Top 10 Innovation Colleges Based on the Latest NIRF Ranking 2025

Innovation is the spirit of progress, and Indian colleges have been demonstrating this from year to year. With the exponential growth in technology, research, and entrepreneurship, the candidates now look for institutes where the degrees are given not only to translate ideas into reality but also to make them deliverable. The Government of India gives annual rankings through the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF), which show the top-performing colleges in various categories, including innovation. The NIRF Innovation Ranking of 2025 becomes even more important because it looks at how well institutions facilitate startups, patents, new technologies, and research-based learning. These rankings are a good guide for the students who aspire to make something unique or lead a change in their respective industries. By the very name, we will take a look at the Top 10 Innovation Colleges in India from the latest NIRF 2025 list. These institutes are teaching the curriculum today; they will groom the leaders, innovators, and problem solvers of tomorrow.

What is NIRF Ranking? 

NIRF stands for National Institutional Ranking Framework. It is an initiative started under the Government of India for ranking colleges and universities across the country. The system works on five main parameters: research, teaching and learning, graduation outcomes, inclusivity, and public perception. These rankings thus help parents and students choose between good institutions while simultaneously motivating colleges to raise standards. Generally, higher-ranked institutions offer better faculty, study materials, placements, opportunities, etc. This very ranking has made life simple for one to choose colleges and gives impetus to healthy competition among Indian educational institutes.

What Parameters Are Considered To Judge The Quality Of The Education Provided By These Universities? 

Five parameters that NIRF uses to check the quality of the education provided by these universities are- research, teaching and learning, graduation outcomes, inclusivity, and public perception. For more detailed information, you can check the table mentioned below- 

Sl. No.	Parameter	Weightage / Marks	Sub-Parameters	Marks
1.0	Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR)	0.30	A. Teacher Student Ratio with emphasis on Permanent Faculty	25
			B. Combined Metric for Faculty with Ph.D. and Experience	25
			C. Metric for Library and Laboratory Facilities	40
			D. Metric for Sports and Extra Curricular Facilities	10
2.0	Research Productivity, Impact and IPR (RPII)	0.40	A. Combined Metric for Publications	45
			B. Combined Metric for Citations	45
			C. Intellectual Property Right	10
3.0	Graduation Outcome (GO)	0.05	A. Combined Performance in University Examinations	50
			B. Combined Performance in Public Examinations	50
4.0	Outreach and Inclusivity (OI)	0.15	A. Outreach Footprint (Continuing Education, Services)	25
			B. Percentage of Students from Other States/Countries	25
			C. Percentage of Women Students and Faculty	20
			D. Percentage of Economically and Socially Disadvantaged Students	20
			E. Facilities for Differently Abled Persons	10
5.0	Perception (PR)	0.10	A. Process for Peer Rating in Category	50
			B. Application to Seat Ratio	50

Top 10 Innovation Colleges based on the NIRF Rankings 2025

You can check the table below to know the latest 2025 NIRF Rankings- 

Rank	Institute ID	Name	City	State
1	IR-l-U-0456	Indian Institute of Technology Madras	Chennai	Tamil Nadu
2	IR-l-U-0306	Indian Institute of Technology Bombay	Mumbai	Maharashtra
3	IR-l-U-0220	Indian Institute of Science	Bengaluru	Karnataka
4	IR-l-U-0573	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Kharagpur	West Bengal
5	IR-l-U-0013	Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur	Kanpur	Uttar Pradesh
6	IR-l-U-1075	Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad	Hyderabad	Telangana
7	IR-l-U-1074	Indian Institute of Technology Delhi	New Delhi	Delhi
8	IR-l-U-0560	Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee	Roorkee	Uttarakhand
9	IR-l-U-0439	Anna University	Chennai	Tamil Nadu
10	IR-l-U-0184	Indian Institute of Technology Mandi	Mandi	Himachal Pradesh

Rank- 1. Indian Institute of Technology Madras (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)

IIT Madras retains the first position in the Top 10 Universities in India 2025. Not only is it the best engineering college, but also the top research institution in Asia.

• Recognized for: Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, and Startups.
• Why it's unique: IIT Madras has an innovation park named IITM Research Park, where industries and students interact. It also has excellent industry connections for placements.
• Campus life: The campus is located in Chennai and is green with even deer and monkeys roaming around freely.

Course	No. of Courses	Tuition Fees	Eligibility	Entrance Exams
Ph.D.	2	Rs. 15K	–	CAT, GATE + 1 More
UG Diploma	2	Rs. 18K	–	–
B.E. / B.Tech	36	Rs. 8 L – Rs. 10 L	10+2 with 75%	JEE Main, JEE Advanced
M.E. / M.Tech	52	Rs. 1 L – Rs. 10 L	10+2 with 75%	GATE, COAP + 2 More
B.Sc.	10	Rs. 8 L – Rs. 10 L	10+2 with 60–75%	IISER Entrance, CBSE 12th + 3 More
M.Sc.	6	Rs. 10K – Rs. 10 L	10+2 with 75%	IIT JAM, GATE + 1 More
MS	19	Rs. 20K	Graduation with 60%	GATE, Tamil Nadu PG Medical
M.A.	3	Rs. 80K	–	GATE
MBA / PGDM	2	Rs. 10 L – Rs. 17 L	Graduation with 60%	CAT
Executive MBA / PGDM	2	Rs. 13 L – Rs. 13.5 L	Graduation with 60%	–

It is the dream college for lakhs of students who study for JEE every year.

Rank 2. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (Mumbai, Maharashtra)

IIT Bombay ranks at the second level in NIRF 2025 University Rankings. Renowned for its world-class infrastructure and international repute, IIT Bombay is among the most desired institutions of India.

• Renowned for: Engineering, Management, Design, and Research.
• Why it's special: IIT Bombay is a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship. It has birthed hundreds of unicorn startup founders. It is renowned for its research across the entire world.
• Campus life: The campus is situated in Mumbai, near Powai Lake, so it is a picturesque and vibrant setting for students.

Course	No. of Courses	Tuition Fees	Eligibility	Exams Accepted
Ph.D.	26	Rs. 21.3 K – Rs. 8.1 L	Graduation: 60%	GATE, IIT JAM +3 more
B.E. / B.Tech	26	Rs. 8 L – Rs. 10 L	10+2: 75%	JEE Main, JEE Advanced
M.E. / M.Tech	74	Rs. 2.7 L – Rs. 10 L	10+2: 75%, Graduation: 60%	GATE, JEE Main
M.Sc.	11	Rs. 2.7 L – Rs. 8.1 L	–	IIT JAM
B.Sc.	4	Rs. 8 L	10+2: 75%	JEE Advanced
MS	3	Rs. 2 L	Graduation: 60%	GATE
M.A.	4	Rs. 2.7 L – Rs. 8.1 L	Graduation: 55–60%	GATE
M.Des	5	Rs. 1 L	Graduation: 55%	CEED
B.Des	1	Rs. 8 L	10+2: 75%	UCEED
MBA / PGDM	2	Rs. 2.7 L – Rs. 10 L	10+2: 75%, Graduation: 60%	CAT, JEE Main
Executive MBA / PGDM	2	Rs. 42 L – Rs. 45 L	–	–

IIT Bombay is not all about studies—there are fantastic cultural and technical fests like Mood Indigo and Techfest too.

Rank- 3. Indian Institute of Science (Bengaluru, Karnataka)

Rank third is the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). It is considered the premier institution in India for advanced research in science and technology. 

• Best Known For: Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, Computer Science, and Biological Sciences.
• Why is it so special? IISc has comparatively better labs and teachers. Most of the great scientific achievements traditionally recorded in India have come out of this place.
• Campus life: Located in Bengaluru, it boasts a calm green campus. Students appreciate both the academics here and the city life.

Courses	Tuition Fees	Eligibility
Ph.D. (11 courses)	Rs. 36 K – Rs. 50.4 K	Exams: IIT JAM, GATE + 1 More
M.E. / M.Tech (56 courses)	Rs. 18 K – Rs. 82.5 K	Graduation: 60–70% Exams: GATE
B.Sc. (8 courses)	Rs. 40 K	10+2: 60% Exams: IISER Entrance Exam, JEE Advanced

For budding research specialists, IISc is the most sought-after choice. 

Rank- 4. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (Kharagpur, West Bengal)

Ranked 4th in the top 10 Indian universities in 2025, IIT Kharagpur is also one of the oldest IITs.

• Popular Courses: Engineering, Law, Management, and Architecture.
• What makes it special: The IIT Kharagpur campus is the largest of all IITs. It boasts excellent international collaborations and is known for innovation.
• Campus life: It is an enclave with hostels, grounds for sports, and cultural activities. 

Courses	No. of Courses	Tuition Fees	Eligibility
Ph.D.	10	Rs. 30 K	Exams: IIT JAM, GATE
B.E. / B.Tech	63	Rs. 8 L – Rs. 8.2 L	10+2: 75% Exams: JEE Main, JEE Advanced
M.E. / M.Tech	100	Rs. 20 K – Rs. 8.2 L	10+2: 75%, Graduation: 60% Exams: GATE, JEE Main + 1 More
B.Sc.	13	Rs. 8 L – Rs. 10 L	10+2: 75% Exams: JEE Advanced, JEE Main
M.Sc.	21	Rs. 30 K – Rs. 10 L	10+2: 75%, Graduation: 55% Exams: IIT JAM, JEE Advanced
MBA / PGDM	3	Rs. 5 L – Rs. 25 L	Graduation: 60% Exams: CAT
B.Arch	1	Rs. 10 L	10+2: 75% Exams: JEE Main, JEE Advanced
M.Arch	1	–	Graduation: 60% Exams: GATE
LL.M.	7	Rs. 2.8 L	Graduation: 60%
M.Plan	1	Rs. 39.9 K	Graduation: 60% Exams: GATE
PG Diploma	1	Rs. 24 L	–
M.A.	2	Rs. 8 L	Graduation: 65% Exams: GATE
Executive MBA / PGDM	1	Rs. 18 L	Graduation: 60%

IIT Kharagpur is dear to its students because of a very strong network of alumni and a wide

Rank- 5. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh)

It follows as fifth in the NIRF 2025 Rankings. It ranks among the finest institutes in computer science and engineering.

• Most valued for: Computer Science, Engineering, Aerospace, and Robotics.
• Why it's special: IIT Kanpur is most known for outstanding research with affiliations to some world-class international universities and super placements.
• Campus life: It is situated in Kanpur, with fairly average facilities, libraries, and labs.

Courses	No. of Courses	Eligibility	Tuition Fees
Ph.D.	22	Exams: JEST, UGC NET + 5 More	Rs. 48.5 K
B.E. / B.Tech	8	10+2: 75% Exams: JEE Main, JEE Advanced	Rs. 8 L
B.Sc.	6	10+2: 75% Exams: JEE Advanced	Rs. 8 L
M.E. / M.Tech	19	Graduation: 55–60% Exams: GATE, COAP	Rs. 20 K – Rs. 8 L
Certificate	47	Graduation: 50%	–
M.Sc.	17	Graduation: 55% Exams: IIT JAM, GATE + 1 More	Rs. 12 K – Rs. 20 K
MBA / PGDM	4	10+2: 60%, Graduation: 55–60% Exams: CAT	Rs. 7 L – Rs. 13.5 L
MMS	12	Graduation: 55% Exams: GATE	Rs. 5.4 L – Rs. 8 L
M.Des	1	Graduation: 55% Exams: CEED	Rs. 20 K
PG Diploma	3	Graduation: 55%	–

Some tech luminaries of the world were brought up in IIT Kanpur.

Rank- 6. Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (Hyderabad, Telangana)

Ranked sixth and is the fastest-growing IIT in India.

• Famous for: Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Robotics.
• Why it's special: The educational system imparted here is modernistic. It is all about innovation and design thinking.
• Campus life: The new campus is designed in the form of a futuristic building, which gives it a contrasting school identity among other IITs.

Course	No. of Courses	Tuition Fees	Eligibility	Entrance Exams
Ph.D.	11	Rs. 3.3 L	–	GATE
B.E. / B.Tech	15	Rs. 8 L	10+2 with 75%	JEE Main, JEE Advanced
M.E. / M.Tech	48	Rs. 24K – Rs. 60K	Graduation with 60–70%	GATE
M.Sc.	4	Rs. 24K	–	IIT JAM
B.Des	1	Rs. 8 L	–	UCEED
M.Des	5	Rs. 24K – Rs. 60K	–	CEED
M.A.	2	Rs. 24K	Graduation with 55%	–

A few years are enough to draw the name of popularity internationally among students all around the globe for IIT Hyderabad.

Rank- 7. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (New Delhi, Delhi)

The seventh position is occupied by IIT Delhi in the NIRF 2025 University Rankings.

• It is famous for: Engineering Courses, Management Courses, and Startups.
• How it differs: IIT Delhi is a renowned institution, and the city of Delhi bestows great international linkages on it. It is known for producing a large number of entrepreneurs and innovators.
• Campus life: With its location in the heart of Delhi, this campus offers a lot of international exposure for students.

Course	No. of Courses	Tuition Fees	Eligibility	Entrance Exams
B.E. / B.Tech	17	Rs. 8 L – Rs. 8.3 L	10+2 with 75%	JEE Main, JEE Advanced
M.E. / M.Tech	46	Rs. 70K – Rs. 8.3 L	10+2 with 75%, Graduation 60%	GATE, JEE Main
M.Sc.	25	Rs. 30K – Rs. 70K	Graduation with 55–60%	IIT JAM, GATE
MBA / PGDM	2	Rs. 12 L	Graduation with 60%	CAT
B.Des	1	Rs. 8 L	–	UCEED
M.A.	2	Rs. 30K – Rs. 70K	Graduation with 55–60%	GATE
M.Des	1	Rs. 70K	Graduation with 60%	CEED
PG Diploma	2	Rs. 2.3 L	–	–
Executive MBA / PGDM	1	Rs. 18 L	Graduation with 60%	–

IIT Delhi is also famous for its culture fest called Rendezvous, which is conducted in different parts of India.

Rank- 8. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (Roorkee, Uttarakhand)

Ranked eighth is IIT Roorkee. One of the oldest technical institutions in Asia.

• For: Civil Engineering, Architecture, and Hydrology.
• What makes it really special: IIT Roorkee is known for having a rich legacy. There is the highest premium placed on research in engineering and science here.
• Campus life: The campus has a quiet and serene atmosphere, located close to the Himalayas.

Course	No. of Courses	Tuition Fees	Eligibility	Entrance Exams
Ph.D.	2	Rs. 35.6K	Masters, UGC-NET	–
B.E. / B.Tech	14	Rs. 8 L – Rs. 10 L	10+2 with 75%	JEE Main, JEE Advanced
M.E. / M.Tech	48	Rs. 20K – Rs. 10 L	10+2 with 75%, Graduation 60%	GATE, JEE Main + 1 More
M.Sc.	11	Rs. 12K – Rs. 8.1 L	10+2 with 75%, Graduation 60%	IIT JAM, JEE Advanced
B.Arch	1	Rs. 10 L	10+2 with 75%	JEE Advanced, AAT
B.Sc.	4	Rs. 8.1 L	10+2 with 75%	JEE Advanced
M.Arch	1	Rs. 20K	–	GATE
MBA / PGDM	1	Rs. 4 L	Graduation with 60%	CAT
M.Plan	1	Rs. 20K	–	GATE
B.Des	1	Rs. 8 L	–	UCEED
M.Des	1	Rs. 20K	–	CEED
PG Diploma	2	Rs. 62.5K – Rs. 70.5K	Graduation with 60%	GATE
Executive MBA / PGDM	1	Rs. 4 L	Graduation with 60%	CAT

IIT Roorkee is loved by students for its legacy and research environment.

Rank- 9. Anna University (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)

Ranked at ninth, Anna University is the only non-IIT institution to appear in the Top 10 Universities, India 2025.

• Famous for: Engineering, Technology, Architecture.
• Why it stands out: Anna University is known for reasonably priced, good-quality education. It is the first choice for Tamil Nadu students as well as those across India.
• Campus life: Being located in Chennai, the University certainly connects with good educational facilities.

Course	No. of Courses	Tuition Fees	Eligibility	Entrance Exams
Ph.D.	103	– / –	–	UGC NET, CSIR NET
B.E. / B.Tech	3363	– / –	10+2 with 45–60%	TNEA, JEE Main + 4 More
MBA / PGDM	290	Rs. 12K – Rs. 6 L	10+2 with 50–60%, Graduation 50–60%	MAT, ATMA + 8 More
M.E. / M.Tech	1421	Rs. 32K – Rs. 7.8 L	10+2 with 45%, Graduation 45–60%	CEETA, AP PGECET + 6 More
MCA	99	Rs. 12K – Rs. 2.6 L	Graduation with 50%	TANCET, AMIE Exam
B.Arch	46	Rs. 1.5 L – Rs. 7.2 L	10+2 with 45–50%	TANATA, JEE Main + 1 More
M.Arch	12	Rs. 50K – Rs. 2.6 L	Graduation with 50%	CEETA, GATE
M.Sc.	34	Rs. 12K – Rs. 7.4 L	10+2 with 75%, Graduation 55%	CBSE 12th, Tamil Nadu 12th + 2 More
B.Sc.	18	Rs. 60K – Rs. 7.4 L	10+2 with 75%	CBSE 12th, Tamil Nadu 12th + 1 More
BBA	4	– / –	–	CBSE 12th, ISC + 1 More
B.Plan	1	Rs. 48K	10+2 with 45%	CBSE 12th, ISC + 1 More
M.Phil	4	Rs. 1.3 L	–	–
B.Com	1	– / –	–	CBSE 12th, ISC + 1 More
M.Plan	1	Rs. 52K	Graduation with 50%	CEETA
B.A.	1	– / –	–	CBSE 12th, ISC + 1 More

Hence, Anna University proves that even a state university can compete with the IITs on quality education.

Rank- 10. Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (Mandi, Himachal Pradesh)

IIT Mandi comes in the top 10 NIRF 2025 University Rankings.

• Renowned for: Clean Energy, Sustainable Development, and Engineering.
• What makes it different: IIT Mandi stands out for its intensive research focusing on technology and sustainability.
• Campus life: The campus is located in the coolest Himalayan landscape and is the most scenic campus in India.

Course	No. of Courses	Tuition Fees	Eligibility	Entrance Exams
Ph.D.	4	– / –	–	GATE, UGC NET + 1 More
B.E. / B.Tech	13	Rs. 8.1 L	10+2 with 75%	JEE Main, JEE Advanced
M.E. / M.Tech	29	Rs. 40K – Rs. 8.1 L	10+2 with 75%, Graduation 60%	GATE, COAP + 3 More
M.Sc.	4	Rs. 44K	–	IIT JAM
MBA / PGDM	1	Rs. 6.8 L	Graduation with 60%	CAT
M.A.	1	Rs. 44K	Graduation with 55%	–
B.Sc.	1	– / –	10+2 with 75%	JEE Advanced

The speed of gaining popularity with different research themes is high in this institute.

Conclusion 

Rankings of NIRF for the year 2025 indicate that IITs have set the benchmark among Indian higher education institutions. Colleges such as Anna University avow that state universities can equally perform at that same level. 

These universities are not just classrooms; innovation, startup activities, and international research flourish within them. They combine just the right mix of education, exposure, and career gains for the students.

If you are looking ahead to your higher studies, then the Top 10 Universities in India 2025 ranking can be a good place to begin. Choose well, and you become the future leaders and change-makers of India.