Top 10 Engineering Colleges in India You Need to Know Based on NIRF Ranking 2023

For engineering aspirants seeking the best colleges in India, NIRF rankings serve as a valuable guide. Here, students can check the top 10 engineering colleges based on NIRF 2023 rankings.

Top 10 Engineering Colleges in India You Need to Know Based on NIRF Ranking 2023

Engineering has long been considered the backbone of technological advancement and industrial growth. In India, where the demand for skilled engineers is ever-increasing, the quality of engineering education plays a pivotal role in shaping the nation's future. Students mostly opt for JEE Mains to get admission in the top engineering colleges in India. As per statistics released by NTA, this time, in the second session of JEE Main 2024, the total number of registered candidates stands at 99,086. Meanwhile, for the April session of JEE Main 2024, registrations have reached 1,179,569.

The count of candidates who have registered for both sessions totals 924,636, whereas the number of students who have appeared in both sessions of the JEE Main exam is 822,899. Those qualifying in JEE Mains preferably appear for JEE Advance for admission to top IITs. This year, a total of 2,50,284 candidates of JEE Mains have qualified for JEE Advanced 2024. 

Further, those qualifying in the JEE Advanced often get confused with many institutions offering engineering programmes nationwide. Here, engineering aspirants can check the list of top 10 engineering colleges as per NIRF rankings in India, renowned for their academic excellence, research contributions, and industry connections.

1: Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras)

Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu

NIRF 2023 Score: 89.79

IIT Madras has consistently secured the top position due to its academic curriculum, innovative research, and state-of-the-art facilities. The institute offers various undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in engineering and technology.

Known for its robust industry connections and extensive alumni network, IIT Madras stands out for its emphasis on entrepreneurship and innovation. Some of the notable alumni of IIT Madras are Kris Gopalakrishnan, M.Jagadesh Kumar, Prem Watsa, R. Prasanna, Vineeta Singh, Prashant Bhushan, Sridhar Ramaswamy, Tarun Mehta, Radha Vembu.

As per the reports shared by IIT Madras for the academic year 2021-22, the median salary of placed graduates per annum is INR 17 lakh.

2. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi)

Location: New Delhi

NIRF 2023 Score: 87.09

IIT Delhi ranks second, with its strong emphasis on research, international collaborations, and a comprehensive academic framework. More than 60,000 students have graduated from IIT Delhi since its founding in different fields, including engineering, management, physical sciences, and humanities and social sciences.

Approximately 5070 were awarded Ph.D.s. There are over 15738 students who have earned a B.Tech degree. Many of the alumni have abandoned their initial fields of study to pursue careers in administrative services, active politics, or non-governmental organizations.

As per the reports shared by IIT Delhi for the academic year 2021-22, the median salary of placed graduates per annum is 20 lakh 50 thousand.

Some of the notable alumni of IIT Delhi are: Deepinder Goyal, Sachin Bansal, Chetan Bhagat, Vinod Khosla, Raghuram Rajan, Kiran Bedi, Harshita Kejriwal, Acharya Prashant, Subhash Kak, Arogyaswami Paulraj, Rajendra Singh Pawar and Rohit Bansal.

3. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay)

Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra

NIRF 2023 Score: 80.74

IIT Bombay, situated in the financial capital of India is particularly noted for its contributions to technology and innovation. IIT Bombay managed to get into the top 150 universities in the world according to the QS Rankings 2024 due to its consistent focus on cutting-edge research, incubation, entrepreneurship, and infrastructure development for future goals.

IIT Bombay has also introduced a Bachelor of Science (BS) program in Economics and a B.Tech. program in Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IEOR), along with several Master’s programmes and courses. As per the reports shared by IIT Bombay for the academic year 2021-22, the median salary of placed graduates per annum is approx INR 18 lakh.

The Institute has also established different Centers of Excellence with the generous philanthropic support of its alumni and industry. Some of the notable alumni from IIT Bombay are: Nandan Nilekani, Manohar Parrikar, Sarita Adve, Jairam Ramesh, Parag Agrawal, Bhavish Aggarwal, Deepak B. Phatak, Kanwal Rekhi, D. Udaya Kumar, Mansoor Khan etc. 

4. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur)

Location: Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh

NIRF 2023 Score: 80.65

IIT Kanpur is known for its rigorous academic programs and cutting-edge research in engineering and technology. The institute offers a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs, fostering a culture of academic excellence and innovation. As per the reports shared by IIT Kanpur for the academic year 2021-22, the median salary of placed graduates per annum is approx INR 22 Lakh.

Alumni of the institute have an edge due to the IITK education which builds their ability to grasp new concepts and acquire new knowledge.  Some of the notable alumni of IIT Kanpur are: N. R. Narayana Murthy, Rajeev Motwani, H. C. Verma, Manindra Agrawal, Ashoke Sen, Shiraz Minwalla, Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Ashutosh Sharma, Nitin Saxena, Rakesh Jain, Neeraj Kayal etc.

5: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IIT Roorkee)

Location: Roorkee, Uttarakhand

NIRF 2023 Score: 75.64

With a rich history and strong emphasis on research and innovation, IIT Roorkee stands out for its high-quality education in engineering and technology. The institute offers a variety of specialised programs and boasts a strong research culture. IIT Roorkee's collaborations with industry and academia enhance the learning experience, preparing students for global challenges.

As per the reports shared by IIT Roorkee for the academic year 2021-22, the median salary of placed graduates per annum is approx INR 17 Lakh. Some of the notable alumni of IIT Roorkee are: Naveen Jain, Dinesh Paliwal, G. D. Agrawal, Pradip Baijal. Sri Niwas, Ajit Gupta etc.

6. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur)

Location: Kharagpur, West Bengal

NIRF 2023 Score: 73.76

IIT Kharagpur, one of the oldest IITs, is known for its diverse academic offerings and strong research orientation. The institute's sprawling campus, advanced infrastructure, and comprehensive educational programs attract students from across the globe. IIT Kharagpur's focus on multidisciplinary research and innovation has positioned it as a top engineering institution. As per the reports shared by IIT Kharagpur for the academic year 2021-22, the median salary of placed graduates per annum is approx INR 18 Lakh

Some of the notable alumni of IIT Kharagpur are: Sundar Pichai, Arvind Kejriwal, Vinod Gupta, Biswa Kalyan Rath, Duvvuri Subbarao, Arjun Malhotra, Jitendra Kumar, Ajit Singh, K. Radhakrishnan, Anuradha Acharya, Harish Hande, Kiran Seth etc.

7. Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IIT Guwahati)

Location: Guwahati, Assam

NIRF 2023 Score: 70.32

The Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati was founded in 1994. Its academic programs began in 1995. Currently, the institute comprises eleven departments, seven interdisciplinary academic centres, and five schools, encompassing major disciplines in engineering, science, healthcare, management, and humanities. IIT Guwahati offers a variety of programs, including B.Tech., B.Des., M.A., M.Des., M.Tech., M.Sc., MBA, and Ph.D. As per the reports shared by IIT Guwahati for the academic year 2021-22, the median salary of placed graduates per annum is approx INR 22 Lakh.

IIT Guwahati gained rank 32 globally in the ‘Research Citations per Faculty’ category and an overall 364 rank in the QS World University Rankings 2024. IIT Guwahati's focus on sustainable development and cutting-edge research makes it a preferred choice for engineering aspirants.

Some of the notable alumni of IIT Guwahati are: Amaresh Dalal, Jiten Chandra Kalita, Rupam Barman, Nabanita Adhikary, Rojalin Sahu, Das Pratibhamoy, Venky Soundararajan, Jay Dhariwal etc.

8. Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IIT Hyderabad)

Location: Hyderabad, Telangana

NIRF 2023 Score: 70.28

IIT Hyderabad is known for its forward-thinking approach and innovative educational programs. The institute offers a range of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs, emphasising interdisciplinary research and collaboration. IIT Hyderabad has a unique relationship with Japanese universities and industries that extends beyond academic and research collaborations. As per the reports shared by IIT Hyderabad for the academic year 2021-22, the median salary of placed graduates per annum is INR 20 Lakh.

Notably, some of the iconic buildings on the IIT Hyderabad campus feature Japanese architectural design. Some of the notable alumni of IIT Hyderabad are: Aritri Biswas, Surjeet Kaushik, Sameeulla Khan Md, Srinivasa Rao Peddinti, Thomas George Thuruthel, Neema Kumari, Manoj Kumar Tripathi, Shweta Chawak, Vaibhav Dhyani, Sudarshan R Kottai etc. 

9. National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli (NIT Trichy)

Location: Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu

NIRF 2023 Score: 69.71

NIT Trichy is one of the leading NITs in India, known for its high academic standards and robust research output. The institute offers diverse engineering programs and has strong industry linkages, providing students with excellent placement opportunities. NIT Trichy's focus on practical learning and innovation ensures a well-rounded education for its students. For the academic year 2021-22, the median salary of placed graduates per annum is INR 12 Lakh.

10. Jadavpur University

Location: Kolkata, West Bengal

NIRF 2023 Score: 67.04

Among the initiatives of the National Council of Education, Bengal was the Bengal Technical Institute, which focused on training Indian students in relevant technology for local production. Renamed the College of Engineering and Technology, it eventually evolved into Jadavpur University in 1955. The University offers various engineering programmes at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As per NIRF, the median salary of placed graduates per annum IN 2021-22 is INR 10 lakh whereas the median salary of placed post graduates per annum is INR 9 Lakh.

The top 10 engineering colleges in India, as per the NIRF 2023 rankings, represent the pinnacle of engineering education in the country. These institutions are known for their academic excellence, innovative research, and strong industry connections, providing students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in the global engineering landscape.