51 best universities in India in 2026
Ranking based on the average of the three main global rankings: Shanghai (ARWU), Times Higher Education and QS.
Indian Institute of Science
Average rank: #325
No. 1Indian Institute of Science
India's most prestigious research institution, founded in Bangalore in 1909 by Jamsetji Tata.
No. 2Indian Institute of Technology Madras
India's No.1 IIT, founded in 1959 in Chennai, a world leader in technological innovation.
No. 3Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
Top-tier IIT in New Delhi, highly ranked worldwide and a driver of Indian startups.
No. 4Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Top-ranked IIT in Mumbai, the cradle of founders of India's biggest startups.
No. 5University of Delhi
Legendary public university in New Delhi (1922), home to some of India's finest colleges.
No. 6VIT Vellore
Major private university in Tamil Nadu, highly popular for engineering and graduate placements.
No. 7Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani
Elite private institute founded in 1964, famous for its no-mandatory-attendance pedagogy.
No. 8Jawaharlal Nehru University
Central research university in New Delhi, a world reference in social sciences and languages.
No. 9Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
India's first IIT (1951), on the legendary Kharagpur campus in eastern India.
No. 10Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
Legendary IIT founded in 1959 with US assistance, a pioneer of Indian computing.
No. 11Indian Institute of Technology (BHU) Varanasi
IIT integrated into the venerable Banaras Hindu University, a unique setup in India since 1919.
No. 12Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
Dynamic IIT in Telangana, a pioneer of frugal innovation and applied research.
No. 13Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology
Historic private engineering institute in Patiala, founded in 1956, among India's best.
No. 14Institute of Chemical Technology
Leading institute in Mumbai, world No.1 in chemical engineering and pharmaceutical technology.
No. 15S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology
Large private university in Chennai, highly popular for engineering and medicine.
No. 16Manipal Academy of Higher Education
Legendary private education group in Karnataka, a reference in medicine and engineering since 1953.
No. 17Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
Asia's oldest engineering school (1847), a major IIT specializing in civil and water engineering.
No. 18Amity University
India's most international private university group, based in Noida with campuses worldwide.
No. 19Jamia Millia Islamia
Historic central university in New Delhi, founded in 1920, renowned for arts, media and law.
No. 20Shiv Nadar University
Private research university near Delhi, founded in 2011 by the founder of HCL.
No. 21Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology
Highly international private university in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, founded in 1992.
No. 22Institute of National Importance (AIIMS New Delhi)
India's most prestigious public medical institution, founded in 1956 in New Delhi.
No. 23Banaras Hindu University
Legendary public university in Varanasi founded in 1916, one of Asia's largest.
No. 24Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
IIT of northeast India with a stunning Brahmaputra riverside campus, strong in design and computing.