Top Private Universities NIRF Ranking India	University Ranking		Engineering Ranking
University	NIRF 2023	NIRF 2023	NIRF 2023	NIRF 2022
Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani	20	18	25	29
International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad	84	101-150		62
Manipal Academy of Higher Education	6	7	61	55
Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham	7	5	19	16
Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology	22	31	20	28
Vellore Institute of Technology	8	9	11	12

1. Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS), Pilani:

Established in 1964 by G.D.Birla, BITS Pilani is one of the oldest and most prestigious engineering institutes in India. It has a strong academic curriculum, world-class faculty, and a sprawling, self-sufficient campus. It has campuses in Pilani, Goa and Hyderabad and an off-campus at Dubai.

NIRF Rank (Engineering 2023): 25

Admissions: BITS Pilani conducts its own entrance exam, BITSAT, for admission to its undergraduate programs. For PG programs, admissions are based on GATE scores (for M.E./M.Tech) or BITS HD examination scores. Admission is highly competitive and less intake. No Reservatio of any type.

Courses: Offers a wide range of UG, PG, and PhD programs in engineering and science.

2. International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIITH):

Established in 1998 under the public private partnership(PPP) model by Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Government of Andhra Pradesh and NASSCOM, IIIT Hyderabad is known for its excellence in computer science and related disciplines. The institute offers a dynamic learning environment for students aspiring to excel in the field of technology.

NIRF Rank (Engineering 2023): 55

Admissions: IIITH offers B.Tech admissions through JEE Main, DASA (Direct Admission of Students Abroad), and its own entrance exam, UGEE (Undergraduate Entrance Examination). For M.Tech programs, admissions are based on GATE scores. No Reservatio of any type.

Courses: IIITH primarily focuses on Computer Science, Electronics and Communication Engineering, offering both UG and PG programs. It is renowned for its expertise in Information Technology and related fields.

It also has higher fee structure similar to BITS Pilani and Admission is highly competitive with less intake. BITS Pilani & IIITH are only private universities with higher academic excellance comparabale to that of IITs.

3. Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), Manipal:

Manipal Institute of Technology(MIT) Manipal, part of the Manipal Academy of Higher Education(MAHE), is established in 1957 renowned for its holistic approach to engineering education. The university has campuses in Udupi, Mangalore, Bangalore and sister university in Sikkim and Jaipur in India, and global campuses in Dubai and Malacca. It’s sister private Universities are in Sikkim & Jaipur.

NIRF Rank (Engineering 2023): 61

Admissions: Admission to BTech programs in MIT is through the Manipal Entrance Test (MET). No Reservatio of any type. State universities will have reservation policies.

Courses: Offers various UG, PG, and PhD programs in engineering, management, and sciences.

Fee Structure is similar to VIT and admissions is competitive as Amrita & VIT.

4. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore:

Amrita University is a multi-disciplinary, research-intensive, private deemed-to-be-university founded in 1994 by renowned humanitarian Mata Amritanandamayi. Accredited with ‘A++’ grade by NAAC, It offers more than 250 UG, PG, Integrated and Ph.D. programs in Engineering, Management, Medical & Health Sciences, Architecture & Planning, Sciences, Arts, Commerce & Humanities. It is spread across 9 campuses: Amaravati, Amritapuri(Kollam), Bengaluru, Chennai, Coimbatore, Kochi, Mysuru, Faridabad and Nagercoil. All are off-campuses of same university. It is known for it’s outstanding placement opportunities for all branches.

NIRF Rank (Engineering 2023): 19

Admissions: Amrita conducts its own engineering entrance exam, AEEE, for B.Tech admissions and admits 70% of it’s students via that and 30% via JEE Main. M.Tech admissions is based on GATE. No Reservation of any type.

Courses: Offers various UG, PG, integrated, online and doctoral programs in engineering, management, and sciences.

Fee Structure is lower than other institutes like VIT & SRM. Similar to VIT, It also has various fee slabs which are allotted during admissions based on rank. It’s intake is very small compared to VIT hence more competitive aswell.

5. Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore:

Founded in 1984, VIT deemed University has consistently ranked among the top engineering institutions in India. The institution offers 66 UG, 58 PG, 15 Integrated, 2 Research and 2 M.Tech Industrial Programmes. It has campuses in Vellore and Chennai and sister universities in Amaravati, Bhopal and Bengaluru. VIT-AP, Amaravati & VIT-Bhopal University are independent private state universities owned by same group.

NIRF Rank (Engineering 2023): 11

Admissions: VIT conducts its own engineering entrance exam, VITEEE, for B.Tech admissions and VITMEE, for M.Tech admissions. Basic eligibility criteria is to have 60% score in qualifying examination (HSC/UG) with mandatory subjects.

Courses: Offers various UG, PG, and PhD programs in engineering, technology, management, and applied sciences. Computer Science related branches are renowed and high in number.

Fee Structure is usually higher than other institutes of similar repute like Amrita and SASTRA. It has various fee slabs which are allotted during admissions based on entrance rank. It’s intake is huge in number and higher than any campuses in India.

6. Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala:

Founded in 1956 by Karam Chand Thapar, the Thapar TIET deemed university offers a wide range of courses in Engineering, Computer Applications and IT, Arts and Humanities, etc. It has 250 acre campus in Patiala, Punjab, India

NIRF Rank (Engineering 2023): 20

Admissions: Thapar university Btech admissions is based on JEE Main and HSE/Class 12. For M.Tech, UG mark and GATE scores are considered. It has certain seats reserved for students from state of Punjab.

Courses: Offers various UG, PG, and PhD programs in engineering.

It has lower fee structure compared to other institutes.

7. PES University, Bengaluru

PES is a state private university in Bengaluru, India established in 1988. It offer programs in Engineering, Management, Law, Economics, Commerce, Architecture, Design, Psychology, Arts, Medicine and Life Sciences.

NIRF Rank (Engineering 2023): 101-150 band

Admissions: PES university Btech admissions is based on it’s own PESSAT Exam, Karnataka KCET, JEE Main and management quota. For M.Tech, UG mark and GATE scores are considered. It has certain seats reserved for students from state of Karnataka.

Courses: Offers various UG, PG, and PhD programs in engineering.

It has lower higher structure similar to other institutes like Manipal & VIT.

8. Dhirubhai Ambani Institute of Information and Communication Technology (DA-IICT), Gandhinagar

DA-IICT is a private state university in Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India. It is run by the Dhirubhai Ambani Foundation and is promoted by the Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group. It is named after the Gujarati entrepreneur and Reliance Group founder Dhirubhai Ambani. It is specialised in IT-related fields only.

Admissions: LNMIIT university Btech admissions is based on Gujarat state entrance & JEE Main and M.Tech based on GATE scores. No Reservation of any type. It has certain seats reserved for students from state of Gujarat.

Courses: Offers various UG and PG programs in Computer engineering and IT-related fields only.

It has lower fee structure compared to other institutes of similar repute.

9. LNM Institute of Information Technology (LNMIIT)

The LNM Institute of Information Technology (LNMIIT), is a private deemed university in Jaipur, India. The institute is a public-private partnership venture between the LNM Foundation and the Government of Rajasthan and operates as an autonomous non-profit organization.

Admissions: LNMIIT university Btech admissions is based on JEE Main and M.Tech based on GATE scores. No Reservation of any type.

Courses: Offers various UG and PG programs in Computer engineering and IT-related fields only.

It has lower fee structure compared to other institutes.

10. Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida:

Shiv Nadar University is a private deemed university in Delhi NCR founded in 2011 by Shiv Nadar, the founder and chairman of HCL.

Admissions: SNU Btech admissions is based on Scholastic Aptitude Test (SNUSAT) and JEE Main. For M.Tech, UG mark and GATE scores are considered. It gives scholarships for school toppers and sports achievers.

Courses: Offers various undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in engineering, management, humanities, and science.

It has similar fee structure compared to other institutes.

Other Top Private Universities

Other popular private universities include:

• SASTRA University, Thanjavur
• SRM Institute of Science and Technology
• Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology
• Amity University
• Lovely Professional University
• Chandigarh University

Advantages of Private Universities:

• Academic Excellence: Private universities often have a reputation for offering high-quality education. They tend to have well-qualified faculty, advanced research facilities, and rigorous academic programs than most state university affiliated colleges.
• Autonomy: Private universities have a degree of autonomy in terms of curriculum development, research priorities, and administrative decisions. This allows them to adapt quickly to changing educational and technological landscapes than government run institutions.
• Research Opportunities: Many private universities like Amrita, BITS Pilani have a strong focus on research and innovation. They often collaborate with industry and government organizations, providing students with ample opportunities for hands-on research experiences.
• State-of-the-Art Infrastructure: Private universities typically invest heavily in infrastructure, including modern classrooms, well-equipped laboratories, libraries, and recreational facilities. This enhances the overall learning experience for students. This is not typically available in state colleges.
• Industry Connections: Due to their reputation and research activities, top private universities often have strong ties with industries. This can lead to better internship and job placement opportunities for students.
• Flexible Admission Criteria: Most private universities offer flexible admission criteria, considering various entrance exam scores and academic criteria, without social-economic reservation policies. They also offer scholarship programs.
• Diverse Academic Offerings: Private universities often offer a wide range of programs across various disciplines, allowing students to explore and specialize in their areas of interest. Especially they offer courses in new interdisiplinary areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, etc.

Disadvantages of Private Universities:

• Fee Structure: Private universities first disadvantage is that it have higher tuition fees compared to government-funded institutions and affiliated colleges. This can be a significant financial burden for students and their families. Although banks are ready to give loan to students if they are admitted into any of these esteemed institutions.
• Limited Government Scholarships: Government scholarships and financial aid options may be more readily available for students in government-funded institutions, compared to those in deemed universities. It includes TamilNadu gov First Graduate Scholarship.
• Crowded Classrooms: Some universities, particularly VIT, SRM and Manipal, have huge intake for certain programs and larger class sizes, which can limit individual attention and interactions with professors. It also affects during placements because of heavy internal competition resulting in lesser average, median offer packages.
• Miuse of Autonomy: There are several reports of some lower tier deemed universities, misusing it’s autonomy in admission, fee, academics by awarding fake degree, bad admissions policy, higher fee, lower quality of Education.

Top Private Universities in India for Engineering- FAQs

What are the top private deemed universities for engineering in India?

Among the top private deemed universities for engineering in India are BITS Pilani, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, International Institute of Information Technology Hyderabad (IIITH), Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT), and others, known for their academic excellence, infrastructure, and industry connections.

How do admissions work in these deemed universities?

BTech Admissions typically involve entrance exams like BITSAT (BITS Pilani), VITEEE (VIT), AEEE (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham), MET(Manipal) and institute-specific exams. Some universities also consider JEE Main or GATE scores for admissions. Criteria often include academic performance in qualifying examinations as well.

What distinguishes these universities from government-funded institutions?

Private deemed universities offer autonomy in curriculum design, advanced infrastructure, strong industry connections, and a focus on research opportunities. They often have a wider range of disciplines and are known for their academic rigor.

Are there disadvantages to attending these private deemed universities?

While these universities offer excellent education, they might have higher tuition fees compared to government-funded institutions. Additionally, larger class sizes in some universities can limit individual attention and access to scholarships.

How competitive are admissions to these deemed universities?

Admissions to top private deemed universities are highly competitive due to their stringent entrance exams and limited seats. Some universities like VIT ,SRM, and LPU have substantial intake, resulting in easier admission but higher fee strcuture.

What are the advantages of choosing a private deemed university for engineering education?

Private deemed universities provide state-of-the-art infrastructure, industry connections, diverse academic programs, research opportunities, and flexibility in admission criteria. They often offer interdisciplinary courses and foster a culture of innovation and academic excellence.

Are all private deemed Universities better than state university affiliated colleges?

No. There are nearly 100 deemed-universities. But only handful of top 10 fare well in lines with academic reputation of NITs. Many top state colleges like DTU, NSUT, IIITD (Delhi), RVCE, MSRIT (Karnataka), COEP(Pune), PSG Tech, SSN, CEG(Tamil Nadu) are much better than lower deemed Universities. These can be equally prefered with top 10 private deemed universities & newer NITs.

What are the popular Engineering majors in India?

Common BTech branches offered at IITs, NITs, and other engineering institutions are: Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE), Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EE), Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Aerospace Engineering, Biotechnology/Bioengineering, Industrial and Production Engineering, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering and Mathematics and Computing Engineering (M&C).