NIFT Mumbai and Pearl Academy are two top design colleges in Mumbai that offer a range of design courses. The Government of India operates the NIFT institution, whereas Pearl Academy is a private institution offering BDes and MDes programmes. Candidates who are planning to take admission into any of these colleges should understand the eligibility criteria, admission process, fee structure, college reputation, placement record, and industry exposure they have for each course. Pearl Academy admissions are done through the Pearl Academy entrance exam, while NIFT Mumbai admissions are done through the NIFT entrance exam. Read the complete article by Careers360 to get a clear comparison between NIFT Mumbai and Pearl Academy on fee structure, reputation, placement record, and other important details.
NIFT Mumbai and Pearl Academy are known as the top design colleges in Mumbai. Both colleges offer a wide range of design specializations. Candidates will be able to take admission into UG and PG design courses. Pearl Academy, Mumbai, is located in Andheri East, whereas NIFT Mumbai is located in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. Check the information given below to get a clear comparison of NIFT Mumbai Vs Pearl Academy, Mumbai, including fee details, college infrastructure, reputation, placements, and other important details.
Fee Structure - Regular/Artisan/Ward of Artisan | ||||||||
Details | 2026-27 | 2027-28 | 2028-29 | 2029-30 | ||||
Sem 1 | Sem 2 | Sem 3 | Sem 4 | Sem 5 | Sem 6 | Sem 7 | Sem 8 | |
Tuition fee (Non-refundable) | 150000 | 150000 | 158000 | 158000 | 166000 | 166000 | 174000 | 174000 |
Library fee (per year) (non-refundable) | 10000 | 0 | 10500 | 0 | 11000 | 0 | 11600 | 0 |
Medical claim & student development fee (Per year) (non-refundable) | 4900 | 0 | 5100 | 0 | 5400 | 0 | 5700 | 0 |
Exam fee (per year) | 4900 | 0 | 5100 | 0 | 5400 | 0 | 5700 | 0 |
Total | 169800 | 150000 | 178700 | 158000 | 187800 | 166000 | 197000 | 174000 |
One-time payments | ||||||||
Security deposit (one-timerefundable) | 12600 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Alumni association membership fee (One-time) (Non-refundable) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6200 | 0 |
Registration fee (One-time) | 9300 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total | 21900 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6200 | 0 |
Grand Total | 191700 | 150000 | 178700 | 158000 | 187800 | 166000 | 203200 | 174000 |
Programme Name | One-Time Fees | Sem 1 Fees | Sem 2 Fees |
85000 | 3,66,100 | 3,66,100 | |
85000 | 3,66,100 | 3,66,100 | |
85000 | 3,93,900 | 3,93,900 | |
85000 | 3,66,100 | 3,66,100 | |
85000 | 3,66,100 | 3,66,100 | |
85000 | 2,88,800 | 2,88,800 | |
85000 | 2,98,900 | 2,98,900 | |
85000 | 2,98,900 | 2,98,900 | |
85000 | 2,98,900 | 2,98,900 | |
85000 | 2,98,900 | 2,98,900 | |
85000 | 2,98,900 | 2,98,900 | |
M. Des. in Fashion Styling | 85000 | 2,98,900 | 2,98,900 |
The Government of India does not officially release the NRIF ranking for design colleges. Based on the India Today ranking for the top design colleges in India, NIFT Mumbai is ranked at the 2nd position, whereas Pearl Academy is ranked at the 19th position for 2026 year. In a similar way, for Pearl Academy Mumbai, Careers360 has given a ranking of AAAA+, which makes it one of the top-ranked design colleges in Mumbai. Based on the IIRF ranking 2026, Pearl Academy, Mumbai, is ranked in the No. 1 position in Maharashtra.
NIFT Mumbai Vs Pearl Academy, Mumbai 2026 - Infrastructure
NIFT Mumbai | Pearl Academy, Mumbai |
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Check the details below about the admission process of NIFT Mumbai and Pearl Academy Mumbai 2026:
Admission Factors | NIFT Mumbai | Pearl Academy |
Entrance Exam | ||
Portfolio Round | Yes | Yes |
Interview | Yes | Yes |
Exam Difficulty | Moderate | Moderate |
Seats | B.Des: 258 Seats M.Des: 86 Seats | B.Des: 60 Seats M.Des: 45 seats |
Scholarship |
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Check the information given below about NIFT Mumbai and Pearl Academy to understand the reputation on various factors:
College Factor | Winner | Reason |
Brand Recognition | NIFT Mumbai | NIFT Mumbai is one of the most reputed design colleges in India. This institute has a strong national presence and also a good industry network. It also ranked at the 2nd position as per the India Today ranking, whereas Pearl Academy was ranked at the 19th position. |
Fees | NIFT Mumbai | NIFT Mumbai is a more affordable option compared to Pearl Academy. Also, it provides a nationally recognised design curriculum |
Campus | Tie | Based on the information provided on their official websites, both colleges are located in the heart of the city and have good infrastructure and facilities. |
Fashion | Tie | Both colleges have various specialisations in fashion courses. |
Average Salary | Tie | As both the colleges have strong placement networks and industry exposure, candidates can secure high-paying jobs through the campus placements. |
Industry Exposure | Tie | Both colleges have strong industry collaborations. |
Overall ROI | NIFT Mumbai | Based on the NIFT Mumbai fee structure, candidates will be able to get a better ROI from NIFT Mumbai compared to Pearl Academy. |
All the NIFT campuses in India conduct centralised placements. Candidates from any campus will be able to participate and apply for the placements at the same time. This mainly helps students to opt for companies based on their interests and can also help them decide the place to start their career. In the same way, Pearl Academy also has a strong placement record and has witnessed some of the top companies on the recruitment list.
Students who are confused about choosing the right college based on the placement reports should understand that both of these colleges have a strong industry network and attract top companies during the placement process. Check the list below of top recruiters for NIFT Mumbai and Pearl Academy Mumbai:
NIFT Mumbai | Pearl Academy, Mumbai |
Pantaloons Good Earth Blackberry Arvind Ltd Manish Malhotra Ritu Beri Gaurav Gupta Amit Agarwal Suket Dhir Manish Arora Rohit Bal Reliance Retail Raymond Landmark TCNS Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd. Taneira Raymond Ltd Amazon Myntra Ajio Tata CLiQ First Cry | Walt Disney Accenture IBM Aditya Birla – Fashion & Retail Amazon Anju Modi Apparel Resources Arvind – Fashion Possibilities Craftvilla Brahaan Blue Tag Future Group BIBA CTA Apparels Good Earth H&M Gaurav Gupta Mango Satya Paul Masaba Reliance Retail UNIQLO Nicobar |
NIFT Mumbai and Pearl Academy Mumbai are among the top design colleges in Mumbai. Candidates can refer to the placement comparison above to understand the industry exposure offered by both colleges. Each college has strong ties with leading companies and maintains a good industry network, helping students secure placement opportunities. Students with good academic performance and the right skills have a strong chance of getting placed at either college.
Candidates comparing the industry exposure of these colleges do not need to worry, as both provide excellent industry connections. The main difference lies in the sectors they are best known for. NIFT Mumbai has strong links with the fashion, textile, apparel, retail, and lifestyle industries. On the other hand, Pearl Academy has connections with leading fashion brands as well as companies in IT, product development, and creative fields. According to the official information published by Pearl Academy, the institute has achieved a 99% placement record in recent years.
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Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026