Aneena Aley AbrahamSenior Executive
Top Universities in India: Ranking, Admission 2025, Fees, Placements, Cut Off
There are about 90+ top universities in India. Among these, 50+ universities are owned by the government, and 30+ universities are owned privately. Students can get admission to these colleges based on merit, or through scores in entrance exams like CUET, CUET PG, ICAR AIEEA, IIT JAM, SAT India, etc. Some of the top Universities in India are the Indian Institute of Science, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Banaras Hindu University, Delhi University (DU), etc.
- Top Universities in India: Highlights 2025
- Top Universities in India: NIRF Ranking 2025
- 2.1 Top Universities in India: QS World University Ranking 2026
- Top Universities in India: Admissions 2025
- Top Universities in India: Exam Schedule 2025
- Top Government Universities in India: Admission, Fees, Seats and Eligibility
- Top Private Universities in India: Admission, Fees, Seats and Eligibility
- State-wise Top Universities in India: Admission and Fees
- 7.1 Top Universities in Tamil Nadu
- 7.2 Top Universities in Karnataka
- 7.3 Top Universities in Maharashtra
- Top Universities in India: Fees Vs Salary
- Top Universities in India: Highest Salary and Top Recruiters
- Cost of Studying at Top Universities in India
- Specialisations Offered by Top Universities in India
- Top Universities in India: Comparison
Top Universities in India: Highlights 2025
Many Indian universities are frequently ranked among the best in the world. Here is a brief overview of some of the best universities in India:
| Particulars |
Parameters |
|---|---|
| No. of Colleges |
90+ colleges |
| Annual Fees |
Less than INR 1 Lakh: 30+ colleges INR 1-2 Lakh: 10+ colleges INR 2-3 Lakh: 6 colleges INR 3-5 Lakh: 10+ colleges More than INR 5 Lakh: 10+ colleges |
| Top Universities in India |
Indian Institute of Science, JNU, JMI, Jadavpur University, BHU, etc. |
| Top Specialisations |
Agriculture, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, etc. |
| Accepted Entrance Exams |
CUET, CUET PG, ICAR AIEEA, IIT JAM, SAT India, etc. |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
Top Universities in India: NIRF Ranking 2025
The NIRF ranks colleges every year. The ranking is based on various parameters, and rankings change year on year depending on various criteria like performance, placement, infrastructure, etc. of the college universities. The following are the top 10 Universities in India ranked by NIRF for the past three years:
| Universities Name |
NIRF 2023 |
NIRF 2024 | NIRF 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| 11 | 6 | 5 | |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | |
| BITS Pilani Ranking | 20 | 19 | 7 |
| 7 | 7 | 8 | |
| 4 | 9 | 9 | |
| Aligarh Muslim University Ranking | 9 | 8 | 10 |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website of the ranking body listed and may vary.
Top Universities in India: QS World University Ranking 2026
The top 10 universities in India according to QS World University Ranking 2026 are listed in the table below:
| College Name | QS World University |
|---|---|
| IIT Delhi | 123 |
| IIT Bombay | 129 |
| IIT Madras | 180 |
| IIT Kharagpur | 215 |
| IISc | 219 |
| IIT Kanpur | 222 |
| DU | 328 |
| IIT Guwahati | 334 |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website of the ranking body listed and may vary.
Top Universities in India: Admissions 2025
The general eligibility criteria for admission to the top Universities in India are mentioned below:
- Students must pass Class 12 from a recognised board to be admitted to bachelor’s degree programmes in the Central Universities.
- For the General category, the candidate needs to secure a minimum of 50% in Class 12, and for SC/ST, candidates need to have secured a minimum of 45% in Class 12 to be eligible for the CUET 2025.
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
Top Universities in India: Exam Schedule 2025
For admission to the best universities in India, candidates must qualify for some of the popular exams accepted by the best Universities in India:
- CUET: CUET stands for Central University Entrance Test. It is an all-India level entrance exam conducted by NTA for admission to UG courses offered in all the participating institutions. The exam is conducted in a computer-based mode for two hours.
- ICAR AIEEA: Indian Council of Agricultural Research All India Entrance Examination for Admission is a national-level entrance exam conducted by NTA for admission to Bachelor Degree programmes in Agriculture and Allied Sciences (other than Veterinary Sciences), at Agricultural Universities, on 15-20% of the University seats.
- CUET-PG: The Central University Entrance Test (Postgraduate), also known as CUET PG, is a national entrance exam being launched for admission to PG programmes at Central and participating universities. Candidates from all over the nation now have a shared platform and equal possibilities to take admission to the top colleges in India.
Take a look at the table below for the complete schedule of exams for top universities in India, along with the date, schedule and syllabus of these exams:
| Exam Name | Exam Schedule | Exam Syllabus |
|---|---|---|
| IIT JAM | IIT JAM Schedule | IIT JAM Syllabus |
| CUET | CUET Schedule | CUET Syllabus |
| ICAR AIEEA | ICAR AIEEA Schedule | ICAR AIEEA Syllabus |
| CUET PG | CUET PG Schedule | CUET PG Syllabus |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
Top Government Universities in India: Admission, Fees, Seats and Eligibility
The table below shows the top government Universities in India along with their tuition fees/BSc and MSc seat intake:
| Public/Govt. Universities |
Total Tuition Fee/Seat Intake |
|---|---|
| Fees: INR 36,000 MSc Seats: 62 |
|
| Fees: INR 432 BSc Seats: 207 MSc Seats: 283 |
|
| Fees: INR 42,000 BSc Seats: 511 MSc Seats: 563 |
|
| Fees: INR 2.4 lakh BSc Seats: 1,403 MSc Seats: 2,812 |
|
| Fees: INR 11,000 BSc Seats: 21,684 MSc Seats: 3,256 |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
Top Private Universities in India: Admission, Fees, Seats and Eligibility
The table below shows the top private Universities in India:
| Private Universities |
Total Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| INR 3 Lakh |
|
| INR 4 Lakh |
|
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences Admission |
INR 5 Lakh |
| INR 7.6 Lakh |
|
| KIIT Admission | INR 6 Lakh |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
State-wise Top Universities in India: Admission and Fees
Among the best colleges in India, Tamil Nadu has the highest number of top universities. Refer to the table for a detailed overview of the state-wise distribution of India's top Universities:
| Location |
Number of Universities |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu |
21 colleges |
| Delhi NCR |
10 colleges |
| Karnataka |
9 colleges |
| Maharashtra |
8 colleges |
| Uttar Pradesh |
8 colleges |
| Andhra Pradesh |
5 colleges |
ROI describes the benefit a student will reap in the form of a placement package after finishing the course which they have pursued. In terms of education, the ROI refers to the placement package received at the end of the course. The table below lists the top universities in India along with their total tuition fee and annual average package:
| Universities Name |
Total Tuition Fee |
Annual Average Package |
|---|---|---|
| INR 432 |
INR 9.50 LPA |
|
| JMI Courses | INR 42,000 |
INR 6 LPA |
| INR 2.92 Lakh |
INR 11.75 LPA |
|
| Banaras Hindu University Courses | INR 2.40 lakh |
INR 8.5 LPA |
| INR 11,010 |
INR 5.50 LPA |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
Top Universities in India: Highest Salary and Top Recruiters
Below is the list of top recruiters for some of the top 50 universities in India along with their average placement package for graduates.
| Universities Name |
Average Placement Package |
Top Recruiters |
|---|---|---|
| INR 11.75 LPA |
Astra Zeneca Ltd, Biocon, Thermo Fisher Scientific, etc. |
|
| INR 5.50 LPA | Deloitte, Wipro, TCS, Tata Power, Axis Bank, etc. |
|
| INR 6 LPA |
DMRC, Big Oh Tech, TCS, Xenon Stack, Infosys, etc. |
|
| INR 9.50 LPA |
Infosys, TCS, Google, IBM, HCL, HP, Accenture, etc. |
|
| INR 8.5 LPA |
IBM, Infosys, Wipro, Deloitte, KPMG, etc. |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
Cost of Studying at Top Universities in India
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
You May Like: Top Universities Colleges in India 2025 Accepting CUET
Specialisations Offered by Top Universities in India
The table below shows the top specialisations offered by various Universities in India:
| Top Specialisations | No. of Colleges | College Name |
|---|---|---|
| Biotechnology | 15 colleges | Jamia Millia Islamia, VIT Vellore, SRM IST, Chennai, Chandigarh University, etc. |
| Agriculture | 10+ colleges | Banaras Hindu University, SOA University, KL University, LPU - Lovely Professional University, Kalasalingam Academy of Research, etc. |
| Chemistry | 10 colleges | Indian Institute of Science, KIIT - Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, Bharathidasan University, etc. |
| Mathematics | 9 colleges | Jadavpur University, KIIT - Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology, Panjab University, etc. |
| Computer Science | 8 colleges | Aligarh Muslim University, Anna University, Srinivasa Ramanujan Center, SASTRA, Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune, etc. |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.
Top Universities in India: Comparison
To check the comparison between the universities in India, click the link below:
Indian Institute of Science
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Jamia Millia Islamia
Delhi University (DU)
Commonly asked questions On Top Universities in India: Ranking, Admission 2025, Fees, Placements, Cut Off
There are about 90+ top universities in India. Among the top universities, about 54 universities are owned by the government and 37 universities are privately owned. Some of the top universities in India are the Indian Institute of Science, JNU, JMI, Jadavpur University, BHU, and many more. CUET, ICAR AIEEA, CUET PG, IIT JAM, KCET, Andhra Pradesh PGCET, CCMN and CPGET are the best entrance exams for top Universities in India.
IISc is the top University according to NIRF 2025. Moreover, the university is an affiliate of All Indian Universities (AIU) and the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). It has also been accredited NAAC 'A' grade by UGC.
Listed below are some of the top Universitites in India along with their NIRF ranking 2025:
Universities Name | NIRF 2023 | NIRF 2024 | NIRF 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| 11 | 6 | 5 | |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | |
| BITS Pilani Ranking | 20 | 19 | 7 |
| 7 | 7 | 8 | |
| 4 | 9 | 9 | |
| Aligarh Muslim University Ranking | 9 | 8 | 10 |
Among the top Universities in India, Tamil Nadu has the maximum number of top Universities in India, followed by Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, etc. Listed below are the state wise number of colleges
States | Number of Universities |
|---|---|
Tamil Nadu | 20+ |
Delhi NCR | 10 |
Karnataka | 9 |
Maharashtra | 8 |
Uttar Pradesh | 8 |
Andhra Pradesh | 5 |
Banaras Hindu University
BITS Pilani - Birla Institute of Technology and Science
Amrita Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham - Kochi Campus
Aligarh Muslim University
School of Science and Humanities, SRM Kattankulathur
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Poonamallee
Commonly asked questions On Top Universities in India: Ranking, Admission 2025, Fees, Placements, Cut Off
Hi, you must consider the following parameters before selecting your university:
- Accreditation: This is the first factor that you must consider while researching about the university. An accreditation can vouch for the quality education as an accredited university needs to meet the established criteria for curriculum quality, facilities, academic support and other resources.
- Course Curriculum and Academic opportunities: A main reason a student decides to study abroad is to receive hands on experience along with excellent curriculum. Thus, before deciding a university, you must check the curriculum of the particular course as it should meet your requirements. Also, the inclusion of other academic opportunities like research work, group projects and assignments will help you make the conscious decision about that university.
- Facilities and Academic Resources: The academic environment of a university is of great importance as you will be spending most of your time studying at the campus. You must check the facilities and resources such as classroom, library, laboratories, seminar halls, and auditorium. Also, a university which focusses on holistic development must provide excellent sports and recreation facilities. It is important to check all the resources thoroughly before arriving at the decision.
- Scholarships and aids: Studying abroad can be a financially challenging decision, and scholarship opportunities can be a big relief in that regard. You must check university's website for scholarship related information and can compare universities on the basis of this crucial factor.
- Internship and Career Opportunities: The main goal of studying abroad is to enhance your career prospects. In this regard, many universities provide career support services, ensuring students receive ample internship or post study opportunities, for professional grooming. The kind of career support offered can be a decision-making factor for you while deciding about the university.
Hope this helps!
It is true that gaining admission to India's most esteemed universities may be extremely difficult. Given below are some of the reasons:
- Higher Number of Applicants
- Difficult Entrance Exams
But it's crucial to keep in mind that, despite the difficulties along the way, they are not impossible. Many committed students succeed in overcoming these challenges and obtaining their dream of enrolling in highly esteemed universities.
SOA University - Siksha 'O' Anusandhan
Indian Agricultural Research Institute - IARI
KIIT - Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology
UoH - University of Hyderabad
Chandigarh University (CU)
JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research
Commonly asked questions On Top Universities in India: Ranking, Admission 2025, Fees, Placements, Cut Off
Hi, you can refer below for the top universities in India according to NIRF for the year 2025 under the Universities category:
Universities Name | NIRF 2023 | NIRF 2024 | NIRF 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | |
| 2 | 2 | 2 | |
| 6 | 4 | 3 | |
| 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| 11 | 6 | 5 | |
| 5 | 5 | 6 | |
| BITS Pilani Ranking | 20 | 19 | 7 |
| 7 | 7 | 8 | |
| 4 | 9 | 9 | |
| Aligarh Muslim University Ranking | 9 | 8 | 10 |
In India, universities are ranked based on multiple criteria by various organizations. Some of the major ranking systems include the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) by the Ministry of Education. The University Grants Commission (UGC) established an expert committee in 2015 to develop the NIRF framework.
You can refer to the table below for the best Universities in India in different fee ranges:
Fee Range | Number of Universities | Popular Colleges |
|---|---|---|
< INR 1 lakh | 30+ | Indian Institute of Science, JNU, JMI, etc. |
INR 1-2 lakh | 10+ | Thapar University, SASTRA, Central University of Kasmir, etc. |
INR 2-3 lakh | 6 | UPES, SRM IST, Vignan's Foundation for Science, Technology and Research, GITAM, etc. |
INR 3-5 lakh | 10+ | VIT Vellore, Kalaslingam Academy of Research and Education, SSBS, etc. |
> INR 5 lakh | 10+ | SOA, KIIT, BITS Pilani, etc. |