Updated on Sep 2, 2024 12:56 IST
Aneena Aley Abraham

Aneena Aley AbrahamSenior Executive

Top Ranked Colleges in India 2025: Ranking, Admissions, Courses, Fees, Placements, Cut Off

India's educational landscape is adorned with prestigious institutions that consistently excel on a global scale.  India is home to 61,000+ best colleges that offer education in various streams like HumanitiesScienceAccounting & CommerceTeaching & EducationBusiness & Management StudiesEngineering, etc. Out of these, there are around 80+ top ranked colleges in India according to NIRF ranking for the year 2024 under the ‘Colleges’ category.

Top Ranked Colleges in India: Highlights 2024

India is brimming with incredible colleges and universities offering top-notch courses across various fields. The Indian job market is booming, but with so many courses available, picking the right one can be tough. Whether you excel in ScienceCommerce, or Arts so discover an abundance of exciting options that align with your strengths and pave the way for a fulfilling career. Please refer below for the key highlights of top ranked colleges in India:

Parameters

Statistics

No. of Colleges

85+

Tuition Fee

< INR 1 lakh: 40 colleges

INR 1-2 lakh: 9 colleges

INR 2-3 lakh: 2 colleges

INR 3-5 lakh: 1 college

Top Specialisations

Computer Science: 30+ colleges

Biotechnology: 9 colleges

Mathematics: 8 colleges

Microbiology: 7 colleges

Chemistry: 7 colleges

Food and Nutrition: 5 colleges

Top Streams

Ownership

Government: 40+ colleges

Private: 30+ colleges

Semi Government: 10+ colleges

Accepted Entrance Exams

CUET and Merit-Based

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

Top Ranked Colleges in India: Exam Schedule 2024

Given below are the popular entrance exams for admission to best colleges in India:

  • CUET: Common University Entrance Test also known as CUET UG is a national level entrance exam conducted by NTA for admission to UG courses offered by participating institutes.

Please refer below for the schedule of the above mentioned entrance exams for admission to best colleges in India:

Exam Name

Exam Dates

Exam Schedule

CUET

Over for ‘24

CUET Schedule

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

Top Ranked Colleges in India: NIRF Ranking 2024

Please refer to the table below for the top ranked colleges in India according to NIRF ranking 2024 under the ‘Colleges’ category with their last three years’ ranking:

College Name

NIRF 2022

NIRF 2023

NIRF 2024

Hindu College DU

2

2

1

Miranda House DU

1

1

2

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College

13

8

3

Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College DU

7

6

5

St. Xavier’s College Kolkata

8

5

6

PSGR Krishnamal College for Women

6

4

7

Loyola College

4

7

8

Kirori Mal College DU

10

9

9

LSR College for Women DU Ranking

5

10

10

PSG College of Arts and Science Ranking

20

20

11

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

Top Ranked Government Colleges in India: Admissions, Fees, Ranking 2024

Listed below are the top ranked government colleges in India with their tuition fee and NIRF ranking 2024:

College Name

Tuition Fee

NIRF 2024

Hindu College DU Admission

INR 78,600

1

Miranda House DU Admission

INR 56,790

2

Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College DU Admission

INR 540

5

Kirori Mal College DU Admission

INR 42,375

9

Lady Shri Ram College for Women DU Admission

INR 74,970

10

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

Top Ranked Private Colleges in India: Admissions, Fees, Ranking 2024

Below mentioned are the top ranked private colleges in India with their tuition fee and NIRF ranking 2024:

College Name

Tuition Fee

NIRF 2024

St. Xavier’s College Kolkata Admission

--

6

PSGR Krishnamal College for Women Admission

INR 2,482

7

Loyola College Admission

INR 1.92 lakh

8

Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira Admission

INR 1.55 lakh

17

Rajagiri College of Social Sciences Admission

INR 90,000

20

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

Popular Specialisations Offered by Top Ranked Colleges in India

Given below are the top specialisations offered by best colleges in India:

Top Specialisations

No. of Colleges

Popular Colleges

Computer Science

30+

ARSD DU, PSGCAS, Hansraj College DU, etc.

Biotechnology

9

St. Xavier’s College Kolkata, Pachhunga University College, Fergusson College, etc.

Mathematics

8

LSR College for Women DU, JMC DU, KNC DU, etc.

Microbiology

7

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, MCC, Gargi College DU, etc.

Chemistry

6

Presidency College, Deshbandhu College DU, Sacred Heart College Tirupattur, etc.

Location-Wise Top Ranked Colleges in India

Please refer below for the top ranked colleges in different regions of India:

Location

No. of Colleges

Tamil Nadu

30+

Delhi NCR

25

Kerala

15+

West Bengal

7

Karnataka

4

Top Ranked Colleges in Tamil Nadu: Courses, Fees, NIRF Ranking 2024

Listed below are the top ranked colleges in Tamil Nadu with their tuition fee and NIRF ranking 2024:

College Name

Tuition Fee

NIRF 2024

PSGR Krishnammal College for Women

INR 2.482

7

Loyola College

INR 1.92 lakh

8

PSG College of Arts and Science

INR 2.70 lakh

11

MCC

INR 88,857

14

Stella Maris College

INR 1.25 lakh

30

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

Top Ranked Colleges in Delhi NCR: Courses, Fees, NIRF Ranking 2024

Below mentioned are the top ranked colleges in Delhi NCR with their tuition fee and NIRF ranking 2024:

College Name

Tuition Fee

NIRF 2024

Hindu College DU

INR 78,600

1

Miranda House DU

INR 56,790

2

Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College DU

INR 540

5

Kirori Mal College DU

INR 42,375

9

Lady Shri Ram College for Women DU

INR 74,970

10

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

Top Ranked Colleges in Kerala: Courses, Fees, NIRF Ranking 2024

Given below are the top ranked colleges in Kerala with their tuition fee and eligibility criteria:

College Name

Tuition Fee

NIRF 2024

Rajagiri College of Social Sciences

INR 90,000

20

University College, Palayam

--

22

St. Teresa’s College

--

46

Sacred Heart College

INR 1.69 lakh

48

St. Thomas College

INR 13,455

57

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website and may vary.

Highest Salary Offered by Top Ranked Colleges in India

Please refer to the table below for the top ranked colleges in India that offer the highest Return on Investment to their students in the form of placement package:

College Name

Tuition Fee

Annual Median Package

Hindu College DU Placement

INR 78,600

INR 7.88 LPA

Miranda House DU Placement

INR 56,790

INR 6 LPA

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College Placement

INR 330

INR 11 LPA

St. Xavier’s College Kolkata Placement

--

INR 6 LPA

Lady Shri Ram College for Women DU Placement

INR 74,970

INR 8 LPA

Hansraj College DU Placement

INR 540

INR 7 LPA

Kirori Mal College DU Placement

INR 42,375

INR 6.50 LPA

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website/ media reports/ NIRF website and may vary.

Top Ranked Colleges in India: Cut Off 2024

Listed below are the cut-offs for top ranked colleges in India:

Top Ranked Colleges in India: Comparison 2024

Given below is the comparison for top-ranked colleges in India:

Read More

Location

Total Fees

Rating

Ownership

Specialization

Exams Accepted

Choose rank publishers
87
NIRF ' 24
M.S. Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce
4.1

Placements

3.8

Infrastructure

4.3

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.1

Crowd & Campus Life

4.3

Value for Money

3.9

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(168)
Fees: 53,910
88
NIRF ' 24
Scottish Church College
4.0

Placements

3.2

Infrastructure

4.1

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.2

Crowd & Campus Life

4.1

Value for Money

4.3

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(105)
Salary : 3.00 Lakh
89
NIRF ' 24
Guru Nanak College
4.2

Placements

3.9

Infrastructure

4.1

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.3

Crowd & Campus Life

4.4

Value for Money

4.2

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(141)
89
NIRF ' 24
St. Xavier's College, Mumbai
4.3

Placements

4.0

Infrastructure

4.3

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.3

Crowd & Campus Life

4.5

Value for Money

4.5

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(133)
Fees: 25,311
Salary : 6.89 Lakh
91
NIRF ' 24
Bethune College
4.2

Placements

3.3

Infrastructure

4.0

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.5

Crowd & Campus Life

4.3

Value for Money

4.7

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(44)
Salary : 3.00 Lakh
92
NIRF ' 24
C.M.S College
4.2

Placements

3.9

Infrastructure

4.2

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.3

Crowd & Campus Life

4.5

Value for Money

4.3

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(19)
Salary : 2.80 Lakh
93
NIRF ' 24
Keshav Mahavidyalaya, University of Delhi
3.9

Placements

3.2

Infrastructure

4.2

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.2

Crowd & Campus Life

3.6

Value for Money

4.2

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(266)
Fees: 84,900
94
NIRF ' 24
Dr. SNS Rajalakshmi College of Arts and Science, SNS Group of Institutions
4.2

Placements

4.2

Infrastructure

4.0

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.5

Crowd & Campus Life

4.2

Value for Money

4.1

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(30)
Salary : 2.52 Lakh
95
NIRF ' 24
Virudhunagar Hindu Nadars' Senthikumara Nadar College
3.8

Placements

3.5

Infrastructure

3.6

Faculty & Course Curriculum

3.9

Crowd & Campus Life

3.9

Value for Money

4.1

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(18)
Fees: 750
Salary : 2.15 Lakh
96
NIRF ' 24
Government Arts College, Kumbakonam
3.4

Placements

2.3

Infrastructure

3.7

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.0

Crowd & Campus Life

3.0

Value for Money

4.0

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(3)
Salary : 1.19 Lakh
97
NIRF ' 24
Delhi College of Arts and Commerce, University of Delhi
4.0

Placements

3.7

Infrastructure

3.2

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.3

Crowd & Campus Life

4.2

Value for Money

4.4

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(337)
Fees: 38,400
Salary : 3.80 Lakh
98
NIRF ' 24
Sadakathullah Appa College
4.2

Placements

4.4

Infrastructure

3.9

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.3

Crowd & Campus Life

4.1

Value for Money

4.5

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(21)
Salary : 2.95 Lakh
99
NIRF ' 24
Shri Shivaji Science College
4.1

Placements

3.8

Infrastructure

4.2

Faculty & Course Curriculum

4.3

Crowd & Campus Life

4.0

Value for Money

4.2

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(35)
Salary : 4.80 Lakh
100
NIRF ' 24
Scott Christian College
3.5

Placements

3.0

Infrastructure

3.0

Faculty & Course Curriculum

3.5

Crowd & Campus Life

3.5

Value for Money

4.5

Learning Experience

0.0

Course Support

0.0
(2)
Salary : 2.88 Lakh

Other popular Science colleges in India

2.4 K - 2.4 L
8 - 9 LPA

#10 NIRF

432 - 540
8.4 LPA

#12 NIRF

16 Courses
55.95 K - 1.27 L
9.24 - 9.5 LPA

#1 NIRF

29 K - 7.8 L
90 K - 4.64 L
15 Courses
15.21 K - 56.79 K
7 LPA

#2 NIRF

4.95 K - 2.7 L
3.5 - 4 LPA

#11 NIRF

29.14 K - 88.86 K
3 - 4 LPA

#14 NIRF

37.95 K - 4.67 L
14 Courses
15.7 K - 99.42 K
2.9 - 3.02 LPA

#18 NIRF

Confused about which college or exam to opt for?

Chat with our counsellor.

Get your personalised list of colleges & exams.

26.46 K - 1.05 L
2.5 - 5.5 LPA

#22 India Today

17 Courses
30.71 K - 78.29 K
5.45 - 6.05 LPA

#15 India Today

1.4 L - 6.75 L
1.5 L
1.49 L - 3.3 L
4 LPA

#11 India Today

1.65 L - 3.25 L
6.5 - 8.1 LPA

#60 NIRF

25 K - 4 L
3.4

#108 NIRF

2.18 L - 3.48 L
70 K - 2.4 L
10 Courses
540 - 5.9 K
4.62 LPA

#5 NIRF

8 Courses
1.03 L - 1.1 L
5 LPA

#72 NIRF

3 Courses
68.52 K - 82.92 K
10.2 LPA

#10 NIRF

1.48 L - 8.24 L
75 K - 6.54 L
49.1 K - 59.15 K
6.3 LPA

#21 The Week

19 Courses
3.6 K - 90 K
3.27 - 3.5 LPA

#22 Outlook

19 Courses
2.34 K - 2.5 K
5.2 - 6.3 LPA

#16 NIRF

1 L - 5 L
1.89 L - 2.34 L

Top Ranked Colleges in India: FAQs

Q: How many top ranked colleges are there in India?

A: India is home to 80+ top ranked colleges in India of which 40+ colleges are owned by the government, 30+ are owned privately and rest 10+ colleges are owned by semi government institutions.

Q: Which is the No.1 college in India?

A: Hindu College is the top ranked college in India according to NIRF ranking for the year 2024 under the 'Colleges' category.

Q: Is it expensive to pursue from top ranked colleges in India?

A: Hi, it can be observed that studying from top ranked colleges in India can be quite affordable as most of the colleges have an average tuition fee of less than INR 1 lakh. 

Q: What are the top streams offered by best colleges in India?

A:  Hi, you can refer below for the top streams offered by best colleges in India:

  • Humanities & Social Sciences
  • Science
  • Accounting & Commerce
  • Teaching & Education
  • Business & Management Studies
  • IT & Software
  • Engineering
  • Medicine & Health Sciences
  • Nursing
  • Mass Communication & Media

Q: What is NIRF and how does it help students pick the best colleges in India?

A: NIRF stands for National Institutional Ranking Framework. It's a system in India that ranks universities and colleges across various categories. Here's how it helps students pick the best colleges:

  • Provides a Benchmark: NIRF rankings give a general idea of a college's quality based on factors like teaching, research, placements, and infrastructure. This helps students compare colleges objectively.
  • Informs College Search: With thousands of colleges in India, NIRF helps narrow down options by highlighting institutions that excel in specific areas.
  • Focus on Specific Needs: Students interested in research might prioritize colleges with high NIRF scores in that category.

However, it's important to remember NIRF is just one piece of the puzzle. Here are some additional things to consider:

  • Subject-Specific Research: Look beyond overall rankings. NIRF might offer rankings in your specific field of interest, providing a more focused view.
  • Individual College Research: Dig deeper into colleges that interest you. Check their course curriculum, faculty profiles, and student reviews to get a better sense of the fit.
  • Personal Priorities: Consider factors beyond NIRF metrics, like affordability, scholarships, campus culture, and proximity to home.

By combining NIRF rankings with your own research and priorities, you can make a more informed decision when picking the best college for you.

Q: What is NAAC? How do NAAC and NIRF differ?

A: Hi you can refer to the table below summarizing the differences between NAAC and NIRF:

Feature NAAC NIRF
Full Form National Assessment and Accreditation Council National Institutional Ranking Framework
Purpose Assesses and accredits Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) Ranks universities and colleges across various categories
Focus Institutional quality, teaching, learning environment, research infrastructure Overall performance compared to peers
Outcome Accreditation status (A+, A, etc.) Ranking position (1st, 2nd, etc.)
Benefit to Students Indicates a baseline quality standard of the institution Helps compare colleges based on specific needs and priorities
Voluntary vs Mandatory Not mandatory Voluntary participation
Frequency Accreditation renewed periodically (typically every 5-10 years) Rankings released annually
Example Output A university might be accredited by NAAC with a grade of A+ A college might be ranked 3rd in the NIRF Engineering category

Q: What are the top ranked private colleges in India?

A: Hi, please refer below for the top private colleges in India:

College Name

Tuition Fee

NIRF 2024

St. Xavier’s College Kolkata Admission

--

6

PSGR Krishnamal College for Women Admission

INR 2,482

7

Loyola College Admission

INR 1.92 lakh

8

Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira Admission

INR 1.55 lakh

17

Rajagiri College of Social Sciences Admission

INR 90,000

20

Q: What are the top ranked government colleges in India?

A: Listed below are the top ranked government colleges in India with their tuition fee and NIRF ranking 2024:

College Name

Tuition Fee

NIRF 2024

Hindu College DU Admission

INR 78,600

1

Miranda House DU Admission

INR 56,790

2

Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College DU Admission

INR 540

5

Kirori Mal College DU Admission

INR 42,375

9

Lady Shri Ram College for Women DU Admission

INR 74,970

10

Q: What are the top specialisations offered by best colleges in India?

A: Hi, given below are the popular specialisations offered by best colleges in India:

Top Specialisations

No. of Colleges

Popular Colleges

Computer Science

30+

ARSD DU, PSGCAS, Hansraj College DU, etc.

Biotechnology

9

St. Xavier’s College Kolkata, Pachhunga University College, Fergusson College, etc.

Mathematics

8

LSR College for Women DU, JMC DU, KNC DU, etc.

Microbiology

7

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, MCC, Gargi College DU, etc.

Chemistry

6

Presidency College, Deshbandhu College DU, Sacred Heart College Tirupattur, etc.

Q: What are the placements like for top ranked colleges in India?

A: Hi, please refer to the table below for the top ranked colleges in India that offer the highest Return on Investment to their students in the form of placement package:

College Name

Tuition Fee

Annual Median Package

Hindu College DU Placement

INR 78,600

INR 7.88 LPA

Miranda House DU Placement

INR 56,790

INR 6 LPA

Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College Placement

INR 330

INR 11 LPA

St. Xavier’s College Kolkata Placement

--

INR 6 LPA

Lady Shri Ram College for Women DU Placement

INR 74,970

INR 8 LPA

Hansraj College DU Placement

INR 540

INR 7 LPA

Kirori Mal College DU Placement

INR 42,375

INR 6.50 LPA

Disclaimer: This information is sourced from official website/ media reports/ NIRF website and may vary.