NIFT Vs Pearl Academy: Which is Better?

National Institute of Fashion Technology

The National Institute of Fashion Technology was established in 1986 by the government of India to ensure the generation of professionals in the textile industry. It is a government design college that focuses on the fashion industry. NIFT Delhi is the oldest NIFT campus. Currently, there are 19 NIFT campuses in India.

Pearl Academy

Pearl Academy is a well-known private design college in India known for its wide range of courses, world-class teaching, and a large network of alumni. It was established in 1993 and has a strong track record for its three-decade existence.

NIFT Vs Pearl Academy: Overview

NIFT Vs Pearl Academy: Which is Better?

Both the National Institute of Fashion Technology and Pearl Academy are renowned fashion design colleges in India. It might be difficult to choose between the two as both offer excellent career benefits. For the students to help make an informed decision, the NIFT vs Pearl Academy comparison is listed below based on various parameters listed below, and we will let the readers decide their preference.

NIFT vs Pearl Academy: Campuses

Both renowned institutions, NIFT and Pearl Academy, have various campuses across India. The various campuses of NIFT and Pearl Academy offer excellent education with hi-tech classrooms and expert faculties who provide industrial exposure as well as a good learning experience. NIFT was established in 1986, and since then it has spread across 20 campuses in India. The campuses are as listed below.

Pearl Academy was established in 1993 and it has 5 campuses in the entire country. The campuses are listed below.

NIFT Vs Pearl Academy: Courses Offered

The NIFT campuses offer various courses at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. At the undergraduate level, the courses include BDes and BFTech. The B.Des course at NIFT is offered with specialisation options in Fashion Design, Leather Design, Accessory Design, Textile Design, Fashion Communication, Knitwear Design, and Fashion Interiors. At the postgraduate level, NIFT offers three courses - MDes, MFM, and MFTech.

The Pearl Academy offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in the field of designing and business. At the undergraduate level, the courses include B.Des and BBA. Specialisation options in B.Des include Fashion Design, Interior Design, Communication Design, and Product Design. Similarly, in the postgraduate level, the M.Des course has the same specialisations along with MBA being a postgraduate business degree.

Both NIFT and Pearl Academy also offer short-term courses for students/ aspirants to gain knowledge for the field.

NIFT vs Pearl Academy: Fee Structure

Fee is another important determinant in choosing the college most suitable for the student. NIFT is a central government institution and Pearl Academy is a private college. The fee structure of both colleges are different and as discussed below.

NIFT Fees:

The NIFT undergraduate and postgraduate fees differ from each other. The total fee for the whole duration of 4 years, required for undergraduate courses, is approximately Rs 14.09 lakhs. For post-graduate courses, the fees required can go up to Rs 6.8 lakhs. This fee is dependent on the course and the campus the candidate has chosen. For the fee structure of NIFT the candidates can check out the various courses and campuses.

Pearl Academy Fees

Similarly, the Pearl Academy fee structure is different for undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The annual fee, which is to be paid semester-wise wise sums up to around Rs. 8 lakhs in bachelor’s courses. And for the master's course, the fee is around Rs 6.40 lakhs. This varies according to the course chosen and the campus the candidate has taken admission into.

NIFT vs Pearl Academy: Placements

NIFT vs Pearl Academy placements can be an alluring factor for confused students to select their choice. Placements of an institution is very important to consider before joining the institution as it determines the future of the candidate. Both institutions offer excellent placement opportunities for the students.

NIFT Placements

The National Institute of Fashion Technology offers a centralised placement which includes all the campuses. The NIFT placement records show a tremendous growth in the field of fashion designing. Many top recruiting companies visit the campus every year to select the best candidates for jobs. NIFT conducts placement in three ways- Pre-Placement Offers (PPOs), On Campus Placements and Off Campus. Some of the top companies who recruit from NIFT are listed below.

Pearl Academy Placements

The placement records of 2023 in Pearl Academy show 99% placement. Pearl Academy also provides the students with a lifetime alumni placement support and has over 15k successful alumni. Pearl Academy trains the students by preparing them with professional development sessions followed by mock interviews and improving the resume. The students who go for Pearl academy campus placements are trained to showcase their talent. Some of the Pearl Academy top recruiters are listed below.

NIFT vs Pearl Academy: Salary

After discussing the exceptional placement opportunities offered by both the reputed Institutions under discussion, we must also shed some light on the salary offered. The salary offered in NIFT and Pearl Academy both are exceptionally good.

NIFT Salary

With an excellent placement percentage of about 80+% every year, NIFT has some of the top recruiters offering the best salary. In the year 2022 the highest package of NIFT students went up to Rs. 19.5 Lakhs per annum in Bangalore Campus. Another remarkable package was offered in NIFT Bhubaneswar in 2021 when a student got 9600 dollars per annum package.

Pearl Academy Salary

With the good placement percentage of 99% Pearl Academy also has a good salary to offer to the students. As per the available data, the top recruiters of 2023 offered a package of Rs. 20.27 Lakhs per annum to a student of Pearl Academy. The second-highest package of 2023 was offered Rs. 17 lakhs per annum.

NIFT Vs Pearl Academy: Selection Criteria

Both the prominent Institutions conduct entrance exams in order to select the best students fit for their Institute. NTA conducts the NIFT entrance exam. While Pearl Academy conducts the Pearl Academy Entrance Exam. NIFT vs Pearl Academy selection criteria iis an important factor to understand which of the institutions under discussion is better.

NIFT Pattern of Exam

As per NIFT exam pattern, the entrance test will consist of 2 exams - General Ability Test (GAT) and Creative Ability Test (CAT). Aspirants need to appear for the GAT exam which is compulsory for all courses. The GAT exam tests the candidates' design aptitude and general knowledge. The CAT exam is necessary for the B.Des and M.Des aspirants. This exam tests the candidate's drawing skills and creativity. If the students qualify in the entrance exam, they need to appear in the situation test for B.Des and PI round for PG admissions. The weightage for all these examinations differs according to the course the candidate has chosen. The table below explains the weightage of each part of the exam for each course.

NIFT exam weightage for different courses

Pearl Academy Pattern of Exam

For the students opting for design courses in Pearl Academy they need to appear the GPT + DAT round. According to Pearl Academy Exam Pattern, GPT stands for general proficiency test, which is required for testing the students’ quantitative abilities, basic math, logic reasoning etc. The DAT exam is more related to test the aptitude for designing, observation and imagination skills. If the candidate qualifies these exams, he or she will be called for a personal interview round and Portfolio evaluation. The students who are appearing for the business-related programs are required to only appear the GPT exam. If they qualify the GPT exam they will be called for a personal interview round.