Tasbiya KhanSenior Executive
Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala 2026: Ranking, Fees, Admission, Courses, Placements
Kerala is home to 4 top engineering colleges, all government-owned: NIT Calicut, IIST Thiruvananthapuram, IIT Palakkad, and College of Engineering Trivandrum. These colleges admit students through JEE Main and JEE Advanced scores. Most of them are affiliated with APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and hold NBA and NAAC accreditation. They offer AICTE-approved BTech and MTech programmes known for strong academics and good placements.
- Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala: Known Facts 2026
- Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala: NIRF 2025, India Today and the Week Ranking 2026
- 2.1 Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala with NIRF Ranking 2025
- 2.2 Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala: India Today Ranking 2026
- 2.3 Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala: The Week Ranking 2026
- Eligibility Criteria for Admission to Kerala Engineering Colleges 2026
- Entrances Accepted in Kerala Engineering Colleges 2026
- Top Government Engineering Colleges in Kerala
- BTech and MTech Seat Intake at Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala
- Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala: Courses and Fees
- Top BTech Colleges in Kerala
- Top MTech Colleges in Kerala
- ROI of the Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala
- Comparison of the Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala 2026
Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala: Known Facts 2026
Kerala has a perfect combination of highly paid National Institutes such as IIT Palakkad as well as expensive state colleges such as College of Engineering Trivandrum ( CET). It has a Return on Investment like no other due to its unbelievably low government fee structure. The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST) offers students direct, specialized pathways into space missions with ISRO. Here are the key highlights of the top Engineering colleges in Kerala, including all important info. -
| Particulars |
Statistics |
|---|---|
| Total no. of Engineering colleges in Kerala |
4 colleges |
| Top Kerala Engineering Colleges as per NIRF ranking 2025 (Government Colleges) |
NIT Calicut, IIST Thiruvananthapuram, IIT Palakkad, College of Engineering Trivandrum |
| Fee range of top colleges |
~ INR 27,000 - INR 8 lakh |
| Top Engineering specialisations offered in Kerala colleges |
Computer Science Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, etc. |
| Accepted Entrance Exams |
JEE Main, JEE Advanced, KEAM, etc. |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala: NIRF 2025, India Today and the Week Ranking 2026
Kerala offers several top engineering colleges in India and with top institutions ranked by NIRF 2025, India Today 2026 and The Week 2026, it’s easy to find the best college for your future. Read the rankings below -
Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala with NIRF Ranking 2025
As per NIRF ranking 2025, NIT Calicut ranked as the top Kerala Engineering college followed by top colleges like IIST Thiruvananthapuram and IIT Palakkad. These rankings have been done on various factors like research great faculty, placement opportunities, etc. Candidates can check the table below for the top 10 engineering colleges in Kerala with NIRF ranking over the past years -
| College Name |
NIRF 2024 | NIRF 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | 21 | |
| 51 | 61 | |
| 64 | 64 |
Source: The above rankings have been taken from the official NIRF site and 2026 rankings have not yet been released.
Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala: India Today Ranking 2026
Below table shows the India Today rankings of 2026.
| Top Engineering Colleges | India Today Ranking 2026 |
|---|---|
| NIT Calicut | 19 |
| 38 | |
| TKM College of Engineering | 101 |
| SCMS School of Engineering and Technology | 120 |
NOTE: The above rankings have been taken from the official India Today website.
Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala: The Week Ranking 2026
Below table shows the the Week rankings of 2026.
| Top Colleges | The Week Ranking 2026 |
|---|---|
| NIT Calicut | 19 |
| MEC Kochi - Government Model Engineering College | 77 |
| RSET - Rajagiri School of Engineering and Technology | 90 |
| FISAT - Federal Institute of Science and Technology | 97 |
| 5. Saintgits College of Engineering | 188 |
NOTE: The above rankings have been taken from the official the Week website.
Eligibility Criteria for Admission to Kerala Engineering Colleges 2026
Check below the eligibility for top colleges in Kerala for engineering.
- Students must pass Class 12 with a minimum of 60% aggregate with Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics as core subjects.
- Admission is also based on a merit basis and some colleges accept exams like JEE Main, JEE Advanced, etc.
Entrances Accepted in Kerala Engineering Colleges 2026
To get admission to the best Kerala Engineering colleges, Candidates must passed Class 12 or clear an entrance exam like JEE Main and JEE Advanced. Listed below are the accepted entrance exams for the best Engineering colleges in Kerala with schedule and college predictor-
| Exams | Schedule | Exam College Predictor |
|---|---|---|
| JEE Main | ||
| JEE Advanced | JEE Advanced Schedule | JEE Advanced College Predictor |
Top Government Engineering Colleges in Kerala
Top Government Engineering Colleges in Kerala – CET Trivandrum, NIT Calicut, IIT Palakkad, etc. are known for their great academic standings, low tuition fees, good placements (mostly through KEAM exam) are the best of the best. Here are some of the top colleges with fees and NIRF ranking 2025.
| Public/Government Colleges |
Total Tuition Fee |
NIRF Ranking 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| INR 1.4 lakh - INR 5 lakh |
21 |
|
| INR 1.4 lakh - INR 5 lakh |
61 |
|
| INR 20,000 - INR 8 lakh |
64 |
|
| INR 13,000 - INR 1.9 lakh |
101-150 |
Source: The above data have been taken from the official colleges website and will/may vary in the future.
BTech and MTech Seat Intake at Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala
Candidates can see the table below for the top Engineering colleges in Kerala with BTech and MTech seat intake -
| Top Colleges | BTech Seats | MTech Seats |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Calicut | 1,219 | 562 |
| IIST Thiruvananthapuram | 164 | 253 |
| IIT Palakkad | 200 | - |
| College of Engineering Trivandrum | 840 | 540 |
Source: The above data have been taken from the official colleges website and will/may vary in the future.
Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala: Courses and Fees
The table below shows the various courses offered by top Engineering colleges in Kerala along with their total tuition fees -
| Top Colleges | Courses Offered | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Calicut Couses | BTech in CSE, BTech in Biotechnology, BTech in Mechanical Engineering, etc. | INR 1.4 lakh - INR 5 lakh |
| IIST Courses | BTech in Aerospace Engineering, BTech in Electronics and Communication Engineering, etc. | INR 1.4 lakh - INR 5 lakh |
| IIT Palakkad Courses | BTech in Electrical Engineering, BTech in CSE, BTech in Data Science and Engineering, etc. | INR 20,000 - INR 8 lakh |
| College of Engineering Trivandrum Courses | BTech in CSE, BTech in Mechanical Engineering, BTech in Industrial Engineering, etc. | INR 13,000 - INR 1.9 lakh |
Top BTech Colleges in Kerala
There are around 200+ BTech colleges in Kerala. These colleges accept KEAM, JEE Main/Advanced, and other institute-level exams for admission. Some of the top colleges are mentioned below with their tuition fees -
| BTech Programmes in Kerala |
Total Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| INR 6 lakh |
|
| INR 10 lakh |
|
| INR 5 lakh |
|
| INR 1 lakh - INR 3 lakh |
|
| Government Engineering College, Thrissur BTech | INR 34,000 |
Source: The above data have been taken from the official colleges website and will/may vary in the future.
Top MTech Colleges in Kerala
Some of the top MTech Colleges in Kerala are mentioned below with their tuition fees -
| MTech Colleges in Kerala | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| NIT Calicut MTech | INR 1.4 lakh |
| IIST MTech | INR 1.4 lakh |
| IIT Palakkad MTech | INR 20,000 |
| College of Engineering, Trivandrum MTech | INR 13,890 |
| MEC Kochi MTech | INR 1 lakh |
ROI of the Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala
IIST Thiruvananthapuram offered the highest placement package of INR 10.50 LPA with the top recruiters participated include Infosys, Adobe, TCS, JSW Group, etc. Take a look at the table below for the top engineering colleges in Kerala with placement package with their tuition fees -
| College Name |
Total Tuition Fee |
Median Package |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Calicut Placements | INR 1.4 lakh - INR 5 lakh |
INR 4.8 LPA - INR 17 LPA |
| CET Trivandrum Placements | INR 13,000 - INR 1.9 lakh |
INR 7 LPA - INR 7.3 LPA |
| Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology Placements | INR 5 lakh |
INR 6.2 LPA - INR 18.5 LPA |
Comparison of the Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala 2026
To check the comparison between the best Engineering colleges in Kerala, click on the links below.
1. NIT Calicut - National Institute of Technology
2. IIST - Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
3. IIT Palakkad - Indian Institute of Technology
4. College of Engineering, Trivandrum
Commonly asked questions On Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala 2026: Ranking, Fees, Admission, Courses, Placements
Candidates can check the table below for the BTech and M.Tech seat intajke of the top Engineering colleges in Kerala -
| Top Colleges | BTech Seats | MTech Seats |
|---|---|---|
| NIT Calicut | 1,219 | 562 |
| IIST Thiruvananthapuram | 164 | 253 |
| IIT Palakkad | 200 | - |
| College of Engineering Trivandrum | 840 | 540 |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Yes, it can be said that joining the top Engineering colleges in Kerala proved to be worthwhile for you. Check the table below with great ROI -
College Name | Total Tuition Fee | Annual Average Package |
|---|---|---|
INR 5 lakh | INR 8 LPA | |
INR 6.25 lakh | INR 10.50 LPA |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Yes, there are many government Engineering colleges in Kerala. Some of them are mentioned below with their tuition fees and their seat intake:
Public/Government Colleges | Total Tuition Fee | NIRF Ranking 2025 |
|---|---|---|
NIT Calicut | INR 5 lakh | 21 |
Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology | INR 5 lakh | 61 |
IIT Palakkad | INR 8 lakh | 64 |
College of Engineering Trivandrum | INR 28,000 | 101-150 |
Source: Official site and may vary.
There are a total of 4 top Engineering colleges in Kerala, all of which are owned by public/government organisations. JEE Main and JEE Advanced are the most accepting entrance exams in top Engineering colleges in Kerala. NIT Calicut, IIST, IIT Palakkad, College of Engineering Trivandrum, etc. are some of the best Engineering colleges in Kerala.
Yes, NIT Calicut offers various scholarships and awards to its meritorious students. Tabulated below is the list of scholarships offered at NIT Calicut:
| NIT Calicut Scholarships | ||
|---|---|---|
USIEF Fellowship | CSS of Top Class Education for SC/ ST | Prof Allesu Kanjirthinkal |
Subramonia Iyer (SILA Scholarship) | Chinese Government Scholarship | New Zealand Commonwealth |
SIB Scholar | Rhodes Scholarship | MCM & CSS Scholarship |
Yes, Kerala follows a reservation policy in engineering admissions. Seats are reserved for SC (Scheduled Caste), ST (Scheduled Tribe), OBC (Other Backward Classes), and certain other economically and socially backward communities as per state government norms. There are also reservations for NRI candidates and management quota seats in private colleges. The exact percentage of reserved seats can vary by college type (government, aided, self-financing).
Hi, NIT Calicut emerged to be as the top ranked Engineering college in Kerala as per NIRF ranking 2025. Listed below are some of the other colleges along with their NIRF rankings of past three years:
College Name | NIRF 2023 | NIRF 2024 | NIRF 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
23 | 25 | 21 | |
48 | 51 | 61 | |
69 | 64 | 64 |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Accreditation matters. New Quality Assurance standards by NBA for engineering colleges means that the particular course you are taking has been evaluated to a certain standard at national level. The same is true for NAAC accreditation of the institution itself. The better indicator is to see if the college and the specific programme you are interested in is accredited by NBA. This will give your degree some substance.
Other popular Engineering colleges in Kerala
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