Top Universities in India 2025-26: Best Govt, Private Colleges

Check top ranking engineering, medical, law & management colleges in India!

After passing class 12th, the first step towards higher education is learning about the top universities in India and their admission process. This involves researching universities, about their courses, fee structure, Placements and ranking.

In this article, we will help you navigate the admission process in some of the top universities in India with their NIRF rankings.

India is one of the world’s largest higher education hubs, ranked 3rd after the USA and China. Higher education in India is provided by the universities & colleges that are approved and recognised by various statutory bodies under the Ministry of Higher Education.

Top Universities in India

Some of the top ranked universities in India are:

  • Indian Institute of Science (IISC)
  • Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
  • Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE)
  • Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi (JMI)
  • University of Delhi (DU)
  • Banaras Hindu University (BHU)

Candidates have to qualify the entrance exams for admission to UG & PG courses offered by these universities. The common entrance exams for admission to top universities in India are CUET, JEE Main, JEE Advanced, NEET, CLAT, CAT etc.

In this article, we will explore about the top universities in India based on their NIRF rankings 2025. We will also discuss about entrance exams for admission in these top universities.

Top Universities Ranking Criteria 2025

The ministry of education with the aim & objectives to rank the best educational institutions in the country, formed National Institutional of Ranking Framework (NIRF) in December, 2015.

The NIRF functions under UGC and ranks education institutions on the basis of several parameters including:

  1. Teaching Learning & Resources
  2. Graduation Outcome
  3. Outreach & Inclusivity
  4. Perception
  5. Research and Professional Practice

Top Ranked Universities in India 2025-26

As per the NIRF Rankings 2025, the top 30 ranked universities in India are:

University NameStateRank
Indian Institute of Science Karnataka1
Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityDelhi2
Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal  Karnataka3
Jamia Millia IslamiaDelhi4
University of Delhi Delhi 5
Banaras Hindu UniversityUttar Pradesh6
Birla Institute of Technology & Science -PilaniRajasthan7
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham  Tamil Nadu 8
Jadavpur UniversityWest Bengal9
Aligarh Muslim University Uttar Pradesh  10
S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology Tamil Nadu11
Homi Bhabha National InstituteMaharashtra 12
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences Tamil Nadu13
Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT)  Tamil Nadu14
Siksha O Anusandhan Bharathiar University Odisha15
Indian Agricultural Research InstituteDelhi16
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Odisha17
University of Hyderabad Telangana18
Chandigarh UniversityPunjab19
Anna UniversityTamil Nadu20
JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchKarnataka21
Amity UniversityUttar Pradesh22
Andhra University, VisakhapatnamAndhra Pradesh23
Symbiosis InternationalMaharashtra24
Kerala UniversityKerala25
Thapar Institute of Engineering and TechnologyPunjab26
Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation UniversityAndhra Pradesh27
Kalasalingam Academy of Research and EducationTamil Nadu28
Shanmugha Arts Science Technology & Research AcademyTamil Nadu29
Osmania UniversityTelangana30

Top Ranked Government Universities in India 2025

Looking for best government universities? Here is the list of top government universities in India:

University Name

NIRF Rank

State

Indian Institute of Science

1

Karnataka

Jawaharlal Nehru University

2

Delhi

Jamia Millia Islamia

4

Delhi

University of Delhi 

5

Delhi 

Banaras Hindu University 

6

Uttar Pradesh

Jadavpur University 

9

West Bengal 

Aligarh Muslim University

10

Uttar Pradesh

Homi Bhabha National Institute

12

Maharashtra

Indian Agricultural Research Institute

16

Maharashtra

University of Hyderabad

18

Telangana

Top Private Universities in India 2025

The list of the top Private universities in India as per NIRF rankings are:

University NameState NIRF Rank
Manipal Academy of Higher EducationKarnataka3
Birla Institute of Technology & Science Rajasthan Tamil Nadu7
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Tamil Nadu8
S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology Tamil Nadu11
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical SciencesTamil Nadu13
Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT)Tamil Nadu14
Siksha `O` AnusandhanOdisha15
Kalinga Institute of Industrial TechnologyOdisha17
Chandigarh UniversityPunjab19
JSS Academy of Higher Education and ResearchKarnataka21

Top Engineering Colleges in India 2025

Here is the list of best engineering colleges in India as per NIRF rankings:

InstituteStateRank
Indian Institute of Technology MadrasTamil Nadu1
Indian Institute of Technology, DelhiDelhi2
Indian Institute of Technology, BombayMaharashtra3
Indian Institute of Technology KanpurUttar Pradesh4
Indian Institute of Technology, KharagpurWest Bengal5
Indian Institute of Technology, RoorkeeUttarakhand6
Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad Telangana7
Indian Institute of Technology GuwahatiAssam8
National Institute of Technology, TiruchirappalliTamil Nadu9
IIT BHUUttar Pradesh10

Learn More About – Top Engineering colleges in India 2025

Top Management Colleges in India 2025

Here is the list of best Management colleges in India as per NIRF rankings 2025:

InstituteStateRank
Indian Institute of Management AhmedabadGujarat1
Indian Institute of Management BangaloreKarnataka2
Indian Institute of Management KozhikodeKerala3
Indian Institute of Technology, DelhiDelhi4
Indian Institute of Management Lucknow Uttar Pradesh 5
Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai Maharashtra6
Indian Institute of Management CalcuttaWest Bengal7
Indian Institute of Management IndoreMadhya Pradesh8
Management Development InstituteHaryana9
XLRI – Xavier School of ManagementJharkhand10

Learn More About – Top Management colleges in India 2025

Top Medical Colleges in India 2025

Here is the list of best Medical colleges in India as per the latest NIRF rankings:

CollegeStateRank
All India Institute of Medical Sciences, DelhiDelhi1
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and ResearchPunjab2
Christian Medical CollegeTamil Nadu3
Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research Pondicherry4
Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical SciencesUttar Pradesh 5
Banaras Hindu UniversityUttar Pradesh6
National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences, BangaloreKarnataka7
King George`s Medical UniversityUttar Pradesh8
Amrita Vishwa VidyapeethamTamil Nadu9
Kasturba Medical College, ManipalKarnataka10

Learn More About – Top Medical colleges in India 2025

Top Law Universities in India 2025

Here is the list of best law universities in India as per the latest NIRF rankings:

University Name

NIRF Rank

State

National Law School of India University

1

Karnataka

National Law University

2

Delhi

Nalsar University of Law

3

Telangana

The West Bengal National University of Juridicial Sciences

4

West Bengal

Gujarat National Law University  

5

Gujarat

IIT Kharagpur  

6

West Bengal

Symbiosis Law School 

7

Maharashtra

Jamia Millia Islamia,New Delhi

8

Delhi

Aligarh Muslim University

9

Uttar Pradesh

Siksha `O` Anusandhan

10

Odisha

Learn More About – Top Law colleges in India 2025

Top Research Universities in India 2025

Here is the list of best ranked research institutions in India:

University Name

NIRF Rank

State

Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru

1

Karnataka

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

2

Tamil Nadu

Indian Institute of Technology Delhi

3

Delhi

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

4

Maharashtra

Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

5

West Bengal

Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur 

6

Uttar Pradesh

Homi Bhabha National Institute

7

Maharashtra

Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee

8

Uttarakhand

Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research

9

Uttar Pradesh

Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati

10

Assam

Top Universities in India: Admission Process

The admission in the top universities of India is done on the basis of national level entrance exams. Students have to fulfil the eligibility criteria and qualify the below mentioned entrance exams:

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibility criteria for admission to the top universities depends on the course that the students is applying for:

  • For UG Engineering Courses: 10+2 Passed with Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics.
  • For UG Arts & Humanities courses: 10+2 passed with any stream.
  • For UG Commerce Courses: 10+2 passed with commerce or Science stream.
  • Apart from these basic eligibility conditions, candidates have to meet the age & percentage criteria set by the individual universities for admission to their UG programmes.

Entrance Exams for Admission in Top Universities

Students have to qualify the entrance exams, corresponding to the courses they wish to pursue. Below is the list of top national level entrance exams for admission to top universities & colleges in India.

JEE Main & Advanced

JEE Main is conducted by NTA for admission to B.E/B.Tech courses in top government & private universities. Candidates qualifying JEE Main exam are eligible for JEE Advanced.

JEE Advanced is the entrance exam for admission to B.Tech courses offered by all IITs, IISc & other premier institutions in India.

CUET

CUET stands for Central University Entrance Test. The exam is conducted by NTA for admission to various UG & PG courses offered in all the participating central universities or colleges.

NEET UG

NEET UG is conducted by NTA for admission to MBBS, BDS, Nursing & Ayush courses offered by all top colleges & universities in India.

CAT

CAT is a national level entrance exam for admission to management courses offered by top B-schools of the country including IIMs, MDI Gurgaon, IITs & others.

CAT is conducted by IIMs, in the month of November. The registration process starts in August every year.

Top Universities in India FAQs

Answer: The admission is based on entrance exams like CUET, JEE Main, NEET UG and CAT etc. Candidates have to score good rank and score for admission to the UG & PG courses offered by these universities.
Answer: The No. 1 rank university as per NIRF University ranking category is Indian Institute of Science (IISC). The rankings are derived based on several parameters including Teaching Learning & Resources, Graduation Outcome, Outreach & Inclusivity, Perception & Research and Professional Practice.
Answer: In Delhi, JNU, Jamia Millia Islamia and University of Delhi ranked at top position.
Answer: The fee varies from university to university and also the course that one is applying for. Generally, in top government universities the total fees is Rs 70000 to 5 Lakh.
Answer: As per latest NIRF rankings, IIT Madras tops the list of best engineering institute in India, followed by IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay.
Answer: The national Law university accept CLAT score. NLU Delhi accept AILET score. The state level law college and private law colleges conduct their own entrance exams for admission to the law courses.

If you have any other queries regarding top universities in India for 2025-26 session, feel free to drop your comments below!

3 Comments

    1. Some of the top MBA colleges in India are:
      Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon
      Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi University
      Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad
      IIT Delhi, Department of Management Studies

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