Engineering

Yes — you can join Lovely Professional University (LPU) without appearing for LPUNEST in many cases, but it depends on the course and your credentials. LPU's own LPUNEST is the main entrance and scholarship test for many professional programs, yet LPUNEST is not compulsory for all admissions. For several UG and PG courses (like BA, BBA, B.Com, BCA, etc.) the university offers direct admission based on your qualifying exam marks (such as 10+2 or graduation results) without needing LPUNEST. Additionally, for technical and professional programs like B.Tech, MBA, Architecture or Law, LPU accepts valid national-level exam scores (such as JEE Main, CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, NATA, CUET, CLAT, etc.) instead of LPUNEST, which exempts you from taking their test. However, for some competitive programs and to maximise scholarship opportunities, taking LPUNEST is strongly recommended or may be required if you don't have equivalent national exam scores.

Among NIET, Shiv Nadar University (Noida), GCET/GL Bajaj, Amity, LPU, and IIIT Pune, the best option overall for CSE in terms of academics and placements is IIIT Pune. As an Institute of National Importance, IIIT Pune has a strong coding culture, rigorous academics, and consistently high average and median CSE packages, though competition is tough and placement percentages can vary. Shiv Nadar University, Noida comes next, known for its strong academic framework, research focus, and decent placements, making it a good balance of learning and career outcomes. LPU follows, offering wide exposure, good infrastructure, and mass as well as some high-end recruiters, though outcomes depend heavily on student effort. GL Bajaj (GCET/GL Bajaj) is a solid local private college with better placements than NIET and Amity, especially for CSE/IT, but academics are more exam-oriented. Amity University, Noida has good infrastructure and a large recruiter base, but average CSE packages are generally lower. NIET ranks last among these, with stable but comparatively modest placements. Overall ranking: IIIT Pune > Shiv Nadar Noida > LPU > GL Bajaj > Amity > NIET.