India’s engineering education landscape is world-renowned, anchored by the rigorous NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) rankings. Here’s an in-depth look at the ten best institutes for engineering in India, as per NIRF 2024:
1. IIT Madras (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
Ranked #1 in engineering for the ninth consecutive year .
Excels in research, infrastructure, and teaching resources .
Offers a wide array of departments: CSE, Mechanical, Aero, Biomedical, etc. .
2. IIT Delhi (Delhi)
Holds the second rank in NIRF 2024 engineering .
Offers B.Tech, M.Tech, M.Sc, MBA, and a new B.Des program .
3. IIT Bombay (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
Ranked third in engineering .
Globally ranked in QS top-200; known for academic prestige and employability
4. IIT Kanpur (Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh)
Secured the 4th spot in NIRF 2024 rankings .
Offers B.Tech, B.S., and integrated master's programs across core branches
5. IIT Kharagpur (Kharagpur, West Bengal)
Ranked 5th in engineering .
Notable for global academic collaborations (Germany, UK), robust research output, and comprehensive programs .
6. IIT Roorkee (Roorkee, Uttarakhand)
Ranked 6th in engineering according to NIRF 2024 .
7. IIT Guwahati (Guwahati, Assam)
Holds the 7th position in NIRF engineering rankings .
8. IIT Hyderabad (Hyderabad, Telangana)
Ranked 8th in engineering category .
9. NIT Tiruchirappalli (NIT Trichy) (Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu)
The only non-IIT among the top ten—ranked 9th .
Widely acclaimed for its academic rigour and placements.
10. IIT (BHU) Varanasi (Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh)
Ranked 10th in NIRF 2024 engineering .
Reported extraordinary placement season, with 15 students securing offers exceeding ₹1 crore—the highest offer up to ₹2.20 crore .
Fee Structure & Placements Insight for These Top Institutes
According to CollegeDekho, here's how the top engineering colleges stack up in terms of approximate tuition costs and placement packages:
Institute Avg. Course Fee (₹) Highest Placement (₹ LPA/CPA)
IIT Madras 1,12,663 - ₹1.31 crore (CPA)
IIT Delhi 2,55,000 - ₹2.5 crore (CPA)
IIT Bombay 1,19,750 - ₹3.67 crore (CPA)
IIT Kanpur 8,39,950 - ₹1.90 crore (CPA)
IIT Roorkee 2,30,000 - ₹1.30 crore (CPA)
IIT Kharagpur 2,24,000 - ₹2.68 crore (CPA)
IIT Guwahati 8,00,000 - ₹1.20 crore (CPA)
IIT Hyderabad 8,00,000 - ₹63.78 LPA
NIT Trichy 5,98,900 - ₹52.89 LPA
Jadavpur University* 40,000 - ₹85 LPA
(*Although Jadavpur just missed the top ten, it’s often mentioned among top tier institutes.)
Final Thoughts
India’s crème de la crème of engineering institutions is overwhelmingly dominated by IITs, each distinguished by unique strengths—be it research excellence (IIT Madras), global recognition (IIT Bombay), innovation hubs (IIT Hyderabad), or heritage and placements (IIT BHU). NIT Trichy also stands out as a premier non-IIT government engineering college. These institutions offer outstanding infrastructure, faculty, academic rigor, and career prospects.
