National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), is one of the sought out design institutes in India. However, the past years have seen a steady increase in the NIFT fee structure. To understand the NIFT fee hike in depth, we have collated the same in this article.
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The semester-wise NIFT fee breakup indicates how fees have evolved from 2021-22 to 2025-26. This splitting of the fees helps students know in which semesters the maximum increases happen and budget accordingly.
NIFT Fees for Non-NRI
| Semester Wise | NIFT 2021-22 | NIFT 2022-23 | NIFT 2023-24 | NIFT 2024-25 | NIFT 2025-26 |
Semester 1 | 1,68,950 | 1,77,500 | 1,82,900 | 1,84,700 | 1,91,700 |
Semester 2 | 1,29,850 | 1,36,000 | 1,43,000 | 1,43,000 | 1,50,000 |
Semester 3 | 1,40,400 | 1,61,650 | 1,61,900 | 1,59,800 | 1,69,800 |
Semester 4 | 1,24,000 | 1,42,850 | 1,43,000 | 1,50,000 | 1,50,000 |
Semester 5 | 1,54,000 | 1,47,350 | 1,77,900 | 1,69,800 | 1,78,700 |
Semester 6 | 1,36,100 | 1,30,150 | 1,57,100 | 1,50,000 | 1,58,000 |
Semester 7 | 1,51,400 | 1,73,900 | 1,59,500 | 2,00,950 | 1,84,300 |
Semester 8 | 1,30,200 | 1,49,700 | 1,36,700 | 1,72,850 | 1,58,000 |
Total | 11,34,900 | 12,19,100 | 12,62,000 | 13,31,100 | 13,40,500 |
Semester 1 and Semester 2 depict consistent but moderate growth, while Semester 7 has the highest spike, especially in 2024-25, while Semester 8 fluctuates, reaching its peak in 2024-25 before decreasing slightly the next year.

Here's the semester-wise NIFT fee trend represented as a bar chart.
Each group of bars depicts a semester.
Various shades indicate the way the fees varied over the five academic years (2021-22 to 2025-26).
One can easily identify that Semester 7 registers the highest peak in comparison to the other semesters.
The total NIFT course fees have been showing a consistent increase with each passing year, reaching Rs 13 lakh in 2024-25. The trend of increasing costs indicates the increasing expenditure on pursuing design education at NIFT campus in India.
| Academic Year | Fees in Rs | % Changes in Fee (⬆) |
|---|---|---|
NIFT 2025-26 | 13,40,500 | 0.71% |
NIFT 2024-25 | 13,31,100 | 5.48% |
NIFT 2023-24 | 12,62,000 | 3.52% |
NIFT 2022-23 | 12,19,100 | 7.42% |
NIFT 2021-22 | 11,34,900 | 9.70% |
NIFT admission fees have increased by 9.70%, rising from Rs 10,34,552 in 2020-21 to Rs 11,34,900 in 2021-22. In the last five years, overall NIFT course fees have risen by over Rs 2 lakh, with Semester 7 having the greatest fluctuation by exceeding the Rs 2 lakh mark in 2024-25; as of 2025-26, the aggregate fees for Non-NRI students are just about Rs 13.4 lakh, and while there have been minimal fluctuations, overall there is a trend of steady growth.

Here's a graphical representation of the NIFT fee hike trend from 2021-22 to 2025-26. The graph clearly depicts how the cumulative course fees have gone up year after year, breaching the Rs 13 lakh barrier in recent years.
Financial Planning: Awareness of the semester-wise fee structure enables students to prepare for annual expenditure.
Admission Preparation: Aspirants appearing for NIFT 2026 should be aware of the increasing expenses.
Comparisons: Students compare the fee structure of NIFT with other best design colleges such as NID and IITs.
While selecting a design college, most aspirants compare NIFT, NID, and IIT Design (IDC, IIT Bombay). Here is a brief comparison of the fees:
College | Approx. Total Fees (BDes) | Highlights |
NIFT (2025-26) | Rs 13.4 lakh | Fashion-focused, multiple campuses, strong placement in apparel & textile industry |
NID (2025-26) | Rs 18.09 lakh | Specializes in industrial & communication design |
IIT Design (IDC, IIT Bombay) (2025-26) | Rs 8.58 lakh | Technology-driven design education with IIT brand value |
Out of the top three design colleges, IIT Design (IDC) is the most budget-friendly, while NID is the priciest with fees exceeding Rs 18 lakh. NIFT comes in the middle, making it a well-balanced option-particularly for fashion and textile design enthusiasts-whereas NID specializes in industrial and communication design, and IIT Bombay (IDC) has a special combination of technology and design thinking.
If you are aiming for NIFT admissions 2026, then plan to spend approximately Rs 13-14 lakh on the entire course. If you are weighing your options, then NID is a comparable expense, and IIT Design is marginally lower. The decision among these institutions needs to be based on your career, specialization, and preferred campus.
On Question asked by student community
Hello aspirant,
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has determined the official date for NIFT 2026 applicant registrations, which is expected to open in November 2025. Online applications will be accepted through January 2026.
For complete information, you can visit our site through following link:
https://design.careers360.com/exams/nift-entrance-exam
Thank you
Hello Neharika
These are the topics which are most important in the Current affairs section in respect to NIFT Entrance Exam:
1. National and International Awards and Honors
2. Government Schemes and Initiatives
3. Sports
4. Appointments and Newsmakers
5. Science and Technology
6. Indian and World Economy
7. International Relations
8. Fashion Industry Updates
9. Books and Authors
10. Art and Culture
11. Environmental and Social Issues
To know more about NIFT Entrance Exam: NIFT Entrance Exam by CAREERS360
Hope this answer helps! Thank You!!!
Hello,
According to the sources, the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) entrance exam for 2026 will be held in February 2026. Also, the registration period may open from November 2025.
I hope it will clear your query!!
Dear Candidate ,
Yes , you are eligible for NIFT - UG 2026 . Based on your birthdate , you will be 19 years old as of August 1 , 2026 , which is well within the age limit .
NIFT requires applicants to be under 24 years of age on August 1 of the admission year , with a 5 year relaxation for SC/ST/PwD candidates .
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