Best Applied Arts Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
There are nearly 112 colleges in India that offer Applied Arts courses in full-time mode of study, division of colleges by ownership is private: 61, public / government: 40 and public private: 1.
Location wise
There are colleges offering the Applied Arts in major cities and states all over India. The following table lists all the prominent cities where these colleges are located:
| Location Details | Colleges |
|---|---|
| Maharashtra | 23 Colleges |
| Uttar Pradesh | 16 Colleges |
| Delhi/NCR | 16 Colleges |
| Rajasthan | 11 Colleges |
| Karnataka | 10 Colleges |
| Madhya Pradesh | 9 Colleges |
| Delhi | 8 Colleges |
| Mumbai (All) | 8 Colleges |
| Jaipur | 7 Colleges |
| Mumbai | 7 Colleges |
| Pune | 7 Colleges |
| Indore | 6 Colleges |
| Haryana | 5 Colleges |
| West Bengal | 5 Colleges |
| Bangalore | 5 Colleges |
| Aurangabad | 4 Colleges |
| Gujarat | 4 Colleges |
| Punjab | 4 Colleges |
| Kolkata | 4 Colleges |
| Himachal Pradesh | 3 Colleges |
Specializations
There are various specialisations offered by Applied Arts colleges in India like Graphic Design, Visual Communication and Multimedia & Digital Media. Tabulated below is the specialisations offered by no. of colleges
| Specialization Details | Colleges |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 3 Colleges |
| Visual Communication | 2 Colleges |
| Multimedia & Digital Media | 1 Colleges |
Entrance Exams
Applicants must pass a variety of national, state, or university-level entrance exams. The top entrance exams for various colleges offering Applied Arts in India are listed in the table below:
| Exam Details | Colleges |
|---|---|
| CBSE 12th | 59 Colleges |
| ISC | 59 Colleges |
| MAH AAC CET | 12 Colleges |
| CUET | 9 Colleges |
| RBSE 12th | 9 Colleges |
| Karnataka 2nd PUC | 8 Colleges |
| MPBSE 12th | 7 Colleges |
| CUET-PG | 7 Colleges |
| Maharashtra HSC | 5 Colleges |
| UP 12th | 4 Colleges |
| PSEB 12th | 4 Colleges |
| CBSE 10th | 3 Colleges |
| ICSE | 3 Colleges |
| GSEB HSC | 3 Colleges |
| PERA CET | 3 Colleges |
| MAH CET | 2 Colleges |
| UCEED | 2 Colleges |
| KUK Entrance Exam | 2 Colleges |
| URATPG | 2 Colleges |
| JET | 2 Colleges |
There are nearly 112 colleges in India that offer Applied Arts courses in full-time mode of study, division of colleges by ownership is private: 61, public / government: 40 and public private: 1.
Location wise
There are colleges offering the Applied Arts in major cities and states all over India. The following table lists all the prominent cities where these colleges are located:
| Location Details | Colleges |
|---|---|
| Maharashtra | 23 Colleges |
| Uttar Pradesh | 16 Colleges |
| Delhi/NCR | 16 Colleges |
| Rajasthan | 11 Colleges |
| Karnataka | 10 Colleges |
| Madhya Pradesh | 9 Colleges |
| Delhi | 8 Colleges |
| Mumbai (All) | 8 Colleges |
| Jaipur | 7 Colleges |
| Mumbai | 7 Colleges |
| Pune | 7 Colleges |
| Indore | 6 Colleges |
| Haryana | 5 Colleges |
| West Bengal | 5 Colleges |
| Bangalore | 5 Colleges |
| Aurangabad | 4 Colleges |
| Gujarat | 4 Colleges |
| Punjab | 4 Colleges |
| Kolkata | 4 Colleges |
| Himachal Pradesh | 3 Colleges |
Specializations
There are various specialisations offered by Applied Arts colleges in India like Graphic Design, Visual Communication and Multimedia & Digital Media. Tabulated below is the specialisations offered by no. of colleges
| Specialization Details | Colleges |
|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 3 Colleges |
| Visual Communication | 2 Colleges |
| Multimedia & Digital Media | 1 Colleges |
Entrance Exams
Applicants must pass a variety of national, state, or university-level entrance exams. The top entrance exams for various colleges offering Applied Arts in India are listed in the table below:
| Exam Details | Colleges |
|---|---|
| CBSE 12th | 59 Colleges |
| ISC | 59 Colleges |
| MAH AAC CET | 12 Colleges |
| CUET | 9 Colleges |
| RBSE 12th | 9 Colleges |
| Karnataka 2nd PUC | 8 Colleges |
| MPBSE 12th | 7 Colleges |
| CUET-PG | 7 Colleges |
| Maharashtra HSC | 5 Colleges |
| UP 12th | 4 Colleges |
| PSEB 12th | 4 Colleges |
| CBSE 10th | 3 Colleges |
| ICSE | 3 Colleges |
| GSEB HSC | 3 Colleges |
| PERA CET | 3 Colleges |
| MAH CET | 2 Colleges |
| UCEED | 2 Colleges |
| KUK Entrance Exam | 2 Colleges |
| URATPG | 2 Colleges |
| JET | 2 Colleges |
Best Applied Arts Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
Commonly asked questions On Best Applied Arts Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
If you don't want to work in traditional applied arts fields then you can explore the following job profiles:
- Digital Marketing & Social Media Design
- Art Therapy & Wellness Coaching
- Educational Content Creation (YouTube, Online Courses)
- Corporate Branding & Merchandise Design
Yes, Animation can be a great choise after bfa as you can specialize in 2D/3D Animation, VFX, or Game Design and secure job roles such as:
- Motion Graphics Designer
- VFX Artist
- Character Animator
- Storyboard Artist
You can work with companies like Disney, Pixar, and DreamWorks as they hire skilled animation artists.
Some of the popular courses that candidates can pursue at undergraduate and postgraduate levels are:
- Bachelor of Design (B.Des)
- BFA in Visual Communication
- MFA in Visual Communication
- Visual Communication and Brand Identity
- UG Diploma in Visual Communication and Digital Design
Eligibility to pursue BFA: -
- Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree can be pursued by those candidates who have successfully completed their HSC (10+2) examinations in any stream from a recognised board.
- Though there are no entrance test for the Bachelor of Fine Arts course but a few Institutes may conduct these.
- Some BFA Institutes may conduct an Aptitude Test as well and on the basis of the test the final decision for admission is made.
The Amity University Noida is a good choice for students as it has been accredited grade A by NAAC. Good placements are offered here with the highest package being INR 61.75 LPA during 2023.
Commonly asked questions On Best Applied Arts Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
The minimum eligibility for this course is a Bachelor's degree in fine arts or equivalent from a recognised institute. Admission to M.A. Fine Arts is based on a candidate's performance in a relevant entrance exam and subsequent rounds. The average annual fee for the course ranges between INR 4 K to 2 L for 2 years.
Some colleges are which provide this course are:
- College of fine arts
- Alliance University
- Joy University
- Lovely professional University
Students learn how to think creatively and solve issues in novel and creative ways in Applied Arts courses. Students learn how to successfully communicate their ideas through the use of visual communication in Applied Arts courses. Students are taught how to make their work using a range of tools and programs in Applied Arts course classes. Applied Arts courses can assist students in acquiring the skills they need to succeed in the labor market as the demand for creative and skilled professionals is increasing.
Parul University is a well-known institute recognised across categories by a number of ranking bodies. As per the NIRF 2025 ranking, the university has ranked 41 in the Pharmacy category. It has been ranked 50 by the India Today 2025 in the BCA category.
Jamia Millia Islamia is an excellent choice with the State Public University being most well-known for its liberal and scholarly atmosphere with the university producing many well-known alumni and free thinkers such as Shah Rukh Khan, Kabir Khan, Mouni Roy, Arfa Khanum Sherwani, Barkha Dutt, and many more.
The liberal atmosphere of JMI Delhi extends to its faculty and courses with the university having a curriculum design with the latest breakthroughs and changes in mind.
Further the university has approvals from a number of national bodies such as the AICTE, BCI, CoA, Directorate General of Civil Aviation, Indian Council of Agricultural Research, INC, NCTE, National Medical Commission, PCI, and Rehabilitation Council of India.
MSU Baroda student life is amazing. Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda students can join various clubs available in the university. MS University Vadodara students can take part in various competitions and activities. As per the Shiksha verified review, the university is rated 4/5 in the infrastructure and overall categories. Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda has seperate hostels for boys and girls.
Commonly asked questions On Best Applied Arts Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
Mumbai University conducts the admission process for all the UG, PG, PhD courses in online mode. Interested candidates can fill the admission forms through the official website. University of Mumbai admissions are currently ongoing for several courses.
IGNOU admission cycle opens twice in a year i.e. January and July. The registrations for January session usually begins in December and close by March. The July session for ODL/ Online programmes begin in May and continue till July. The mode of application is online for all the courses.
Savitribai Phule Pune University (also known as UNIPUNE, Pune University and SPPU), is a collegiate public state university. The University is located at Pune, was established in 1949 through Poona University Act and is one of the premier universities in India. Recognised by UGC, it is popularly known as the 'Oxford of the East'. The University is accredited ‘A’ grade by NAAC. With over 40+ academic departments, 10+ faculties and 50+ research centres, the university also has about 300+ recognised research institutes and over 700 affiliated colleges offering UG, PG, diploma, PG diploma, PhD and certificate courses.
Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University provides residential facilities to the students with on campus accommodation options often including separate hostels for men and women which features basic amenities like furnished rooms, common rooms, security & mess services. These facilities are designed to support students across many postgraduate departments.
Commonly asked questions On Best Applied Arts Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
DYPIU provides merit-based scholarship to students pursuing a course from the university. Check below detail of one of the DYPIU Pune scholarships:
MHT-CET (percentile) | % Scholarship as percentage of Tuition Fees* | Category |
|---|---|---|
98 and above (included) | 50% | A |
Between 95 (included) and 97.99 | 25% | B |
Between 90 (included) and 94.99 | 15% | C |
Between 85 (included) and 89.99 | 10% | D |
*Number of these scholarship awarded is as follows:
- Number of scholarships in Category A : 3
- Number of Scholarship in Category B: 5
- Number of Scholarship in Category C: 4
- Number of Scholarship in Category D: 4
Only one college in the Delhi University College of Art is offering a BFA course. You cannot get direct admission as an aptitude Entrance exam is conducted for this course. The criteria to be eligible are the same as those laid down by DU. Like in five subjects, you were supposed to pass a board with 50% or more marks.Without a CUET score, DU SOL (school of open learning) gives admission into UG and PG courses. The process of admission to this academic year is ongoing In order to be admitted to Delhi College of Art students need to pass the 10+2 test. Eligible candidates are required to take an aptitude test after they have passed the examination. The selection of candidates will take place after allocation of the places, document verification and fee payment.
CSJMU application process is conducted in an online mode. Students can check below the general steps to apply for CSJMU admissions.
1. Go to admission page of CSJM University.
2. Click on the registration link.
3. Register with the basic details.
5. Upload documents and then submit application fee.
6. Submit the form.
Mahatma Gandhi Kashi Vidyapith offers all the necessary campus facilities to its students. Some of the facilities include:
- Well-equipped classrooms
- Library
- Sports and medical facilities
- Labs
Kurukshetra University (KUK) has a Centre for Distance and Online Education available for students. The online courses are approved by AICTE, UGC, and accredited with A+ Grade by NAAC. Some of the online programmes available are below:
PG Programmes
- Online MA
- Online MBA
- Online MBA Plus
- Online MCA
UG Programmes
- Online BBA
Online BCom
Online BA
Commonly asked questions On Best Applied Arts Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
For admission to the UG courses at RBU, no entrance exams are required since admissions are merit-based. While for admission to the PG courses, the RBU Entrance Test is required. It is a Multiple Choice exam.
Sister Nivedita University offers seats in most of the programmes based on entrance-exam scores. SNUET is a common entrance exam conducted for all the UG & PG courses by the university. However, the university also accepts scores of national or state-level entrance exams such as WBJEE, GATE, etc. for specific programmes. Candidates must fulfil the basic eligibility requirements and qualify the respective entrance exams to confirm their admission.
Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University (BAMU Aurangabad) has a very big campus and offers various facilities to postgraduate, undergraduate, and various other course students. There is a health centre construction going on at the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University has a library, hostel, cafeteria, sports complex, and also provides various other facilities to students. Students can visit the campus and see what all facilities are being provided by the university.
Swami Vivekanand Subharti University in Meerut is considered decent, accredited private university particularly recognised for its medical, dental & law programs making it worth considering if you are looking for balanced campus life with good infrastructure. However, it may not meet "hype" of top tier national institutes as engineering & other technical branches are considered average.
Yes, Manipal University, Jaipur is a good choice for an average students. The university is accredited by NAAC with an A+ grade.MUJ is recognised by UGC and approved by AICTE. Manipal University average package and median package offered during placements 2024 were INR 9.50 LPA and INR 8 LPA, respectively.