The best universities in India are fueling the country’s development in different fields by producing a skilled workforce. Studying at one of the top universities in India will pave your path to a promising career with a solid educational background. Below, we have prepared a list of the best schools in India to help you with your higher-education prospects.
What Attracts Students to Universities in India?
Indian universities offer excellent research facilities, world-class faculty, strong alumni, both at the national and international levels, popularity, and a high-quality curriculum. Indian universities attract both local and international students.
All these factors are appealing to students, many of whom consider India their higher-studies destination. India’s strong culture also attracts students from overseas. Below is where the best universities in India ranked according to Times Higher Education.
India Schools Ranked: An Overview
| India Rank | World Rank on Times Higher Education | World Rank on US News | Institution |
| 1 | 301-350 | 531 | Indian Institute of Science |
| 2 | 351-400 | n/a | Indian Institute of Technology Ropar |
| 3 | 351-400 | n/a | JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research |
| 4 | 401-500 | 1172 | Indian Institute of Technology – Indore |
| 5 | 501-600 | 1618 | Alagappa University |
| 6 | 501-600 | 1095 | Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology |
| 7 | 601-800 | 840 | Banaras Hindu University |
| 8 | 601-800 | 1594 | Institute of Chemical Technology |
| 9 | 601-800 | n/a | Delhi Technological University |
| 10 | 601-800 | n/a | Indian Institute of Technology – Gandhinagar |
The Best Universities in India, Explained
As one of the oldest regions of the world, India is also one of the best destinations for college and university studies. Below, we look a little deeper into the reasons why these top universities in India are so highly regarded. All the information we’ve collected comes directly from the universities’ official websites.
1. Indian Institute of Science
- Campus Location(s): Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Acceptance Rate: 2%
- Graduation Rate: Unknown
- US News Country Rank: #2
The Indian Institute of Science (IIS) is a top university in India, according to the Times Higher Education’s World University Ranking. This university’s most common degree programs are civil engineering and architecture, sciences, computer applications and IT, arts, humanities, and social sciences, management, business administration, and more.
It also offers graduate degree programs. As a major research university in India, IIS is highly focused on research in different fields of science and tech such as space science, genetic engineering, and material science. It engages 70 percent of its students in research.
2. Indian Institute of Technology Ropar
- Campus Location(s): Rupnagar, Punjab
- Acceptance Rate: 3%
- Graduation Rate: Unknown
- US News Country Rank: N/A
Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IIT Ropar) was founded in 2008 and offers top-quality education and research amenities in engineering and science fields including chemistry, physics, and mathematics. IIT Ropar prioritizes research, particularly physics and artificial intelligence, and also works to maintain a tie to its industrial partners, ensuring jobs in the industry for its students.
3. JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research
- Campus Location(s): Mysore, Karnataka
- Acceptance Rate: 40-50%
- Graduation Rate: Unknown
- US News Country Rank: N/A
JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research mainly focuses on medical and health-related studies, and is of particular interest to students interested in building careers in the health sector. JSS Academy attempts to attract the best researchers and research scholars and also tries to maintain links with national and international industry partners to ensure its students’ future career success.
4. Indian Institute of Technology Indore
- Campus Location(s): Indore, Madhya Pradesh
- Acceptance Rate: 54%
- Graduation Rate: Unknown
- US News Country Rank: #28
Indian Institute of Technology Indore’s primary focus is on technology programs in engineering fields. The institute offers research-based education and has introduced plenty of research programs and a scheme named Promotion of Research and Innovation for Undergraduate Students (PRIUS). There are three departments in this institute, including engineering, sciences, and humanities and social sciences.
5. Alagappa University
- Campus Location(s): Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu
- Acceptance Rate: Unknown
- Graduation Rate: Unknown
- US News Country Rank: #54
Alagappa University has around 5,000 students studying at various undergrad, postgrad, and doctoral levels. While India’s top universities mainly focus on engineering and technology education, Alagappa University provides students with a wide range of subjects from arts to social science to commerce streams.
This university boasts 41 international exchange programs with different universities worldwide that enable the Alagappa to transfer students to world-recognized universities. This university founded the University Science Instrumentation Centre to enhance the ability and quality of the scientific community.
6. Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
- Campus Location(s): Patiala, Punjab
- Acceptance Rate: 5%
- Graduation Rate: Unknown
- US News Country Rank: #25
Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology (TIET) is one of the best engineering universities in India due to its high standard curriculum and world-class faculty and its high-quality teaching. The LM Thapar School of Management is one of the best management institutes in India, offering a two-year full-time program that produces social leaders. TIET’s main focus is on high-quality research.
7. Banaras Hindu University
- Campus Location(s): Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
- Acceptance Rate: 13%
- Graduation Rate: Unknown
- US News Country Rank: #13
BHU was founded in 1916 to solve India’s poverty issue by focusing on science, technology, and Indian religion and culture. It is the biggest residential university in Asia, with more than 60 hostels for students and facilities for faculty. The campus also has an archaeological museum known as Bharat Kala Bhavan and the most extensive referral hospital in the area, Sir Sunderlal Hospital.
8. Institute of Chemical Technology
- Campus Location(s): Mumbai, Maharashtra
- Acceptance Rate: 59%
- Graduation Rate: Unknown
- US News Country Rank: #53
Institute of Chemical Technology is renowned for research and generates around 10 percent of India’s PhDs in chemistry each year. Students can study chemical engineering, chemical technology, and pharmacy, among other majors. It also offers a master’s program authorized by the Royal Society of Chemistry and holds an A++ rating from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council.
9. Delhi Technological University
- Campus Location(s): New Delhi, Delhi
- Acceptance Rate: 5%
- Graduation Rate: Unknown
- US News Country Rank: N/A
Delhi Technological University earned the top national university ranking for engineering and technology. Established in 1941, it was Delhi’s first engineering college, and it offers students a high-quality education. This college offers degree programs in environmental engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, architecture, physics, chemistry, social work, and more.
10. Indian Institute of Technology – Gandhinagar
- Campus Location(s): Gandhinagar, Gujarat
- Acceptance Rate: 47%
- Graduation Rate: Unknown
- US News Country Rank: N/A
Indian Institute of Technology – Gandhinagar is a public research university made famous for offering world-class educational and research facilities to STEM students. The university includes a wide range of STEM subjects including civil and chemical engineering, computer science, chemistry, and cognitive science.
Undergraduate and postgraduate academic programs are available. Gandhinagar is one of the greenest cities in India and is notable for having a well-connected community that adds beauty to campus life.
How We Created Our List of the Best Schools in India
In order to create our list, we followed the Times Higher Education 2022 World University Rankings. These rankings were created by evaluating teaching, research, citations, international outlook, and industry outcomes of over 1,600 institutions from around the world. Complementary information was retrieved from the US News Best National University Rankings.
Is a Top University in India Right for You?
Pursuing higher education in a top university in India is definitely right for your career. You can determine whether a top university in India is right for you by considering a few essential things. First, choose the university you want to study at. Then, evaluate all of the necessary factors, such as curriculum, faculties, rankings, and alumni success rate, along with the city in which the university is located.
Best Universities in India FAQ
Yes, it matters if you attend a top university because they typically provide better education and add extra value to your resume. However, if you don’t study hard to sharpen your skills and hone other competencies, you will struggle in the job market even with a degree from a top university.
University rankings are crucial because a better-ranking university will typically have better research facilities and top-notch teachers. A higher ranking also indicates the greater success of the university when it comes to providing a world-class education.
Before applying to any university, do research on the curriculum, quality of teaching, ranking, and alumni success rate. You should also tour the campus and the city to see if either or both are the right fit for you.
Yes, employers care about national university ranking. Many employers prefer students from top-ranking universities as those top educational institutes seem to better prepare students for success in the real world and on the job.
About us: Career Karma is a platform designed to help job seekers find, research, and connect with job training programs to advance their careers. Learn about the CK publication.
