Top 10 NIFT Colleges in India 2026

Top 10 NIFT Colleges in India 2026

Sumeet SudarshanUpdated on 04 Nov 2025, 05:43 PM IST

NIFT full form stands for the National Institute of Fashion Technology. There are 19 NIFT campuses in India at present. They are considered to be among the top design colleges in India. Around 30000+ candidates are expected to appear for NIFT 2026, competing for just over 5000 seats at NIFT colleges across various programs. The high number of candidates appearing for the NIFT entrance exam is a testimony to the popularity of NIFT colleges among design aspirants. However, not all NIFT campuses are equal and candidates may want to know the top NIFT colleges in India. In this article, let's find out which are the top 10 NIFT colleges in India and their rankings.

This Story also Contains

  1. NIFT Campuses in India
  2. National Institute of Fashion Technology Rankings
  3. How to get admission to NIFT colleges?
  4. NIFT Courses 2026
  5. NIFT Colleges in India Apart from National Institute of Fashion Technology Campuses
  6. How to select the best NIFT college in India?
Top 10 NIFT Colleges in India 2026
NIFT Top Colleges in India

The NIFT campuses offer UG and PG design programmes that include B.Des, B.FTech, M.Des, M.FTech, and MFM. Candidates are selected based on the scores of the entrance exam, and NIFT situation test, or the interview round, depending on the NIFT courses they have applied for.

National Institute of Fashion Technology Rankings

To know the top NIFT colleges in India, aspirants can refer to the NIFT colleges ranking by India Today, which is one of the popular media houses in the country. It must be noted that the Ministry of HRD does not release NIRF rankings with respect to NIFT colleges in India. The rankings by India Today for top NIFT colleges in India considers factors such as the admission process, placements, and fees.

Top NIFT Campuses in India

2025 India Today RankingInstitute Name
1

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi


2


National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore


3

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai


4

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Hyderabad


5

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai


6

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Patna


7

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Gandhinagar


8

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata


9

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Jodhpur


11

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kannur


13

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Rae Bareily


14

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Shillong


16

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kangra


NIFT Campus Ranking for Previous Years

College Name

2024

2023

2022

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi

1

1

1

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Gandhinagar

6

6

5

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata

7

8

8

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore

3

3

3

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Jodhpur

10

10

NP

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bhopal

-

NA

NA

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bhubaneswar

13

12

15

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Hyderabad

4

5

7

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Raebareli

14

14

11

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Srinagar

-

NA

NA

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai

2

2

2

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Patna

8

7

6

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kangra

17

17

17

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kannur

11

13

13

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai

5

4

4

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Shillong

15

16

14

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Panchkula

-

NA

NA

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Daman

-

NA

NA

How to get admission to NIFT colleges?

Aspirants seeking NIFT admissions need to ensure that they meet the NIFT eligibility criteria. The NIFT 2026 admission process is based on the candidate’s performance in all stages of the NIFT entrance exam. Candidates have to appear for different components of the selection process as per the programme applied for. Shortlisted candidates after the entrance exam and the situation test/interview have to register and appear for the NIFT counselling process. The seat allotment is done based on the candidate's rank and the college preferences submitted by them.

Also Check: NIFT college-wise seat matrix.

NIFT Courses 2026

The list of courses offered by NIFT campuses in India is given below.

  • B.Des - Bachelor of Design
  • B.F.Tech - Bachelor of Fashion Technology
  • M.Des - Master of Design
  • MFM - Master of Fashion Management
  • MFTech - Master of Fashion Technology

NIFT Colleges in India Apart from National Institute of Fashion Technology Campuses

Apart from National Institute of Fashion Technology campuses, NIFT entrance exam score is considered for admission to some other top colleges offering design courses. Some of the colleges that accept NIFT scores are given below.

UPES B.Des Admissions 2026

Ranked #45 amongst Universities in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in Academic Reputation in India by QS World University Rankings

IIAD Admissions 2026

EXAMS dates- 13-14 Dec | Leading Design College | Highest CTC: ₹12 LPA | Average CTC: ₹7.5 LPA | Scholarships for Deserving Students

How to select the best NIFT college in India?

Some of the factors that candidates can refer to while selecting the best NIFT colleges in India are as follows -

Ranking: Aspirants should first check the NIFT rankings to find out which are the top campuses in the rankings that are determined based on criteria such as infrastructure, placements and quality of education.

Fees: The NIFT colleges in India's fee structure may affect the affordability and return on investment of the student. For example, NIFT Mumbai, Bengaluru, New Delhi, and Kolkata are among the most expensive NIFT branches, while NIFT Bhopal, Panchkula, Patna, and Srinagar are more affordable options.

Location: The location of the NIFT campuses is very much facilitated with the availability of resources, exposure to the industry, and placement opportunities. The NIFT campuses at Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Kolkata are also located in major metropolitan cities that offer a vibrant and diverse culture for design students.

Top Design Entrance Exams

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: How many NIFT colleges are there in India?
A:

There are a total of 19 NIFT colleges in India.

Q: What are the top NIFT colleges in India?
A:

The top NIFT colleges in India are NIFT Delhi, NIFT Bengaluru, and NIFT Mumbai.

Q: Which course is better in NIFT?
A:

National Institute of Fashion Technology offers various UG and PG design courses. NIFT colleges in India are among the top fashion design institutes. NIFT provides several workshops and projects to the students.

Q: What is the educational qualification required for NIFT admission?
A:

For UG admission, candidates must pass class 10+2 exam. For admission in PG courses, candidates must be graduates. Check complete NIFT eligibility criteria on the official website.

Q: Are NIFT placement good?
A:

Placement depends on the performance of the student during the selection interview. NIFT does not guarantee placements for any students. Many companies provide overseas opportunities. The frequent locations include the Middle East, Bangladesh, etc.

Q: What courses are offered at NIFTs?
A:

The UG and PG courses offered in NIFT campuses are as follows:

  • Bachelor of Design (BDes)

  • Bachelor of Fashion Technology (BFTech)

  • Master of Design (MDes)

  • Master of Fashion Technology (MFTech)

  • Master od Fashion Management(MFM)

Q: Which is no 1 NIFT in India?
A:

The National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) Delhi is widely regarded as the top NIFT campus in India. NIFT Delhi was ranked number 1 by the India Today. It offers a variety of undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs in fashion design, technology, and management.

Q: What are the BDes specialization programmes offered at NIFTs?
A:

The following BDes specialisations programmes are offered at NIFTs:

  • Fashion Design

  • Textile Design

  • Accessory Design

  • Knitwear Design

  • Leather Design

  • Fashion Communication

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Questions related to NIFT Entrance Exam

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to NIFT Entrance Exam ?

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!!

Hello,
It’s completely understandable to feel disheartened after not getting a seat in the first and second rounds, especially when you’ve filled all the colleges and have your hopes set on a particular course like Fashion Communication . With an OBC rank of 1910 and CMR 7192, your chances can improve in the upcoming counselling rounds as more students withdraw or shift to other colleges.
So make sure to check the further rounds of counselling and don’t lose hope. Many students get seats in the 3rd, 4th, and mop-up rounds. You can also consider updating your preference list or keeping a wider range of courses and campuses open in case you're okay with related fields.
Keep checking the official NIFT website for updates on seat allotment and further counselling instructions.
Thank you

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 .