₹5.80 lakh per year (Design)
Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID)B.Des, M.Des, PhDUG: 4 Years PG: 2 YearsUG: ₹24–25 lakh (total) PG: ₹11 lakh (total)
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art Design and TechnologyB.Des, M.DesUG: 4 Years PG: 2 YearsUG: ₹4.32 lakh per year PG: ₹3.42 lakh per year
This table gives a clear comparison of courses, duration, and fees to help students choose the right private design college in India for 2026.
1. BITS Design School (BITSDES)
Course Offered:
  • B.Des (Hons.) – 4 Years
Important Dates (2026 Admission)
  • Applications started: 16 October 2025
  • Last date to apply: 1 February 2026
  • Application fee: ₹2,500
Eligibility Criteria
  • Passed or appearing in 10+2 in any stream
  • Minimum 45% marks
  • Must appear in at least one exam: NID-DAT Prelims / UCEED / BITSDAT
Fees
  • Tuition fee (1st year): ₹7.70 lakh
  • Residence fee: ₹3.15 lakh
  • Total 1st year: ₹10.85 lakh
Placements
  • Average package: Around ₹7 LPA
  • Top packages: ₹18–25 LPA (Digital Product Design roles)
  • Job roles: UX/UI Designer, Product Designer, Experience Designer, Visual Designer
2. Bennett University
Bennett University offers both B.Des and M.Des programmes.
B.Des (Hons.) – 4 Years
Specialisations:
  • Fashion Design
  • Intelligent Textile Design
  • Product Design with AI
  • Game Design
  • Advanced Animation & VFX
  • Communication Design
Yearly Fee: ₹5,50,000
B.Des Global – Fashion Design (2+2 Programme)
Students study 2 years in India and 2 years at Kent State University (USA).
  • Total Fees: ₹11.45 lakh + $26,000
M.Des (Communication Design) – 2 Years
  • Yearly Fee: ₹3,00,000
Eligibility Criteria
For B.Des:
  • Minimum 50% marks in Class 12
  • IB students: 24 credits including English
  • Entrance exams: NID / NIFT / UCEED / BUDAT
  • Personal Interview + Portfolio required
For M.Des:
  • Graduation with minimum 50% marks
  • Entrance exam + Interview
Placements
Students get jobs as:
  • Fashion Designers
  • Graphic Designers
  • UI/UX Designers
  • Game Designers
  • Product Designers
3. IIT Indore – School of Innovation
IIT Indore started its 4-year B.Des programme from 2025.
Fees (2025 Admission)
  • UR / EWS / OBC: ₹1,06,300
  • SC / ST / PwD: ₹6,300
Eligibility Criteria
  • Must pass Class 12 with Science and Maths
  • Admission through UCEED exam
Career Options
Graduates can work as:
  • Innovation Managers
  • Project Coordinators
Job opportunities are available in consulting firms, government departments, and planning organisations.
4. Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD)
IIAD is accepting applications for 2026 till 23 January 2026.
Courses Offered
UG Design Courses:
  • Communication Design
  • Animation Film Design
  • Interior Architecture & Design
  • Product Design
  • Fashion Design
  • Fashion Communication
Business Courses:
  • Fashion Business Management
  • Luxury Business Management
PG Courses:
  • Interior Design & Styling
  • Communication Design
  • Luxury & Fashion Business
Eligibility Criteria
UG:
  • 10+2 with 50% marks
PG:
  • Graduation in any stream
Entrance Exams
  • iDAT (Design Aptitude Test)
  • iMAT (Management Aptitude Test)
Fees
  • UG Design: ₹5.80 lakh per year
  • UG Business: ₹4.80 lakh per year
  • PG: ₹5.80 lakh per year
Placements
  • Average package: ₹7–8 LPA
  • Highest package: Around ₹12 LPA
Recruiters include luxury brands, media houses, and fashion companies.
5. Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID)
UID has campuses in Ahmedabad, NCR, and Bengaluru.
Courses Offered
B.Des (Hons.) – 4 Years:
  • Fashion Design
  • Communication Design
  • Product & Service Design
  • Interaction Design
  • Digital Design
  • Game Design
  • Interior Architecture
  • Transportation Design
  • AI in Creative Practice
M.Des (Hons.) – 2 Years:
  • Luxury & Brand Management
  • AI in Creative Practice
PhD programmes are also available.
Fees
  • B.Des: ₹24–25 lakh total
  • M.Des: ₹11 lakh total
Eligibility Criteria
  • 10+2 with 50% marks (UG)
  • Graduation with 50% marks (PG)
Admission Process
  • Tier 1: Design Aptitude Test
  • Tier 2: Situation Test + Portfolio + Interview
Placements
    Average salary: ₹8–12 LPA
Recruiters include Amazon, Flipkart, Tanishq, Raymond, Accenture, and TCS.
6. Srishti Manipal Institute of Art Design and Technology
Srishti Manipal offers UG and PG design programmes.
B.Des – 4 Years
Specialisations:
  • Human-Centered Design
  • Visual Communication
  • Textile Futures
  • Spatial Design
  • Creative Computing
  • Industrial Arts
  • Information Design
Annual Fee: ₹4.32 lakh
M.Des – 2 Years
Specialisations:
  • Design-Led Innovation
  • Human-Centered Design
  • Information Design
  • Industrial Arts
Annual Fee: ₹3.42 lakh
Eligibility Criteria
  • 10+2 with minimum 50% marks (UG)
  • Bachelor’s degree (PG)
Placements
  • Average salary: ₹3–6 LPA
  • Highest package: ₹8.9 LPA
Recruiters include IBM, Microsoft, Infosys, Cognizant, and HCL.
Students usually get jobs through strong portfolios and internships.

How to Choose the Best Design College in India 2026

Choosing the right design college is very important for a successful creative career. The top emerging design colleges in India in 2026 offer modern courses, global exposure, industry training, and good placement support.
Before taking admission, students should compare:
  • Courses and specialisations
  • Total fees
  • Entrance exams required
  • Placement records
  • Internship opportunities
Always check the official website of the college for the latest updates about fees, eligibility criteria, entrance exams, and admission deadlines.
This complete guide on the Top 7 Best Emerging Design Colleges in India 2026 will help you make the right decision and build a successful career in design.
FAQs
1. Which are the top 7 best emerging design colleges in India 2026?
Some of the top emerging design colleges in India 2026 include BITS Design School, Bennett University, IIT Indore School of Innovation, Indian Institute of Art and Design (IIAD), Unitedworld Institute of Design (UID), and Srishti Manipal Institute of Art Design and Technology.
2. What is the eligibility criteria for B.Des admission in 2026?
For B.Des admission 2026, most colleges require students to pass 10+2 with at least 45–50% marks. Some institutes also require entrance exams like UCEED, NID-DAT, NIFT, or their own design aptitude tests.
3. What are the fees for top design colleges in India in 2026?
The fees for top design colleges in India 2026 range from around ₹1 lakh per year in government institutes to ₹24–25 lakh total in private universities, depending on the course and college.
4. Which entrance exams are required for design courses in India?
Common design entrance exams in India include UCEED, NID-DAT, NIFT, BUDAT, iDAT, and institute-level design aptitude tests, depending on the college and programme.
5. What are the placement opportunities after B.Des and M.Des in India?
After B.Des or M.Des in India, students can work as UI/UX Designers, Fashion Designers, Product Designers, Game Designers, Graphic Designers, and Innovation Managers, with average salaries ranging from ₹3 LPA to ₹12 LPA or higher.

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