Chennai has over 130 of the best engineering colleges, 110+ of which are privately owned and 20+ of which are government-owned. Engineering remains one of the most sought-after career paths, with thousands of students vying for seats in premier institutes. But how is this possible without choosing the right college or institute? Well, suppose you are one of those struggling to find the top engineering colleges in Chennai 2026-27. In that case, the guidelines presented in this blog will help you make your career in engineering specialization.
Engineering has become a first degree that provides graduates with high-salary career options and helps them develop creativity. Engineering is a chance to make improvements in society. You can get jobs worldwide after pursuing engineering courses from the top engineering colleges in Chennai.
Is it as easy as you think?
Probably not!
However, with over 130 colleges in Chennai, filtering the best ones based on placement and ROI is challenging. If you want to make a career in your field and become an engineer, one of the most important things is to find the right college/institution. Choosing the right course can play a vital role in securing your career in this field. Additionally, consider the college’s rating and placement structure to get a good package.
Top 10 Engineering Colleges In Chennai 2026-27 (Detailed List)
Follow the list of top Government & private engineering colleges in Chennai with Fees and Rank below.
1. IIT MADRAS – INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY – [IITM]
Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Approved by: AICTE
Admission Process: Based on Entrance Exam (JEE Advanced)
Fees: ₹ 75,116 (BE/B.Tech – First-Year Fees) | ₹ 23,070 (ME/M.Tech – Total Fees)
Ranking: #1 Out Of 300 NIRF | #1 Out Of 30 The Week | #201 Out Of 800 by The7
2. COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, ANNA UNIVERSITY – [CEG]
Location: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU | Approved by: AICTE
Admission Process: TNEA, a Counseling Process
Fees: ₹ 50,000 (BE/B.TECH – FIRST-YEAR FEES) | ₹ 50,000 (ME/M.TECH – FIRST-YEAR FEES)
Ranking: #9 OUT OF 200 NIRF | #12 OUT OF 150 The Week
3. CHENNAI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY – [CIT]
Location: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU | Approved by: AICTE, NBA
Admission Process: Based on Performance of Higher Secondary Exam.
Fees: ₹ 55,000 (BE/B.TECH – FIRST-YEAR FEES) | ₹ 50,000 (ME/M.TECH – FIRST-YEAR FEES)
Ranking: #175 OUT OF 300 NIRF | #104 OUT OF 147 TOI
4. SSN COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING – [SSNCE]
SSN College of Engineering 2023 Fees, Admission, Eligibility
Location: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU | Approved by: AICTE
Admission Process: Single Window Counselling based on Anna University Norms.
Fees: ₹ 50,000 (BE/B.TECH – FIRST-YEAR FEES)
Ranking: 8.3/10 User Reviews | #48 OUT OF 300 NIRF
5. ALPHA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Location: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU | Approved by: AICTE
Admission Process: Based on Performance in HSC (+2) Exam, conducted by Anna University.
Fees: ₹ 50,000 (BE/B.TECH – FIRST-YEAR FEES)
Ranking: 7.8/10 BASED ON 42 USER REVIEWS
6. SATHYABAMA INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Location: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU | Approved by: DCI, COA, PCI, INC, BCI
Admission Process: Based on Valid score of GATE and CAT/SAEEE.
Fees: ₹ 80,000 (BE/B.TECH – FIRST-YEAR FEES) | ₹ 130,000 (ME/M.TECH – FIRST-YEAR FEES)
Ranking: #54 OUT OF 300 NIRF | #20 OUT OF 238 TOI
7. AALIM MUHAMMED SALEGH COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Location: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU | Approved by: AICTE
Admission Process: Based on marks obtained in 12th.
Fees: ₹ 55,000 (BE/B.TECH – FIRST-YEAR FEES)
Ranking: #205 OUT OF 218 | #122 OUT OF 200 TOI
8. INDIAN MARITIME UNIVERSITY – [IMU]
Location: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU | Approved by: UGC
Admission Process: Through IMU CET.
Fees: ₹ 105,000 (BE/B.TECH – TOTAL FEES) | ₹ 255,000 (ME/M.TECH – FIRST YEAR FEES)
Ranking: 67.37 of overall
9. SREE SASTHA INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Location: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU | Approved by: AICTE, NBA
Admission Process: Through TNEA, a state-level counseling.
Fees: ₹ 55,000 (BE/B.TECH – FIRST-YEAR FEES)
Ranking: AAA Rating
10. HINDUSTAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SCIENCE – [HITS]
Location: CHENNAI, TAMIL NADU | Approved by: COA, UGC, NBA, AIU
Admission Process: Written Exam conducted by HITS and Group Discussion.
Fees: ₹ 229,500 (BE/B.TECH – FIRST-YEAR FEES)
Ranking: 6.6/10 User Reviews | #152 OUT OF 300 NIRF | #48 OUT OF 238 TOI
List of Top Engineering Colleges in Chennai (Rank 11-86)
Below is the comprehensive list of other top-rated institutes including admission details and fees.
| College Name | Approx Fees (1st Year B.Tech) | Admission Process | Rank/Ref |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11. Tamil Nadu Veterinary & Animal Sciences Univ [TANUVAS] | ₹ 21,415 | CET, min 60% in High School | #108 NIRF |
| 12. Saveetha Engineering College [SEC] | ₹ 85,000 | TNEA, TANCET, Merit | #201 NIRF |
| 13. Sri Sairam Engineering College | ₹ 50,000 | TNEA, 10th/12th Marks | #157 NIRF |
| 14. B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute [BSAU] | ₹ 85,000 | CIEAT, MAT/CAT, TANCET | #102 NIRF |
| 15. Rajalakshmi Engineering College [REC] | ₹ 50,000 | TNEA, GATE/TANCET | #95 NIRF |
| 16. Saveetha School of Engineering [SSE] | ₹ 45,000 | 12th Marks, Single Window Counselling | #186 NIRF |
| 17. Sri Sairam Institute of Technology [SSIT] | ₹ 202,000 (Total) | TNEA, TANCET | #201 NIRF |
| 18. Dr. M.G.R. Educational And Research Institute | ₹ 80,000 | 10th/12th marks (min 55%) | #201 NIRF |
| 19. Vel Tech Multi Tech Dr. Rangarajan | ₹ 55,000 | 12th marks (>55%) | #189 NIRF |
| 20. Easwari Engineering College [EEC] | ₹ 55,000 | 12th marks, TNEA, TANCET | #181 NIRF |
| 21. IIITDM Kancheepuram | ₹ 135,100 | JEE, SAT, GATE | #184 NIRF |
| 22. SRM Institute of Science & Technology [SRMIST] | ₹ 250,000 | SRMJEEM, National Tests | #24 NIRF |
| 23. Vellore Institute of Technology [VIT Chennai] | ₹ 198,000 | VITEEE (60% in MPC 12th) | #16 NIRF (2020) |
| 24. Bharath University [BIHER] | ₹ 150,000 | BEEE, Merit-based | #8 OUT OF 100 |
| 25. Vels Institute (VISTAS) | ₹ 287,250 | VEE Entrance, 50% in 12th | #159 NIRF |
| 26. Madras Institute of Technology [MIT] | ₹ 52,160 | TANCET/GATE, TNEA | #22 NIRF |
| 27. AMET University | 1.8L – 13.9L (Total) | Online Entrance Test, Merit | #251 NIRF |
| 28. Panimalar Engineering College | ₹ 60,000 | TNEA, TANCET/GATE | #201 NIRF |
| 29. Velammal Engineering College [VEC] | ₹ 65,000 | TNEA, TANCET | #251 NIRF |
| 30. Jeppiaar Engineering College | ₹ 60,000 | CAT/MAT/XAT, TANCET | Anna Univ Rank 61 |
| 31. KCG College of Technology | ₹ 50,000 | 12th Marks / Intermediate | #201 NIRF |
| 32. M.A. Engineering College (Verified) | ₹ 60,000 | TANCET, GATE | #123 TOI |
| 33. CIPET Chennai | ₹ 31,950 | JEE (CBT) | AICTE Approved |
| 34. Vels Institute (Repeat Entry) | ₹ 287,250 | CAT/MAT/XAT/VEE | #159 NIRF |
| 35. Madras Institute of Technology (Repeat) | ₹ 52,160 | TANCET/GATE | #22 NIRF |
| 36. AMET University (Repeat) | 1.7L+ | Written Exam, 12th >60% | #251 NIRF |
| 37. Panimalar Engineering College (Repeat) | ₹ 60,000 | TANCET | #201 NIRF |
| 38. Velammal Engineering College (Repeat) | ₹ 65,000 | TNEA/TANCET | #251 NIRF |
| 39. Jeppiaar Engineering College (Repeat) | ₹ 60,000 | JEE Main, TNEA, SRMJEEE | Anna Univ Rank 8 |
| 40. KCG College (Repeat) | ₹ 50,000 | 12th Marks, TANCET | #201 NIRF |
| 41. CIPET (Repeat) | ₹ 31,950 | JEE Entrance | 90% Placement Rec |
| 42. Jerusalem College of Engineering [JCE] | ₹ 50,000 | JEE, GATE, NATA | Rated AAA |
| 43. Agni College of Technology | ₹ 50,000 | GATE, TANCET | #181 TOI |
| 44. Meenakshi Sundararajan Engineering College | ₹ 50,000 | TANCET, 50% in Bachelor | #251 NIRF |
| 45. St Joseph College of Engineering | ₹ 60,000 | TANCET, TANCA | #160 NIRF |
| 46. Panimalar Institute of Technology [PIT] | ₹ 60,000 | TANCET | #251 NIRF |
| 47. Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala | ₹ 250,000 | VTUEEE Test | #68 The Week |
| 48. Jaya Engineering College [JEC] | ₹ 55,000 | JEE MAINS | NIRF Rank 10 |
| 49. SKR Engineering College | ₹ 200,000 (Total) | Anna Univ Allotment | Rating 6.9/10 |
| 50. St. Peter’s Institute (SPIHER) | ₹ 100,000 | GPA and SAT/AC | Reg Univ #58 |
| 51. Anand Institute of Higher Technology | ₹ 50,000 | TNEA Exam | Rating 3.6/5 |
| 52. DMI College of Engineering | ₹ 60,000 | 12th Marks | MHRD Rank 96 |
| 53. Loyola Institute of Technology | ₹ 55,000 | Anna Univ Merit List | Rating 3.2 |
| 54. Madha Engineering College | ₹ 50,000 | Offline/Online Form | All India Rank 121248 |
| 55. Rajalakshmi Institute of Technology [RIT] | ₹ 55,000 | GATE/TANCET/TNEA | #201 NIRF |
| 56. Alagappa College of Technology [ACT] | ₹ 57,160 | 12th Marks & TNEA | Gen Rank 14278 |
| 57. PERI Institute of Technology | ₹ 55,000 | TANCET / TNEA | Rated AA+ |
| 58. SRM Institute (Ramapuram Campus) | ₹ 210,000 | SRMJEEM/TANCET + GD/PI | #3 TOI |
| 59. St. Joseph’s Institute of Technology | ₹ 200,000 (Total) | TNEA, 12th Marks | #160 NIRF |
| 60. GKM College of Engineering | ₹ 87,000 | TNEA, TANCET | Infra Rating 3.1 |
| 61. Thangavelu Engineering College | ₹ 50,000 | PCM in +2, TNEA | AICTE Approved |
| 62. Dhanalakshmi College of Engineering | ₹ 200,000 (Total) | Merit/TNEA/TANCET | Anna Univ Rank 7 |
| 63. P.B. College of Engineering | ₹ 60,000 | GATE | TNEA Rank 103408 |
| 64. Structural Engineering Research Centre (CSIR) | Affordable | General Process | H Index 25 (Research) |
| 65. Jawahar Engineering College | ₹ 50,000 | 12th Marks, TNEA | AICTE Approved |
| 66. Karpaga Vinayaga College | ₹ 200,000 (Total) | Merit (12th Marks) | Rating 9/10 |
| 67. Prince Shri Venkateshwara Padmavathy | ₹ 50,000 | TNEA Counseling | #201-250 NIRF |
| 68. Gojan School of Business & Tech | ₹ 200,000 (Total) | 12th with PCM + Maths | Rank 145 Pvt Colleges |
| 69. Sri Muthukumaran Institute [SMIT] | ₹ 70,000 | TNEA, TANCET | Dist Rank 13 |
| 70. SRM University Vadapalani | ₹ 225,000 | Entrance/Merit | Rank 19 Pvt Univ |
| 71. Meenakshi College of Engineering | ₹ 50,000 | TANCET | Rank 19 Pvt Engg |
| 72. Jeppiaar SRR Engineering College | ₹ 45,000 | Online/Offline App | Infra Rating 3.1 |
| 73. Sakthi Mariamman Engineering College | ₹ 50,000 | Merit, TNEA | AICTE Approved |
| 74. Sri Ramanujar Engineering College | ₹ 50,000 | MAT, TNEA, TANCET | Rating 8/10 |
| 75. Arignar Anna Institute | ₹ 55,000 | TNEA (12th Marks) | AICTE Approved |
| 76. New Prince Shri Bhavani College | ₹ 65,000 | TNEA (>50% marks) | NAAC B+ |
| 77. Loyola-ICAM College [LICET] | ₹ 200,000 (Total) | TANCET, Interview, 12th | NIRF Rank 4th |
| 78. Misrimal Navajee Munoth Jain [MNMJEC] | ₹ 55,000 | TNEA Entrance | Anna Univ Rank 48 |
| 79. Vel Tech High Tech | ₹ 60,000 | TNEA Entrance | #169 NIRF |
| 80. Hindustan Institute (HIET) | ₹ 35,600 (Diploma) | Merit Based | #172 NIRF (2021) |
| 81. RRASE College of Engineering | ₹ 50,000 | TANCET (50% in 10th/12th) | #151-200 NIRF |
| 82. Sri Lakshmi Ammal Engineering College | ₹ 50,000 | TNEA Entrance | Anna Univ Affiliated |
| 83. Magna College of Engineering | ₹ 65,000 | TNEA Counselling | AICTE Approved |
| 84. Mohamed Sathak AJ College | ₹ 200,000 (Total) | Merit, TNEA | Anna Univ Affiliated |
| 85. Maritime Foundation | ₹ 325,000 (Diploma) | 10+2 Marks | IMU Affiliated |
| 86. University College of Engineering | ₹ 43,810 | 12th Cut-off Marks | AICTE Approved |
Admission Process: How to Get into Chennai Colleges
Unlike North India where JEE Main is dominant, Tamil Nadu admissions primarily happen through TNEA (Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions).
- TNEA Counseling: This is for Government and Government-aided colleges (like Anna University, MIT). Admission is based purely on your 12th Grade Cut-off marks. No separate entrance exam is required for B.Tech.
- Private Universities: Colleges like VIT, SRM, and Sathyabama conduct their own entrance exams (VITEEE, SRMJEEE, SAEEE).
- Management Quota: Most private colleges reserve seats for direct admission based on fees and 12th marks.
Placement Statistics: ROI Analysis
Before choosing a college, check the Return on Investment (ROI). Government colleges like Anna University offer the best ROI due to low fees and high placement packages.
| College | Avg Package (Approx) | Highest Package | Top Recruiters |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIT Madras | ₹ 15-20 LPA | ₹ 1 Crore+ | Google, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs |
| CEG (Anna Univ) | ₹ 6-8 LPA | ₹ 36 LPA | TCS, Hyundai, Ford |
| SSN College | ₹ 6-7 LPA | ₹ 24 LPA | Amazon, Zoho, Accenture |
| VIT Chennai | ₹ 7-8 LPA | ₹ 40 LPA+ | Deloitte, Intel, Wipro |
Watch: Top Engineering Colleges in Chennai Review
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top 10 colleges for engineering in Chennai?
Finding the top 10 engineering colleges in Chennai is not a cup of tea for students. Based on our reassessment for 2026, the list includes IIT Madras, VIT Chennai, College of Engineering Guindy (Anna University), Hindustan Institute, SRM University, SSN College, MIT Chennai, IIITDM Kancheepuram, Chennai Institute of Technology, and Sathyabama Institute.
Which is the No 1 College in Chennai?
Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IITM) is consistently ranked as the No 1 College in Chennai according to NIRF Rankings.
Which engineering college has the best placement in Chennai?
IIT Madras is ranked in the top position regarding the best placement criteria. Among private institutions, VIT and SSN also have excellent placement records.
Which college has low fees in Chennai?
Anna University (CEG & MIT) has very low fees (approx ₹ 50,000). Private colleges like Sathyabama and SRM offer various fee structures ranging from ₹ 1.00 Lakhs to ₹ 2.50 Lakhs per year depending on scholarships.
Which Engineering course is best?
The top engineering specializations with high market value in 2026 are:
- Electronics & Communications Engineering (ECE)
- Information Technology (IT)
- Computer Science Engineering (CSE)
- Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI & ML)
- Mechanical Engineering
Which top Engineering colleges in Chennai accept JEE Main scores?
Institutes like IIITDM Kancheepuram, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science, BSAU, and VIT (for some categories) accept JEE Main scores. However, IIT Madras requires JEE Advanced.
What is the number of engineering colleges in Chennai?
There are around 136 top engineering colleges in Chennai, including both private and public sector colleges.
Which college has best placement in Tamil Nadu?
IIT Madras, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, and College of Engineering (Guindy) provide the best placements to students and have an excellent track record in Chennai.
References:
NIRF Rankings Official Site
TNEA Official Counseling Website
Anna University Official Website
NIRF Rankings Official Site
TNEA Official Counseling Website
Anna University Official Website
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