The higher education system of India has undergone rapid expansion over the past few decades, given it has the world’s second-largest population and an economy that has been growing at an exponential pace. Consisting of thousands of colleges and universities, some central/state-run, and others privately funded, individuals who wish to pursue their higher education in the country have a plethora of options to pick from. 

Top 10 Universities in India

India’s higher education system is arguably one of the largest in the world. Out of many institutions, a select few have been able to establish a national and global reputation of being premium institutes of education. India’s top universities consist mostly of the Institutes of Technology (IITs) and a few other government-funded universities. 

1. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IITB), Mumbai
2. Indian Institute of Science (IISC), Bangalore
3. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD), Delhi 
4. Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM), Chennai
5.  Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IITKGP), Kharagpur
6. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IITK), Kanpur
7. University of Delhi, Delhi 
8. University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
9. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR), Roorkee
10. Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati (IITG), Guwahati

Ranking of Top Universities in India

Numerous factors testify as to why the top universities in India are considered to be the best in the country. Their rankings on the global university ranking system are one of them. Given below are the top universities of India and their rankings on several ranking systems.

1. Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay 
   1. #154 QS World University Ranking
   2. #8 BRICS Rankings
   3. #54 Times Higher Education Asia University Ranking
2. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
   1. #184 QS World University Ranking
   2. #10 BRICS Rankings
   3. #29 Times Higher Education Asia University Ranking
3. Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
   1. #182 QS World University Ranking
   2. #18 BRICS Rankings
   3. #91 Times Higher Education Asia University Ranking
4. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
   1. #271 QS World University Ranking
   2. #17 BRICS Rankings
   3. #120 Times Higher Education Asia University Ranking
5. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 
   1. #281 QS World University Ranking
   2. #23 BRICS Rankings
   3. #76 Times Higher Education Asia University Ranking
6. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
   1. #291 QS World University Ranking
   2. #25 BRICS Rankings
   3. #82 Times Higher Education Asia University Ranking
7. University of Delhi
   1. #474 QS World University Ranking
   2. #42 BRICS Rankings
   3. #156 Times Higher Education Asia University Ranking
8. University of Hyderabad
   1. #601-650 QS World University Ranking
   2. #36 BRICS Rankings
   3. #4 National Institute Ranking Framework Ranking
9. Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
   1. #383 QS World University Ranking
   2. #47 BRICS Rankings
   3. #154 Times Higher Education Asia University Ranking
10. Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati 
    1. #491 QS World University Ranking
    2. #48 BRICS Rankings
    3. #143 Times Higher Education Asia University Ranking

Top 50 Universities in India

Over the past few decades, numerous Indian universities have acquired a global reputation. Given below are the top 50 universities in India, according to the renowned QS World University Rankings. While most are government-funded, there are a few privately-funded ones too.

1. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay 
2. Indian Institute of Science
3. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
4. Indian Institute of Technology Madras
5. Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur
6. Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur
7. University of Delhi 
8. University of Hyderabad
9. Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee
10. Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati
11. University of Calcutta
12. Jadavpur University
13. Indian Institute of Technology Indore
14. Savitribai Phule Pune University
15. Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad
16. Anna University
17. University of Mumbai
18. Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani
19. Banaras Hindu University
20. Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar
21. Jamia Milia Islamia
22. Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai
23. Symbiosis International (Deemed University)
24. Alagappa University, Karaikudi
25. Indian Institute of Technology Ropar
26. Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal
27. National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirappalli
28. Vellore Institute of Technology
29. National Institute of Technology Rourkela
30. Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
31. Aligarh Muslim University
32. JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research
33. Osmania University
34. Tamil Nadu Agriculture University
35. Tezpur University
36. Indian Institute of Technology Patna
37. G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar
38. Bangalore University 
39. Annamalai University
40. Indian Institute of Information Technology, Allahabad
41. Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham 
42. Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, Delhi
43. Amity University
44. Sri Venkateswara University
45. University of Calicut
46. Indian Institute of Technology Dhanbad
47. Andhra University 
48. Mangalore University
49. University of Kerala
50. Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (Deemed to be University)

Top Universities in India for MBA

Individuals who wish to acquire a degree in Master of Business Administration (MBA) can opt for specializations in finance, human resource, marketing, information technology, international business, etc. The top universities in India for MBA consists of some Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and a few renowned private management institutes. 

1. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
2. Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore
3. Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
4. Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur
5. Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow
6. Indian Institute of Management, Indore 
7. Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode
8. Management Development Institute, Gurgaon
9. S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai
10. Indian School of Business, Hyderabad

Top Universities in India for Engineering 

An education field that is highly sought after by students across the country, India, has up to 4,658 engineering institutes. A select few exhibit indicators of academic excellence as they have highly trained teaching faculty and extensive resources. Listed below are the top universities in India for Engineering.

1. Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay 
2. Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
3. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
4. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
5. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur
6. Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
7. Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati
8. Indian Institute of Technology, Hyderabad
9. Indian Institute of Technology, Varanasi
10. Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

Top Universities in India for Law

The study of law has expanded and consists of several branches, including criminal law, business law, environmental law, intellectual property law, etc. Individuals interested in pursuing law for their higher education or who wish to establish a career in the field due to the ever-increasing demand of lawyers have many premium institutes to choose from.

1. National Law School of India University, Bangalore
2. NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
3. West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata
4. Law Centre, Delhi University, Delhi
5. National Law University, Delhi
6. National Law Institute University, Bhopal
7. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
8. Symbiosis International University, Pune
9. ILS Law College, Pune
10. Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur

Top Universities in India for Commerce

Rapid Industrialization and the exponential growth of different sectors have opened a floodgate of avenues and opportunities for students with a commerce background. The area of study consists of various disciplines such as the study of trade and business, marketing, economics, accountancy, finance, etc. Listed below are the top institutes in India for commerce.

1. Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi 
2. Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi 
3. Loyola College, Chennai
4. Christ University, Bangalore 
5. St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai 
6. Anil Surendra Modi School of Commerce, Mumbai 
7. Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune 
8. St. Joseph’s College, Bangalore 
9. Hansraj College, Delhi
10. Madras Christian College, Chennai

Distance Education Top Universities in India

The top distance learning universities and institutes in India offer a wide variety of under-graduate and post-graduate courses. Furthermore, regular universities also offer distance learning programs to serve the educational needs of millions of students in India. 

1. Indira Gandhi National Open University
2. Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning
3. Sikkim Manipal University 
4. IMT Distance and Open Learning Institute 
5. Madhya Pradesh Bhoj (Open) University
6. Dr. BR Ambedkar Open University
7. Netaji Subhas Open University 
8. Maharshi Dayanand University
9. Karnataka State Open University
10. Acharya Nagarjuna University 

Top Universities in India for MSc

For aspirants aiming to build their careers in science-related fields, they would most likely opt for Masters of Science (MSc) for their post-graduate studies. India has numerous universities that offer some of the best MSc courses in different disciplines such as mathematics, statistics, physics, computer science, etc. Listed below are the top institutes in India for MSc.

1. Loyola College, Chennai
2. Miranda House, Delhi
3. Hindu College, Delhi
4. St. Stephen’s College, Delhi 
5. Madras Christian College, Chennai 
6. Kirori Mal College, Delhi 
7. Hansraj College, Delhi 
8. Christ (Deemed University), Bangalore 
9. Stella Maris College, Chennai 
10. Sri Venkateswara College, Delhi

Top Universities in India for PhD

A Ph.D. is a multifaceted course, and one can opt for a plethora of streams/ fields when acquiring the degree. India has some of the best universities which offer PhDs in various disciplines such as management, science, arts and humanities, engineering, information technology, etc. Listed below are the top universities in India for Ph.D.

1. Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay 
2. Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore
3. Indian Institute of Technology, Madras
4. Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi
5. Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 
6. Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur
7. University of Delhi
8. University of Hyderabad
9. Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee
10. Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati 

Top Universities in India for BSc

Since science is a popular stream of study, many students choose to pursue their higher education in the discipline by opting for a Bachelor of Science (BSc). The degree allows individuals to establish a career in a technical or non-technical field. Listed below are the top universities in India for BSc.

1. Loyola College, Tamil Nadu 
2. St. Xavier’s College, West Bengal
3. St. Xavier’s College, Gujarat
4. St. Stephen’s College, New Delhi 
5. Madras Christian College, Tamil Nadu
6. Presidency College, Tamil Nadu
7. Fergusson College, Pune
8. Christ University, Karnataka
9. Mount Carmel College, Karnataka
10. Hansraj College, New Delhi 

Top Universities in India for MCA

The IT industry has grown exponentially over the past two decades. A Master of Computer Applications (MCA) is a renowned post-graduate course in India that prepares students to meet the demands of the ever-changing industry. Listed below are the top universities in India for MCA.

1. University of Pune, Maharashtra
2. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
3. University of Hyderabad, Telangana
4. National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu
5. Birla Institute of Technology, Rajasthan
6. National Institute of Technology Surathkal, Karnataka
7. Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Uttar Pradesh
8. PSG College of Technology, Tamil Nadu
9. National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Orissa
10. ITM University, Madhya Pradesh

Top Universities in India for Arts

The field of art consists of many subjects and disciplines such as literature, languages, law, history, performing arts, religion, philosophy, psychology, sociology, etc. Listed below are the top institutes in India for arts.

1. St. Stephen’s College, Delhi
2. Hindu College, Delhi
3. Miranda House, Delhi
4. Kirori Mal College, Delhi 
5. Madras Christian College, Chennai 
6. Hansraj College, Delhi
7. Loyola College, Chennai
8. Christ University, Bangalore
9. Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi
10. Gargi College, Delhi

Top Universities in India for Economics

Economics allows one to develop an awareness of the financial structure of the world. Pursuing this discipline results in students understanding how businesses work, how markets are to be analyzed, how informed decisions are to be made, etc. Listed below are the top institutes in India for Economics.

1. Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi
2. St. Stephens College, Delhi
3. Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi
4. Miranda House, Delhi
5. St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata
6. Loyola College, Chennai
7. Christ University, Bangalore
8. Presidency University, Kolkata
9. Madras Christian College, Chennai
10. Hindu College, Delhi 

Top Universities in India for Psychology 

Psychology is a discipline that concerns the study of human behavior and mental processes. The subject is unique since it is considered both an art and a science. For that reason, students who wish to pursue psychology can opt for a BA or BSc at the undergraduate level. Listed below are the top institutes in India for psychology.

1. Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Delhi 

2. Jesus and Mary College, Delhi 

3. Jai Hind College, Mumbai

4. Fergusson College, Pune

5. Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi 

6. Mithibai College, Mumbai

7. Christ University, Bangalore

8. St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai

10. Kamala Nehru College for Women, Delhi

Top Universities in India for Humanities

Students interested in pursuing their higher education in the humanities field have numerous disciplines to choose from and can acquire specializations/ majors accordingly. Furthermore, humanities-oriented careers have taken off due to which they need for institutions providing quality education has increased. Listed below are the top institutes in India for humanities.

1. St. Stephen’s College, Delhi 
2. Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi 
3. Loyola College, Chennai 
4. Christ University, Bangalore
5. Hindu College, Delhi 
6. Miranda House, Delhi 
7. Fergusson College, Pune 
8. Madras Christian College, Chennai 
9. Hansraj College, Delhi 
10. Ramjas College, Delhi

Top Universities in India for Hotel Management 

Tourism and hospitality are some of the fastest-growing industries in the country. The sector is in constant need of skilled professionals, and so a career in hotel management is promising. Listed below are the top institutes in India for hotel management.

1. Institute of Hotel Management, Delhi
2. Welcomgroup Graduate School of Hotel Administration, Manipal
3. Institute of Hotel Management, Mumbai
4. Institute of Hotel Management, Chennai
5. Institute of Hotel Management, Bangalore
6. Institute of Hotel Management, Hyderabad
7. Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, Delhi
8. Institute of Hotel Management, Lucknow
9. Institute of Hotel Management, Kolkata
10. Institute of Hotel Management, Gwalior

Top Universities in India for Architecture

India has numerous architecture schools offering different degree programs where students can specialize in fields such as landscape architecture, civil engineering, building construction, and urban & industrial planning, to name a few. Listed below are the top institutes in India for architecture.

1. Indian Institute Of Technology, Kharagpur
2. Indian Institute Of Technology, Roorkee
3. National Institute Of Technology, Calicut 
4. School of Planning and Architecture, Delhi
5. College of Engineering, Thiruvananthapuram
6. School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal
7. National Institute Of Technology, Tiruchirappalli
8. Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi
9. School of Planning and Architecture, Vijayawada
10. Birla Institute of Technology, Ranchi