Aneena Aley AbrahamSenior Executive
Top Ranked NLUs Colleges in India: Ranking 2025, Admissions, Fees, Courses, Placements
India is home to 10+ top NLUs and all of them are owned by the government. CLAT is the top entrance exam for admission to top 10 NLUs in India. The best NLUs in India are NLSUI Bangalore, NLU Kolkata, NLU Delhi, GNLU Gandhinagar, NLU Jodhpur, NLIU Bhopal, NLU Patiala (RGNUL), NLU Odisha (NLUO), NLU Assam (NLUJAA), NLU Kochi (NUALS), and many more.
- Top NLU Colleges in India: Highlights 2025
- Top NLU Colleges in India: Admissions 2025
- Top NLUs in India: Exam Schedule 2025
- Top NLUs Colleges in India NIRF Ranking 2024
- Top Government NLUs Colleges in India
- Highest Salary Offered by NLUs Colleges in India
- Top Recruiters for Best NLUs in India
- Cost of Studying from Top NLUs in India
- Top NLUs in India: Cut Off 2024
- Top NLUs in India: Comparison 2025
Top NLU Colleges in India: Highlights 2025
NLUs are the first choice of law aspirants as many of them are listed among the top by ranking agencies like NIRF Rankings. Tabulated below are the key highlights for top 5 NLUs in India:
| Particulars |
Parameters |
|---|---|
| No. of Colleges |
10+ colleges |
| Fee |
<INR 1 lakh: 2 colleges INR 1-2 lakh: 1 college INR 3-5 lakh: 3 colleges >INR 5 lakh: 8 colleges |
| Top Specialisations |
|
| Accepted Entrance Exam |
CLAT, AILET, etc. |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.
Top NLU Colleges in India: Admissions 2025
The eligibility criteria for undergraduate and postgraduate law courses offered top 20 NLUs in India is as under:
UG admissions:
- Candidates who have passed or are appearing in Class 12 qualifying examination are eligible to apply for NLU admissions
- They must secure at least 45 percent marks in the qualifying examination if belonging to General/ OBC/ PWD/ NRI/ PIO/ OCI categories
- For candidates belonging to SC/ ST categories, a five percent relaxation in minimum qualifying marks is given i.e. they should obtain at least 40 percent marks in the qualifying examination of Class 12.
PG admissions:
- Candidates seeking admission to LLM courses offered at NLUs should possess an LLB degree or an equivalent from any recognised law college or university
- They should obtain at least 55 percent marks in the qualifying law degree if they belong to General/ OBC/ PWD/ NRI/ PIO/ OCI categories
- For candidates belonging to SC/ ST categories, the minimum marks required is 50 percent or an equivalent grade
- Candidates appearing in the final year examination of their law degrees are also eligible to apply
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.
Top NLUs in India: Exam Schedule 2025
Listed below are the common entrance exams for admission to top NLUs in India:
- CLAT: Common Law Entrance Test is a national level entrance exam conducted by Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs in India. It is a two-hour pen and paper test that is administered offline.
- AILET: All India Law Entrance Test is national-level entrance exam conducted by NLU Delhi for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs at the prestigious National Law University Delhi (NLU Delhi). It's a 90-minute offline pen and paper exam for BA LLB (Hons.) candidates and 150-minute exam for LLM candidates.
- TSLAWCET: Telangana State Law Common Entrance Test is a state-level entrance exam conducted in India for admission to undergraduate law programs (both 3-year LLB and 5-year integrated LLB) offered by colleges in Telangana. The exam is conducted by Osmania University, Hyderabad, on behalf of the Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE). The exam is computer-based (CBT) and lasts for ninety minutes. There are 120 objective type questions with no negative marking.
Please refer to the table below for the schedule of best entrance exams for admission to top NLUs in India:
| Exam Name | Exam Schedule | |
|---|---|---|
| CLAT 2025 | Over for '25 | CLAT Schedule |
| AILET 2025 | Over for '25 | AILET Schedule |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.
Top NLUs Colleges in India NIRF Ranking 2024
National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranks colleges every year. The ranking is based on various parameters and rankings change year on year depending on college universities and performances.
Following is a list of top ten NLUs in India ranked by NIRF with the past three years:
| NLUs in India |
NIRF Ranking 2022 |
NIRF Ranking 2023 |
NIRF Ranking 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
1 |
1 |
|
| 2 |
2 |
2 |
|
| National Academy of Legal Study & Research (NALSAR) University of Law, Hyderabad Ranking |
4 |
3 |
3 |
| The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata Ranking |
5 |
4 |
4 |
| 8 |
7 |
8 |
|
| Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow Ranking |
17 |
21 |
20 |
| 15 |
18 |
21 |
|
| National University of Study & Research in Law, Ranchi Ranking |
22 |
24 |
22 |
| 18 |
18 |
24 |
|
| 25 |
30 |
26 |
|
| 24 |
28 |
27 |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website of the ranking body listed and may vary.
Top Government NLUs Colleges in India
There are almost 10+ top NLUs of India. The below table shows list of government top 3 NLUs in India with their annual fees:
| Government Colleges |
Total Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| INR 48,800 |
|
| INR 6.75 lakh |
|
| INR 3.66 lakh |
|
| INR 6 lakh |
|
| INR 97,000 |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.
Highest Salary Offered by NLUs Colleges in India
ROI simply means the return on investment. It evaluates the efficiency or the profit earned from investing in a particular college. The ROI of a college can thus be measured by comparing the course fee and the placement data.
Below is the comparison of fees and placement figures for top 10 NLUs colleges in India:
| College Name |
Total Tuition Fee |
Average Placement Package |
|---|---|---|
| INR 3.66 lakh |
INR 20 LPA |
|
| INR 6 lakh |
INR 16 LPA |
|
| INR 8.28 lakh |
INR 15 LPA |
|
| INR 6.75 lakh |
INR 14 LPA |
|
| INR 3.28 lakh |
INR 14 LPA |
|
| INR 6 lakh |
INR 13 LPA |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website/ media reports/ NIRF website and may vary.
Top Recruiters for Best NLUs in India
Below is the list of few top companies that recruit Law students from top NLUs India along with their annual median package:
| College Name | Annual Median Package | Top Recruiters |
|---|---|---|
| INR 20 LPA |
IBM, ICICI, ITC, HUL, EY, Sahara India, etc. | |
| INR 16 LPA |
Union Bank of India, Bajaj Alliance General Insurance, Barclays Bank, KPMG, Hindustan Zinc, Infosys, Juris Corp, etc. | |
| INR 14 LPA |
Amazon, Mahindra and Mahindra, HINDALCO, Khaitan & Co, Piramal Healthcare, Phoenix Legal, etc. | |
| INR 13 LPA |
JP Morgan Chase, PepsiCo, Bharti Infratel, Lex Alliance, Clasis Law, Luthra and Luthra, etc. |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website/ media reports/ NIRF website and may vary.
Cost of Studying from Top NLUs in India
It is estimated that studying law in NLUs in India is expensive. Nearly, 58% of colleges have their annual fee ranging > INR 5 lakh and given below are the best NLUs in India in different fee ranges:
| Fee Range |
No. of Colleges |
Popular Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| < INR 1 lakh |
2 colleges |
NLSIU Bangalore, RMLNLU |
| INR 1-2 lakh |
1 college |
NLIU Bhopal |
| INR 3-5 lakh |
3 colleges |
NUJS, NLUJAA, Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai |
| > INR 5 lakh |
8 colleges |
NLUD, GNLU, NLU Ranchi, NLU Patiala, NLU Odisha, etc. |
Top NLUs in India: Cut Off 2024
Listed below is the CLAT cutoff round 5 for top NLUs in India for the year 2024:
| CLAT 2024 Participating NLUs | Opening Rank | Closing Ranks |
|---|---|---|
| National Law School of India University, Bangalore |
3465 | 3465 |
| NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad |
1009 | 13551 |
| The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata |
278 | 279 |
| National Law Institute University, Bhopal
|
465 | 8159 |
| 1047 | 30931 | |
| National Law University, Jodhpur |
375 | 5178 |
| Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar |
444 | 5729 |
| Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow |
764 | 25284 |
| Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala |
1208 | 19949 |
| Chanakya National Law University Patna
|
1324 | 2122 |
| 1486 | 37886 | |
| National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi |
1672 | 1672 |
| National Law University Odisha, Cuttack |
1169 | 42224 |
| National University of Study & Research in Law, Ranchi |
1479 | 37923 |
| National Law University & Judicial Academy, Assam |
1606 | 39188 |
| Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU),Visakhapatnam |
1362 | 40585 |
| The Tamil Nadu National Law School, Tiruchirapalli |
1512 | 34721 |
| 1608 | 31655 | |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai |
614 | 34264 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur
|
1510 | 34048 |
| 1555 | 39065 | |
| Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad |
1671 | 29520 |
| 1806 | 29975 | |
| Himachal Pradesh National Law University, Shimla |
1914 | 13590 |
| 1989 | 39699 | |
| Dharmashastra National Law University, Jabalpur |
1861 | 40483 |
| Dr B R Ambedkar National Law University Sonipat, Haryana |
1898 | 34993 |
| Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur |
789 | 8107 |
| National Law University, Tripura |
2074 | 40009 |
| GNLU Silvassa Campus |
975 | 52081 |
Top NLUs in India: Comparison 2025
Listed below is the comparison for top NLUs in India:
NLU Delhi (NLUD) - National Law University
Commonly asked questions On Top Ranked NLUs Colleges in India: Ranking 2025, Admissions, Fees, Courses, Placements
Hi, India is home to 10+ top NLUs and all of them are owned by the government. CLAT is the top entrance exam for admission to top 10 NLUs in India. The best NLUs in India are NLSUI Bangalore, NLU Kolkata, NLU Delhi, GNLU Gandhinagar, NLU Jodhpur, NLIU Bhopal, NLU Patiala (RGNUL), NLU Odisha (NLUO), NLU Assam (NLUJAA), NLU Kochi (NUALS), and many more.
Hi, following is a list of top ten NLUs in India ranked by NIRF with the past three years:
NLUs in India | NIRF Ranking 2022 | NIRF Ranking 2023 | NIRF Ranking 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | 1 | |
2 | 2 | 2 | |
National Academy of Legal Study & Research (NALSAR) University of Law, Hyderabad Ranking | 4 | 3 | 3 |
The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata Ranking | 5 | 4 | 4 |
8 | 7 | 8 | |
Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow Ranking | 17 | 21 | 20 |
15 | 18 | 21 | |
National University of Study & Research in Law, Ranchi Ranking | 22 | 24 | 22 |
18 | 18 | 24 | |
25 | 30 | 26 | |
24 | 28 | 27 |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website of the ranking body listed and may vary.
Hi, it is estimated that studying law in NLUs in India is expensive. Nearly, 8 of colleges have their annual fee ranging > INR 5 Lacs and some of them are:
- NLUD
- GNLU
- NUSRL
- RGUNL
- NLUO
Hi, below is the comparison of fees and placement figures for top 10 NLUs colleges in India:
College Name | Total Tuition Fee | Average Placement Package |
|---|---|---|
INR 3.66 lakh | INR 20 LPA | |
INR 6 lakh | INR 16 LPA | |
INR 8.28 lakh | INR 15 LPA | |
INR 6.75 lakh | INR 14 LPA | |
INR 3.28 lakh | INR 14 LPA | |
INR 6 lakh | INR 13 LPA |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website/ media reports/ NIRF website and may vary.
NLU Kolkata (NUJS) - The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences
Commonly asked questions On Top Ranked NLUs Colleges in India: Ranking 2025, Admissions, Fees, Courses, Placements
According to NIRF, the No.1 NLSIU Bangalore is the top ranked NLU in India according to NIRF ranking 2024. NLSIU Bangalore has been ranked 1st in the law category. National Law School of India University is known for its flagship BA LLB and LLM courses. NLSIU was the first National Law University which was established in India in 1986.
Hi, the cheapest NLU in India is NLU Bangalore and NLU Lucknow. Tabulated below the colleges with their total course fee:
College Name | Total Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
NLSIU Bangalore | INR 48,800 |
NLIU Bhopal | INR 97,000 |
Hi, National Law School of India University, National Law University Delhi, Nalsar University of Law and The West Bengal National University of Juridicial Sciences are the top NLUs in India that have been consistently ranked in the top 5 by NIRF for the years 2022 to 2024.
GNLU Gandhinagar (NLU) - Gujarat National Law University
Commonly asked questions On Top Ranked NLUs Colleges in India: Ranking 2025, Admissions, Fees, Courses, Placements
The cutoff depends on a host of different factors like 1) the seat intake for the programme 2) the total applications received for admission 3) the CLAT merit rank of applicants, 4) category and 5) the NIRF Ranking or the popularity of the NLU. Now, given these factors may vary for each NLU, the cutoff would also vary accordingly. Candidates must note that they will be allotted NLU on the basis of marks, rank and the preference they have filled while submitting the CLAT Application Form 2025.
CLAT is the entrance examination conducted by consortium of NLUs for UG and PG courses. All 21 NLU except NLU Delhi take admission by way of CLAT scores in both PG and UG courses. NLU Delhi conducts it's separate examination called All India Law Entrance Test or AILET for UG, PG and Ph.D. programs. Further many other private university consider CLAT score for admission in Law courses.
For many aspiring lawyers, getting into one of the best National Law Universities (NLUs) in India via CLAT is their goal. Although the procedure is competitive, you can improve your chances of getting a seat if you prepare well and follow instructions. Below is a summary of the admissions procedure:
- Eligibility Criteria: Students must have passed Class 10+2 or equivalent examination from a recognised board with at least 50% aggregate marks.
- CLAT: The exam consists of sections; Legal Aptitude, Logical Reasoning, English Language, Quantitative Techniques and Current Affairs. Each section carries 20 marks, making the total score 100.
- Application: Candidates are required to fill the online application form available on the official CLAT website and pay the application fee that varies depending on your category (General/SC/ST/OBC/PwD/EWS).
- CLAT Scorecard: It will indicate your overall rank and your section wise score.
- Counselling: Based on candidates' rank and preferences, candidates will be eligible for counselling rounds and can choose their preferred NLUs and programs. Seat allotment will be based on your rank and availability of seats in your preferred colleges.
- Document Verification: After allotment of seat in NLU you will need to report the designated centre for document verification. After verification and payment of fees you will be officially admitted to the NLU.
Candidates can click below for help regarding CLAT:
Students who wish to be admitted to this university should strive for a score of roughly 70% (80-84 marks) or above under the revised pattern. Because the CLAT cut-off marks are lower for reserved categories, a rank of about 4000 would be suitable for admission. According to CLAT 2024 analysis, candidates from the general category should aim for a score of 90 or more in order to be admitted to one of the top three NLUs. In CLAT 2024, 60–70 points are considered a decent score for SC/ST categories. The Consortium of NLUs will release the closing rank of candidates for each round at the time of CLAT counselling.
NLIU Bhopal - The National Law Institute University
NLU Ranchi (NUSRL) - National University of Study and Research In Law
NLU Patiala (RGNUL) - Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law
NLU Odisha (NLUO) - National Law University
NLU Assam (NLUJAA) - National Law University And Judicial Academy
CNLU Patna- Chanakya National Law University
Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai
Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur
NLU Kochi (NUALS) - The National University of Advanced Legal Studies
NLU Visakhapatnam (DSNLU) - Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University
Other popular Law colleges in India
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