Best Arts Colleges in India: 2026 Fees, Exams, Admissions, Ranks Cutoff, Placements

About 2,000+ best Arts (Fine / Visual / Performing) colleges are there in India. Some of the top Arts colleges in India include BHU, PSTU, Rabindra Bharati University, College of Arts, Amity University, Noida, Whistling Woods International, MSU, IGNOU, DU, MIT WPU, JMI, Visva Bharati University, and many others.

Of these,  930+ colleges are privately owned,  400+ colleges are owned by public/government organisations, and public-private entities own 180+ colleges. Students can secure admission on merit basis or through entrance exam like CUET.

As per popularity basis, listed below are the top Fine Arts colleges in India along with their tuition fees:

Top Colleges	Tuition Fee
Banaras Hindu University	INR 2,400 - INR 2.49 lakh
PSTU Hyderabad	INR 1,200 - INR 13,200
College of Arts, University of Delhi	INR 12,400 - INR 16,800
Amity University, Noida	INR 1.4 Lacs - INR 9.36 lakh
Whistling Woods International	INR 1.5 Lacs - INR 8.5 lakh

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.

A Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) differ primarily in their programme focus and structure. Despite being undergraduate degrees, they differ in terms of their focus on academic subjects and aspirations for their careers.

Bachelor of Arts degree includes liberal arts courses like Literature,  History,  etc.. while a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) includes more design studies and intensive art subjects. BA is an all-encompassing subject that includes various career options such as Gender Studies, Literature, and other liberal studies.

Fine Arts on the other hand consists of courses in sculpture and other such visual arts which are meant to enhance the beauty of objects and make them more appealing to the clients. However, it is to be noted that many colleges have the nomenclature of offering BA courses in various disciplines of fine arts. Read Bachelor of Fine Arts: BFA Specialisations, Scope and Career Options. 

 

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. 

 

As per the latest report, the highest package offered during MIT-WPU, Pune placements 2025 stood at INR 51.36 LPA. The same is tabulated below:

Particulars	Placement Statistics (2025)
Highest package	INR 51.36 LPA

In performing arts, you have different specialisation like dance, drama, music, etc. According to your course you have core subjects. Majoring in performing arts involves study that integrates the overlapping fields of drama, music and dance practices. Even when students specialize in one of the three areas, they will take courses in the other performance arts disciplines as well, as well as taking some general education courses.

Performing arts are all pervading bringing colour and joy to numerous festivals and ceremonies, and reaffirming the faith of the people in their heritage. These facets have been responsible for sustaining the long continuities of ancient traditions. They are the link between the past and the present. It thus exemplifies the complex, organic interaction of all aspects of life implicit in all tribal and folk art forms; art is not seen as something apart from life, a mere ornamentation or entertainment, but as an intrinsic part of it.

A performing arts B.A. Programme may include courses in the following subject areas:

• Music performance
• Theatre history
• Dance and culture
• Musical theatre
• Dance technique
• Dramatic literature

The Courses in Performing Arts include:- 

• B.A. (Music Tabla)
• B.A. (Theatre)
• B.A. (Music Vocal)
• BPA (Music Tabla)
• BPA (Theatre)

Following are the Career opportunity:-

• Actor
• Community arts worker
• Dancer
• Dramatherapist
• Music therapist
• Theatre director

Thes are the Top Colleges for Performing Arts:-

1. Loyola College, Chennai
2. Christ University, Bangalore
3. Lovely Professional University, Jalandhar
4. St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
5. K. J Somaiya College of Arts and Commerce, Mumbai.

Yes, joining the best Fine Arts colleges in India can be worthwhile for you. For that, you need to check its ROI. Listed below are some colleges along with their tuition fees and average placement package:

Top Colleges	Tuition Fee	Average Placement Package
BHU Courses	INR 2,400 – INR 2.49 lakh	INR 8 LPA – INR 9 LPA
College of Arts, University of Delhi Courses	INR 12,400 – INR 16,800	INR 8.5 LPA – INR 16 LPA
MSU Courses	INR 1,840 – INR 51,720	INR 2.8 LPA – INR 3.1 LPA
Delhi University Courses	INR 480	INR 16 LPA
Jamia Millia Islamia Courses	INR 21,100 – INR 50,200	INR 7.5 LPA – INR 9.25 LPA

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website and may vary.

A Bachelor of Fine Arts degree will often require an area of specially such as acting, musical theater, ceramics, computer animation, creative writing, dance, dramatic writing, drawing, fibre, film production, visual effects, animation, graphic design, illustration, industrial design, visual arts, technical arts, interior design, metalworking, music, new media, painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, stage management, or television production.

You may pursue a Masters course in any of the above field.

Yes, there are several collaborations of Presidency University. Presidency University has more than 150 international collaborations in various countries in the USA, Taiwan, Brazil, Germany, France, UK, etc. Some of the names of these international collaborations are mentioned below:

Presidency University International Collaborations
Hochschule Konstanz Technik, Wirtschaft und Gestaltung, Germany	University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, Germany	Ming Chi University of Technology, Taiwan
Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Malaysia	IQS School of Management, Spain	Illinois Institute of Technology, USA
University of Alabama in Huntsville, USA	South East Technological University, Ireland	University of Bristol, UK
ESPM University, Brazil	University of Dundee, Scotland	International University of Rabat, Morocco

Listed below are the top Fine Arts, Visual Arts, or Performing Arts colleges in India that offer free courses to students:

• UNIPUNE - Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU)
• edX
• Coursera
• Skillshare
• Alison

Arts (Fine/Visual/Performing) deals with the study of a wide variety of art forms covered under three main headers:

Different Forms of Arts	Description of Different Forms of Arts
Fine Arts	Fine Arts is a form of art developed primarily for its aesthetic value and beauty. This form of art mainly includes the study of drawing, sculpture, painting, literature, pottery, printmaking, ceramics, and murals.
Visual Arts	Visual Arts is another form of creative art whose products are to be appreciated by sight. The forms of visual arts are highly similar to that of fine arts (sometimes exactly the same) and mainly include film-making, painting, and sculpture.
Performing Arts	Performing Arts is a form of creative activity in which artists use their physical ability such as body, face and presence to perform in front of an audience. Different forms of performing arts include music, drama, singing, dance, and stand-up comedy.

The primary degrees available under the fine arts umbrella are:

1. Painting
2. Sculpture
3. Animation
4. Photography
5. Printmaking
6. Dance
7. Film and television
8. Musical theater
9. Theater

Surbhi,

Design is a field that is age old and has been evolving every year like science. The world has changed a lot and a lot of new & wonderful careers in design have come up. Sometimes student Artists are too much enamoured by Fine Arts preventing them to look objectively at Design. Again like science it pays to be at the cutting edge. For e.g. science students do better if they go for CS or IT since that are areas where development is taking place rapidly.

Similarly in Design the cutting edge areas are UID/ UXD, 3D Printing, Immersive Technology, Augmented Reality, 3D Projection etc, besides of course Game Design & Animation. Of course at the top of the pile lies Concept Designing (usually reserved for writers and visionaries) - these people are required by Event Companies, Animation Studios, VFX Studios, & of course Game Studios. At this stage, you may want to understand the creative world & the careers it offers. Interiors, textile as well as Web Design rely on the same skills - your layout skills & color sense. Journalism also is at this level and relies on your language skills & knowledge of history and current affairs. A little higher perches Graphic Design, Fashion Design, jewellery design, Acting, & Fine Arts which rely on one of your artistic skills - sketching & imagination. At a similar level perches VFX as well as Motion Graphics which rely on one of your artistic skills - Cinematographic skills & imagination. Then come careers like Animation, Film Making, Game Design which rely on multiple talents like your authority over sketching, acting, direction, voice, sound, writing, storytelling & problem solving skills etc. Any extra skill can be used in this. So it turns out to be one of the most challenging as well as satisfying careers. Sure not recommended for the weak hearted. Do remember that digital design careers (e.g. web design, graphics, UI design, animation, vfx, multimedia) give better profits since they can be delivered anywhere in the world & hence may earn in dollars - resulting in better rewards for designers. 

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Amity University Jaipur accepts national or state-level entrance exams like JEE Main, CAT, GATE, etc. to provide admission to specific courses. Amity Jaipur accepts applications to its more than 50 courses via online mode. The courses are available in various streams like Engineering, Management, Science, Arts, etc.

Amity University Jaipur admissions is a mix of entrance and merit-based. Along with that, candidates must also fulfil the minimum eligibility requirements of the respective courses. 

Yes, of course, you can check out the list of Good Private colleges in India that provide MFA in the list below:

• Amity University, Noida
• MIT-WPU
• Whistling Woods International
• LPU - Lovely Professional University
• AAFT
• SVSU - Swami Vivekanand Subharti University
• Sister Nivedita University
• Jain Deemed-to-be University, Bangalore
• Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand University

You can also check the detailed list by clicking below:
MFA Private Colleges in India

There are many good Government colleges that you can choose from for pursuing MFA. You can check out the list below:

• Banaras Hindu University
• Rabindra Bharati University
• College of Arts, University of Delhi
• Jamia Millia Islamia
• UNIPUNE - Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU)
• CSJM - Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj University
• Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University
• Visva Bharati University

For a more detailed list, click below:

MFA Government Colleges in India

CUET PG 2026 examination was held in March 2026.The online applications were filled form from December 14 to January 23, 2026. While filling up the CUET PG online application form, test taker can select only one subject in one slot of the examination day. However, from the previous year academic year, they were able to choose a maximum of 20 test paper codes in all.

Before choosing multiple subjects for the examination, candidates are advised to check the minimum education eligibility criteria for the particular course they have applied for. Also, check the university-specific subject criteria for the subject a candidate wants to appear for.

ACAD Fees & Eligibility

Course	Fees	Eligibility
B.Des	60,000 (1st Year Fees)	10+2
B.F.A	40,000 (1st Year Fees)	10+2
Diploma	40,000 (Total Fees)	10+2
Certification	40,000 (Total Fees)	10+2

LPU does not offer direct admission. However, admission to few courses is merit-based.  Aspirants scoring a 65% aggregate have a good chance of getting admission in LPU. Candidates seeking admission must visit the official website of the university to apply online. To apply for LPU, aspirants need to register for LPUNEST for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses. LPU admission to most of the courses is based on LPUNEST score. However, national-level entrance exam scores are also accepted for admission to BA LLB (Hons), MBA, BTech, etc. Candidates must complete Class 12 for UG courses and graduation for PG courses. The selection rounds are followed by counselling and document verification.

Maya Somaiya School of Music and Performing Arts offers admission based on merit. Candidates must qualify Class 12 with a minimum agrgegate of 40% to 45%, varying according to course to course. The Institute offers admission based on a trial that conducted closer to the final selection process of a candidate. Therfore, it is not very hard to get admission at Maya Somaiya School of Music and Performing Arts.

Indian Institute of Fashion and Animation, Bangalore has been rated 3.6 on Infrastructure parameter. Indian Institute of Fashion and Animation, Bangalore offers good infrastructure such as A/C ClassroomsAuditorium, Cafeteria, Dance Room, Design Studio, Gym, Hospital / Medical Facilities, Hostel, Labs, Library, Music Room, Shuttle Service, Sports Complex, Wi-Fi Campus to students. Indian Institute of Fashion and Animation, Bangalore has also been rated 4.2 for Campuslife.

The fee vary from one course to another. There are multiple components added to the total course fee such as tuition fee, security deposit, etc. Candidates seeking admission can pay the fee through the institute's official website. The table given below mentions course-wise fee for St Pauls Institute of Communication Education:

Course	Total Tuition Fee
Certificate	INR 8,000 - INR 2 lakh
PG Diploma	INR 3 lakh

NOTE: This information is sourced from official website/ sanctioning body and is subject to change. 

Hamstech Institute of Creative Education provides various  programmes in degrees, diplomas, certificate, and weekend progarmmes in Fashion Designing, Interior Designing, Photography, Graphic Design, Baking, Culinary Arts, and Makeup Artistry. The details are mentioned below:

FashionDesign	Duration	No. of Seats
CERTIFICATE COURSE IN FASHION DESIGN (JNAFAU)	11 mths	25
CERTIFICATE COURSE IN FASHION DESIGN & GARMENT MAKING (SBTET)	2 Yrs	25
BA HONS DEGREE IN FASHION DESIGN	3 Yrs	60
Diploma in Textiles & Fashion Design	2 yrs	25
WEEKEND FASHION DESIGN COURSE	1 yr	25
Interior design
CERTIFICATE COURSE IN INTERIOR DESIGN (JNAFAU)	11 mths	25
CERTIFICATE COURSE IN INTERIOR DESIGN (SBTET)	1 Yr	25
BA HONS DEGREE IN INTERIOR DESIGN	3 Mths	60
Diploma in Interior Design	1 Yr	25
WEEKEND INTERIOR DESIGN COURSE	1 Yr	25
Photography
CERTIFICATE COURSE IN PHOTOGRAPHY	1 Yr	25
Short-Term Course in PHOTOGRAPHY	3 mths	25
BA Hons Degree in Photography & Digital Imaging	3 Yrs	60
WEEKEND COURSE IN PHOTOGRAPHY	1 Yr	25
Graphic Design
CERTIFICATE COURSE IN GRAPHIC DESIGN (JNAFAU)	1 yr	25
BA HONS DEGREE IN APPLIED ARTS (VISUAL COMMUNICATION)	3 Yrs	60
Makeup Artist
CERTIFICATE COURSE IN MAKEUP ARTISTRY	3 Mths	25

Direct admission is usually not possible for the UG/ PG courses at REVA University. Admission to REVA University courses are entrance-based. Students are selected based on a valid score of REVA CET exam, which is conducted at the university-level for admission to all courses. Candidates either have to qualify for REVA CET or submit the scores of any other relevant entrance exam at the time of registering for their desired courses.

No, you cannot join the World University of Design directly. Firstly, you have to give an aptitude test, and secondly, an on-campus interview will be conducted. After passing both the steps, you can join the university. The World University of Design offers programs and degrees at undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma levels. Built on a culture of creativity & innovation, students enjoy the focus on studio learning, creative process, small class size with direct access to faculty and expert technical resources. To apply for admission, visit the official website of the World University of Design and fill out the application form before the deadline.

After completing the undergraduate level course under Commerce, the candidates can find various jobs at entry or junior level in Accounting, Commerce, Banking and Finance and related fields such as Junior Accountant, Operations Management,  Data Analyst, Research and Development Manager, Information Systems Manager,  Project Manager,  etc..

Also Read: Your Career After Doing a Course in Commerce

You May Also Consider:

The institute provides good placements to its graduating students. Check out the table below to know the key highlights of the AAFT University of Media and Arts placements during 2024:

Galgotias University provides UG, PG and Diploma programmes. For admission to BTech, BA LLB Hons, and MBA marks from entrance tests including JEE Main, CLAT,  LSAT, CAT, CMAT, and NMAT are accepted. The university also accepts CUET scores for admission to few programmes like BSc, BCA, and Integrated BBA + MBA.

In order to get admission at SAGE University Bhopal, candidates must sit and appear for entrance exam called SEE. SAGE University conducts the SAGE Entrance Exam (SEE) for admission to its various undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctorate-level courses. Students can check course-wise selection criteria along with eligibility for some of the courses below:

Course Name	Common Eligibility	Selection Critera
BTech/ BTech (Hons)	Twelve years of school education or equivalent exam in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with at least 50% aggregate	Exam: SEE
MBA	Bachelor's Degree with at least 50% aggregate (45% aggregate for SC/ ST/ OBC of Madhya Pradesh)	Exam: SEE
MTech	Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or equivalent degree with at least 50% aggregate in Class 12	Exam: SEE
MCA	Bachelor's Degree or equivalent degree with at least 50% aggregate in Class 12	Exam: SEE
BCA	Twelve years of school education with Maths as a compulsory subject with at least 50% aggregate	Exam: SEE
BPA	Twelve years of school education with at least 60% aggregate	Exam: SEE

 

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.

Admissions at WWI Mumbai are conducted based on the entrance test basis. Students are required to pass the minimum required threshold in their qualifying exams like Higher Secondary and/or graduation. Post that, they are required to appear for the WWI Entrance Exam. Below is the complete outline of the Whistling Woods International Entrance Exam:

1. Media and Entertainment Common Aptitude Test (MECAT)
2. Creative Aptitude Test (CAT)
3. Statement of Purpose (SOP)
4. Personal Interview (PI)

Parul Universty is mainly concerned with streams such as Engineering, Management, Business Administration, etc. The university offers BTech and MBA programmes as the popular programmes. They are offered for a duration of 4 and 2 years, respectively. 

NIU University is approved by UGC (University Grants Commission), the Council of Architecture, the Indian Association of Physiotherapists, the Indian Nursing Council, the National Medical Commission, BCI (Bar Council of India), NCTE, IIC, and AIU (Association of Indian Universities). Hence, the Noida International University degree is valid. Noida International University was established in 2010 and is sponsored by the Maruti Educational Trust. The university is considered one of the best universities in India.

Check Other BTech in Computer Science Colleges in Delhi/NCR

ITM (SLS) Baroda University provides good campus facilities to the students. Some of these facilities are mentioned below:

• Sports and fitness facility

• Hospital

• Labs

• ATM facility

• Hostel

• Canteen

• Library

IIFD Chandigarh is not hard to get for dedicated students. Candidates who have missed the admissions must not worry. These candidates can apply again the next year. Candidates willing to get admission must take part in the IIFD Chandigarh admission process before the last date of application. Candidates must know their IIFD Chandigarh eligibility criteria and apply accordingly. Follow the IIFD Chandigarh application process mentioned below:

Step 1: Visit the official website of IIFD Chandigarh. 

Step 2: Select the required course.

Step 3: Pay the application fee.

Step 4: Fill out and submit the application form with the required information.

Institute of Management Study Kolkata admission is based on merit and entrance test. The institute accepts national entrance exams such as JEMAT, CET, and others. Candidates must qualify for the eligibility criteria set by the university for the desired course. IMS Kolkata offers applications through online mode. 

Fashion Designer, Textile Designer, Accessory Designer, Interior Designer, Graphic Designer, Web Designer, Game Designer, and Furniture Designer are some of the job profiles available after studying design courses. Designer pay may vary depending on a number of factors, including cities or demand. Your degree's worth may differ between cities. There are more offices and enterprises in big cities, which increases your chances of finding work.

Graduates in design have a wide range of employment possibilities.

Job Profiles	Average Salary (INR)
Fashion Designer	INR 3.5 LPA
Textile Designer	INR 4.2 LPA
Graphic Designer	INR 3.0 LPA
Interior Designer	INR 3.1 LPA
UI/UX Designer	INR 5.5 LPA

Sarla Birla University scholarships support students financially. Deserving students get the scholarship opportunities. These scholarships are given on criteria such as, scores, financial need, and other qualifications. Check the tabole below to know the Sarla Birla University scholarships:

General Scholarship Details:

Scholarship Type	Scholarship
Son/ Daughter, Grandson/ Granddaughter of Freedom Fighters.	10% on Tuition fee only for all semesters
Son/ Daughter of Defense Personnel.	15% on Tuition fee only for all semesters
Son/ Daughter/ Spouse of BAGM UNITS Employees	25% on Tuition fee only for all semesters
Sarala Birla Public School Students	25% on Tuition fee only for all semesters
Students with differently able	25% on Tuition fee only for all semesters
Kashmiri Migrant Students	15% on Tuition fee only for all semesters