Top 20 Engineering Colleges in India For Higher Studies

Choosing a top engineering college in India, or anywhere else for that matter, isn’t always an easy decision. India, being a developing country, is showing significant progress in various segments, one of which is education. The nation is home to several well-known schools, colleges and universities thus, allowing students and professional individuals to learn and polish their skills for the betterment.

Applying for undergraduate (UG) or postgraduate (PG) engineering courses, whether it’s in electronics, chemistry, physics, computer science, aerospace, automobile, mechanical etc. can provide opportunities to students and therefore, land better jobs and careers in various recognised companies in India and abroad.

Admission to engineering colleges in India requires students to fulfil certain criteria, including passing the entrance test/exam as defined by the respective institutions.

Also read:

“Top 20 Medical Colleges in India” [link to article]

“Top 20 Colleges for MBA in India” [link to article]

Here, we’re going to share with you some of the top engineering institutions in India to apply for UG and PG courses you might be interested in and make the best of your future.

20 Best Engineering Colleges in India to Study

The following list of the top engineering colleges in India has been ranked by the National Institute of Ranking Framework (NIRF) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India, as of 2021-22.

We have also provided links to their respective websites, so you can find more detailed information on how to get admission and apply for courses/programmes that fits you best.

1. Indian Institute of Technology Madras

City: Chennai (formerly Madras)

Website: https://www.iitm.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees across are offered.

Admission: Through JEE-Advanced for UG and through GATE, JAM and CAT scores for PG candidates.

IIT Madras located in the state of Tamil Nadu is one of the best engineering colleges in India. This co-educational residential university was opened in 1956 in Madras, now called Chennai, and is administered by the IIT Council of India.

The institute provides many facilities and academic programmes to students, including 16 disciplines in Engineering, Sciences, Humanities and Management are offered, and for the undergraduate curriculum, the admission to the B. Tech and Dual Degree (i.e., B. Sc + M. Sc or B. Tech + M. Tech) programme is accepted through the Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced (JEE-Advanced).

Also, admission to the five-year integrated Master of Arts (MA) programme is accepted through the Humanities and Social Sciences Entrance Examination (HSEE), which is a specific exam provided by the institute. For admissions to the online degree programme for B.Sc. in Programming and Data Science are accepted through a Qualifier Process, which includes four weeks of instruction in Computational Thinking, Mathematics, Statistics and English.

For the postgraduate curriculum, admission to the M. Tech and MS programmes are accepted through the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). The Joint Admission Test to M. Sc (JAM) is the entrance exam for the 2-year M. Sc programme and other post-B. Sc programmes. MBA candidates are also accepted through the Common Admission Test (CAT).

2. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

City: New Delhi

Website: https://home.iitd.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE-Advanced for UG and through GATE, JAM, CEED and CAT scores for PG candidates.

The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) is given the status of Institution of Eminence, which means it is autonomous and has opened its doors to foreign students and faculties as well. The institution was founded in 1961 in Hauz Khas, New Delhi.

It is a co-educational residential institution and is administered by the IIT Council of India. The institution offers Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech) programmes in various fields as well as dual degree (B. Tech + M. Tech) programmes. If you want admission to these programmes, it is done through Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced (JEE-Advanced).

IIT Delhi also offers postgraduate programmes awarding M. Tech (by coursework), MS (by research), M. Sc, M. Des, and MBA (DMS Delhi) under various departments and centres. Admission to the M. Tech programme is carried out mainly based on the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). For the admission in M. Des (Master of Design) the admissions are through Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED), M.Sc. admissions are done through Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM) and MBA admissions are through Common Admission Test (CAT).

3. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

City: Mumbai

Website: https://www.iitb.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE-Advanced for UG and through GATE and JAM scores for PG candidates.

IIT Bombay is another renowned engineering college located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. It was founded in 1958 and is given the status of Institute of National Importance (INI) by the Government of India.

IIT Bombay is the most respected and the most competitive institute in India. It is always the first preferred destination for the top-rank holders in the science and engineering disciplines to get admission in it. It is known for its 4 years, 5 years and 2 years programmes, respectively. Admission to these programmes is through the Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced (JEE-Advanced), Joint Admission Test for Masters (JAM) and Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering.

The institution offers degrees, which include Bachelor of Technology (B. Tech), Four Years Bachelor of Science, Two Years Master of Science, Five Years IDDDP (Inter-Disciplinary Dual Degree Programme), and 2 or 3 Year Master of Technology, and a few others. It also has a comprehensive graduate programme offering doctoral degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. It currently has a total of 15 academic departments, 20 centres, a school of excellence and four interdisciplinary programmes including a Management Programme.

4. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur

City: Kanpur

Website: https://www.iitk.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE-Advanced for UG and through GATE, JAM and CEED scores for PG candidates.

IIT Kanpur located in the state of Uttar Pradesh is ranked among the top engineering colleges in India. The institution was founded in 1959 in the city of Kanpur and is administered by the IIT Council of India.

IIT Kanpur offers four-year B. Tech programmes in Aerospace Engineering, Biological Sciences and Bio-engineering, Chemical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering and Mechanical Engineering.

If the candidate wants admission to these programs is done through Joint Entrance Examination. Various postgraduate courses in Engineering offer Master of Technology (M. Tech), MS (R) and Ph. D (Doctor of Philosophy) degrees. The institute also offers two-tier M. Sc (Master of Science) courses in areas of basic sciences in which students are admitted through the Joint Admission Test for M. Sc (JAM) exam.

The institute also offers M. Des. (2 years), MBA (2 years) and M. Sc (2 years) degrees. Admission to M. Tech is made once a year through the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering and M. Des is made once a year through both the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) and as well as Common Entrance Exam for Design (CEED).

5. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

City: Kharagpur

Website: http://www.iitkgp.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE Mains and JEE-Advanced for UG, and through GATE, JAM and CAT scores for PG candidates.

IIT Kharagpur located in the state of West Bengal is one of the top colleges in India for studying engineering at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The institution was founded in 1951 and is given the status of Institute of Eminence and also declared an Institute of National Importance by the Government of India. Like other IITs in India, IIT Kharagpur is also administered by the IIT Council of India.

Admission to undergraduate programmes is done through JEE Mains and JEE Advanced. For postgraduate programmes (M. Tech), admission is primarily done through the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). The other postgraduate entrance exams include Joint Admission to M. Sc (JAM) for M. Sc and Common Admission Test (CAT) conducted by IIMs for management studies.

6. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

City: Roorkee

Website: https://www.iitr.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE for UG and through GATE, JAM and CAT scores for PG candidates.

IIT Roorkee is located in the state of Uttarakhand and was founded in 1847, making it one of the oldest colleges in India. The institution had gone through several name changes since its inception.

The institution provides 22 academic departments covering Engineering, Applied Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences and Management programs with an emphasis on scientific and technological education and research. It offers 11 undergraduate (UG), one integrated dual degree, 61 postgraduate (PG) and several doctoral programmes.

Admission to B. Tech, B. Arch and integrated M. Sc integrated M. Tech courses through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) conducted at centres all over India. On the basis of the GATE score and/or a written test and interview, the candidate can get admission to PG programmes in engineering and architecture. For PG programmes in fundamental sciences, the admission process is based on the Joint Admission Test (JAM). Along with the engineering courses, the institute offers a two-year residential MBA program for which the admission is done on the basis of the Common Admission Test (CAT).

7. Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

City: Guwahati

Website: https://www.iitg.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE-Advanced and UCEED for UG and through GATE and CEED scores for PG candidates.

IIT Guwahati is located in the state of Assam and was founded in 1994, and ranks as one of the top engineering colleges in India. This residential co-education institution is administered by the IIT Council of India and provides 6 academic centres and various departments that offer B. Tech, B. Des, M. Des, M. Tech, M. A. (Development Studies), M.Sc. and PhD programmes.

Admission to UG level courses is done through JEE Advanced for Engineering and through UCEED for Design. Admission in PG level courses is done through GATE score, and through CEED for Designing, while through PhD-NET examination or PhD entrance examination and/or interview one can get admission into PhD courses.

8. Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad

City: Hyderabad

Website: https://iith.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE-Advanced and UCEED for UG and through GATE and CEED scores for PG candidates.

IIT Hyderabad is located in the state of Telangana and was founded in 2008. This co-educational institution is administered by the IIT Council. It provides 18 engineering and science departments and interdisciplinary centres. The institution also has research facilities consisting of more than one hundred laboratories.

IIT Hyderabad offers both B. Tech and M. Tech degrees in 10 disciplines of Engineering, B. Des and M. Des degrees in design and M. Sc degrees in science. The institute also offers PhD degree courses across all disciplines of engineering, sciences and liberal arts.

Admission to B. Tech programmes is through the Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced. Admission to the B. Des programme is done through the Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED).  To apply for M. Des admission only those candidates are eligible who are qualified with a valid Common Entrance Examination for Design (CEED) score. Admission to M. Tech programmes requires B. Tech/B. E. degree or equivalent in the respective or allied areas and possessing the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) score.

9. National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli

City: Tiruchirappalli

Website: https://www.nitt.edu/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE Main, JoSAA and CSAB for UG, and through GATE, JAM, CCMT, NIMCET and CAT scores for PG candidates.

The National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli (also called NIT Trichy) is a popular engineering college located in the state of Tamil Nadu. It was founded in 1964 and is a member of the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and granted Deemed University, and governed by the Council of NITSER.

The institute offers 10 bachelor’s, 40 master’s and 17 doctoral programmes through its 17 academic departments including engineering, management, science, technology and architecture.

Admission to the undergraduate programmes is highly competitive and is based on the rank secured in the Joint Entrance Examination – Main (JEE Main) and selection through the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA) and Central Seat Allocation Board (CSAB). Admission to M. Tech and M. Arch. programmes are done on the merit list prepared by the Centralised Counselling for M. Tech/M. Arch/M. Plan/M. Des (CCMT) on the basis of Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) scores as well as selection through the CCMT online portal. Admission to the MBA programme is done through the rank secured in the Common Admission Test (CAT).

10. Indian Institute of Technology Indore

City: Indore

Website: https://www.iiti.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE-Advanced for UG and through GATE and JAM scores for PG candidates.

IIT Indore located in the state of Madhya Pradesh was founded in 2009 and is listed among the top engineering colleges in India. The institution is administered by the IIT Council and is declared an Institution of National Importance.

The institution has 11 departments, 13 centres and the IITI DRISHTI CPS Foundation, which is a Technology Innovation Hub (TIH) established under the National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems (NM-ICPS).

Admission to B. Tech programmes is done through Joint Entrance Examination – Advanced (JEE-Advanced). Admission to the M. Tech/MS/PhD programmes is done through the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE), and the Joint Admission Test (JAM) is conducted for taking M. Sc students.

11. Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi

City: Varanasi

Website: https://iitbhu.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE and JEE-Advanced for UG and through GATE and GPAT scores for PG candidates.

IIT (BHU) Varanasi is a well-known engineering college located in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The institute was founded in 1919 on the campus of the Banaras Hindu University (BHU), hence the name being attached to the institute. It offers 11 engineering departments, 3 interdisciplinary schools, 3 science departments and one department for Humanities & Social Sciences, respectively.

Admission to undergraduate programmes is done through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT). Admission to postgraduate programmes is done through the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) or Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) conducted jointly by the Indian Institute of Science and Indian Institutes of Technology.

12. Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines)

City: Dhanbad

Website: https://www.iitism.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE-Advanced for UG and through GATE and CAT scores for PG candidates.

IIT (ISM) Dhanbad is one of the oldest and most recognised engineering colleges in India that was opened in 1926 in the state of Jharkhand. Although the institute still has the name Indian School of Mines (ISM) attached to itself, it, therefore, is converted into an institute of technology.

The institute offers 18 academic departments and 5 interdisciplinary centres covering Engineering, Applied Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences and Business Management programmes.

Admission to undergraduate programmes (B. Tech and Integrated B. Tech – M. Tech) is done through the JEE-Advanced entrance examination. Admission to the postgraduate programme (M. Tech) is done either through the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) or through a special examination conducted by the institute. Admissions to the MBA programme are done through the Common Admission Test (CAT). Admission to the M. Sc, Integrated M. Sc – M. Tech and PhD programmes are done through exams conducted by the institute.

13. National Institute of Technology Karnataka

City: Surathkal

Website: https://www.nitk.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE (Mains) for UG and through GATE and CAT scores for PG candidates.

NITK Suratkhal is another well-known engineering college located in the Mangaluru region of the state of Karnataka. The institute was opened in 1960 and was called the Karnataka Regional Engineering College (KREC) before getting its name changed.

The institution provides 14 departments and 11 interdisciplinary centres covering Engineering, Science and Management programmes.

Admission to undergraduate programmes (B. Tech) is done through JEE (Mains) test. Admission to postgraduate programmes is done through GATE conducted by the Indian Institutes of Technology and the Indian Institute of Science. NITK also offers an MCA (Master of Computer Application) course for graduate students in which admission is done through NIMCET (NIT MCA Common Entrance Test).

14. Anna University

City: Chennai

Website: https://www.annauniv.edu/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through marks obtained in higher secondary (for UG) and through GATE and TANCET scores for PG candidates.

Anna University is another popular engineering college and affiliating university located in the state of Tamil Nadu. The institute was opened in 1978 and is currently split into different colleges under its wings. The university offers programmes in engineering and technology through its affiliated colleges and follows a dual semester system.

Admission to undergraduate programmes is done on the basis of marks obtained by students in their higher secondary. Admission to postgraduate programmes is done through GATE and TANCET scores.

15. Vellore Institute of Technology

City: Vellore

Website: https://vit.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through VITEEE for UG. As for PG programmes, candidates are required to register for VITMEE, a Computer Based Objective test at indicated test centres.

Among the best privately-owned engineering colleges in India, the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), which used to be called Vellore Engineering College, is a popular name. The institute was opened in 1984 in the state of Tamil Nadu. Vellore Institute of Technology is affiliated with the University Grants Commission (UGC).

VIT offers 66 undergraduates, 58 postgraduate, 15 Integrated, two Research and two M. Tech Industrial programmes, respectively. The institute also consolidated its disciplines into 20 Schools of Study with the addition of the VIT Law School located at its campus in Chennai. Admission to undergraduate programmes is done through the university’s VIT Engineering Entrance Examination (VITEEE).

16. National Institute of Technology Rourkela

City: Rourkela

Website: https://www.nitrkl.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE (Main) for UG and through GATE for PG candidates.

NIT Rourkela located in the state of Odisha is one of the best engineering colleges in India. The government-owned institute was opened in 1961 and is managed by a Board of Governors (BoG) which was created as per the NIT Act, 2007.

The institute has 20 departments offering undergraduate, postgraduate, integrated and doctoral programmes, 3 academic centres and 6 technical service units (TSUs). Dual degree courses in various disciplines have been also introduced recently. The institute also provides opportunities for part-time graduate studies in selected fields in addition to doctoral research in various subjects.

17. Jadavpur University

City: Kolkata

Website: http://www.jaduniv.edu.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE for UG and through GATE score for PG candidates.

Jadavpur University is one of the oldest educational institutes that was founded in 1905 in the state of West Bengal. It was called the Bengal Technical Institute and in 1955, it was given the status of a university, and thus, the name changed to Jadavpur University.

The institute acquired National Instruments Limited (CSIR), an erstwhile research unit. The university’s departments are divided into four faculty councils namely, the Faculties of Arts, Science, Engineering & Technology and I.S.L.M.

If the candidate wants admission to undergraduate programmes in the FET is through the West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination, conducted by an independent body, followed by counselling. In the FET, GATE results and scholarships become important for the admission of postgraduate students.

18. Institute of Chemical Technology

City: Mumbai

Website: https://www.ictmumbai.edu.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE (Mains) or MHT CET for UG and through GATE or GPAT scores for PG candidates.

ICT located in Mumbai, Maharashtra is a deemed university founded in 1933. The institute specialised in providing training and research in the fields of chemical engineering, chemical technology, and pharmacy. It has 20 departments providing different programmes to students.

ICT offers three undergraduate degrees, which are B. Tech (Bachelor of Technology), B. Chem Eng. (Bachelor of Chemical Engineering), and B. Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy). The institute also offers several master’s degree programmes, which specialise in Chemical Technology, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy and general science courses.

19. National Institute of Technology Warangal

City: Warangal

Website: https://www.nitw.ac.in/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG) and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through JEE (Mains) for UG and through GATE, NITWET, CCMN, JAM, CAT and MAT scores for PG candidates.

NIT Warangal engineering college is located in Telangana. The institute was opened in 1959 as the Regional Engineering College, whose name was later changed to what is known today.

Admission to undergraduate (B. Tech) programmes is done through JEE exam, whereas admissions for postgraduate programmes are done through different exams. M. Tech students are admitted through the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) scores, and MCA students have been admitted through the NIT MCA Common Entrance Test (NIMCET) scores.

Admissions to the MBA program are based on Common Admission Test (CAT) or Management Aptitude Test (MAT) scores. M. Sc and M. Sc (Tech.) students are admitted through the National Institute of Technology Warangal Entrance Test (NITWET) scores. Admission to various M. Sc programmes is also done on the basis of marks scored in JAM (Joint Admission Test for M. Sc) through CCMN.

20. Amrita School of Engineering

City: Amritapuri

Website: https://www.amrita.edu/school/engineering/amritapuri/

Academics: Undergraduate (UG), postgraduate (PG), doctoral and research degrees are offered.

Admission: Through AEEE, JEE (Mains) and SAT scores for UG and through GATE score for PG candidates.

Amrita School of Engineering was founded in 1994 in Coimbatore in the state of Kerala. The institute is part of the privately-owned Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University. In the year 2002, two more additional Schools of Engineering were established in Amritapuri and Bengaluru. All three Schools offer B. Tech, M. Tech. and Ph.D. programmes in a large number of disciplines. The institute offers departments for Computer Science, Electrical & Electronics, Electronics & Communication, and Mechanical Engineering.

Admission to undergraduate degree programmes is done through Amrita Engineering Entrance Examination (AEEE) and JEE Main scores, while admission to postgraduate degree programmes is done through GATE scores.

Conclusion

The top engineering colleges of India that are listed above are great institutions to apply for undergraduate, postgraduate and several research studies.