Choosing the right college is an important step towards building a good career in design. National Institute of Fashion Technology and Pearl Academy are two popular institutions that are counted among the top design colleges in India. Aspirants seeking fashion design admission may face a dilemma about which to choose between the two. A good NIFT vs Pearly Academy comparison can help solve this dilemma for applicants. In this article, let's discuss NIFT vs Pearl Academy on various parameters such as eligibility, fees, salary, campuses, placements, and much more.
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Both NIFT and Pearl Academy offer B.Des and M.Des programmes in different design specialisations such as fashion design, textile design, fashion communication, and more.
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 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.
Particulars | NIFT | Pearl Academy |
Ownership | Government | Private |
Courses | B.Des B.F.Tech M.Des M.F.M M.F.Tech | B.Des BBA M.Des MBA |
Eligibility | 10+2 Or equivalent | 10+2 Or equivalent |
Entrance Exam | ||
Fees | Rs. 14.09 lakhs for UG courses, Rs. 6.8 lakhs for PG courses | Around Rs 8 lakhs p.a. for UG courses, Rs 6.4 lakhs for PG courses |
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.
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 19 campuses in India. The campuses are as listed below.
NIFT Campus list |
National Institute of Fashion Technology, Varanasi |
Pearl Academy was established in 1993 and it has 5 campuses in the entire country. The campuses are listed below.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Arvind Lifestyle Brands Limited | Fabric Monde | Manyavar |
Bata India Limited | FAB WORLD | Tejas Innovative Solutions Ltd etc. |
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.
Aditya Birla | Amazon | Craftsvilla |
Gaurav Gupta | Masaba | Mango |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Programme | CAT | GAT | Situation Test | GD/PI |
Bachelor of Design (B.Des) | 50% | 30% | 20% | - |
Master of Design (M.Des) | 40% | 30% | - | 30% |
Bachelor of Fashion Technology (B.F.Tech) | - | 100% | - | - |
Master of Fashion Technology (M.F.Tech) | - | 70% | - | 30% |
Master of Fashion Management (MFM) | - | 70% | - | 30% |
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.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Both institutions are equally reputable and offer excellent placements and salary options, along with exceptionally good education. Factors like fees, location, courses available etc can help the students decide which is better among Pearl Academy and NIFT.
Pearl Academy placement reports of 2023 shows 99% placements with salary offers going as high as 20.27 lakhs per annum.
Yes pearl is a recognised institution in India for fashion designing and its degrees are recognised across India and world.
Pearl Academy has the highest package going up to Rs. 20.27 Lakhs per annum.
Yes NIFT provides placements to the students of final year. Along with good placement percentage it has good salary packages.
On Question asked by student community
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 .
Hello
The syllabus of NIFT 2026 will be released on October 2025 by Nift officials on their official website nift.ac.in . The syllabus comprises of topics General Ability Test (GAT) and Creative Ability Test (CAT). The syllabus is different for UG and PG programmes. The GAT syllabus consists of :
The CAT syllabus consists important topics like
To download the complete syllabus kindly refer this
https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-syllabus
Good luck !
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