Top IITs in India: Ranking, Eligibility, Fees, Placement, Campus Life & More

If you are aiming for India’s top engineering institutes, you are probably looking at the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs). They are considered the gold standard for engineering education in the country and are well-regarded globally for their academic excellence, campus infrastructure, and top-notch placements.

In this blog, we will cover everything you need to know about the top IITs in India, including their eligibility criteria, admission cutoffs, placement records, fee structure, hostel and campus life, and even how far they are from Pune. Whether you are preparing for JEE or planning your future options, this guide is packed with valuable information to help you make the right choice.

Eligibility Criteria

To secure admission in any of the IITs, candidates must qualify through the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) route. First, you must clear JEE Main to become eligible for JEE Advanced. Admission to IITs is granted based on your performance in JEE Advanced.

Candidates must also have scored at least 75% in their 12th board exams if they are from the general or OBC category. For SC/ST candidates, the minimum requirement is 65%. The required subjects in the qualifying exam are Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics.

IITs are extremely competitive. Top rankers—those within the first few thousand ranks in JEE Advanced—generally get Computer Science or preferred branches in the top-tier IITs.

IIT Tiers and Locations

IITs are generally classified into tiers based on their academic strength, placement statistics, and reputation. Here, we have mentioned the various categories of the IITs, also called tiers, based on overall reputation. The Tier 1 IITs include the oldest IITs like Bombay, Delhi, Madras, Kanpur, Kharagpur, etc. Tier 2 includes Indore, Patna, Dhanbad, Jodhpur, and many more. Similarly, some of the tier 3 IITs comprise newer IITs.

Here is a comprehensive list of all 23 IITs categorized based on various tiers. Please note that the official NIRF ranking does not mention any tiers; it is simple numerical ranking. The tiers are mainly formed and categorized by popular opinion, student communities, educational blogs, and media summaries, etc. Simply understood, tier 1 IITs are the best among the IITs followed by tier 2 and tier 3.

Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3
IIT Bombay (Mumbai)	IIT Indore	IIT Bhubaneswar
IIT Delhi	IIT Ropar	IIT Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh)
IIT Kharagpur	IIT Dhanbad	IIT Jammu
IIT Madras (Chennai)	IIT Gandhinagar	IIT Goa
IIT Kanpur	IIT Patna	IIT Bhilai (Chhattisgarh)
IIT Roorkee	IIT Jodhpur (Rajasthan)	IIT Palakkad (Kerala)
IIT Guwahati	IIT Mandi	IIT Dharwad (Karnataka)
IIT Hyderabad
IIT BHU Varanasi

Top 5000 Rankers’ Choice

Institute Name	State	City	Top 100	Top 200	Top 500	Top 1000	Top 2000	Top 5000	% of Top 5000
IIT Bombay	Maharashtra	Mumbai	73	105	183	252	414	755	15.10%
IIT Delhi	Delhi (UT)	New Delhi	19	44	114	196	303	577	11.54%
IIT Kharagpur	West Bengal	Kharagpur	0	0	47	85	225	517	10.34%
IIT Madras	Tamil Nadu	Chennai	6	35	77	152	224	478	9.56%
IIT Kanpur	Uttar Pradesh	Kanpur	0	12	40	124	184	448	8.96%
IIT Roorkee	Uttarakhand	Roorkee	0	0	19	50	178	429	8.58%
IIT Guwahati	Assam	Guwahati	0	0	0	48	145	305	6.10%
IIT BHU Varanasi	Uttar Pradesh	Varanasi	0	0	0	7	81	258	5.16%
IIT Hyderabad	Telangana	Hyderabad	0	0	4	42	111	222	4.44%
IIT Indore	Madhya Pradesh	Indore	0	0	0	1	31	109	2.18%
IIT Ropar	Punjab	Rupnagar	0	0	0	0	6	120	2.40%
IIT Jodhpur	Rajasthan	Jodhpur	0	0	0	0	0	63	1.26%
IIT Mandi	Himachal Pradesh	Mandi	0	0	0	0	0	60	1.20%
IIT Patna	Bihar	Patna	0	0	0	0	1	75	1.50%
IIT Gandhinagar	Gujarat	Gandhinagar	0	0	1	1	17	87	1.74%
IIT Bhubaneswar	Odisha	Bhubaneswar	0	0	0	0	0	43	0.86%
IIT Dhanbad (ISM)	Jharkhand	Dhanbad	0	0	0	0	0	90	1.80%
IIT Bhilai	Chhattisgarh	Bhilai	0	0	0	0	0	2	0.04%
IIT Goa	Goa	Ponda	0	0	0	0	0	3	0.06%
IIT Palakkad	Kerala	Palakkad	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.02%
IIT Tirupati	Andhra Pradesh	Tirupati	0	0	0	0	0	14	0.28%
IIT Jammu	J&K	Jammu	0	0	0	0	0	4	0.08%
IIT Dharwad	Karnataka	Dharwad	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.02%
Total	—	—	98	196	484	958	1921	4661	93.22%*

NIRF Ranking 2025

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), established by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, provides the official rankings for engineering institutions across the country. Here is the link you can refer

Fees Structure

The average tuition fees for undergraduate programs across IITs range from ₹8 to ₹10 lakhs for the complete four-year BTech course. This doesn’t include hostel, mess, and other incidental charges, which may vary from campus to campus.

Scholarships are available based on merit, income background, and social category. Fee waivers are offered to SC/ST and economically weaker students as per government norms.

Placement Highlights

Placements at IITs are among the best in the country. Companies from around the world recruit students for various roles, particularly in software development, data science, core engineering, research, and consulting.

Top-tier IITs like Bombay and Delhi have seen international offers exceeding ₹2 crores per annum. On average, these IITs maintain average CTCs between ₹22 to ₹30 LPA in Computer Science and ₹15 to ₹20 LPA in core branches.

Mid-tier IITs such as Roorkee, Hyderabad, and Guwahati offer average packages ranging between ₹12 to ₹18 LPA, with peak offers going up to ₹1 crore or more in select cases. IIT Dhanbad and other Tier 3 IITs provide average CTCs around ₹10 to ₹14 LPA.

Startups, public sector companies, and MNCs actively participate in the campus recruitment process.

Campus Life and Hostel Experience

Here’s a quick look at the vibe, facilities, and hostel life across the top IITs in India:

🎓 IIT Bombay (Mumbai)

A lively campus with tech and cultural giants like Techfest and Mood Indigo. Hostels offer Wi-Fi, laundry facilities, recreation rooms, and decent dining options. Powai Lake adds a scenic touch.

🎓 IIT Delhi (New Delhi)

Energetic and centrally located. Fests like Rendezvous and active student clubs keep things buzzing. Hostels are well-equipped and offer diverse food options.

🎓 IIT Madras (Chennai)

Set in a forest-like campus with deer sightings! Known for Shaastra and Saarang. Hostels are comfy, with basic amenities and South Indian cuisine (with variety).

🎓 IIT Kanpur (Kanpur)

Academics meet active campus life with fests like Techkriti and Antaragni. Hostels are spacious, and North Indian food is commonly served.

🎓 IIT Kharagpur (West Bengal)

The largest campus, almost like a mini-city. Kshitij and Spring Fest are major highlights. Halls of residence are community-driven and well-facilitated.

🎓 IIT Roorkee (Uttarakhand)

Historic and scenic, with a chill yet focused vibe. Thomso and Cognizance are key fests. Hostels are well-maintained and offer basic comforts.

🎓 IIT Guwahati (Assam)

A beautiful riverside campus with nature all around. Alcheringa and Techniche rock the social scene. Hostels are modern with great views and good food.

🎓 IIT Hyderabad (Telangana)

Modern, minimalistic campus with a startup-friendly culture. Elan & ηVision showcase innovation. Hostels are sleek and tech-ready.

🎓 IIT BHU (Varanasi)

Culturally rich and academically strong. Fests like Technex and Kashiyatra bring energy. Hostels are basic but functional, with strong student bonds.

🎓 IIT ISM Dhanbad (Jharkhand)

Core engineering focus with events like Concetto and Srijan. Hostel life is disciplined, with all essentials provided and a hardworking student crowd.

Tip: Campus life can vary depending on your interests and priorities — academics, cultural events, food, or even location. It’s a good idea to check other online resources, student reviews, and connect with current students before making your decision.

City Vibe and Weather

The city in which your IIT is located can impact your overall experience. For example:

IIT Bombay is located in the bustling city of Mumbai, where the weather is humid, but the career opportunities are unmatched.
IIT Delhi offers great industry exposure and internships but faces harsh summers and winters.
IIT Madras is in Chennai, which is culturally rich but experiences very humid weather.
IIT Kanpur and Kharagpur are located in quieter towns, ideal for focused study but with fewer city-life perks.
IIT Guwahati offers one of the most scenic campuses in India but also experiences heavy monsoon seasons.

The city living index for Mumbai, Delhi, and Hyderabad is high due to access to transportation, connectivity, food options, and entertainment. Locations like Kharagpur, Roorkee, and Dhanbad have lower living indices due to limited urban development.

Distance from Pune

If you are a student based in Pune or western India, distance from home might influence your choice.

IIT Bombay is the closest, just 150 km away and easily accessible by road or train.
IIT Hyderabad is also relatively close, around 575 km.
IIT Madras is approximately 1,150 km away, while IIT Delhi and Kanpur are over 1,300 km away.
The farthest include IIT Guwahati and IIT Kharagpur, which are more than 1,700 km from Pune.

If staying connected to family or minimising travel is a priority, IIT Bombay is the best option.

Admission Cut off Trends

Cut offs vary from year to year, depending on the number of applicants, the difficulty level of the paper, and seat availability.

Top branches like Computer Science, Electrical, and Data Science have the highest cut offs. Here is the cut off for Computer Science across all 23 IITs.

College	Male Open OR	Male Open CR	Female Open OR	Female Open CR
IIT Bombay	1	68	7	421
IIT Delhi	27	116	39	556
IIT Madras	76	159	558	757
IIT Kanpur	120	252	781	1117
IIT Roorkee	277	481	1270	1870
IIT Hyderabad	431	656	1709	1809
IIT Guwahati	466	623	1788	2332
IIT Varanasi	667	1071	2562	4130
IIT Gandhinagar	811	1708	2427	4592
IIT Indore	823	1389	3499	4698
IIT Ropar	1185	2278	1644	6046
IIT Patna	1760	3144	4695	7192
IIT Mandi	1803	3118	6049	6725
IIT Tirupati	1915	5024	5737	6324
IIT Jodhpur	2062	3061	5655	7457
IIT Dhanbad	2167	3846	5560	8682
IIT Bhubaneswar	2389	3685	4833	7557
IIT Jammu	3412	6310	8353	12108
IIT Bhilai	3471	6516	10240	11544
IIT Dharwad	3482	6375	4989	11138
IIT Goa	4070	5371	10256	11151
IIT Palakkad	4837	6199	8303	9127
IIT Kota	14863	24416	25882	34423

*OR = Opening Rank, CR = Closing Rank

These trends show that the top IITs are extremely competitive, especially for popular branches.

Engineering Cut Off Book 2024–25

We’re also sharing the Engineering Cut Off Book (prepared by Abhinav Careers, Pune) as a digital reference.

This e-copy covers:

Branch-wise & category-wise cut offs of IITs, NITs, IIITs, GFTIs
Maharashtra government & private engineering colleges
Admission flowcharts (JoSAA, MHT-CET) & required documents
Info about CSAB, Freeze & Betterment, etc.

Credit: Engineering Cut Off Book 2024–25 prepared by Abhinav Career Scope, Pune | abhinavcareerscope.com | 9922695424 / 8208030557

Disclaimer: This PDF is for reference purposes only. Please consult Abhinav Career Scope or a qualified admission counselor before making final decisions. Neither Rathi’s Aspire Academy nor Abhinav Career Scope takes responsibility for admission outcomes based solely on this data.

Engineering Branches

Popular Branches at IIT	Emerging Branches at IIT
Computer Science and Engineering	Artificial Intelligence
Electronics & Telecommunication	Machine Learning
Electrical Engineering	Data Science
Mechanical Engineering	Materials Science
Civil Engineering	Aerospace Engineering
Chemical Engineering	Environmental Engineering

The availability of branches varies by institute, and newer IITs may not offer all specializations. Always check the official IIT website for the latest details.

Here is the list of branches and the cut-off for each of the branches at IIT Bombay

Branch	Male Open OR	Male Open CR	Female Open OR	Female Open CR
Aerospace Engineering	817	2394	2494	6360
Chemical Engineering	650	2545	4559	6650
Civil Engineering	2244	4046	6334	8833
Computer Science and Engineering	1	68	7	421
Electrical Engineering	15	496	642	1339
Energy Engineering	1905	2689	3767	5537
Engineering Physics	197	1719	1680	3629
Environmental Science and Engineering	3424	4718	8821	9292
Industrial Engineering and Operations Research	1042	1726	3258	4762
Mechanical Engineering	666	1685	1662	4444
Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science	2690	4193	6870	8491

Summary

Choosing the right IIT involves a combination of factors—your JEE rank, branch preference, location convenience, campus facilities, and personal priorities.

If you are aiming for top-tier placements, strong industry connections, and city life, IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi should be high on your list.

Campus life across all IITs is diverse, competitive, and enriching. Regardless of the IIT you get into, the exposure, network, and quality of education will shape your career in meaningful ways.

For Pune-based students, IIT Bombay offers both academic excellence and geographical convenience. However, if you are open to moving farther, each IIT has its own unique culture, opportunities, and strengths.

Let this guide help you decide wisely as you prepare for one of the biggest steps in your academic journey.

Start Your IIT Journey with Rathi’s Aspire Academy

Choosing the right IIT is just one part of your journey. The real preparation starts now, and you need the right guidance, mentorship, and academic environment to reach your dream IIT.

Rathi’s Aspire Academy has been the trusted choice for JEE aspirants across Pune, helping students turn their ambitions into reality with expert faculty, focused classroom sessions, and a proven track record of top results.

Whether you are targeting IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi, or any other premier IIT, Rathi’s Aspire Academy gives you the edge you need.

📍 Wakad Branch
3rd Floor, Valencia Complex
Near Dange Chowk BRTS Stop
Wakad-Thergaon, Pune, Maharashtra 411033
Phone: 77966 31000 | 77966 34000

📍 Pimple Saudagar Branch
701, Vision Flora Commercial Tower
Behind Reliance SMART, Kunal Icon Road
Pimple Saudagar, Pune 411027
Phone: 77966 31000 | 77966 34000

👉 Visit the official website for details, courses, and admissions:
https://aspireacademypune.in/jee-main-advanced-2-year-integrated-program/