Best Economics Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
There are 4,400 Economics colleges in India: 1,470+ central and state-government-run and 1,000+ private. Hindu College, Miranda House, Hansraj College, Kirori Mal College, and St Stephen's College are the 5 best economics colleges in India in the NIRF Colleges ranking of 2025, and they're all under Delhi University. But location wise, the largest number of colleges for economics in India are in Karnataka, Maharashtra, UP, and Delhi NCR. Popularly, most provide the three-year BA. BSc, MA, MSc and PhD levels are also available. For the bachelor's level, CUET is the main entrance exam. Similarly, CUET PG is for master's programmes.
Learn more about the best private and government colleges for economics in India - their courses, fees, placements.
There are 4,400 Economics colleges in India: 1,470+ central and state-government-run and 1,000+ private. Hindu College, Miranda House, Hansraj College, Kirori Mal College, and St Stephen's College are the 5 best economics colleges in India in the NIRF Colleges ranking of 2025, and they're all under Delhi University. But location wise, the largest number of colleges for economics in India are in Karnataka, Maharashtra, UP, and Delhi NCR. Popularly, most provide the three-year BA. BSc, MA, MSc and PhD levels are also available. For the bachelor's level, CUET is the main entrance exam. Similarly, CUET PG is for master's programmes.
Learn more about the best private and government colleges for economics in India - their courses, fees, placements.
- Best Economics Colleges in India: Highlights 2026
- Top 5 Economics Colleges in India: NIRF Ranking 2025
- Basic Eligibility for Best Economics Colleges in India in 2026
- Entrance Exam Schedules for Top Colleges for Economics in 2026
- 10 Best Private Economics Colleges in India
- BA Economics Colleges in India
- Best ROI Colleges for Economics in India
- Top Economics Colleges in India: Zones
- 8.1 Best Colleges in North India for Economics
- 8.2 Best Colleges for Economics in South India
- Best Government Economics Colleges in India
- Compare Best Colleges for Economics in India
Best Economics Colleges in India: Highlights 2026
Colleges for Economics in India are majorly full-time. A few may offer distance or online learning under UGC regulations and approval. Also, these colleges not only offer BA and MA programmes, but also have good BSc programmes in Economics, with one prime example being St Xavier's Kolkata.
| Parameters |
Details |
|---|---|
| Total Number of Economics Colleges in India |
4,300+ |
| Tuition Fee Range of the Best Economics Colleges in India | INR 540 to INR 42 Lakh |
| Types of Full-Time Programmes from Number of Economics Colleges in India | BA in Economics:3000+ |
| Cities with Most Economics Colleges in India | Delhi NCR: 200+ |
| Admission Process + Entrance Tests | Merit-based or entrance-based: CUET for BA in Economics CUET PG for MA in Economics |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Top 5 Economics Colleges in India: NIRF Ranking 2025
NIRF ranks the Colleges category in general but all of them provide degrees in economics. This could give you a fair idea about the college overall, and how competitive they are.
| University Name | NIRF 2024 | NIRF 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Hindu College Ranking | 1 | 1 |
| Miranda House Ranking | 2 | 2 |
| Hansraj College Ranking | 12 | 3 |
| Kirori Mal College Ranking | 9 | 4 |
| St. Stephen's College, University of Delhi Ranking | 3 | 5 |
Note: NIRF is yet to publish rankings for 2026.
Basic Eligibility for Best Economics Colleges in India in 2026
Eligibility conditions for the top economics colleges in India are here.
- UG: Class 12 passed with a min. of 55% aggregate, most economics colleges in India offer admissions to candidates from any stream, while some may require Maths. Also BSc in economic colleges will require the science stream.
- PG: Must have passed a UG degree with 50 to 60% in total.
- 5% relaxation is granted for reserved classes such as SC/ST/OBC, etc.
- Appear in entrance exams like CUET for BA, CUET PG for MA.
Entrance Exam Schedules for Top Colleges for Economics in 2026
Both Class 12 passouts and graduates from a related discipline can look into the schedules for entrance exams accepted in the best economics colleges in India. These are nationally held exams with different cutoffs.
| Exam |
Schedule |
|---|---|
| CUET |
|
| CUET MA |
10 Best Private Economics Colleges in India
There are 1000+ private economics colleges in India and most are long establised with good NAAC accreditation scores One of the most reputed and best economics colleges in India is St. Xavier's College in Kolkata and among the very few that has a BSc in Economics course. On the other hand, you have Presidency University in Bangalore, in the similar price range of Xavier's but has BA programmes in Economics covering political science or psychology, and summer internships in the fifth semester. Go through some of the best private colleges for economics for all types of degree programmes and leves here.
| Best Economics Colleges in India (Private) |
Total Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| St Xavier's College Kolkata Economics | INR 77,000 - INR 7.32 Lakh |
| School of Commerce, Presidency University, Bangalore BSc in Economics | INR 3 Lakh |
| Loyola College Economics Courses | INR 53,040 - INR 84,660 |
| Kristu Jayanti University Economics Courses | INR 1.4 lakh - INR 1.9 lakh |
| Stella Maris College Economics Courses | INR 58,080 - INR 75,000 |
| Sacred Heart College - SHC Economics Courses | INR 14,520 |
| The American College Economics Courses | INR 1,250 - INR 2,140 |
| Ayya Nadar Janaki Ammal College BA in Economics | INR 1006 |
| St. Aloysius College Magaluru Economics Courses | INR 1.05 Lakh |
| Vimala College Economics Courses | INR 3,780 - INR 19,080 |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
BA Economics Colleges in India
With 3000+ best BA Economics colleges in India, admissions are generally offered through merit after passing Class 12 boards. Many might ask for entrance exams, including CUET (there are 190 economics colleges in India that ask for CUET). For masters in economics from colleges in India, college or university-level entrance tests are held. Take a look at the best BA economics colleges in India with fees.
| Top Economics Colleges in India | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Amity University Noida BA in Economics Honours with Research | INR 9.2 Lakh |
| Poornima University BA Economics | INR 73,125 |
| Jain Deemed-to-be University BA in Economics and Public Policy | INR 4+ Lakh |
| Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Management Studies BA (Hons) Economics | INR 4.05 Lakh |
| Mithibai College of Commerce and Economics BA in Economics | INR 39,000 |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Best ROI Colleges for Economics in India
DU (Delhi University) is the top university in India for economics offered by all of its 5 best colleges. No doubt, these have excellent placements. But you must not overlook some of the private colleges that deliver good ROI. This table will help you compare the fee-to-salary ratio.
| Economics Colleges with Placements | Total Tuition Fee Ranges | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| SST College of Arts and Commerce Placement | INR 17,210 - INR 24,840 | INR 2.1 LPA - INR 21.5 LPA |
| Sarla Anil Modi School of Economics, NMIMS, Mumbai Placements | INR 5 Lakh - INR 15.4 Lakh | INR 6.6 LPA - INR 21.35 LPA |
| BITS Pilani Hyderabad Campus Placements | INR 1.65 Lakh | INR 18 LPA |
| Shiv Nadar University Placements | INR 3.2 Lakh - INR 22 Lakh | INR 17.9 LPA |
| Apex University Placements | INR 60,000 - INR 3.6 Lakh | INR 15 LPA |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Top Economics Colleges in India: Zones
If you are looking for a nearby college for studying economics after Class 12 or graduation, here are some of the best locations with numerous options.
Best Colleges in North India for Economics
Delhi NCR dominates the number of top colleges for economics in India, ranked by NIRF 2025. But along with that there are some good options in UP, Uttarakhand, and Punjab. See the table below.
| Top Economics Colleges in North India | Tuition Fee Ranges |
|---|---|
| IMS Unison University | INR 2.52 Lakh - INR 3.49 Lakh |
| Chitkara University | INR 2.28 Lakh - INR 4.3 Lakh |
| UPES School of Liberal Studies | INR 12+ Lakh |
| Galgotias University | INR 1.3 Lakh - INR 2.6 Lakh |
| Integral University | INR 70,000 - INR 1.05 Lakh |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Best Colleges for Economics in South India
If you are considering the best states for economics colleges in South India, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have excellent options.
| Top Economics Colleges in South India | Tuition Fee Ranges |
|---|---|
| Christ Deemed-to-be University | INR 2.56 Lakh - INR 5.16 Lakh |
| Alliance University | INR 13.7 Lakh |
| M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences | INR 8 Lakh |
| Bishop Heber College | INR 46,200 - INR 56,760 |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Best Government Economics Colleges in India
The 1400+ government economics colleges in India. A majority in this table are colleges under Delhi University, which primarily offer economics as a bachelor's programme for three years, under different fee ranges. The other well-known govt. colleges for economics are MCC, which has a Masters in Economics programme.
| Public/Govt. Colleges for Economics |
Total Tuition Fee |
Entrance Exams/Eligibility Criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Miranda House Economics Courses | INR 15,210 - INR 19,090 | CUET, CUET PG |
| Hansraj College Economics Courses | INR 540 | CUET |
| Lady Shri Ram College for Women Economics Courses | INR 68,520 - INR 82,020 | CUET |
| Kirori Mal College Economics Courses | INR 47,450 - INR 49,300 | CUET |
| Hindu College Economics Courses | INR 86,010 | CUET |
| MCC Economics Courses | N/A | Merit-Based |
| Government Arts and Science College, Meenchanda Economics Courses | N/A | Not disclosed |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Compare Best Colleges for Economics in India
Use links below and compare the best colleges in India for Economics.
Best Economics Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
Commonly asked questions On Best Economics Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
About 4,400 best Economics colleges are there in India. Of these, 1,400+ are government colleges, 1,000+ are private colleges and 800+ are semi-government colleges. Students can secure admission to the best BA Economics colleges in India after passing Class 12 boards or through entrance exam like CUET.
Top Economics colleges are Hansraj College, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai, Miranda House, Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Kirori Mal College, Hindu College, Loyola College, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College, MCC, and many others.
According to NIRF ranking 2025, Hindu College ranked as the no. 1 Economics college in India followed by other colleges like Miranda House and Hansraj College.
Yes, you can surely pursue Economics in India without any entrance exam. Please refer to the table below for the best Economics colleges in India that accept students without any entrance exam:
| College Name | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Loyola College | INR 42,570 |
| MCC | INR 56,160 |
| Mithibai College of Arts | INR 37,630 |
| St. Joseph’s University | INR 1.32 lakh - INR 2.81 lakh |
| Mount Carmel College | INR 1.96 lakh - INR 4.45 lakh |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Among lot of benefits for the same. Some are mentioned below;
You can get a CSIR NET JRF fellowship/Ph.D. Fellowship of INR 31,000 per month for 2 years as JRF followed by an INR 35,000 per month fellowship for 3 additional years.
Get opportunities to work in top Research Laboratories in positions like Junior Research Fellowship, Senior Research Fellowship, Project Associate, Research Associate, Project Fellow, and Senior Project Fellow are positions which you can apply for.
Numerous Public sectors companies like Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum, and ONGC, hire CSIR NET and GATE qualified every year for various posts with an average salary from INR 40,000 to INR 80,000 per month.
You can get an opportunities to join a top university as an Assistant Professor or guest lecturer.
5- CSIR NET qualification increases your CV Weightage/Helps in getting higher preferences in getting jobs.
Hope it helps!
Read more:
Hansraj College is one of the top ranked colleges in India. To get admission to this top ranked college, candidates must score well in entrance exams. A lot of students apply for admission to various courses at Hansraj College but seats are limited so apply early and score well in entrance exams. The accepted entrance exams are CUET, DUET, and others. Candidates must follow CUET Preparation Tips and must solve as many CUET question papers as possible. Hence, getting admission in this college is not difficult for a hard working student.
Commonly asked questions On Best Economics Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
Please refer to the table below for the top courses offered by best Economics colleges in India:
| Courses Offered | No. of Colleges |
|---|---|
| BA | 2,800+ colleges |
| MA | 1,600+ colleges |
| BSc | 280+ colleges |
| PhD | 130+ colleges |
| MSc | 60+ colleges |
Hi, you can refer below for the best Distance Economics colleges in India along with their tuition fees:
| College Name | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| IGNOU | INR 12,600 - INR 17,600 |
| Institute of Distance and Open Learning University of Mumbai | INR 16,260 - INR 16,300 |
| Institute of Distance Education University of Madras | INR 13,350 - INR 16,710 |
| NSOU | INR 7,600 - INR 9,900 |
| Andhra University | INR 10,400 |
Source: Official site and may vary.
No, it can be observed that studying Economics in India can be quite affordable as most of the colleges have an average tuition fee of less than INR 1 lakh. You can refer below for the low costing Economics colleges in India:
| College Name | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Hansraj College | INR 540 |
| St. Xavier's College, Mumbai | INR 23,360 |
| Miranda House, University of Delhi | INR 38,060 - INR 44,670 |
| Kirori Mal College | INR 46,550 |
| Hindu College | INR 80,610 |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Yes, Candidates with a valid GATE score can get direct admission to Doctoral programs in relevant branches of Engineering/ Technology/ Science/ Architecture/ Humanities, in the institutions supported by the MoE and other Government agencies.
Financial Assistance given for Ph.D. programs (Direct Ph.D. after B.E./B.Tech/M.Sc equivalent with a valid GATE score) is usually INR 37,000 per month for the first two years and INR 42,000 per month from the third to the fifth year.
Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi is affiliated with Delhi University. These programs are delivered by highly experienced faculty. Kirori Mal College, Delhi is ranked 9th under the 'Colleges' category by the NIRF Ranking 2024. Kirori Mal College offers BA, BSc, BCom, MA, and MSc at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. As per Kirori Mal College NIRF report 2024, the median package offered during UG 3-year placements 2023 stood at INR 7.2 LPA.
Commonly asked questions On Best Economics Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
There are about 2,900+ BA Economics colleges in India. Some of them are mentioned below along with their tuition fees:
| Top Colleges | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Hansraj College | INR 540 |
| St. Xavier's College, Mumbai | INR 23,360 |
| Miranda House | INR 44,670 |
| Lady Shri Ram College for Women | INR 61,470 - INR 74,970 |
| Kirori Mal College | INR 46,550 |
Source: Official site and may vary.
Please refer to the table below for the best low costing Economics colleges in India that offer the highest placement to their students:
| Low-cost Colleges | Tuition Fee | Placement Package |
|---|---|---|
| Hansraj College | INR 540 | INR 7 LPA |
| St. Xavier's College, Mumbai | INR 23,360 | INR 6.89 LPA |
| Miranda House | INR 38,060 - INR 44,670 | INR 7 LPA |
| Kirori Mal College | INR 46,550 | INR 5.4 LPA |
| Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College | INR 540 | INR 4.62 LPA |
Source: Official site and may vary.
There are many top government Economics colleges in India. Some of them are mentioned below with tuition fees -
Public/Govt. Colleges | Total Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Miranda House Admission | INR 15,210 - INR 19,090 |
| Hansraj College DU Admission | INR 540 |
| Lady Shri Ram College for Women Admission | INR 68,520 - INR 82,020 |
| Kirori Mal College Admission | INR 47,450 - INR 49,300 |
| Hindu College Admission | INR 86,010 |
Source: Official site and may vary.
There are mainly two streams where you can opt for an Economics subject in Classes 11 and 12, i.e., Humanities and Commerce. If you're a Commerce student (with maths), you can pursue your career in Finance, accounting, business, etc. Being an Arts student, you can study policy, international relations, socio-economics, etc.
Both streams are the best and offer diverse career options; you just need to choose what suits you best.
Know more about -
Commonly asked questions On Best Economics Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
The CUET Syllabus 2026 for Arts students determines your analytical skills, logical reasoning, understanding of humanities, aptitude, and knowledge in the Arts and Humanities stream. Some core subjects in the stream include History, Political Science, Sociology, Economics, Geography, and Psychology.
You can check out the link below for a detailed breakdown of the subject-wise syllabus for the CUET 2026.
The highest salary of an Economist may differ on the basis of the company. However, the senior level Economists are known to get high salaries based on their experience.
Sectors employing Economists | Average Salary of Senior Economists (in INR) |
|---|---|
Banking | 22.8 LPA |
Financial Services | 21.4 LPA |
IT Services & Consulting | 16.0 LPA |
Management Consulting | 15.4 LPA |
Analytics & KPO | 12.8 LPA |
RBI Grade B Officer can get promoted to various other job profiles. The promotion is based on the officer's work performance, seniority and internal exams. These job titles as per hierarchical structure of RBI are as follows:
- Assistant Manager
- Manager
- Assistant General Manager
- Deputy General Manager
- General Manager
- Chief General Manager
- Executive Director
- Deputy Governor
The overall median package recorded during Loyola College placement 2024 was 5.88 LPA. According to NIRF report 2025, the median package offered to UG and PG students over the past three years is mentioned below:
Course | Median Package 2022 | Median Package 2023 | Median Package 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
UG 3-year | INR 4.09 LPA | INR 4.4 LPA | INR 4.5 LPA |
PG 2-year | INR 5.86 LPA | INR 4.59 LPA | INR 4.76 LPA |
Commonly asked questions On Best Economics Colleges in India - Courses, Fees, Admissions 2026
Yes, students can apply directly at Madras Christian College. The college offers admisison absed on merit. The application window will open soon. Students can apply directly through the official website. Before applying studnets must check the eligibility criteria set by the college.
Lady Shri Ram College is a good choice for an average student. Lady Shri Ram College students get a chance to attend the doubt sessions whenever required. Lady Shri Ram College offers a comfortable environment for students. Students can easily clarify their doubts without any worries. Hence, it is a good college for average as well as scholar students.
SRCC Delhi through eight departments, offers UG, PG, Diploma & Value-added courses to students. These courses are provided across the Economics, Commerce, and various other streams. The below-mentioned table reflects on the departments under the SRCC Delhi:
| SRCC Delhi University Departments | ||
|---|---|---|
| Commerce | Economics | Mathematics |
| Hindi | English | Political Science |
| Computer Science | Physical Education | - |