Top 10 NID in India 2025: Admission, Fees, Courses, Specialization, Placements, Top Recruiters & Salary

Top 10 NID in India 2025: Admission, Fees, Courses, Specialization, Placements, Top Recruiters & Salary

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Damini
Damini Aggarwal
Assistant Manager - Content
Updated on Aug 29, 2025 15:18 IST

The NID (National Institute of Design) is one of the most prestigious design schools in India. The institute has been established to bring revolution to the design education in the country. The NID produces world-class designers who redefine creativity. NID is known for the global opportunities, and has become the dream destination for aspiring designers.

National Institute of Design

The NID is one of the top design institutions of India. This institute offers undergraduate courses in BDes and postgraduate courses in MDes programmes. The candidates aspiring to get admissions to NIDs will have to sit for the Design Aptitude Test (DAT). This entrance exam assesses skills in designing and aptitude.Go through the page below for the top 10 NID colleges in India. You can also read the eligibility criteria, courses offered, fee structure, etc. offered at the NIDs. 

The NID entrance test is expected to be held in the first week of January 2026. Candidates who aspire to become a part of this institution will have to apply for the NID entrance exam 2026 through the official portal. 

Also Read:

Q:   What is the placement scenario at NID Ahmedabad?
A:

The National Institute of Design is showing an impressive placement record as of now. A total of 476 offers were provided to students in the 2025 placement drive. Check out the table for more information on National Institute of Design placements 2024

Particulars

Placement Statistics (2024)

No. of Students Registered

686

No. of Offers

476

Highest Package

INR 36 LPA

Lowest Package

INR 3 LPA

Q:   What salary packages are offered to NID Ahmedabad graduates?
A:

NID Ahmedabad has not released any official placement report 2023. As per the annual placement 2020 report, NID Ahmedabad average package stood at INR 14 LPA. The top recruiters who participated during recent NID Ahmedabad placements included Samsung, Adobe, TCS, HCL, Ebay, Deloitte, etc. These stats may vary further once the latest placement Statistics are out.

Q:   Where do NID Ahmedabad alumni work?
A:

As per the external sources, the alumni of NID are working with top companies such as Elephant Designs Pvt Ltd, Infosys, Microsoft and many more. To know the function-wise alumni placements, check out the pie chart below:

NID Ahmedabad

Table of content
  • Top 10 NID Colleges in India: Eligibility Criteria 2025
  • Top 10 NID Colleges in India: Courses Offered, Specialization and Tuition Fee
  • Top NID Colleges in India: Admission Process 2025
  • Top NID Colleges in India: Salary, Top Recruiters
  • Top NID Colleges in India: BDes Courses Offered
  • Top NID Colleges in India: MDes Courses Offered
  • Top NIDs in India: Seat Intake
  • NIDs Placements: Top Job Profiles
  • Top NIDs in India: Previous Year Cut Off
  • NID DAT 2025 - Admission Category
  • What is the NID Entrance Exam?
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Top 10 NID Colleges in India: Eligibility Criteria 2025

Find the eligibility crieteria for the BDes and MDes courses below:

Course Eligibility
BDes

Candidates should have either completed their Class 12 from a recognized board such as CBSE, ISC, or State Boards.

MDes Applicants must have a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum duration of 4 years in any specialization. 
PhD in Design Candidates must hold a Master’s degree in design or a related field from a recognized university. 

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Top 10 NID Colleges in India: Courses Offered, Specialization and Tuition Fee

Among the top 10 NID colleges in India, some of them are mentioned below along with their courses offered and tuition fees:

Top 10 NIDs in India

Establishment Year

Courses Offered

Specialization Offered

Tuition Fee

NID Ahmedabad

1961

B.Des, M.Des and PhD in Design

Animation Film Design, Exhibition Design, Film & Video, Graphic Design, Ceramic & Glass Design, Product Design, Textile Design

BDes: INR 18 Lakh

MDes: INR 15 Lakh

NID Gandhinagar

2004

M.Des

Apparel Design, Lifestyle Accessory Design, New Media Design, Photography Design, Toy and Game Design, Transportation and Automobile Design, etc.

INR 13 Lakh – INR 15 Lakh

NID Bangalore

2006

M.Des

Retail Experience, Digital Game Design, Information Design, Interaction Design, and Universal Design, etc.

INR 15 Lakh

NID Bhopal

2019

B.Des

Industrial Design, Communication Design, Textile and Apparel Design, etc.

INR 8 Lakh – INR 11 Lakh

NID Vijayawada

2015

B.Des

Industrial Design, Communication Design, Textile and Apparel Design, etc.

INR 8 Lakh

NID Haryana

2016

B.Des

Industrial Design, Communication Design, Textile and Apparel Design, etc.

INR 13 Lakh

NID Jorhat

2019

B.Des

Industrial Design, Communication Design, Textile and Apparel Design, etc.

INR 8 Lakh

Top NID Colleges in India: Admission Process 2025

Aspirants will have to sit for the NID Design Aptitude Test (NID DAT) to get admission to the NID colleges in India. The step-wise admission process for NID DAT 2025 is given below, starting from application submission to the allotment of seats:

  1. Fill out the Application Form - Eligible candidates will have to duly fill out the form and submit it before the last date. Use only genuine and verifiable information for filling out the form. Note that all information will be checked at the time of NID DAT counseling and seat allotment. 
  2. Download Admit Card - On the day of the exam, the candidate will have to bring with them the admit card and a valid photo ID proof. 
  3. Appear in DAT Prelims - DAT Prelims will be conducted offline as a paper-and-pen(pencil) exam. The full details of the DAT Prelims exam pattern will be outlined in the admit card.  
  4. Check DAT Prelims Result - The results for DAT Prelims can be checked by entering one's email address, date of birth, and roll number/application number. DAT Prelims scores will be used to shortlist candidates for DAT Mains. 
  5. Download DAT Mains Admit Card - All registered candidates will be issued admit cards that have to be downloaded online. After downloading the admit card, take a printout of the admit card.
  6. Appear for NID DAT Mains - DAT Mains will comprise a Studio Test; M.Des candidates will also have to appear in an online interview round. In the studio test for NID admissions, aspirants are given hands-on practical assignments, which they need to complete within the stipulated time.
  7. Check NID DAT Final Result - DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains performance are considered to prepare the FINAL results. Note that the final result or merit rank will be considered for the admission or seat allotment process.

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Top NID Colleges in India: Salary, Top Recruiters

Listed below are the NID top colleges in India along with their description, courses offered, their placement package, etc.

Colleges Average Placement Package Notable Recruiters
NID Ahmedabad Placement

INR 21 LPA

Wipro, Whirlpool, Cognizant, HUL, Infosys, Microsoft, etc.

NID Gandhinagar Placement

INR 46 LPA

Microsoft, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, HCL Technologies, Borosil, etc.

NID Bangalore Placement INR 36 LPA

Nalli Silk, Oracle, Nokia, Tanishq, Tata Enterprise, Wipro, Trident Group, etc.

NID Bhopal Placement INR 12 LPA Adidas, Amazon, Adobe, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Wipro, Designhill, etc.
NID Vijayawada Placement INR 12 LPA Adidas, Amazon, Adobe, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Wipro, Designhill, etc.
NID Haryana Placement

INR 9 LPA

Deloitte, Accenture, TCS, OnePlus, Apple, Adani Group, etc.
NID Jorhat Placement INR 8 LPA

Adobe, Ashok Leyland, Axis Bank, Myntra, Wipro, Microsoft, Trident Group, etc.

Top NID Colleges in India: BDes Courses Offered

Q:   Does the National Institute of Design provide 100% placements?
A:

The National Institute of Design Ahmedabad has not released its placement rate yet. However, the institute is known for its good placements Check out the table below for more information on National Institute of Design placements for the year 2024:

Particulars

Placement Statistics (2024)

No. of Students Registered

686

No. of Offers

476

the highest Package

INR 36 LPA

the lowest Package

INR 3 LPA

Q:   How are placements at National Institute of Design, Bengaluru?
A:

Statistics for NID Bangalore Placements:
Strong placement rates can be seen at NID Bangalore. The typical compensation package provided to NID Bengaluru students for the 2023 placement session was INR 15 LPA. The biggest wage package available was 35 LPA (INR).The median and maximum package offered by the leading businesses that came on a hiring rampage. The students can learn about and anticipate the top organisations that may visit to recruit for the upcoming school year in this article, as well as the benefits that will be offered to them.

The NID Placements 2023 average package will help students determine how much their degree and credentials are worth in the real world. View the typical compensation package provided to students on placements in 2019.Around the world, 300K designers are often in need each fiscal year. 
The Bachelor of Design programme at NID nets students 8 to 12 LPA for entry-level employment. 
Students are given an average income of Rs. 21 lakhs. 
For NID graduates, the pay ranges from Rs. 17 Lakhs to Rs. 50 Lakhs annually.

An average of Rs. 30 Lacs is earned annually by more than 10% of the workforce by NID graduates. 

In 2020, the annual salary for the vice president of design position will be over 40 lakhs.
And in 2020, the Director of the Design Department will earn about 32 Lacs annually.

Start your own business to make money if that is your sole worry. You won't learn how to make money from NID. To succeed, you must employ all of your cognitive abilities. NID can help by placing you in respectable organisations. Additionally, it is based on the stream you apply for.
Now consider a different scenario. Let's imagine you want to apply to NID for textile/apparel design since you love the medium. What if I told you that enrolling in some UX-related courses at NID will enable you to receive more packages,

If so, you are more interested in making money than having a passion for a certain style. If so, cease doing it immediately. Have a vision of where and how you want to be. After graduating from a school like NID or IIT, you will undoubtedly start to make money, albeit it may take some time depending on your level of industry expertise.

Q:   What is the lowest package offered during NID Gandhinagar placements?
A:

NID Gandhinagar do not released an exclusive placement report for a particular year. However, the overall the lowest package offered during NID placements 2022 stood at INR 4 LPA. The trend graph below showcases overall NID the lowest package offered in the last two years:

NID Gandhinagar placements

The table below showcases the lowest package offered in the last two years:

ParticularsStatistics (2021)Statistics (2022)
the lowest packageINR 4.8 LPAINR 4 LPA

BDes is a long 4-year Bachelor's design programme offered at NID Ahmedabad. NID Vijayawada, NID Haryana, etc., in various specializations like:

  • Faculty of Industrial Design
  • Faculty of Communication Design
  • Faculty of Textile
  • Apparel Design
  • Lifestyle & Accessory Design
  • Ceramic & Glass Design

IIT Bombay Animation Courses, Types, Eligibility, Fees, Placement
IIT Bombay Animation Courses, Types, Eligibility, Fees, Placement
The field of animation is widely popular now a days, but the major question that occurs to the aspirant's mind is where to pursue the Animation course? Will the institute...read more

Top NID Colleges in India: MDes Courses Offered

MDes is a 2.5-year programme offered at NID Ahmedabad, NID Bangalore, and NID Gandhinagar. The course is offered in various areas of specializations like:

  • Faculty of Communication Design
  • Faculty of Industrial Design
  • Faculty of Interdisciplinary Design
  • Faculty of IT Integrated Design
  • Faculty of Textile, Apparel
  • Lifestyle and Accessory Design

IIT Bombay Animation Courses, Types, Eligibility, Fees, Placement
IIT Bombay Animation Courses, Types, Eligibility, Fees, Placement
The field of animation is widely popular now a days, but the major question that occurs to the aspirant's mind is where to pursue the Animation course? Will the institute...read more

Top NIDs in India: Seat Intake

The table below shows the top NID institutes in India along with their BDes and MDes seat intake:

Top NIDs in India

BDes Seat Intake

MDes Seat Intake

NID Ahmedabad Courses

125

347

NID Gandhinagar Courses

425

126

NID Bangalore Courses

95

95

NID Bhopal Courses

86

-

NID Vijayawada Courses

75

-

NID Haryana Courses

75

-

NID Jorhat Courses

75

-

NIDs Placements: Top Job Profiles

National Institute of Design is known for its high quality education along with placement opportunities to its students. Many top companies of India participate in placement drive conducted at NIDs across the country. Some of the companies that provide job opportunities to NID students are Microsoft, Trident, Adobe, Mindtree, etc. The average salary offered is 4.9 LPA and the highest salary offered is 18 LPA. Here we have listed the top job profiles one can pursue after completing thier education in Animation and Design. 

NID Job Profiles
Graphic designer Advertising & promotions manager
User experience (UX) designer Fashion designer
Interior designer Exhibit & Display Designer
Multimedia artist & animator Architectural Designer
Motion Graphics Designer Furniture Designer
Art director Textile Designers

Top NIDs in India: Previous Year Cut Off

To know the cutoff for the top NID colleges in India, click on the links below:

NID Ahmedabad Cutoff

NID Bangalore Cutoff

NID Vijayawada Cutoff

NID Jorhat Cutoff

NID Gandhinagar Cutoff

NID Bhopal Cutoff

NID Haryana Cutoff

NID DAT 2025 - Admission Category

Admission to the NID-participating colleges is open to the following categories:

Seat Category

Open

General- Economically Weaker Section (GEN-EWS)

Other Backward Class- Non-Creamy Layer (OBCNCL)

Schedule Caste (SC)

Schedule Tribe (ST)

Open—Persons with Disability (PwD)

Other Backward Class- Non-Creamy Layer— Persons with Disability (OBC-NCL-PwD)

Schedule Caste —Persons with Disability (SC-PwD)

Schedule Tribe—Persons with Disability (ST-PwD)

What is the NID Entrance Exam?

The National Institute of Design conducts the NID entrance exam for admission to the various courses offered at the NID Institute. The entrance exam for NID will be held for admission to the B.Des and M.Des courses. The Bachelor of Design (BDes) course will open up a wide area of the design industry to the students, such as textile design, apparel design, industrial design, and communication design etc. The NID 2026 exam pattern defines how the structure of the exam, such as students being asked both textual and visual questions, the exam will be divided into Part 1 and Part 2, etc. The NID exam will be conducted for the duration of three hours, and there will not be any negative marking. 

To prepare for the NID exam, candidates must go through the previous year's exam papers and deeply understand the paper structure and the kind of questions asked. The syllabus of NID entrance exam may include topics such as Design theory, Optical illusion, Elements and principles of design, Lettering, Good design vs. bad design, etc. 

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About the Author
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Damini Aggarwal
Assistant Manager - Content
Damini Aggarwal expertise in management, research and analysis. She specializes in law and work proactively to cater to reader's needs. Apart from this, she has a passion to travel, read and write fictional novels, Read Full Bio