Your Guide To Top Universities in 2025

Building a successful career begins with the right education. At upGrad, we work with and partner with some of India’s top universities to make quality learning accessible. Our partners include OP Jindal Global University, IMT Ghaziabad, BIMTECH, and technology leaders like IIIT Bangalore.

Together, we offer programs in management, technology, design, arts, and humanities, so you can find a course that matches your goals. Whether you want to upskill, change careers, or grow in your current job, upGrad links you to universities that blend strong academics with real-world relevance.

To know more, continue reading about our partnered universities:-

1. IIIT Bangalore

- IIIT Bangalore in collaboration with upGrad provides courses such as:

* Executive Diploma in Machine Learning and AI
* Executive Diploma in Generative AI for Leaders
* Executive PG Certification in AI-Powered full stack development.

- IIIT Bangalore ranked 81 in 2024, 74 in 2023 and 2022 as well, according to the NIRF.

- Most Opted Course at IIIT Bangalore: B.Tech and Integrated M.Tech programs in Computer Science

- Exams through Admission: JEE, GATE, CAT, CEED

2. BIMTECH

- BIMTECH in collaboration with upGrad provides courses such as:

* Post Graduate Diploma in Management - Online PGDM Courses (BIMTECH)

- BIMTECH ranked 64 in 2024, 48 in 2023, and 56 in 2022, according to the NIRF.

- Most Opted Course at BIMTECH: Post Graduate Diploma in Management and PGDM in International Business (PGDM-IB)

- Exam through Admission: CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, GMAT

3. IIM Kozhikode

- IIM Kozhikode in collaboration with upGrad provides courses such as:

* HR Analytics Course Certification from IIM-K
* Professional Certificate Program in General Management from IIM-K
* Professional Certificate Program in Marketing and Sales Management from IIM-K

- IIM Kozhikode ranked 3 in both 2024 and 2023, and 5 in 2022 according to the NIRF.

- Most Opted Course at IIM Kozhikode: Post Graduate Program in Management

- Exam through Admission: CAT, GRE, EMAT, GMAT

4. IMT Ghaziabad

- IMT Ghaziabad in collaboration with upGrad provides courses such as:

* Advanced General Management Program

- IMT Ghaziabad ranked 35 in 2024, 38 in 2023, and 44 in 2022 according to the NIRF.

- Most Opted Course at IMT Ghaziabad: Post Graduate Diploma in Management Marketing, Post Graduate Diploma in Management Finance.

- Exam through Admission: CAT, GMAT, XAT

5. MICA

- MICA in collaboration with upGrad provides courses such as:

* Advanced Certificate in Digital Marketing and Communication

- MICA ranked 32 in 2024, 37 in 2023, and 42 in 2022 according to the NIRF.

- Most Opted Course at MICA: Post Graduate Diploma in Management – Communications, Post Graduate Diploma in Management.

- Exam through Admission: CAT, XAT, GMAT, MICAT

6. OP Jindal Global University

- OP Jindal Global University in collaboration with upGrad provides courses such as:

* MBA from O.P.Jindal Global University
* MBA in Business & Law from O.P.Jindal Global University
* MBA (with Career Acceleration Program by upGrad)

- The No.1 Private University in India by the QS World University Rankings 2023, for the third year in a row.

- Most Opted Course at OP Jindal Global University: B.B.A. + MBA Integrated Program, B.Com. (Hons.)

- Exam through Admission: JSAT / LSAT-India / CLAT/ SAT / ACT / NMAT/CAT/MAT/XAT/CMAT/ATMA

Take the next step toward your academic and professional journey with confidence.

India hosts some of the world’s most prestigious engineering institutions. These universities are known for world-class education, cutting-edge research, and global recognition.

Leading universities for engineering include:

• Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs)

• National Institutes of Technology (NITs)

• Indian Institutes of Information Technology (IIITs)

For undergraduate programs like B.Tech, aspirants must clear the JEE Main (for NITs, IIITs, and other central institutes) and JEE Advanced (for IITs). For postgraduate programs such as M.Tech, admissions are primarily through the GATE exam. Doctoral admissions often involve national-level tests, institute-specific criteria, and interviews.

Following are the best IITs and NITs in India according to the ranks provided by the NIRF:

Best IITs in India

• IIT Bombay – known for Computer Science, Electrical, and Mechanical Engineering.

• IIT Delhi – strong in Computer Science, Civil, and Mechanical Engineering.

• IIT Madras – top-ranked in NIRF; excels in Electrical, Mechanical, and Chemical Engineering.

• IIT Kanpur – highly reputed for Computer Science, Aerospace, and Electrical Engineering.

• IIT Kharagpur – oldest IIT, famous for Civil, Mechanical, and Metallurgical Engineering.

Best NITs in India

• NIT Trichy (Tiruchirappalli) – leading NIT, strong in Mechanical and Computer Science.

• NIT Surathkal (Karnataka) – reputed for Civil and Computer Science.

• NIT Warangal (Telangana) – popular for Electronics and Communication, and Computer Science.

• NIT Rourkela (Odisha) – recognized for Metallurgical, Electrical, and Computer Science.

• NIT Calicut (Kerala) – strong in Architecture, Electrical, and Computer Science.

To gain a successful admission which for aspiring engineers, choosing the right specialization is crucial, following are the most sought-after engineering courses:

Most Sought-After Engineering Courses

• Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) – most competitive and in-demand globally.

• Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) – key for telecom, IoT, and chip design.

• Mechanical Engineering – evergreen branch with wide applications in industries.

• Electrical Engineering – crucial for power systems, automation, and electronics.

• Civil Engineering – high demand in infrastructure and construction sectors.

India’s leading management universities have built a global reputation for shaping business leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers. Consistently ranked in the NIRF, these universities are known for excellence in teaching, research, and placements.

Leading institutions include:

1. Indian Institute of Management (IIM)
2. IIT Department of Management Studies (IIT DMS)

Admission to these institutions is highly competitive, requiring candidates to clear the CAT entrance exam. This rigorous process ensures that only the most talented individuals are selected, further enhancing the reputation of these B-schools.

The Following are the best IIMs and IITs in India according to the ranks provided by the NIRF, and to know more in detail, please visit the university pages listed below:

Best IIMs in India:

1. IIM Ahmedabad: Ranked No. 1 in India for management by NIRF 2024. Master’s programs in Management and Agri-Business Management (PGP and FABM)

2. IIM Bangalore: Ranked No. 2 in India by NIRF 2024. Strong in Analytics and offers niche programs like PGPSEM (Software Enterprise Management) and PGPPM for public policy.

3. IIM Kozhikode: Ranked No. 3 in India by NIRF 2024. Focuses on streams like Finance and Liberal Studies Management (LSM) alongside PGP.

4. IIM Delhi: Ranked No.4 in India by NIRF 2024. IIM Delhi offers the flagship PGP along with Public Policy/Management programs.

5. IIM Calcutta: Ranked No.5 in India by NIRF 2024. Known for Management and Business Analytics (PGDBA, in collaboration with ISI & IIT Kharagpur).

To gain a successful admission for an aspiring management program, choosing the right specialization is crucial, and the NIRF Ranking of 2024.

Best IITs in India:

1. IIT Delhi (DoMS): Offers a broad-spectrum MBA (General) with functional specializations in Finance, Marketing, Operations, IT, HR, plus a specialized MBA in Telecommunication Systems Management.

2. IIT Bombay (SJMOS): Offers MBA, Executive MBA, PhD; covers areas like Accounting & Finance, Strategy, HR & OB, IT, Marketing, Operations & Technology Management.

3. IIT Madras (DoMS): Offers MBA, Executive MBA, MS (by Research), and PhD in diverse areas including Finance, Operations, HR & OB, Marketing, Systems & IT, Technology Management, General Management, and Strategic/Quantitative fields.

4. IIT Roorkee (DoMS): MBA and PhD offerings with majors in Finance, Marketing, HR, Operations, Information Systems, and General Management.

The Open Universities in India offers flexible, affordable, and accessible education for learners who seek to grow knowledge through distance learning. To provide credibility, these universities are recognized by the University Grant Commission- Distance Education Bureau (UGG-DEB). 

Who Benefits from Open Universities? 

• Open universities are significantly helpful for working professionals who seek to upskill for new opportunities while working.  

• Homemakers who wish to pursue or continue their education at their own pace.  

• They assist students in remote or rural areas where access to traditional universities is limited.  

Academic Programs Offered:  

The programs in the Open Universities are provided across various disciplines like Arts, Science, Commerce, Management, and other interdisciplinary fields at different levels like- 

• Undergraduate (UG) Degrees 

• Postgraduate (PG) Degrees 

• Diploma and Certificate Courses 

Ph.D. Programs (Offered in regular/part-time mode as per UGC norms) 

Top Ranked Open Universities in India – NIRF 2024 
So if you are wondering which is the best Open University in India, then the well-known and reputed one is Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).  The open universities in India are ranked officially, but only the top three are part of the NIRF ranking 2024. Refer to the table below to check out the other two notable ones.  

Open University NIRF Ranking 2024 

Key Distance Education Bureau (DEB) Stats:  

• As of 2025, there are 15 recognized Open Universities in India, comprising 1 National Open University (IGNOU) and 14 State Open Universities.   

• Over 200 dual-mode universities now offer distance learning programs. 

• Around 25% of higher education students in India study through distance learning. 

• There are about 250 Open Distance Learning institutions, including central, state, deemed, and private universities. 

To know more about the top open universities in India in depth, check out the lists given below, where you can visit the pages of each university for detailed analysis.