Top 10 Design Colleges in India 2025: Ranking, Courses, Fees, Admission, Placements
In the last few years, India has witnessed a sudden improvement in the demand for quality design education, as industries worldwide increasingly value innovation, creativity, and aesthetic sensibility. With a rich tradition of art and craftsmanship, India has now emerged as a hub for design talent, offering a wide range of specialized courses in various fields of design, from fashion to graphic to industrial design. Some popular Design colleges in India include NIFT, Amity University, Pearl Academy, Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design And Technology, World University of Design, and MIT Institute of Design. As far as rankings are concerned, the NIFTs continue to dominate. For instance, in the India Today rankings, eight of the top ten positions are occupied by NIFTs.
Design is a diverse field that covers numerous elements including Fashion, Textile, Graphics, Apparel, Web, Games, UI/UX, Jewellery, and so on. With the rising popularity and introduction of new concepts related to aesthetics, the yearly turnover of the Design industry has surpassed every other sector.
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Here’s a general overview of the minimum eligibility requirements every candidate must fulfil to get admission to a Design course in India’s colleges:
| Course Level |
Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate/UG Diploma |
|
| Postgraduate/PG Diploma/PGDM |
|
| Doctorate |
|
| After 10th Diploma/Certification |
|
Note: The Design courses eligibility criteria mentioned above may vary depending on the college policies.
Q: What are the participating institutes of NID for the B. Des programme?
Q: What are NIFT Score accepting colleges other than participating colleges?
Note that there are 18 NIFTs that will accept NIFT 2025 scores for admission purposes. These institutes are known as participating colleges.
However, in addition to the participating colleges, there are other private colleges that will also consider NIFT 2025 scores for admission to their UG and PG design courses.
One major difference is these institutes will not participate in the counseling process conducted by the National Institute of Fashion Technology. Further, these institutes may also accept scores of other popular entrance exams like NID, UCEED, etc.
Here is a list of NIFT score-accepting colleges.
CMR University, Bangalore
World University of Design, Sonipat
Vishwakarma University, Pune
ISDI School of Design and Innovation, Mumbai
Alliance University, Bangalore
LPU University
Somaiya School of Design, Mumbai
Riidl Academy, Mumbai
Q: How many seats are there for NID admissions?
Total seats offered in B. Des courses at all the NID campuses is 425 seats. For M.Des course, NID seats on offer for admission are 347. The B. Des programme is offered at five institutes - NID Ahmedabad, NID Andhra Pradesh, NID Haryana, NID Madhya Pradesh, and NID Assam. The various faculty members under which the programme is available include Faculty of Communication Design, Faculty of Industrial Design, and Faculty of Textile, Apparel, Lifestyle, and Accessory Design. Meanwhile, the M.Des course is available at NID Ahmedabad, NID Bengaluru, and NID Gandhinagar. Admission to both the B. Des and M.Des courses will be through the NID DAT entrance exam.
Links useful for Design Courses:
Top 10 Design Colleges in India
Here is a list of top 10 Design colleges in India along with their details of admission, tuition fees, courses, placements, etc.
- National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi:
The National Institute of Fashion Technology in Delhi is ranked 1 for Fashion Design by The Week 2023 and Business Today 2023. NIFT Delhi courses include BDes, BFTech (Bachelor of Fashion Technology), MDes, and MFM (Master of Fashion Management), among others. NIFT Delhi fees range from INR 64,900 to INR 12.34 lakh. Many top recruiters such as Myntra, Nike, Aditya Birla Group, Fab India, and others, participate in the NIFT Delhi placements.
Explore more Design exams with upcoming dates
27 Jan '25
UCEED
17 Feb '25
21 Feb '25
28 Feb '25
14 Mar '25
15 Dec '24 - 15 Mar '25
20 Mar '25
12 Apr '25
- National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bangalore:
The NIFT Bangalore has been ranked 2 for Fashion Design by The Week 2020 and India Today 2020 rankings. NIFT offers BDes, MFM, MFT and MDes in various specialisations. The total tuition fee for all the courses offered here ranges between INR 60,000 - INR 1,234,000.
- National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Mumbai:
NIFT Mumbai College is ranked 2 and 3 by India Today 2023 and The Week 2023, respectively under the Fashion Design category. NIFT Mumbai offers UG, PG, Continuing Education programme, and diploma courses to students. These courses are provided across the Fashion and Apparel streams. NIFT Mumbai is famous for its flagship courses such as BDes and MDes. Admission to NIFT Mumbai is through the NIFT Entrance Exam. Some of the top recruiters that have visited the NIFT Mumbai campus for placements include Bata India Limited, H&M and Monte Carlo, among others.
Q: How to get admission to B. Des and M.Des courses at the National Institutes of Design?
Aspirants can secure admission to B. Des and M.Des courses offered at NID campuses on the basis of NID DAT 2025 merit rank. Note that merit ranks will be issued to the candidate only if he or she appears in both DAT Prelims and DAT Mains. The candidate has to first appear in DAT Prelims. Shortlisted candidates have to next appear in DAT Mains. The final result or merit list will be prepared by considering the weighted scores of DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.
The National Institute of Design will allow B.Des candidates to enter their campus preferences once final results are out. The seat allotment will be done based on campus option opted, seat intake, and merit rank of candidate.
In case of M.Des admission, the candidate is not required to enter campus preferences.
Q: What documents are required for overseas admission through NID DAT?
Candidates seeking admission under overseas category will need the following documents:
- Self-attested copies of the relevant pages of their passports.
- Self-attested copies of their grade sheets/ marksheets of SSC (Grade X) and HSC (Grade XII)
- Candidates in the process of completing their Grade XII need to submit a bonafide certificate from their school.
- An eqivalence certificate from the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
Q: Do I need to select campuses as part of NID DAT counseling 2024 for B.Des program?
Yes, all B.Des candidates who were shortlisted for NID DAT 2024 counseling had to summit their campus preferences. The window to submit campus preferences was open from May 21 (4 pm) to May 23 (4 pm).
The preferences had to be entered in the order of priority.
Note that the allotment of seats to the B.Des programme will be based on the campus option selected and merit rank of the candidate in NID DAT 2024. So, one must bear caution when entering their preferences.
Q: Do I need to appear in both NID DAT Prelims and DAT Mains for admission to the NIDs?
The admission to the NIDs is conducted through a Design Aptitude Test (DAT). The DAT is a two-stage exam.
The candidate has to first appear in DAT Prelims and then, if shortlisted, have to appear in DAT Mains. The final merit list for admission will be prepared by giving weightage to both DAT Prelims and DAT Mains.
If a candidate appear in DAT Prelims, but doesn’t appear in DAT Mains, he or she will not be considered for admission.
Q: What is the fee structure for regular admission through NIFT 2025?
The fee structure for the design courses offered by the NIFTs is published in the information brochure. The NIFT fee structure includes components like tuition fees, library fees, exam fees, mediclaim, etc. Additional, the fee may also be divided into refundable and non-refundable types.
NIFT fee structure (Regular)
Academic Fee Semester Wise For Non-NRI Category (In INR) | ||||||||
| 2023-24 | 2024-25 | 2025-26 | 2026-27 | ||||
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | Semester 3 | Semester 4 | Semester 5 | Semester 6 | Semester 7 | Semester 8 |
Tuition Fee (Non-Refundable) | 143000 | 143000 | 150000 | 150000 | 158000 | 158000 | 166000 | 166000 |
Library Fee (Non-Refundable Per Year Payment) | 9500 | 0 | 10000 | 0 | 10500 | 0 | 11000 | 0 |
Mediclaim & Student Development Fee (Non-Refundable Per Year Payment) | 4700 | 0 | 4900 | 0 | 5100 | 0 | 5400 | 0 |
Exam Fee (Per Year) | 4700 | 0 | 4900 | 0 | 5100 | 0 | 5400 | 0 |
Total | 161900 | 143000 | 169800 | 150000 | 178700 | 158000 | 187800 | 166000 |
One Time Payments | ||||||||
Security Deposit (Refundable) | 12000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Alumni Association Membership Fee (Non-Refundable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5900 | 0 |
Registration Fee (One Time) | 9300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 21300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5600 | 0 |
Total | 183200 | 143000 | 169800 | 150000 | 178700 | 158000 | 193700 | 166000 |
- National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Chennai:
The National Institute of Fashion Technology Chennai offers UG, PG, and diploma courses to students across Design, Management, Technology, and other streams. NIFT College Chennai is ranked 2nd by The Week 2024 for Fashion Design. The total tuition fee charged for the various courses ranges between INR 59,000 - INR 1,234,000. NIFT Chennai famous for its flagship courses such as B.Des, MFM, B.FTech, and many others.
- National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad:
This Institute of Design in Ahmedabad is declared as an Institution of National Importance by the Act of Parliament. National Institute of Design Paldi Ahmedabad is known for its MDes and BDes courses.
- Pearl Academy, New Delhi:
Pearl Academy Rajouri Garden is one of the top Fashion institutes in India. Pearl Academy of Fashion Delhi offers UG, PG, and other courses to students. These courses are provided across the Fashion Design, Interior Design, and various other streams. Pearl Academy Delhi provides BDes and MDes as flagship courses.
- World University of Design:
With a total of 39 courses offered at WUD, the college offers education in the field of Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing ), Design, and Business & Management Studies, among other streams to the students. WUD provides undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma programmes. The courses include B.Des, M.Des, and many others.
- Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology:
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design And Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education offers UG and PG courses, including B.Des, B.Voc, BFA, M.Des, M.Plan, MFA and PG Diploma.
- MIT Institute of Design, MIT-ADT University:
MIT Institute of Design (MITID) is a private institution which is a part of MIT ADT University. The institute offer various courses include B.Des, M.Des, and many othes.
- Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID), Pune:
SID offers high-quality design education with a focus on creative and practical learning in fields such as product design, graphic design, and animation. Symbiosis Design is ranked as the second-best Private Fashion Design College by the India Today & Outlook I-Care Rankings for 2022. The institute offer various courses like B.Des and M.Des.
Top Fashion Design Colleges in India 2024 - India Today Rankings
| Name of the Institute |
India Today 2022 Ranking |
India Today 2023 Ranking |
India Today 2024 Ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
1 |
1 |
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| 2 |
2 |
2 |
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| 3 |
3 |
3 |
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| 4 |
4 |
5 |
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6 |
6 |
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| 6 |
7 |
8 |
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| 7 |
5 |
4 |
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| 8 |
8 |
7 |
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| 9 |
9 |
9 |
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| 10 |
11 |
12 |
Best Private Design Colleges in India
The table below shows the top private Design colleges in India along with their tuition fees and their accepted entrance exams:
| Private Colleges |
Tuition Fee |
Entrance Exams |
|---|---|---|
| INR 2 lakh – INR 30 lakh |
Pearl Academy Entrance Exam, MAT, XAT, etc. |
|
| INR 2 lakh – INR 11 lakh |
CUET |
|
| INR 1 lakh – INR 16 lakh |
NIFT Entrance Exam, NID Entrance Exam, UCEED, etc. |
|
| INR 35,000 – INR 5 lakh |
JDIFT GAT |
|
| INR 3 lakh – INR 17 lakh |
CUET |
|
| INR 17 lakh |
NIFT Entrance Exam, NID Entrance Exam, UCEED, etc. |
Best Govt. Design Colleges in India
The table below shows the top government Design colleges in India along with their tuition fees and their accepted entrance exams:
| Public/Govt. Colleges |
Total Tuition fee |
Eligibility/Exams |
|---|---|---|
| INR 10.68 lakh – INR 14.68 lakh |
DAT |
|
| INR 70,800 – INR 12.34 lakh |
NIFT Entrance Exam and Merit-Based |
|
| INR 1.3 lakh – INR 11.74 lakh |
NIFT Entrance Exam and Merit-Based |
|
| INR 9.97 lakh |
DAT |
|
| INR 9.97 lakh |
NID Entrance Exam |
Best Designing Institutes in India: Courses, Fees, Eligibility
Please refer to the table below for some of the top Design schools in India with their courses offered and tuition fees:
| College Names |
Courses Offered |
Tuition Fee/ Eligibility |
|---|---|---|
| Amity University Noida |
BDes in Fashion Design, Bachelor of Interior Design, Bachelor in User Experience Design, etc. |
Fee: INR 2.88 lakh - INR 12.54 lakh CUET, Merit-Based, etc. |
| NID Ahmedabad |
BDes in Animation Film Design, BDes in Graphic Design, MDes in Film and Video Communication, etc. |
Fee: INR 11.43 lakh - INR 15.72 lakh Design Aptitude Test |
| NIFT Delhi |
MDes, BDes in Fashion Design, MFM, etc. |
Fee: INR 70,800 - INR 12.34 lakh NIFT Entrance Exam, CEED, etc. |
| MIT-ADT University |
MDes in User Experience Design, BDes in Product Design, BDes in Animation Design, etc. |
Fee: INR 4.9 lakh - INR 12.65 lakh MITID DAT |
| NIFT Mumbai |
MDes, BDes in Fashion Communication, BFTech in Apparel Production, etc. |
Fee: INR 1.64 lakh - INR 12.34 lakh NIFT Entrance Exam, CEED, etc. |
Top Design Colleges in India: Exam Schedule 2025
Given below are Popular Design entrance exams through which candidates can secure admission to Design courses:
| Entrance Exams |
Exam Dates |
Exam Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| NIFT Entrance Exam |
Apr '25 (Tentative) |
|
| UCEED |
Jan '25 (Tentative) |
|
| CUET |
May'25 |
|
| CUET-PG |
March'25 |
|
| GATE |
Feb 1 - 16, 2025 |
Note: The Design entrance exam dates and schedules mentioned above may vary depending on the latest updates.
Click here to learn every detail related to the NIFT Entrance Exam:
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There are five participating institutes of NID DAT exam that offer the B.Des program.
These include: NID Ahmedabad NID Andhra Pradesh NID Haryana NID Madhya Pradesh NID Assam.
The seat intake for the B. Des stands at 425. Among the participating institutes, NID Ahmedabad has an intake of 125 seats, while the rest of the NIDs each has an intake of 75 seats. Note that seats are reserved for categories like General-EWS, OBC, SC, and ST categories.
Admission to these seats will be on the basis of NID DAT scores.
Note that the next edition of the NID DAT exam, or NID DAT 2025, will be conducted tentatively in December 2024.
The application form is expected to commence in September 2024.