How many top universities are there in India?

There are about 180+ top universities in India . Among the top universities, about 100+ are government universities, 70+ are private colleges and public-private entities own 2 colleges. The top universities in India are the Indian Institute of Science, JNU, JMI, Jadavpur University, BHU, and many more. CUET, ICAR AIEEA, CUET PG, IIT JAM, KCET, Andhra Pradesh PGCET, CCMN and CPGET are the best entrance exams for top Universities in India.

Which is the No. 1 university in India?

IISc is the top University according to NIRF 2025. It has also been accredited NAAC 'A' grade by UGC. Listed below are some of the top Universitites in India along with their NIRF ranking 2025: Universities Name NIRF 2023 NIRF 2024 NIRF 2025 Indian Institute of Science Ranking 1 1 1 JNU Ranking 2 2 2 Manipal Ranking 6 4 3 JMI Ranking 3 3 4 Delhi University Ranking 11 6 5 BHU Ranking 5 5 6 BITS Pilani Ranking 20 19 7 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Ranking 7 7 8 Jadavpur University Ranking 4 9 9 Aligarh Muslim University Ranking 9 8 10 Source: Official site and may vary.

Which cities have the maximum number of Top Universities in India?

Among the top Universities in India, Tamil Nadu has the maximum number of top Universities in India, followed by Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Pune, etc. Listed below are the state wise number of colleges Location Number of Universities Tamil Nadu 28 colleges Delhi NCR 19 colleges Karnataka 18 colleges Maharashtra 15 colleges Uttar Pradesh 16 colleges Andhra Pradesh 9 colleges

How to choose the best university in India?

Hi, you must consider the following parameters before selecting your university: Accreditation: This is the first factor that you must consider while researching about the university. An accreditation can vouch for the quality education as an accredited university needs to meet the established criteria for curriculum quality, facilities, academic support and other resources. Course Curriculum and Academic opportunities: A main reason a student decides to study abroad is to receive hands on experience along with excellent curriculum. Thus, before deciding a university, you must check the curriculum of the particular course as it should meet your requirements. Also, the inclusion of other academic opportunities like research work, group projects and assignments will help you make the conscious decision about that university. Facilities and Academic Resources: The academic environment of a university is of great importance as you will be spending most of your time studying at the campus. You must check the facilities and resources such as classroom, library, laboratories, seminar halls, and auditorium. Also, a university which focusses on holistic development must provide excellent sports and recreation facilities. It is important to check all the resources thoroughly before arriving at the decision. Scholarships and aids: Studying abroad can be a financially challenging decision, and scholarship opportunities can be a big relief in that regard. You must check university's website for scholarship related information and can compare universities on the basis of this crucial factor. Internship and Career Opportunities: The main goal of studying abroad is to enhance your career prospects. In this regard, many universities provide career support services, ensuring students receive ample internship or post study opportunities, for professional grooming. The kind of career support offered can be a decision-making factor for you while deciding about the university. Hope this helps!

Why is it too hard to get into top prestigious colleges in India?

It is true that gaining admission to India's most esteemed universities may be extremely difficult. Given below are some of the reasons: Higher Number of Applicants Difficult Entrance Exams But it's crucial to keep in mind that, despite the difficulties along the way, they are not impossible. Many committed students succeed in overcoming these challenges and obtaining their dream of enrolling in highly esteemed universities.

Which central university is best in India?

Given below are the best central universities in India: University Name Tuition Fee IISc INR 36,000 JNU INR 432 JMI INR 42,000 BHU INR 2.4 lakh

What are the top universities in India according to NIRF?

Hi, you can refer below for the top universities in India according to NIRF for the year 2025 under the Universities category: Universities Name NIRF 2023 NIRF 2024 NIRF 2025 Indian Institute of Science Ranking 1 1 1 JNU Ranking 2 2 2 Manipal Ranking 6 4 3 JMI Ranking 3 3 4 Delhi University Ranking 11 6 5 BHU Ranking 5 5 6 BITS Pilani Ranking 20 19 7 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Ranking 7 7 8 Jadavpur University Ranking 4 9 9 Aligarh Muslim University Ranking 9 8 10

How are Universities ranked in India?

In India, universities are ranked based on multiple criteria by various organizations. Some of the major ranking systems include the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) by the Ministry of Education. The University Grants Commission (UGC) established an expert committee in 2015 to develop the NIRF framework.

Updated on Dec 10, 2025 13:06 IST

Tasbiya KhanSenior Executive

Top Universities in India: Ranking, Admission 2026, Fees, Placements, Cut Off

India has more than 180+ universities ranked under NIRF 2025, including private universitites like BITS Pilani, SIMTS Chennai, VIT Vellore, etc., government universitites like IISc, JNU, JMI, etc. and the semi government universities like Sikkim Manipal Institute of Medical Science Gangtok and Sri Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Learning. These are categorised as Central, State, Deemed, and Private, offering a wide range of academic programs. The top universities in India have been ranked under NIRF, QS World ranking, Times Higher Education, etc. Admission to these universities will be based on merit or through entrance exams like CUET, CUET PG, etc.

Table of Contents

Top Universities in India: Highlights 2026
Top Universities in India: NIRF Ranking 2025
Top Universities in India: QS World University Ranking 2026
Top Universities in India: Admissions 2026
Top Universities in India: Exam Schedule 2026
Top Government Universities in India
Top Private Universities in India
State-wise Top Universities in India: Admission and Fees
- 8.1 Top Universities in Tamil Nadu
- 8.2 Top Universities in Karnataka
- 8.3 Top Universities in Maharashtra
Top Universities in India: Fees Vs Salary
Top Universities in India: Highest Salary and Top Recruiters
Low-cost Top Universities in India
Specialisations Offered by Top Universities in India
Top Universities in India: Comparison 2026

Top Universities in India: Highlights 2026

Many Indian universities are frequently ranked among the best in the world. Here is a brief overview of some of the best universities in India, including fee range, top specialisations with accepted entrance exams -

Particulars	Parameters
Total no. of Universities in India	180+ colleges
Free range across Top Universities in India	INR < 1 lakh: 69 INR 1-2 lakh: 29 INR 2-3 lakh: 14 INR 3-5 lakh: 28 INR > 5 lakh: 22
Top Universities in India ranked under NIRF and Qs World ranking (Private/Government/Semi Govt.)	Indian Institute of Science, JNU, JMI, Jadavpur University, BHU, etc.
Top Specialisations in India	Agriculture, Biotechnology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics, etc.
Accepted Entrance Exams	CUET, CUET PG, etc.