What are the best design schools in India?

The top design schools include NID Ahmedabad, IDC IIT Bombay, Srishti Manipal (Bangalore), and NIFT Delhi.

Which design college has the best placement?

NID Ahmedabad and IIT Bombay consistently lead with salary packages ranging from ₹10-22 LPA, while Pearl Academy holds a 95%+ placement record.

Best Design Colleges in India 2026-27: Rankings, Fees, and Admissions

Pooja Singh
February 9, 2026

Nowadays, in India, design specialization is in huge demand among aspirants. To know about the fundamentals of designing and its apps, our curated designing courses will help you succeed.

Design is an interdisciplinary field; students from any academic stream (Arts, Commerce, or Science) are eligible to apply for most undergraduate design programs. Many opportunities are available for candidates like you who want to make their career in design.

If you are looking to become an expert in the field of design, then this post will help you. Here, we have covered all the information about the best “design colleges in India” for the 2026-2027 academic year.

Along with these, you will also get information relating to eligibility criteria and fees demanded by the college for each course. This post will help the aspirants to get answers to their queries.

Highlight!

No. Of colleges	~1900
Course details	Graphic design, UI/UX, Product design, Fashion design, etc.
Eligibility Criteria	Passed 10+2 from a well-recognized board (Any stream)
Entrance exams	NID DAT, UCEED (UG), CEED (PG), NIFT
Fee details	Approx ₹3 – ₹30.82 lakhs (Range covers Govt & Private)
Placement	Excellent (Highest up to ₹30-52 LPA)
Ranking	NIRF 2025 & Globally Recognized

Eligibility Criteria

Design courses are offered at both UG and PG levels. As per the course and branch selected by the candidate, the eligibility criteria vary. Given below are the eligibility criteria for UG and PG Design courses:

UG level: Students from any stream are able to choose Design courses offered at the UG level. These courses are offered to those candidates who have passed 12th from a recognized board. Depending on the course, the duration will be three to four years.

PG level: Candidates must have passed graduation from a recognized institute with minimum passing marks. At the PG level, the Design course duration is typically two years (M.Des).

Admission Process (Updated for 2026-27)

There is a multi-stage entrance process for UG courses. For UG admissions, candidates must clear exams like NID DAT (Prelims & Mains), UCEED, or NIFT. It is important to note that UCEED is exclusively for Undergraduate admissions.

Besides, to take admission to the PG courses, aspirants need to qualify for the entrance exam conducted by the college or national bodies. These include CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design) and NID DAT for M.Des programs.

Note: Entrance exams are only half the battle. Top-tier colleges now require a Creative Portfolio and a Studio Test/Interview round. A student passing the written exam must still demonstrate practical creativity to secure a seat.

Some of the top 10 Design Colleges in India 2026

1. National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad:

Established in 1961, it remains the “Institution of National Importance.” Admission is strictly based on the NID DAT Prelims and Mains.

NIRF 2025 Rank: #1 (Innovation & Design Category).
2026-27 Fees: ₹19.19 Lakhs for the 4-year B.Des program. First-year fees are approximately ₹4.51 Lakhs.
Placements: Average package is ₹8–12 LPA; Highest domestic package recorded at ₹30 LPA.

2. Industrial Design Centre (IDC), IIT Bombay:

IDC is world-renowned for Interaction Design and Mobility Design. It offers a unique dual degree (B.Des + M.Des) option at the end of the 3rd year.

NIRF 2025 Rank: #3 (Engineering Category).
2026-27 Fees: Total B.Des fee is ₹8.83 Lakhs. First-year payment is approx ₹2.36 Lakhs.
Placements: Exceptional recruitment from Microsoft, Uber, and Google with an average CTC of ₹18 LPA.

3. NIFT, Delhi:

Established in 1986, it is the leader in fashion technology and management education.

NIRF 2025 Rank: #1 (Fashion).
2026-27 Fees: ₹14.09 Lakhs for 4 years. Semi-annual tuition fee is roughly ₹1.50 Lakhs.
Placements: Over 95% placement rate with top brands like Adidas and H&M.

4. SMIADT (Srishti Manipal), Bangalore:

Now a constituent unit of the MAHE (Deemed University), Srishti is famous for its experimental and multi-disciplinary approach.

Ranking: #1 Private Design School in multiple industry surveys.
2026-27 Fees: High investment for premium education, totaling ₹30.82 Lakhs for the B.Des program.
Placements: Strong ties with Wipro, Infosys, and international design firms.

5. IIT, Guwahati:

The Department of Design (DoD) at IIT Guwahati provides a tech-heavy design curriculum. Admission requires a valid UCEED score.

NIRF 2025 Rank: #7 (Engineering Category).
2026-27 Fees: Total fee is approx ₹9.04 Lakhs. First-year academic fee is ₹2.44 Lakhs.
Placements: Highest package reached ₹52 LPA with an average of ₹28 LPA in 2025.

6. MIT Institute of Design (MITID), Pune:

Part of the MIT-ADT University, it is one of India’s oldest and most respected private design institutes.

Ranking: Top 5 Private Institutes.
2026-27 Fees: Tuition for 4 years is ₹17.8 Lakhs. With hostel and mess, total 1st-year fee is ₹6.87 Lakhs.
Placements: Average package is ₹8 LPA; recruiters include TCS, Google, and Samsung.

7. Pearl Academy, Delhi:

A leading private academy with campuses in South and West Delhi, offering industry-ready programs.

Ranking: #1 by ASSOCHAM and India Today (Private Design).
2026-27 Fees: Varies by specialization, ranging from ₹16.68 Lakhs to ₹32 Lakhs for UG programs.
Placements: 99% placement assistance with brands like Zara and Walt Disney.

8. ISDI – ATLAS SkillTech University, Mumbai:

Located in the heart of Mumbai, ISDI offers a Parsons-affiliated curriculum for global exposure.

Ranking: Top Emerging Management & Design University.
2026-27 Fees: Total 4-year B.Des fee is ₹28.64 Lakhs.
Placements: Deep industry integration with over 1200 on-campus interviews per semester.

9. Department of Design, IIT Delhi:

One of the newest but most prestigious departments, it offers only 20 seats for its highly competitive B.Des program.

NIRF 2025 Rank: #2 (Engineering Category).
2026-27 Fees: Most affordable IIT program at ₹8.66 Lakhs for 4 years.
Placements: Highly selective recruitment for Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and UX Research roles.

10. IIIT Delhi (Social Design):

Offers a unique B.Tech in Computer Science and Design (CSD), merging coding with creative thinking.

NIRF 2025 Rank: #63 (Engineering).
2026-27 Fees: Total 4-year fee is approx ₹20 Lakhs. First-year fee is ₹4.60 Lakhs.
Placements: Tech-heavy placements with an average package of ₹20.69 LPA.

Design Specializations & AI Integration

In 2026, “Design” is no longer just one subject. It is divided into:

Product Design: Creating physical goods and industrial equipment.
UI/UX (Interaction) Design: Designing digital interfaces for apps (High Demand).
Communication Design: Visual storytelling, branding, and graphic design.

Digital Transformation: Most top colleges have now integrated Generative AI in Design into their core 2026-27 curriculum, teaching students how to use AI tools for rapid prototyping and creative automation.

Placements and Recruiters

Placement depends on portfolio quality and academic performance. NID and IITs lead in salary packages, with average offers for specialized roles ranging between ₹10-22 LPA in 2026. Top recruiters include Accenture, Amazon, H&M, Reliance Retail, and Google.

Conclusion

Before taking admission, you must view the best Design colleges in India. Ensure you prepare your portfolio alongside your entrance exam studies. We hope this guide helps you find the right fit. Have any queries? Comment in the section below!