When students plan to pursue engineering, they mainly focus on institutions such as the IITs, NITs, and IIITs. However, beyond these institutes, students can also choose from other engineering colleges that offer multiple engineering branches, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and many more facilities.
India has a total of 5,868 AICTE-approved engineering and technology institutions, among which only 80 belong to the IIT, NIT, and IIIT categories (23 IITs, 31 NITs, and 26 IIITs). According to the JoSAA 2025 seat matrix, they offer only about 62,853 seats. Every year, around 9 lakh candidates appear for JEE Main, the exam for NIT and IIIT admissions. In JEE Main 2025, more than 15.3 lakh students registered and 14.7 lakh appeared across both sessions. These statistics show the intense competition and the limited number of seats available in the top institutions. Hence, students can also explore some other renowned engineering colleges other than IIT, NIT, and IIIT.
Top 20 Engineering Colleges in India (Other than IIT, NIT, and IIIT) as per NIRF 2025
The table below highlights the top 20 engineering colleges Other than IIT, NIT, and IIIT, as per NIRF 2025 rankings. Students can get into these colleges through national-level exams like JEE Main and GATE, to institute-specific tests such as BITSAT, VITEEE, SRMJEEE, and KIITEE.
| Name of Institution | NIRF Rank 2025 | Admission Process for UG programs | Admission Process for PG programs |
| Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Rajasthan | 11 | BITSAT | GATE |
| S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu | 14 | SRMJEEE | SRMJEEE (PG) |
| Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Tamil Nadu | 16 | VITEEE | VITMEE |
| Jadavpur University, West Bengal | 18 | WBJEE | GATE |
| Anna University, Tamil Nadu | 20 | TNEA | CEETA PG |
| Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan, Odisha | 22 | SAAT / JEE Main | SAAT |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Tamil Nadu | 23 | AEEE / JEE Main | GATE |
| Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi | 24 | JEE Main | JMI Entrance Test |
| Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Punjab | 29 | JEE Main | GATE |
| Delhi Technological University (DTU), New Delhi | 30 | JAC Delhi Counselling | GATE |
| Chandigarh University, Punjab | 31 | CUCET | CUCET |
| Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Tamil Nadu | 33 | 10+2 and JEE Main | GATE |
| Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Uttar Pradesh | 34 | AMUEEE | AMU Entrance Test |
| K L (Deemed to be University), Andhra Pradesh | 35 | KLEEE / JEE Main / JEE Advanced / AP EAMCET / Other State Exams | BTech Scores |
| Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Odisha | 36 | KIITEE | KIITEE |
| Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA), Tamil Nadu | 40 | JEE Main / 10+2 | BTech Scores / GATE |
| Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Maharashtra | 41 | JEE Main / MHT CET | GATE |
| University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Uttarakhand | 43 | UPESEAT / JEE Main / 10+2 | BTech Merit |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Tamil Nadu | 45 | TNEA | CEETA PG |
Top Engineering Colleges in South India (Other than IIT, NIT, and IIIT) as per NIRF 2025
The table below lists the engineering institutions in South India apart from IITs, NITs, and IIITs, based on NIRF 2025 rankings. Most of the reputed engineering colleges in South India are located in states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Kerala.
| Name of Institution | NIRF Rank 2025 | Admission Process for UG programs | Admission Process for PG programs |
| Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Tamil Nadu | 16 | VITEEE | VITMEE |
| S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu | 14 | SRMJEEE | SRMJEEE (PG) |
| Anna University, Tamil Nadu | 20 | TNEA | CEETA PG |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Tamil Nadu | 23 | AEEE / JEE Main | GATE |
| Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Tamil Nadu | 33 | 10+2 and JEE Main | GATE |
| Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation University (K L University), Andhra Pradesh | 35 | KLEEE / JEE Main / JEE Advanced / AP EAMCET / State-Level Exams | BTech Scores (PG) |
| Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA), Tamil Nadu | 40 | JEE Main / 10+2 | BTech Scores / GATE |
| Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Karnataka | 44 | KCET / JEE Main | BTech Scores |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Tamil Nadu | 45 | TNEA | CEETA PG |
| Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar (SSN) College of Engineering, Tamil Nadu | 47 | 10+2 Scores | GATE / UG Merit |
| Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Karnataka | 59 | MET | MET |
| Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Kerala | 61 | JEE Advanced | GATE |
| PSG College of Technology, Tamil Nadu | 67 | TNEA | CEETA PG |
| Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Tamil Nadu | 67 | TNEA / SAEEE | BTech Merit (PG) |
| University of Hyderabad, Telangana | 70 | — | GATE |
| M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT), Karnataka | 75 | KCET / COMEDK | GATE / Karnataka PGCET |
| Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology, Tamil Nadu | 100 | TNEA | GATE |
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Top Engineering Colleges in North India (Other than IITs, NITs & IIITs) as per NIRF 2025
The table below showcases the top engineering colleges in North India beyond the IIT-NIT-IIIT group, as ranked in NIRF 2025. Some of the major institutes in this zone include Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (Punjab), Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani (Rajasthan), Delhi Technological University (Delhi), etc.
| Name of Institution | NIRF Rank 2025 | Admission Process for UG programs | Admission Process for PG programs |
| Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology, Punjab | 29 | JEE Main | GATE |
| Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani, Rajasthan | 20 | BITSAT | GATE |
| Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI), New Delhi | 24 | JEE Main | JMI Entrance Test |
| Delhi Technological University (DTU), Delhi | 27 | JAC Delhi Counselling | GATE |
| Amity University, Uttar Pradesh | 30 | 10+2 Score / JEE Main | BTech Scores |
| Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Uttar Pradesh | 33 | AMUEEE | AMU Entrance Test |
| Chandigarh University, Punjab | 32 | CUCET | CUCET |
| Lovely Professional University (LPU), Punjab | 50 | LPUNEST / JEE Main | LPUNEST / GATE |
| University of Petroleum and Energy Studies (UPES), Uttarakhand | 42 | UPESEAT / JEE Main / 10+2 | BTech Merit |
| Graphic Era University, Uttarakhand | 52 | JEE Main | — |
| Banasthali Vidyapith, Rajasthan | 78 | Banasthali University Aptitude Test | GATE / Aptitude Test |
| Manipal University Jaipur, Rajasthan | 64 | JEE Main / MET | MET / GATE |
| Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT), Uttar Pradesh | 80 | JEE Advanced / JEE Main | GATE |
| Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), Delhi | 89 | JEE Main / IPU CET / CUET-UG | IPU CET / CUET-PG / GATE |
| Chitkara University, Punjab | 94 | JEE Main | — |
Top Engineering Colleges in East India (Other than IITs, NITs & IIITs) as per NIRF 2025
Some of the most reputed engineering institutions in East India include Jadavpur University (West Bengal) and Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Odisha). Both these institutions ranked among the top 25 in NIRF 2025.
| Name of Institution | NIRF Rank 2025 | Admission Process for UG programs | Admission Process for PG programs |
| Jadavpur University, West Bengal | 18 | WBJEE | GATE |
| Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA University), Odisha | 22 | SAAT / JEE Main | SAAT |
| Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Odisha | 36 | KIITEE | KIITEE |
| Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, Jharkhand | 51 | JEE Main | GATE |
| Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), Shibpur, West Bengal | 54 | JEE Main | GATE |
| C.V. Raman Global University, Odisha | 95 | CGET / JEE Main | CGET / GATE |
Top Engineering Colleges in West India (Other than IITs, NITs & IIITs) as per NIRF 2025
The western region of India, particularly Maharashtra, has some of the most prestigious engineering institutions, including the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), COEP Technological University, Pune, and the Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT).
| Name of Institution | NIRF Rank 2025 | Admission Process for UG programs | Admission Process for PG programs |
| Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Maharashtra | 41 | JEE Main / MHT CET | GATE |
| College of Engineering, Pune (COEP Technological University), Maharashtra | 90 | MHT CET / JEE Main | GATE |
| Defence Institute of Advanced Technology (DIAT), Maharashtra | 92 | — | GATE |
How to Select the Right Engineering College other than IIT, NIT, and IIIT?
Selecting the right engineering college is one of the most important decisions for any student for their UG or PG degrees. Below are a few factors that they should take into consideration when choosing the right engineering colleges from a large pool of options:
- Accreditation and Affiliation: Candidates must ensure the college is approved by the AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) and affiliated with a recognised university. It should also be accredited by the NBA (National Board of Accreditation) or NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council).
- Faculty and Research Opportunities: A good engineering college should have qualified faculty, active research projects, and well-equipped laboratories.
- Infrastructure and Facilities: Check for modern infrastructure such as labs, workshops, libraries, innovation centres, and hostels. Aspirants can get practical learning and exposure from these facilities.
- Placement Record and Industry Interface: Review past placement statistics, top recruiters, and average salary packages. Colleges with strong industry linkages offer better internship and job opportunities.
- Location and Campus Life: Candidates should consider the campus environment, student clubs, and extracurricular activities for holistic development.
Summing Up
For students planning to pursue engineering in India, they must remember that IITs, NITs, and IIITs are highly sought-after; there are other institutions that provide quality education, excellent infrastructure, and placement opportunities. Ultimately, they should choose the college not on the basis of its rank or popularity, but where they can grow academically, develop skills, explore interests, and prepare themselves for their future in the engineering field.