How many MA colleges are there in India?

India is home to best MA colleges 5,000+ best colleges for MA in India. Out of these2,000+ colleges are owned privately, 1,500+ are owned by government and rest 1,000+ are owned by semi government institutions. CUET-PG, CPGET, URATPG, Andhra Pradesh PGCET and MAH CET are popular entrance exams for admission to best colleges for MA Economics in India. JNU, BHU, JMI, DU and Amity University Noida are top MA Economics colleges in India.

Which is the No.1 MA college in India?

Hi, Hindu College is the top MA college in India according to NIRF 2024 under the colleges category.

Can I do MA without any entrance exam?

No you cannot do a regular MA from government colleges in India without appearing for any exams. But some private colleges may offer MA programs with direct admissions based on merit or through management quota seats but these colleges might have higher fees compared to other colleges that accept students on exam basis. Students can also go for distance MA. Admission to these programs is based on merit which means they accept your UG score and not any exam score.

What are the top colleges for M.A in India according to NIRF 2024?

Hi, please refer to the table below for the top MA colleges in India according to NIRF: colleges category for the year 2024: College Name NIRF 2022 NIRF 2023 NIRF 2024 Hindu College Ranking 1 2 1 Miranda House Ranking 2 1 2 ARSD College Ranking 7 6 5 St. Xavier's Kolkata Ranking 8 5 6 PSGR Krishnammal College for Women Ranking 6 4 7 Loyola College Ranking 4 7 8 Kirori Mal College Ranking 10 9 9 Lady Shri Ram College Ranking 5 9 10 PSGCAS Ranking 20 20 11 Hansraj College Ranking 14 12 12 Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website of the ranking body listed and may vary.

Is it worth to pursue MA course?

Hi, whether an MA is worthwhile can depend on several factors such as: Cost-effective: Masters degrees in India, especially at public universities, are significantly cheaper than those abroad. Quality education: India has many reputable universities offering strong academic programs with experienced faculty. Job opportunities: An MA can improve your job prospects in India, particularly for specialised fields or leadership roles. Program competitiveness: Top universities might require entrance exams and have high competition. Focus on theory: Some programs may have a more theoretical focus compared to practical applications. Varying programme quality: Research individual universities to ensure a programme aligns with your needs. You should also consider whether: an MA align with your desired career path and open doors to better positions? you can afford the programme fees and living expenses? Ultimately, the decision of whether to pursue an MA in India depends on your individual circumstances and career aspirations. Hope this helps!

What are the low costing MA colleges in India?

Candidates can see table showing a list of low costing MA colleges in India below - College Name Tuition Fee Eligibility / Exams SCS Autonomous College INR 288 Merit-Based Samastipur College INR 300 Merit-Based Darshan Sah College Purnea University INR 312 Merit-Based Baharagora College INR 336 Merit-Based CCSU INR 360 – INR 54,000 Merit-Based Note: Info is taken from other sources and can be different. Hope this helped your query! All the best! Know more about - Colleges in India Offering MA Courses

How is the placement like for top MA colleges in India?

The campus placement options are great at some top MA colleges in India. You can have a look at some of them College Name Tuition Fee Annual Median Package Senthamil College Placement - INR 39.12 LPA Bharathi College Placement - INR 30 LPA Symbiosis School of International Studies INR 6.06 lakh INR 20.8 LPA Kolhan University Placement - INR 19.2 LPA Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics Placement - INR 19.2 LPA Note - The information is taken from the official website of the college.

Can I secure admission to M.A programme with a 50% score in UG programme?

Hi, yes you can secure admission to MA programme with a 50% score as many institutes require a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in UG program. However you can also go for distance MA programs offered by top MA colleges in India: College Name Courses Offered Centre for Online Education IGNOU MA in Psychology Amity University Online Online MA in Journalism and Mass Communication Manipal University Jaipur MA in Journalism & Mass Communication Parul University Online MA Online Centre for Distance and Online Education AMU CLICK History with Apprenticeship For more information on best MA online courses and colleges: CLICK HERE

How many MA colleges accepting CUET score are there in India?

About 20+ MA colleges are accepting CUET in India. Out of which, 19 colleges are owned by public/government organisations, and 2 colleges are privately owned. CUET is only entrance exam accepted by top MA colleges in India . Delhi University, University of Hyderabad, Tezpur University, Central University of Rajasthan, Central University of Karnataka, etc. are some of popular MA colleges that accept CUET in India.

What is the eligibility criteria for admission to MA colleges accepting CUET in India?

Candidates should know that eligibility can be different according to courses. This is why they should check it. Failure to fulfill eligibility can lead to cancellation of candidature. Candidates can see general outline of eligibility below: Applicants should have completed their Class 12 or equivalent examination from a recognised board or educational institution with a minimum aggregate of 50% to 60%. qualifying examination should include relevant subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, or a combination of these, depending on specific BSc programme. specific CUET score required for admission may differ based on college and competitiveness of programme. It is advisable to check college's official website or prospectus for minimum CUET score required for desired MA program.

What are the various courses offered by MA colleges in India?

Hi, please refer below for the various specialisations offered by best MA colleges in India: Specialisation No. of Colleges English 2,000+ colleges Hindi 1,300+ colleges Public Administration 100+ colleges Clinical Psychology 50+ colleges Ancient History 50+ colleges

Is it considered expensive to pursue MA in India?

No, it's not. Here are some affordable colleges with the tuition fee not more than INR 1 Lakh. College Name Tuition Fee Eligibility / Exams SCS Autonomous College INR 288 Merit-Based Samastipur College INR 300 Merit-Based Darshan Sah College, Purnea University INR 312 Merit-Based Baharagora College, Baharagora INR 336 Merit-Based CCSU - Chaudhary Charan Singh University INR 360 - INR 54,000 Merit-Based Note - The information is taken from the official website of the college. know more about - MA Colleges in India

Which is a better option: MA Economics or MBA Economics?

This depends upon your future career path. If you want to join the field of research, academics, or policymaking, then you should go for MA Economics. But if you are interested in management careers, then choose MBA Economics.

What happens if I fail a semester exam during my MA degree?

Many colleges and universities give students a chance to reappear for the exam. Either in the next semester as a supplementary exam or in the next academic cycle as a back paper. Check college guidelines for more details.

Can I pursue an MA degree via distance learning?

There are many colleges that offer distance learning MA degrees. IGNOU and SNDT are government recognised institutes that are very popular for distance learning courses. private colleges like Amity and Manipal University also offer distance/correspondance degrees.

Can final-year bachelor's students apply for an MA entrance exam?

Yes, final year students can apply for admission as well as exams. Admission will be on provisional bases. This means that a student has to provide a passing certificate after the results.

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Top MA Colleges in India 2026 - Admissions, Courses, Fees, Placements, Cut Off

You can apply to around 5000 colleges for MA courses in India. Of these 2000 plus colleges are private, more than 1500 are government and the rest are owned by semi government entities. JNU, BHU, JMI Delhi, DU are the top MA Economics colleges for you.

Table of Contents

Best MA Colleges in India: Highlights 2025
Best MA Colleges in India: Admissions 2025
Best MA Colleges in India: Exam Schedule 2024
Best MA Colleges in India: NIRF Ranking 2024
Best MA Colleges in India: Privately Owned
Best MA Colleges in India: Government Owned
Best MA Colleges in India: Location-Wise
- 7.1 Best MA Colleges in Delhi NCR
- 7.2 Best MA Colleges in Uttar Pradesh
- 7.3 Best MA Colleges in Maharashtra
Highest Salary Offered by Best MA Colleges in India
Best MA Colleges in India: Low-Cost 2025
Best MA Colleges in India: Online Courses 2025

Table of Contents

Best MA Colleges in India: Highlights 2025
Best MA Colleges in India: Admissions 2025
Best MA Colleges in India: Exam Schedule 2024
Best MA Colleges in India: NIRF Ranking 2024
Best MA Colleges in India: Privately Owned
Best MA Colleges in India: Government Owned
Best MA Colleges in India: Location-Wise
- 7.1 Best MA Colleges in Delhi NCR
- 7.2 Best MA Colleges in Uttar Pradesh
- 7.3 Best MA Colleges in Maharashtra
Highest Salary Offered by Best MA Colleges in India
Best MA Colleges in India: Low-Cost 2025
Best MA Colleges in India: Online Courses 2025
Best MA Colleges in India: Cut off 2025

Best MA Colleges in India: Highlights 2025

Check the basics for best MA colleges in India:

Parameters	Statistics
No. of Colleges	5,000+ colleges
Tuition Fee	INR 1-2 lakh:150 colleges INR 2-3 lakh:72 colleges INR 3-5 lakh: 33 colleges > INR 5 lakh: 18 colleges
Top Specialisations	English, Hindi, Public Administration, Clinical Psychology, Ancient History, etc.
Accepted Entrance Exams	CUET-PG, CPGET, URATPG, AP PGCET and MAH CET, etc.

Note - This info is from the official website and can change.

Best MA Colleges in India: Admissions 2025

The basic eligibility for the best MA colleges in India -

Completing UG degree with 45 to 50% marks.

Note - This info is taken from the official website and can vary.

Best MA Colleges in India: Exam Schedule 2024

Please refer to the table below for the top entrance exams for admissions:

Exam Name	Exam Schedule
CUET PG	CUET PG Schedule
CPGET	CPGET Schedule
URATPG	URATPG Schedule
AP PGCET	AP PGCET Schedule

Note - This info is taken from the official website and can change.

Best MA Colleges in India: NIRF Ranking 2024

College Name	NIRF 2022	NIRF 2023	NIRF 2024
Hindu College Ranking	1	2	1
Miranda House Ranking	2	1	2
ARSD College Ranking	7	6	5
St. Xavier's Kolkata Ranking	8	5	6
PSGR Krishnammal College for Women Ranking	6	4	7
Loyola College Ranking	4	7	8
Kirori Mal College Ranking	10	9	9
Lady Shri Ram College Ranking	5	9	10
PSGCAS Ranking	20	20	11
Hansraj College Ranking	14	12	12

Note - This info is taken from the official website and can vary.

Best MA Colleges in India: Privately Owned

Below are the best private MA colleges in India with their tuition fees and eligibility -

College Name	Tuition Fee	Eligibility / Exams
Amity University Noida Admission	INR 84,000 – INR 7.75 lakh	Merit-Based
Institute of Distance Education University of Madras Admission	INR 13,350 – INR 21,750	Merit-Based
Christ University Bangalore Admission	INR 40,000 – INR 3 lakh	Merit-Based
St. Xavier's College Admission	INR 72,500 – INR 1.84 lakh	Merit-Based
LPU Admission	INR 40,000 – INR 2 lakh	Merit-Based

Note - This info is from the official website and can change

Best MA Colleges in India: Government Owned

Refer below for the best government MA colleges in India.

College Name	Tuition Fee	Eligibility / Exams
JNU Admission	INR 432	CUET-PG
BHU Admission	INR 9,020 – INR 10,930	CUET-PG, BHU PET
JMI Admission	INR 13,400 – INR 21,000	JMI Entrance Exam, CUET-PG
Hindu College DU Admission	INR 48,500	CUET-PG
TISS Admission	INR 68,000	TISSNET

Note - This info is from the official website and can change.

Best MA Colleges in India: Location-Wise

Given below are the top locations for doing MA from best MA colleges in India.

Best MA Colleges in Delhi NCR

Please refer to the table below for the best MA colleges in Delhi NCR.

College Name	Tuition Fee	Eligibility / Exams
JNU	INR 432	CUET-PG
JMI	INR 13,400 – INR 21,000	JMI Entrance Exam, CUET-PG
Amity University Noida	INR 84,000 – INR 7.75 lakh	Merit-Based
Hindu College DU	INR 48,500	CUET-PG
IGNOU	INR 10,800 – INR 19,200	Merit-Based

Note - This info is from the official website and can change.

Best MA Colleges in Uttar Pradesh

Please refer below for the best MA colleges in Uttar Pradesh with their tuition fees and course eligibility.

College Name	Tuition Fee	Eligibility / Exams
BHU	INR 9,020 – INR 7.75 lakh	CUET-PG, BHU PET
Amity University Noida	INR 84,000 – INR 7.75 lakh	Merit-Based
University of Lucknow	INR 3,500 – INR 96,320	Merit-Based
CSJM	INR 12,370 – INR 44,400	Merit-Based
Sharda School of Humanities & Social Sciences	INR 1.93 lakh	SUAT

Note - This info is from the official website and can change.

Best MA Colleges in Maharashtra

Given below are the best MA colleges in Maharashtra with their tuition fees and eligibility.

College Name	Tuition Fee	Eligibility / Exams
TISS	INR 68,000 – INR 7.48 lakh	TISSNET
St. Xavier's College	INR 72,500 – INR 1.84 lakh	Merit-Based
Fergusson College	INR 23,000 – INR 1.8 lakh	Merit-Based
University of Mumbai	INR 2,000 – INR 70,000	Merit-Based
Mithibai College	INR 96,720	Merit-Based

Note - This info is from the official website and can change.

Highest Salary Offered by Best MA Colleges in India

College Name	Tuition Fee	Annual Median Package
Senthamil College Placement	--	INR 39.12 LPA
Bharathi College Placement	--	INR 30 LPA
Symbiosis School of International Studies	INR 6.06 lakh	INR 20.8 LPA
Kolhan University Placement	--	INR 19.2 LPA
Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics Placement	--	INR 19.2 LPA

Note - This info is from the official website and can change.

Best MA Colleges in India: Low-Cost 2025

There are around 1,000+ best MA colleges in India that provide avg. tuition fee less than Rs. 1 L -

College Name	Tuition Fee	Eligibility / Exams
SCS Autonomous College	INR 288	Merit-Based
Samastipur College	INR 300	Merit-Based
Darshan Sah College Purnea University	INR 312	Merit-Based
Baharagora College	INR 336	Merit-Based
CCSU	INR 360 – INR 54,000	Merit-Based

Note - This info is from the official website and can change.

Best MA Colleges in India: Online Courses 2025

College Name	Courses Offered
Centre for Online Education IGNOU	MA in Psychology
Amity University Online	Online MA in Journalism and Mass Communication
Manipal University Jaipur	MA in Journalism & Mass Communication
Parul University Online	MA Online
Centre for Distance and Online Education AMU	MA History with Apprenticeship

Best MA Colleges in India: Cut off 2025

Aneena Aley Abraham08-23-2024 14:30

Dr. BR Ambedkar college

Hyderabad

Courses Offered

1 Course

Exams Accepted

CPGET

Total Tuition Fees

₹47.6 K

Median Salary

– / –

Jagran Lakecity University

BhopalPvt

Courses Offered

2 Courses

4.0

Exams Accepted

– / –

Total Tuition Fees

₹1 L

Median Salary

₹3 - 3.5 LPA

Jyoti Nivas College

BangalorePvt

Courses Offered

1 Course

4.5

Exams Accepted

– / –

Total Tuition Fees

– / –

Median Salary

₹3.06 LPA

Featured

Sarala Birla University

Ranchi

Courses Offered

3 Courses

Total Fees

₹28 K - 40 K

Featured

ICRI - Institute of Clinical Research India, Mumbai

Mumbai

Courses Offered

1 Course

Total Fees

₹1.41 L

Integral University - IUL

LucknowPvt

Courses Offered

9 Courses

4.2

Exams Accepted

IUET

Total Tuition Fees

₹70 K - 1.1 L

Placement Rating

3.5

Poddar International College

JaipurPvt

Courses Offered

1 Course

Exams Accepted

– / –

Total Tuition Fees

– / –

Median Salary

₹1.96 LPA

Commonly asked questions
On Top MA Colleges in India 2026 - Admissions, Courses, Fees, Placements, Cut Off

Q: What documents are required while applying for PG programmes at JLU Bhopal?

While filling out the JLU Bhopal application form, students are required to upload scanned copies of certain academic and personal documents. Check out the below list to know all the required documents:

Class 10 and 12 marksheets
UG degree
UG marksheets
Recent passport-size photograph (colour)
Copy of Aadhar Card (Indian Citizens)
Copy of Valid Passport (International Citizens)
Digital Signatures
Category certificate
Income certificate

St. Francis De Sales College

BangalorePvt

Courses Offered

1 Course

Exams Accepted

– / –

Total Tuition Fees

₹78.5 K

Median Salary

– / –

Featured

School of Languages, VELS Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies

Chennai

Courses Offered

1 Course

Total Fees

₹72.9 K

Featured

Sharda University

Greater Noida

Courses Offered

2 Courses

Total Fees

₹2.23 L - 3.04 L

Most preferred locations for M.A.

VELS Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies (VISTAS)

ChennaiPvt

Courses Offered

2 Courses

Exams Accepted

– / –

Total Tuition Fees

₹52 K - 80 K

Median Salary

– / –

Vivekananda Global University

JaipurPvt

Courses Offered

8 Courses

Exams Accepted

VGUCET

Total Tuition Fees

₹1.2 L - 4.5 L

Median Salary

– / –

Surana College

BangalorePvt

Courses Offered

1 Course

Exams Accepted

– / –

Total Tuition Fees

₹1.5 L

Median Salary

– / –

🎉 Get ₹200 cash back

Presidency University, Bangalore

Bangalore

Courses Offered

1 Course

Total Fees

₹1.5 L

Apply before 31st Aug 2026 to get cashback

Featured

Amity University, Patna

Patna

Courses Offered

1 Course

Total Fees

₹80 K

Choose from the Top Specializations

Human Rights & International Humanitarian Law (4)

Commercial Law (2)

Conflict Management (2)

Public Administration (202)

Theology (5)

Criminology (18)

Applied Econometrics (4)

Ancient History (50)

Statistics (8)

Counseling (3)

Morigaon College

MorigaonGovt

Courses Offered

1 Course

Exams Accepted

– / –

Total Tuition Fees

– / –

Median Salary

– / –

Commonly asked questions
On Top MA Colleges in India 2026 - Admissions, Courses, Fees, Placements, Cut Off

Q: How do I get a seat in VELS University?

VELS is a merit-entrance-based admissions institution. Admission to VELS University requires checking below the process:

Application: This has been applied online. Professional course application fee is INR 1, 100. In the process of making the choice, candidates are allowed to apply with the relevant documents.
Selection Rounds: The university receives VELS Entrance Exam to take admission to different UG and PG courses. Other than this, CAT and other entrance tests are also accepted by MBA. The university publishes a merit list that gives the names of the shortlisted aspirants.
Counselling & Document Checking Round: The shortlisted candidates are invited to counselling and document checking round. Successful candidates should pay course fee to ensure admission.

Q: Where are Vivekananda Global University alumni working?

The majority of VGU Jaipur alumni are working in the Education sector (17%), followed by Engineering (16%), Business Development (13%), and Operations (11%) sectors. To know the sector-wise alumni placements, students can check out the pie chart below:

Amity University, Raipur

RaipurPvt

Courses Offered

2 Courses

Exams Accepted

– / –

Total Tuition Fees

₹96 K

Median Salary

– / –

M.A. Applications open. Apply Now

Sonapur College

Assam - OtherGovt

Courses Offered

3 Courses

4.2

Exams Accepted

– / –

Total Tuition Fees

₹48 K - 72 K

Placement Rating

1.0

Featured

Geeta University

Panipat

Courses Offered

4 Courses

Total Fees

₹1.2 L - 1.77 L

Featured

Jigyasa University

Dehradun

Courses Offered

1 Course

Total Fees

₹1.7 L

View colleges in your budget of

Free (1)

< 1 Lakh (1252)

1 - 3 Lakh (220)

3 - 5 Lakh (43)

5 - 7 Lakh (14)

7 - 10 Lakh (10)

10 - 15 Lakh (5)

Banaras Hindu University

VaranasiGovt

Courses Offered

62 Courses

4.2

Exams Accepted

Total Tuition Fees

₹5.16 K - 1.26 L

Median Salary

₹9 LPA

Theivanai Ammal College For Women

VillupuramPvt

Courses Offered

2 Courses

Exams Accepted

– / –

Total Tuition Fees

₹14.19 K

Median Salary

₹2.8 LPA

The ICFAI University, Tripura

AgartalaPvt

Courses Offered

4 Courses

4.4

Exams Accepted

– / –

Total Tuition Fees

₹1.08 L - 1.2 L

Placement Rating

4.0

Featured

Surana College

Bangalore

Courses Offered

1 Course

Total Fees

₹1.5 L

Featured

MIT School of Indian Civil Services, MIT-ADT University

Pune

Courses Offered

1 Course

Total Fees

₹3.66 L

Commonly asked questions
On Top MA Colleges in India 2026 - Admissions, Courses, Fees, Placements, Cut Off

Q: Which is the top course of Amity University Raipur?

Amity university raipur was established in 2014 by the Ritnana Balved Education Foundation in Math, Raipur district of Chhattisgarh. It has various courses such as B.Tech, B.Sc, and also many courses in Humanities and Social Sciences and it also has a management course in 7 specialization. If we talk about the best course then B.Tech and MBA is considered best from all the courses. They have good faculty in their Institute and also provide good placement and internship opportunities to their students.

Q: What is the minimum marks required for BHU in CUET?

The minimum CUET scores required for BHU admission would differ based on category, course and rounds. For the General AI category, the minimum score accepted in the first round was 73.

The CUET BHU cutoff 2026 was published for different All India quota categories for the first round. See the table below to know the minimum score required by different categories.