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Top Universities in Kerala 2026: Ranking, Admission, Fees, Placements
There are 8 top universities in Kerala. Amrita Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is in the top ranks nationally and globally in the NIRF ‘Universities’ category (2025) and QS World University Rankings 2027. Cochin University of Science and Technology is the top university in Kerala in surveys, including Times Higher Education (2026) and THE WEEK (2026). Overall, all of Kerala's top-rated universities offer unique specialisations: biotechnology, nanotechnology, and astronomy. Fee ranges for science courses are within every budget.
- Top Universities in Kerala: Highlights 2026
- Top Universities in Kerala: NIRF
- Top 10 Universities in Kerala for Science: Times Higher Education 2026
- Eligibility Criteria for Top Universities in Kerala 2026
- Entrance Exams Accepted in Top Universities in Kerala 2026
- Top Private University in Kerala for Science
- Top Public Universities in Kerala
- Top Universities in Kerala: Comparison 2026
Top Universities in Kerala: Highlights 2026
Get an overview of important information for all Kerala's top universities. Check tuition fee range, specialisations, top locations, entrance exams, and more.
| Parameters |
Details |
|---|---|
| Total no. of Top Universities in Kerala (NIRF) |
8 |
| Total Tuition Fee Range at Top Indian Universities for Science |
~ INR 3,300 to ~INR 5 Lakh |
| Popular Locations for Top Universities in Kerala |
Kochi: 2 |
| Specialisations in Kerala's Top Universities |
|
| Accepted Entrance Exams |
CUSAT CAT, CUET-PG, MGU CAT |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Top Universities in Kerala: NIRF
NIRF Universities category for top universities in India lists eight institutions in Kerala. See ranks below.
Note: NIRF is yet to publish rankings for 2026.
Top 10 Universities in Kerala for Science: Times Higher Education 2026
Times Higher Education in 2026 lists two universities in Kerala that rank globally.
| Top Kerala Universities | Ranking Tiers |
|---|---|
| Cochin University of Science and Technology Ranking | 1001-9999 |
| Kerala University | 1001-9999 |
Eligibility Criteria for Top Universities in Kerala 2026
The top universities in Kerala have the following admission requirements.
- For BSc programmes, passing Class 12 in the Science stream with 60 to 75% or more marks is required. After that, entrance exam scores or personal interviews are needed for seat allocation.
- For MSc courses, graduation in any science subject with 50 to 60% marks total. Entrance exams like CUSAT CAT may be required.
- Getting valid scores in the required entrance exam for the universities and waiting for counselling or interview rounds for final seat allocation.
Entrance Exams Accepted in Top Universities in Kerala 2026
There are university-specific exams mostly among the top universities in Kerala. Most are for the master's courses.
| Exam Name | Exam Schedule |
|---|---|
| CUSAT CAT | CUSAT CAT Schedule |
| MGU CAT | MGU CAT Schedule |
| CUET PG | CUET PG Schedule |
| CUCAT | CUCAT Schedule |
| GATE | GATE Schedule |
Top Private University in Kerala for Science
Kochi hosts one private deemed university in Kerala that's in NIRF, QS WUR, THE, and THE WEEK's rankings. It has three MSc programmes in areas of nanobiotechnology and one BSc course in molecular medicine. Discover courses with tuition fees.
| Private Universities |
Total Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Amrita Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine BSc with Research in Molecular Medicine | INR 5 Lakh |
| Amrita Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine MSc courses | INR 3.9 Lakh |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Top Public Universities in Kerala
A majority of the top-rated universities in Kerala are public. In these, you will find more variety among courses in sciences, and some are quite affordable. See the table for courses and tuition fee ranges.
| Top Public Universities in Kerala |
Tuition Fee Ranges |
|---|---|
| Cochin University of Science and Technology BSc and MSc courses | INR 6,200 - INR 1.6 Lakh |
| University of Calicut BSc and MSc courses | INR 3,800 - INR 2.2 Lakh |
| Mahatma Gandhi University BSc and MSc courses | INR 1,900 - INR 2.5 Lakh |
| Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology M.Sc. in Astronomy and Astrophysics |
INR 1.4 Lakh |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Top Universities in Kerala: Comparison 2026
You can check the top universities in Kerala with colleges and universities in other states. Use these links.
1. Amrita Center for Nanoscience and Molecular Medicine, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham - Kochi Campus
2. Kerala University
3. Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi
4. MGU Kerala - Mahatma Gandhi University
5. University of Calicut
6. Central University of Kerala
7. IIST - Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
8. KAU - Kerala Agricultural University
Commonly asked questions On Top Universities in Kerala 2026: Ranking, Admission, Fees, Placements
Kerala has 8 top univerisities, as per NIRF 2025 rankings in the 'University' category. Find rankings below.
Note: NIRF is yet to publish rankings for 2026.
The No. 1 university in Kerala is Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. It is the top most ranking university in Kerala according to NIRF University rankings (2025) and QS World University Rankings 2027.
The tuition fee varies by course and university. Mahatma Gandhi University's MSc in Microbiology is INR 2,200 (tuition fee). The upper range of tuition fee is in top private universities, such as Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham. Tuition fee for its MSc courses is around INR 3.9 Lakh.
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has the best placements in Kerala. According to NIRF 2025 data, the median salary for its two-year PG courses is INR 6 LPA.
NIRF is the best university ranking list for institutions in Kerala when you are comparing universities for institutional quality and career outcomes nationally and state-wise. For global rankings, you can follow QS World University Rankings 2027 and Times Higher Education 2026. According to NIRF (2025) and QS WUR 2027, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham is the best university in Kerala. Times Higher Education 2026 lists Cochin University of Science and Technology.
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