Top 10 Design Colleges in India 2025: Ranking, Courses, Fees, Admission, Placements

Some of the popular Design colleges in India include NIFT, Amity University, Pearl Academy, Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design And Technology, World University of Design, and MIT Institute of Design. As far as rankings are concerned, the NIFTs continue to dominate. For instance, in the India Today rankings, eight of the top ten positions are occupied by NIFTs. 

Design is a diverse field that covers numerous elements including Fashion, Textile, Graphics, Apparel, Web, Games, UI/UX, Jewellery, and so on. With the rising popularity and introduction of new concepts related to aesthetics, the yearly turnover of the Design industry has surpassed every other sector.

Top 10 Design Colleges in India

Here is a list of top 10 Design colleges in India along with their details of admission, tuition fees, courses, placements, etc.

1. National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi:

The National Institute of Fashion Technology in Delhi is ranked 1 for Fashion Design by The Week 2023 and Business Today 2023. NIFT Delhi courses include BDes, BFTech (Bachelor of Fashion Technology), MDes, and MFM (Master of Fashion Management), among others. NIFT Delhi fees range from INR 64,900 to INR 12.34 lakh. Many top recruiters such as Myntra, Nike, Aditya Birla Group, Fab India, and others, participate in the NIFT Delhi placements.

2. National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Bangalore:

The NIFT Bangalore has been ranked 2 for Fashion Design by The Week 2020 and India Today 2020 rankings. NIFT offers BDes, MFM, MFT and MDes in various specialisations. The total tuition fee for all the courses offered here ranges between INR 60,000 - INR 1,234,000. 

3. National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Mumbai:

NIFT Mumbai College is ranked 2 and 3 by India Today 2023 and The Week 2023, respectively under the Fashion Design category. NIFT Mumbai offers UG, PG, Continuing Education programme, and diploma courses to students. These courses are provided across the Fashion and Apparel streams. NIFT Mumbai is famous for its flagship courses such as BDes and MDes. Admission to NIFT Mumbai is through the NIFT Entrance Exam. Some of the top recruiters that have visited the NIFT Mumbai campus for placements include Bata India Limited, H&M and Monte Carlo, among others.

4. National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Chennai:

The National Institute of Fashion Technology Chennai offers UG, PG, and diploma courses to students across Design, Management, Technology, and other streams. NIFT College Chennai is ranked 2nd by The Week 2024 for Fashion Design. The total tuition fee charged for the various courses ranges between INR 59,000 - INR 1,234,000. NIFT Chennai famous for its flagship courses such as B.Des, MFM, B.FTech, and many others.

5. National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad:

This Institute of Design in Ahmedabad is declared as an Institution of National Importance by the Act of Parliament. National Institute of Design Paldi Ahmedabad is known for its MDes and BDes courses. 

6. Pearl Academy, New Delhi:

Pearl Academy Rajouri Garden is one of the top Fashion institutes in India. Pearl Academy of Fashion Delhi offers UG, PG, and other courses to students. These courses are provided across the Fashion Design, Interior Design, and various other streams. Pearl Academy Delhi provides BDes and MDes as flagship courses. 

7. World University of Design:

With a total of 39 courses offered at WUD, the college offers education in the field of Arts ( Fine / Visual / Performing ), Design, and Business & Management Studies, among other streams to the students. WUD provides undergraduate, postgraduate, and diploma programmes. The courses include B.Des, M.Des, and many others.

8. Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology:

Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design And Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education offers UG and PG courses, including B.Des, B.Voc, BFA, M.Des, M.Plan, MFA and PG Diploma.

9. MIT Institute of Design, MIT-ADT University:

MIT Institute of Design (MITID) is a private institution which is a part of MIT ADT University. The institute offer various courses include B.Des, M.Des, and many othes.

10. Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID), Pune:

SID offers high-quality design education with a focus on creative and practical learning in fields such as product design, graphic design, and animation. Symbiosis Design is ranked as the second-best Private Fashion Design College by the India Today & Outlook I-Care Rankings for 2022. The institute offer various courses like B.Des and M.Des.

Top Fashion Design Colleges in India 2024 - India Today Rankings

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website of the ranking body listed and may vary.

Best Designing Colleges in India: Eligibility Criteria 2025

Here’s a general overview of the minimum eligibility requirements every candidate must fulfil to get admission to a Design course in India’s colleges:

Note: The Design courses eligibility criteria mentioned above may vary depending on the college policies.

Links useful for Design Courses:

• Know NIFT Admission Process 2025

Top Design Colleges in India: Exam Schedule 2025

Given below are Popular Design entrance exams through which candidates can secure admission to Design courses along with their schedule:

Note: The Design entrance exam dates and schedules mentioned above may vary depending on the latest updates.

Best Private Design Colleges in India

The table below shows the top private Design colleges in India along with their tuition fees and their accepted entrance exams:

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

Best Govt. Design Colleges in India

The table below shows the top government Design colleges in India along with their tuition fees and their accepted entrance exams:

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

Best Designing Institutes in India: Courses, Fees, Eligibility

Please refer to the table below for some of the top Design schools in India with their courses offered and tuition fees:

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

Top Design Career Options After Graduation

Listed below are the top career options that you can opt for after completing your graduation along with their average salary:

Note: The salary information is sourced from Ambitionbox.com.

Recommended Links for Design Career Scope:

• Explore UI/UX Designer Salary in India for 2025
• Designing courses after 12th - Course Options, Admission Process, Job Prospect

Design Career Scope: Top Recruiters in India

For businesses to hire people for senior positions, these recruiters provide job offers to recent graduates. The companies that recruit the most designers every year are:

Note: The information is sourced from external sites and may vary.

Click here to learn every detail related to the NIFT Entrance Exam: