Best Design Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admission 2026
2553 Best Design Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admission 2026
Design colleges in India offer courses at UG, PG, Diploma, Doctorate, and Certificate level. Candidates interested Designing or creating products, can apply in these courses after completing Class 12 boards or by clearing entrance exams like NIFT exam, NID exam, UCEED, etc. Top design colleges in India are generally recognised as Institutions of National Importance or deemed universities, accredited by UGC or AICTE, ensuring high academic standards and recognised certifications.
There are about 2,400+ best Design colleges in India. Of these, 1,400 colleges are privately owned, 300+ are government colleges and semi-government owned 100+ colleges. The top 10 Design colleges in India include NIFT Delhi, Amity University University Noida, NIFT Bangalore, NIFT Mumbai, NIFT Chennai, NIFT Hyderabad, NIFT Gandhinagar, Pearl Academy Mumbai, and many others.
Design colleges in India offer courses at UG, PG, Diploma, Doctorate, and Certificate level. Candidates interested Designing or creating products, can apply in these courses after completing Class 12 boards or by clearing entrance exams like NIFT exam, NID exam, UCEED, etc. Top design colleges in India are generally recognised as Institutions of National Importance or deemed universities, accredited by UGC or AICTE, ensuring high academic standards and recognised certifications.
There are about 2,400+ best Design colleges in India. Of these, 1,400 colleges are privately owned, 300+ are government colleges and semi-government owned 100+ colleges. The top 10 Design colleges in India include NIFT Delhi, Amity University University Noida, NIFT Bangalore, NIFT Mumbai, NIFT Chennai, NIFT Hyderabad, NIFT Gandhinagar, Pearl Academy Mumbai, and many others.
- Important Highlights of the Best Design Colleges in India 2026
- Eligibility Criteria to get Admission to Indian Design Colleges 2026
- Entrance Exams Accepted in top Design Colleges in India 2026
- NIFT Exam Accepting Design Colleges in India
- Best Designing Institutes in India: Courses, Fees, Eligibility
- Best Private Design Colleges in India
- Best Government Design Colleges in India
- Best Semi Government Design Institutes in India
- Best Design Colleges in India Offering B Des Programme
- Location-Wise Best Design Colleges in India
- 10.1 Best Design Colleges in Delhi/NCR
- 10.2 Best Design Colleges in Mumbai
- 10.3 Best Design Institutes in Bangalore
- 10.4 Best Design Colleges in Pune
- Highest Salary Offered by Best Design Colleges in India
- Best Low-Cost Designing Colleges in India
- Top Specialisations for Best Designing Colleges in India
Important Highlights of the Best Design Colleges in India 2026
Top Design colleges in India offer diverse specialisations like Game Design, Jewellery Design, Graphic Design, etc. Admission are usually based on tests scores like UCEED, NIFT, NID exam. Given below are the key highlights of the best Design colleges in India with all important info. -
| Particulars |
Statistics |
|---|---|
| Total no. of Design colleges in India |
2,400+ colleges |
| Annual Fee range of the best Designing colleges in India |
< INR 1 lakh: 490+ INR 1-3 lakh: 460+ INR 3-5 lakh: 470+ INR 5-7 lakh: 180+ INR 7-10 lakh: 100+ INR 10-15 lakh: 100+ INR > 15 lakh: 70+ |
| Top Design Institutes in India |
|
| Top Designing Specialisations offered in Indian colleges |
|
| Accepted Entrance Exams |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Eligibility Criteria to get Admission to Indian Design Colleges 2026
Given below is the eligibility criteria to get admission to the best Design colleges in India -
- For UG admission, candidates must complete their Class 12 in any stream Science, Commerce, and Arts with an aggregate of 45-60% marks.
- For PG admission, candidates must have Bachelor’s degree in Design with 55-60% aggregate marks.
Source: Official site and may vary.
Entrance Exams Accepted in top Design Colleges in India 2026
Admission to these Designing colleges in India will be based on merit or through entrance exams. Listed below are the top entrance exams accepted in the bachelor of design colleges in India with schedule -
| Exam Name | Exam Schedule | Exam Cutoff Predictor |
|---|---|---|
| CUET | CUET Schedule | CUET Cutoff Predictor |
| UCEED | UCEED Schedule | UCEED Cutoff Predictor |
| NIFT Entrance Exam | NIFT Exam Schedule | NIFT Cutoff Predictor |
| NID Entrance Exam | NID Exam Schedule | NID Cutoff Predictor |
Source: Official site and may vary.
NIFT Exam Accepting Design Colleges in India
About 40+ best Design colleges accepting NIFT entrance exam in India. Some of them are mentioned below along with their tuition fees:
| Top Colleges | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| NIFT Delhi | INR 6 lakh - INR 12 lakh |
| NIFT Bangalore | INR 77,000 - INR 12 lakh |
| NIFT Mumbai | INR 6 lakh |
| NIFT Chennai | INR 9 lakh - INR 12 lakh |
| NIFT Hyderabad | INR 6 lakh - INR 12 lakh |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Best Designing Institutes in India: Courses, Fees, Eligibility
There are many top courses offered by the top Designing colleges in India like BDes in Fashion Designing, Interior Designing, Animation Film Designing, etc with tuition fees and eligibility -
Source: Official site and may vary.
Best Private Design Colleges in India
There are about 1400+ private design colleges in India. Private colleges are somewhat expensive than government colleges as it has better infrastructure, more specialisations, and better facilities. Given below are the top private colleges with tuition fees and eligibility criteria -
| Private Colleges |
Total Tuition Fee |
Eligibility/Exams |
|---|---|---|
| INR 2.88 lakh – INR 16.72 lakh |
CUET and Merit-Based |
|
| JD Birla Institute Admission | INR 1.57 lakh - INR 4.13 lakh | Merit-based |
| INR 25,000 - INR 13 lakh |
PU DAT |
|
| Amity University, Mumbai Admission | INR 1.89 lakh - INR 11.68 lakh | CUET and Merit-Based |
| UID Karnavati University Admission | INR 1.65 lakh - INR 40 lakh | UID Design Aptitude Test |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Best Government Design Colleges in India
Government colleges are affordable than private colleges as and it has well-established colleges with credible reputation, but with limited seats and tough competition for the seats. Given below are the top government colleges with tuition fees and eligibility criteria -
| Public/Govt. Colleges |
Total Tuition Fee |
Eligibility/Exams |
|---|---|---|
| NIFT Bangalore Admission | INR 74,340 - INR 12.96 lakh | NIFT Entrance Exam and Merit-Based |
| INR 94,400 – INR 12.96 lakh |
NIFT Entrance Exam and Merit-Based |
|
| INR 47,200 – INR 12.96 lakh |
NIFT Entrance Exam and Merit-Based |
|
| NIFT Chennai Admission | INR 5.86 lakh - INR 12.34 lakh | NIFT Entrance Exam and Merit-Based |
| NIFT Hyderabad Admission | INR 6.07 lakh - INR 12.96 lakh | NID Entrance Exam |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Best Semi Government Design Institutes in India
Top semi government and government-affiliated design colleges in India with strong placements, and lower fees than private colleges. These top-ranked, government-funded institutes focus on specialised, high-quality, and research-driven design curricula. Given below are the top semi government colleges with tuition fees -
| Semi-Govt. Colleges |
Total Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Carmel College, Mala Admission | INR 36,000 |
| St. Aloysius College Admission | INR 36,000 |
| Arya Post Graduate College Admission | INR 23,890 |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Best Design Colleges in India Offering B Des Programme
Top 10 BDes colleges in India offering BDes programs include top institutes like Amity University Noida, NIFT Delhi, Amity University Mumbai, NIFT Bangalore, etc. These colleges provide specialisation in fields like Fashion, Communication, Product, and User Experience (UX) Design. Check the table below for the top colleges with tuition fees -
| Top Colleges | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Amity University Noida BDes | INR 7.92 lakh - INR 8.8 lakh |
| NIFT Delhi BDes | INR 12.34 lakh |
| Amity University Mumbai BDes | INR 4.88 lakh - INR 11.68 lakh |
| NIFT Bangalore BDes | INR 5.63 lakh - INR 12.34 lakh |
| NIFT Mumbai BDes | INR 5.63 lakh - INR 12.34 lakh |
| UID Karnavati University BDes | INR 24 lakh - INR 40 lakh |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Location-Wise Best Design Colleges in India
Design colleges are spread all over India in major cities. You can enrol in government or private Design colleges in India. Given below is the region-wise distribution of the top Design schools in India:
Best Design Colleges in Delhi/NCR
Candidates can see the table below for the top Design colleges in Delhi NCR with their tuition fees and eligibility -
| College Names | Tuition Fee | Eligibility/Exams |
|---|---|---|
| Amity School of Fashion Technology Courses | INR 2.88 lakh - INR 11.84 lakh | Merit-Based |
| Amity University Noida Courses | INR 2.9 lakh - INR 12.54 lakh | CUET and Merit-Based |
| DTU Courses | INR 2.88 lakh | UCEED, CEED |
| IIAD Entrance Exam Courses | INR 9.66 lakh - INR 21.08 lakh | IIAD Entrance Exam and Merit-Based |
| NIFT Delhi Courses | INR 70,800 - INR 12.34 lakh | NIFT Entrance Exam and Merit-Based |
| Pearl Academy Courses | INR 1.4 lakh - INR 3.2 lakh | Pearl Academy Entrance Exam, DAT |
| United World Institute of Design, GD Goenka University Courses | INR 24 lakh - INR 40 lakh | UID Design Aptitude Test |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Best Design Colleges in Mumbai
Candidates can see the table below for the top Design colleges in Mumbai with their tuition fees and eligibility -
| College Names | Tuition Fee | Eligibility/Exams |
|---|---|---|
| Amity University Mumbai | INR 1.68 lakh - INR 10.56 lakh | CUET and Merit-Based |
| Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University | INR 80,000 - INR 3.8 lakh | Merit-Based |
| IDC-IIT Bombay | INR 70,000 - INR 11.56 lakh | UCEED, CEED |
| IIAD-IIT Bombay | INR 1 lakh - INR 11.56 lakh | UCEED, CEED |
| NIFT Mumbai | INR 1.3 lakh - INR 11.74 lakh | NIFT Entrance Exam and Merit-Based |
| NMIMS School of Design, NMIMS | INR 17.8 lakh | UCEED, NMIMS DAT and Merit-Based |
| Pearl Academy Mumbai | INR 2.2 lakh - INR 21.52 lakh | Pearl Academy Exam and Merit-Based |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Best Design Institutes in Bangalore
Candidates can see the table below for the top Design colleges in Bangalore with their tuition fees and eligibility -
| College Names | Tuition Fee | Eligibility/Exams |
|---|---|---|
| NID Bengaluru | INR 9.97 lakh | NID Entrance Exam |
| NIFT Bangalore | INR 60,000 - INR 12.34 lakh | NIFT Entrance Exam and Merit-Based |
| Srishti Manipal Insitute of Art, Design and Technology | INR 1,35 lakh - INR 5.61 lakh | UCEED, SAT India and SMEAT |
| Vogue Institute of Art and Design | INR 1.36 lakh - INR 6 lakh | Merit-Based |
| RV University | INR 6 lakh - INR 15 lakh | UCEED |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Best Design Colleges in Pune
Candidates can see the table below for the top Design colleges in Pune with their tuition fees and eligibility -
| College Names | Tuition Fee | Eligibility/Exams |
|---|---|---|
| MIT-ADT University | INR 4.9 lakh - INR 12.65 lakh | MITID DAT |
| SID Pune | INR 17.6 lakh | SEED and Merit-Based |
| MIT-WPU Pune | INR 8 lakh - IR 14 lakh | NIFT Entrance Exam and Merit-Based |
| School of Design, MIT WPU | INR 14 lakh | NIFT Entrance Exam and Merit-Based |
| International School of Design | INR 62,000 - INR 5.85 lakh | Merit-Based |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Highest Salary Offered by Best Design Colleges in India
Enrolling into the top Designing colleges in India can be worthwhile for you. To check the worth, candidates must check the ROI of each college by comparing tuition fees and eligibility criteria. Candidates can see some of the colleges in the table below -
| College Names |
Total Tuition Fee |
Annual Average Package |
|---|---|---|
| NIFT Kannur Placement | INR 6.16 lakh - INR12.96 lakh | INR 4.11 LPA - INR 6.1 LPA |
| Amity University Mumbai Placement | INR 1.89 lakh - INR 11.68 lakh | INR 6.2 LPA - INR 7.2 LPA |
| PSG College of Arts and Science Placement | INR 1.4 lakh - INR 2.7 lakh | INR 3.5 LPA - INR 4 LPA |
| Indian Institute of Fashion Technology Placement | INR 75,000 - INR 6.9 lakh | INR 2.1 LPA - INR 3.5 LPA |
| Bon Secours College For Women Placement | INR 43,000 - INR 44,000 | INR 2.76 LPA |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Best Low-Cost Designing Colleges in India
Not everyone can afford a college with high fees and expenses. Candidates can check the table below for the top affordable Designing colleges in India with tuition fees of less than INR 1 lakh -
| Affordable Design Colleges in India | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| NIFT Delhi Fees | INR 94,400 |
| NIFT Bangalore Fees | INR 74,340 - INR 97,350 |
| NIFT Mumbai Fees | INR 47,200 - INR 88,500 |
| NIFT Kolkata Fees | INR 18,800 - INR 75,150 |
| NIFT Patna Fees | INR 25,600 - INR 90,200 |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Top Specialisations for Best Designing Colleges in India
Fashion Design, Graphic Design and Apparel design are some of the top specialisations offered by the best Designing colleges in India. Candidates can check the table below for the top specialisations offered by top colleges -
Source: Official site and may vary.
Best Design Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admission 2026
Commonly asked questions On Best Design Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admission 2026
Yes, admissions are open at AAFT University of Media And Arts. AFT Global Entrance Exam (AAFT GEE) is a requirement for students applying to AAFT. Depending on the applicant's chosen subject, the exam consists of an aptitude test and a personal interview (through offline or online modes). Online submissions for AAFT programme applications are accepted.
NIMS University is recognised by UGC and has been approved by MCI, DCI, PCI, BCI, AICTE, RPC, INC, AIU and RNC. Check some of the top USPs of NIMS Jaipur below:
- NIMS University Jaipur placements held recently recorded a the highest package (overseas) of INR 120 LPA.The the highest domestic package offered was INR 60 LPA.
- Some of the top recruiters who visited at NIMS University Jaipur in 2025 include TCS, Infosys, Deloitte, Capegemini, Samsung, Amazon, Centum, Bajaj Hero, Bosch, KPMG, etc.
- NIMS Jaipur has MOUs with international companies and universities such as Johns Hopkins University, King's College London, University of Ljubljana, Europe and Russian University of Cooperation, among others.
State University of performing and visual arts is one of the best in Rohtak because it has food infrastructure, good faculty.
The college is situated in 22 acres of land, faculty and the courses are good but the college doesn't offer good amount of placements to the students
No, DJ Academy of Design admissions are not merit-based. The academy selects students purely on an entrance basis. Interested students have to appear for the DEED exam. Those shortlisted then will be called for Personal Interview.
Food and Beverage Director and General Manager of a premier international hotel chain hold highest earning position in Tourism industry.
Food & Beverage Director is responsible for managing all parts of organization's food and beverage planning and service like -
- menu planning
- costing
- preparing and presenting food and beverages
- adhering to quality and safety requirements
Commonly asked questions On Best Design Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admission 2026
| Courses | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| M.Sc. | Candidate must be graduate from recognised board or university in mentioned stream or equivalent with mentioned subject. |
| M.A. | Candidate must be graduate from recognised board or university. |
| MBA/PGDM | Candidates must have Bachelor's degree in any discipline or equivalent from a recognised university. Candidates who Completed Cost & Management Accountancy (CMA) from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICAI) are also eligible to apply. |
| MCA | Candidate must be graduate with Mathematics as one of the subjects from recognised board or university |
| BCA | Candidate must have passed 10+2 or equivalent from recognised board. |
| M.Com | Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree (Commerce or Management or Economics or Accounts or Math/Economics as one of the subjects/ courses) or equivalent from a recognised university. |
| B.Com | Candidate must have passed 10+2 or equivalent from recognised board. |
| B.A. | Candidate must have passed 10+2 or equivalent from recognised board. |
Dev Bhoomi School of Architecture and Design offers both undergraduate and graduate courses in architecture and design. The key programs include
Bachelor of Architecture B.Arch A comprehensive five year course covering architectural design, construction and urban planning.
Bachelor of Design B.Des A four year programme with specializations in interior design, product design and graphic design.
Master of Architecture M.Arch A two year advanced course for postgraduate studies in architecture.
Diploma in Architecture A shorter programme providing foundational knowledge, in architecture and design.
The school focuses on practical learning through studio work, internships and partnerships with the industry to equip students for diverse careers in design and architecture.
KLS Gogte Institute of Technology (KLS GIT) in Belagavi, Karnataka is considered a Tier 1 engineering college becuase of many reasons. Som eof them are:
Accreditation: KLS GIT has received NBA accreditation in 2004, 2008, 2015, 2021, and 2023. It has also received A+ accreditation from NAAC in the first and second cycles.
Ranking: In 2024, Times ranked KLS GIT in a decent position in the engineering category.
Placements:In 2022–23, the highest package offered to a student from the CSE and ISE branches was 50 LPA. The average package was around 10 LPA.
Affiliations: KLS GIT is an autonomous institution under Visvesvarya Technological University, Belagavi. It is also affiliated to VTU.
Commonly asked questions On Best Design Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admission 2026
National Institute of Design, Haryana offers placement assistance to students. The college is visited by top companies for placements such as HP, Deloitte, CISCO, etc.
There are a total of 1,056 seats at JD Institute of Fashion Technology Mumbai. The intake is distributed among the courses offered at the institute. A total of 88 seats are available in each programme. Candidates are offered seat in BSc and MSc programme based on GAT score. For all other courses, seats are offered based on merit of the candidates in the last qualifying exam.
The duration of courses offered by the college ranges from three months to three years. Candidates can check out Zee Institute of Creative Art fees structure for its courses along with eligibility criteria mentioned below.
Zee Institute of Creative Art Courses, Fees & Eligibility Criteria
| Courses | Total Fees | Eligibility Criteria |
| Diploma | Rs 95,000 - Rs 2,50,000 |
Class 10 with the qualifying marks from the recognised board |
| Certificate courses | Rs 35,000 - Rs 55,000 | |
| B.Sc | Rs 3,40,000 | Class 12 with the qualifying marks in any stream |
Swami Vivekananda University is a private University managed by Prakhar Pragya Siksha Prasar Avum Samaj Kalayan Samiti, Madhya Pradesh. The University is UGC approved and is recognised by AICTE and ISO. The university offers several programs across various streams of Arts, Commerce, Science, Designing, Engineering etc.
Admissions to Swami Vivekananda University are based on the scores obtained in Entrance exams. MBA and M.Tech admissions are based on the scores in National entrance exams like CAT and GATE; whereas admissions to the undergraduate degrees are based on the merit scores of the candidates in the qualifying exam.
The University offers a Bachelor’s programme in Aeronautical Engineering. Admission to the programme is based on the qualifying scores of the candidates in JEE Main followed by a personal interview round. Applications to admissions are available in both Online and Offline modes.
The University holds a good placement record; companies like IDEA, INFOSYS, Airtel, Dabur etc. are some of the top recruiters in the placement drive at the campus. The institute also offers scholarships to the poor, needy as well as meritorious students as per the scholarship programmes by the government. Students have to apply for the scholarships at the starting of the academic session with the required documents.
Commonly asked questions On Best Design Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admission 2026
| Courses | Eligibility |
|---|---|
| M.Des | Candidate must have completed graduation from a recognized college/ university. |
| MBA/PGDM | Candidate must have completed graduation from a recognized college/ university. |
| B.Des | Candidate must have completed 10+2 from a recognized board. |
| After 10th Diploma | Candidate must have completed 10th standard from a recognized board. |
| PG Diploma | Candidate must have completed graduation from a recognized college/ university. |
| UG Diploma | Candidate must have completed 10+2 from a recognized board. |
| Certificate | Candidate must have completed 10th standard from a recognized board. |
| B.Sc. | Candidate must have completed 10+2 from a recognized board. |
Students are selected completely on merit-basis at NIF Global, Vashi. Candidates might have to give a personal interview as a part of selection process. However, this is generic selection process for merit-based admission. Hence, it is subject to change.
Students abiding at Periyar University hostels are certainly at an advantage when it comes to hostel facilities. The foundations for the Adhiyaman Men's Hostel and Periyar Maniyammai Women's Hostel were laid in 2007. The hostels are secured by the wardens as well as deputy wardens and mess facility is available to the students. For girl students, a second hostel, the New Women's Hostel, has been completed in 2019.
Bharathidasan University has experienced faculty members who are degree, diploma, and certificate holders. Candidates can check some of the Bharathidasan University faculty details in the following table:
| Faculty Name | Faculty Qualification |
|---|---|
| Dr. A. Edward William Benjamin (Professor and Chair, School of Education) | MA /MSc (Physics) /M.Ed /MPhil ( Edn.) /PhD (Education) |
| Dr. A. Tholappan (Professor and Head) | PhD in Education MPhil in Educational Technology M.Ed in Education M.A in Economics SLET in Education UGC-NET in Economics SLET in Economics |
| Dr. K. Rajendran (Associate Professor) | - |
Symbiosis Institute of Design Nagpur fee is INR 12.2 lakh. The fee has to be paid timely. Students can complete the payment through the accepted payment gateway.
Commonly asked questions On Best Design Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admission 2026
Both Clusters Media College and Zee Institute of Creative Arts (ZICA) offer good job opportunities. Clusters Media College is considered India's best industry-integrated campus. ZICA is the first full-fledged classical and digital animation training academy in the country.
Clusters Media College:
Courses: Multimedia and animation
Features: Has its own production company, has signed an MOU with FTII
Reviews:
Placements: 2.5
Infrastructure: 3.5
Faculty and course: 4
Campus life: 2.5
Value for money: 3
Zee Institute of Creative Arts:
Courses: Classical and digital animation
Features: Animation and VFX academy
Reviews:
Best animation institute in Mumbai
Awesome place to learn
Jagannath Rathi Vocational Guidance and Training Institute is a private college and was established in 1987. The college is mainly concerned with streams such as Arts (Fine/Visual/Performing), Design, Hospitality & Travel, and Beauty & Fitness. Further, JRVGTI has also been accredited by NAAC with an A+ grade.
Food and Beverage Director and General Manager of a premier international hotel chain hold highest earning position in Tourism industry.
Food & Beverage Director is responsible for managing all parts of organization's food and beverage planning and service like -
- menu planning
- costing
- preparing and presenting food and beverages
- adhering to quality and safety requirements