Design Colleges in Chandigarh - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026, Cutoff, Placements

There are about 30+ best Design colleges in Chandigarh. Of these,  16 colleges are privately owned, 4 colleges are owned by public/government organisations, and 3 colleges are owned by public-private entities. Students can secure admission after passing Class 12 boards or through entrance exams like UCEED, NID Entrance Exam,  etc.. Some of the top Design colleges in Chandigarh include Chandigarh University, Arena Animation, Amity University Online, Panjab University, Indian Institute of Fashion and Design (IIFD), Chitkara Design School, Chitkara University, Goswami Ganesh Dutta S.D. College, Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran, Government Home Science College Chandigarh, Chitkara University, Chandigarh,  and many others.

It is estimated that joining the top Design colleges in Chandigarh can be affordable as most colleges have tuition fees of less than INR 1 lakh. Listed below are some colleges along with their tuition fees:

Low-cost Design Colleges	Tuition Fee
Government Home Science College, Chandigarh	INR 28,000 - INR 87,000
MAAC Chandigarh	INR 70,000
National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology	INR 2,000 - INR 4,000
ThinkNext Technologies	INR 2,000
Sri Sukhmani Group of Institutions	INR 93,000

Joining the top Design colleges in Chandigarh 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:

College Names	Tuition Fee	Average Placement Package
Panjab University	INR 3 lakh	INR 3 LPA - INR 5 LPA
Government Home Science College, Chandigarh	INR 28,000 - INR 2 lakh	INR 3 LPA
MAAC Chandigarh	INR 70,000 - INR 4 lakh	INR 2 LPA
SXILL	INR 70,000 - INR 3 lakh	INR 2 LPA - INR 4 LPA

Students can pursue design courses at UG also at PG level in India. The most popular design course at the UG level is Bachelor of Design (BDes) and the most popular PG level course in this stream is Master of Design (MDes). The BDes degree programme is a full-time, 4-year programme with specialisations in fashion design, interior design, accessory design, textile design, and many other areas.

The BDes degree has changed over time and it is now available with many different design specialisations like graphic design, multimedia design, visual effects design, visual communication, and game design.

The Master of Design (MDes) degree is one of the qualifications that help in specialising and skill development for a career in the design industry. Only those with a bachelor's degree in a related field can pursue a master's degree in design.

Yes, Chandigarh University campus is safe for girls and boys. The college campus is located in Punjab. It has a good connection with roads and public transports. CCTV cameras are installed in the campus to keep a check on students safety. 

Several top design colleges in India offer undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in various design disciplines. While the specific eligibility criteria may vary from college to college, here are the general eligibility requirements for admission to top Design colleges in Chandigarh:

• UG Level: Candidates must have completed Class 12 from a recognised board from any stream, that is,  Science,  Commerce, and Arts can apply for the course.
• PG Level: Candidates should have completed graduation from a recognised college/university. Most colleges prefer graduates with a Bachelor's degree in Design stream only. However, candidates from other streams are also eligible to apply for the course based on the required skill set and aptitude.

Eligibility criteria for UCEED 2026 are given below.

• Age limit - Candidate must be born on or after October 1, 2001. In the case of candidates belonging to SC, ST, and PwD categories, there is a relaxation of 5 years.

• Number of attempts - Candidate is allowed to appear in UCEED exam for a maximum of two times and that too in consecutive years.

• Academic requirements - Candidate must have passed 10+2 exam in 2025 or 2026. Those who appeared for first time in their qualifying examination in 2024 or earlier are NOT eligible.

NID DAT, along with NIFT and UCEED are among the most competitive national-level entrance exams in the country. The fact that there are only 425 seats for the B. Des and 347 seats for the M.Des programme makes it very competitive. But that being said, if the candidate prepares well and with the correct strategy, then the NID DAT exam can be cracked. Among the first things the candidate needs to do is prepare a efficient study timetable get familiar with the syllabus and pattern, and use good books as reference material. 

To give oneself a higher chance of securing a good rank in NID DAT, it is important to use good-quality books a reference material.

 Here are some of the best books recommended by experts and previous rank holders to prepare for the NID DAT exam.

• NID (B. Des. ). Entrance Books and Test Series by AFAINDIA
• Basic Rendering by Robert W. Gill
• Design drawing by Francis D. K. Ching
• NIFT/NID/IIFT Entrance Exam Guide by RPH Editorial Board 

 For a few courses, such as MA, BA, MLib, etc., admissions are completely based on merit in the last qualifying examination. Students must go through the Panjab University CHD-conducted/ national-level entrances and then appear for the university-level selection rounds for final admission at Panjab University.

The table below shows the top private Design colleges in Chandigarh along with their tuition fees:

Private Colleges	Tuition Fee
Chandigarh University (CU) Admission	INR 6 Lacs - INR 8 lakh
Chitkara Design School, Chitkara University Admission	INR 4 Lacs - INR 8 lakh
Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Landran Admission	INR 2 lakh
Chitkara University, Chandigarh Admission	INR 4 lakh
MAAC Chandigarh Admission	INR 70,000 - INR 4 lakh

CEED is an entrance exam for postgraduate Design courses such as M.Des and UCEED entrance exam is for undergraduate Design courses such as B. Des. UCEED is open to all nationals (Indian/Foreign). Many reputed colleges such as Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) and Indian Institute of Information Technology Design and Manufacturing Jabalpur (IIITDMJ) aceept UCEED scores. You should have qualified for CEED exam if you wish to seek admission to Master of Design M.Des programmes at IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, IIITDM Jabalpur, and IIT Kanpur, and to Ph.D. programmes in Design at IISc Bangalore, IIT Bombay, IIT Guwahati, IIT Hyderabad, and IIT Kanpur. 

The table below shows the top specialisations offered by various Design colleges in Chandigarh:

Top Specialisations	No. of Colleges
Graphic Design	12
Web Design	12
Fashion Design	6
UI / UX	6
Game Design	5

The Bachelor of Design (BDes) programme is popular for various reasons. For starters, it gives a solid foundation in a variety of design disciplines, such as graphic design, industrial design, fashion design and others It allows you to explore and specialise in the areas of your interest. The practical and hands-on character of BDes programmes allows students like you to build demonstrable skills and a strong portfolio, both of which are required for entry into the competitive design business. Furthermore, the interdisciplinary approach encourages creativity and problem-solving, preparing graduates for a variety of employment choices. The growing demand for design experts in areas ranging from technology to marketing contributes to the appeal of BDes as a versatile and dynamic education that allows students to shape the visual and functional aspects of the environment around them. Check Popular Colleges for BDes.

1.     Top companies that hire Art graduates are:

Top Companies for Arts Graduate
Microsoft Corporation	Robosoft Technologies
AAPC	Lowe Lintas
Cognizant	Saregama India Limited

Design is basically a plan or a specification that is used to construct an object or an activity that leads to making a prototype, product, or even a process flow. In other words, design is anything that is used to ensure that an idea becomes more presentable and understandable to the consumers.

Design courses can be pursued in a number of specialisations. They expand the growth prospects of the candidate and enable them to increase their pay scale. These courses are offered at Undergraduate, Postgraduate and Doctorate levels. In addition to this, there are numerous Diploma courses and online certificates in India to train students in specific skills they need. Moreover, due to the evergrowing demand of this industry, multiple specialisations are offered across various colleges. Candidates can pursue short-term or long-term courses in this field and establish career in Designing. Read Design Specialisations.

The BDes course is an interesting combination of both creativity, aestheticism, and a technical skill set. Creativity surely takes the lead where you have to put your innovative aptitude, conceptual thinking, and storytelling skills to use and come up with creative designs, be it fashion, graphics, industrial, or product designs.

Alongside, you also learn about new tools and technologies like AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, etc., to be able to bring those abstract ideas to life.

Hope this helps!!!

To put it simply, it depends. You have to have a strong portfolio, a genuine interest in your niche and some relevant internships and projects. 

The field of design by nature is vast. Since creativity has no bounds, so do the opportunities. Once you get in the industry, even at the entry-level pay and role there's only going forward from that point on.

You have scope in fields like - Graphic Design, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Footwear Design and many more in both India and international set-ups. 

To get admission to Goswami Ganesh Dutta SD College, qualified candidates are required to provide 10 to 12 documents. These are: 10th and 12th standard mark statements and certificates, character certificates, migration certificates, admission forms etc. Further, the applicant needs 5-6 passport-size photos, a photocopy of an Aadhaar card and a medical fitness certificate. Please ensure that you carry original documents with you for the physical document verification without which admission is not possible.

Yes, CGC Landran admissions are open now. Interested students can apply online. Students can also walk-in at the admission office for offline process. Students can fill the enquiry form for any questions.

PEC Chandigarh has been ranked by various ranking bodies such as QS, NIRF, etc. The NIRF rankings are based on student-faculty ratio, faculty, placements, etc. The below are the PEC Chandigarh rankings:

Ranking Body	Ranks
QS Asian University Rankings - Southern Asia 2026	274
QS Asian University Rankings 2026	851-900
NIRF 2025 under the Engineering category	101-150

Chitkara University, Chandigarh is famous for its UG, PG, & PhD programmes. Chandigarh Chitkara University was established in the year 2010. Chitkara University Chandigarh is approved by UGC (University Grants Commission), COA, PCI, NCTE, Indian Nursing Council, BCI, and others. Chitkara University Rajpura is accredited by NAAC (National Assessment & Accreditation Council) A+ Grade. Chitkara University, Chandigarh is quite famous for its infra. 

Government Home Science College, Chandigarh is a distinguished institution offering PG Diploma, M.Sc, B.Sc. Students can choose these programs to launch their careers in the Teaching & Education, Design, Science field. Government Home Science College, Chandigarh is known for its dedicated and experienced faculty members committed to delivering these courses. Government Home Science College, Chandigarh has received an impressive review rating of 3.55 based on student feedback at Shiksha. Additionally, it has earned ratings of 3.13 for Campus Life, 2.38 for Placements, 4.13 for Faculty, and 4.25 for Infrastructure.

International Academy for Certification and Training (IACT) has courses such as UG Diploma, Certificate which are primarily in the stream of Design, IT & Software, Business & Management Studies, Accounting & Commerce, Banking, Finance & Insurance, Architecture & Planning, Humanities & Social Sciences. International Academy for Certification and Training (IACT) has specializations such as Certificate specializations in Operations, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, IT & Systems, Embedded Systems & VLSI, Finance, International Business, Financial Planning & Analysis, French, Retail.

MAAC Chandigarh offers seats in certificate programmes to candidates fulfilling the eligibility requirements. Candidates are shortlisted for admission based on their qualifying exam scores. Aspirants who receive confirmation mail have to pay the course fee to secure their seat at the academy.

The fees structure for programs offerred by the Dev Samaj College For Women, Chandigarh is INR 31660 - INR 61440.

NIELIT offers certificate, diploma, and several other courses to students. The centre offers Short Term/Summer Training programmes to students such as Python with Data Science and Machine Learning, PHP with MySQL, C/C+, Certificate courses in Cloud Computing and Virtualisation, and others. Students can select any course of their choice and pay its fee online or offline.

The seats availability for offered courses at Government Polytechnic College For Women, Chandigarh goes up to 200. Courses offerred by Government Polytechnic College For Women, Chandigarh are approved by eminent Government bodies such as AICTE.

The fee bracket for programs offerred by the Institute of Fine Arts, Chandigarh is approximately INR 6000 - INR 240000.