Top 10 NIFT Colleges in India 2025

Top 10 NIFT Colleges in India 2025

Team Careers360Updated on 18 Jul 2025, 11:27 AM IST

NIFT top colleges in India 2025 include National Institute of Fashion Technology campuses and some other prestigious private design institutes. Apart from NIFT campuses, some other best colleges accepting NIFT scores include UPES Dehradun, LPU Jalandhar, ISDI School of Design and Innovation, Mumbai, World University of Design, Sonipat and more, etc. NIFT offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses in design. Aspirants seeking NIFT admission have to first qualify the national level NIFT entrance exam, followed by a situation test. However, for admission to other private NIFT colleges in India, qualifying the entrance exam is enough.

This Story also Contains

  1. NIFT Top Colleges in India
  2. NIFT Colleges in India apart from National Institute of Fashion Technology campuses
  3. How to get admission to NIFT colleges?
  4. National Institute of Fashion Technology Rankings
  5. NIFT Courses 2025
  6. How to select the best NIFT college in India?
  7. Other Top Design Colleges in India
  8. NIFT Colleges Cutoffs
Top 10 NIFT Colleges in India 2025
NIFT Top Colleges in India

The NIFT situation test 2025 was conducted on June 8 from 10 AM to 12 noon for B.Des aspirants and for PG the NIFTEE stage 2 personal interview round was held from May 26 to 31 and June 2, 3. NIFTEE 2025 Stage 1 results was declared on April 24, 2025 at exams.nta.ac.in/NIFT/ for B.Des, M.Des, M.F.M and M.F.Tech programmes except B.F.Tech programme which have been announced separately along with the final results on June 22. Candidates can check the list of top 5 NIFT colleges in India along with their fees structure and seat matrix. Along with NIFT rankings in India, candidates are also provided with the list of colleges accepting NIFT scores. NIFT entrance exam was conducted on February 9, 2025. Read the complete article for more details on the list of NIFT colleges in India and NIFT colleges ranking.

NIFT Top Colleges in India

There are 19 NIFT campuses all over India with the oldest one being the NIFT Delhi. Seat allotment in NIFT top colleges in India is done based on marks obtained in NIFT entrance and the situation test. Candidates can check the list of top 5 NIFT colleges in India and more offering diverse design courses mentioned in the table below.

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Total NIFT Campus

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. A list of top 5 NIFT colleges in India accepting NIFT score as per Careers360 ranking is as follows:

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How to get admission to NIFT colleges?

Students seeking admission into these top 5 NIFT Colleges in India for the design courses need to ensure that they meet NIFT eligibility criteria. NIFT admission 2025 is wholly based on the candidate’s performance in all stages of the NIFT entrance exam. Students qualifying for NIFT 2025 are offered admission to the top NIFT colleges in India through a counselling session.

If candidates are found not eligible for admission during the NIFT counselling, then their candidature shall stand cancelled without any further notification. The National Institute of Fashion Technology is not liable for any consequences due to cancellation of admission for not fulfilling the NIFT admission eligibility criteria.

The NTA declared the final NIFT result of the Situation test, GD/PI for all UG and PG programmes on June 22, 2025. Students obtain admission across the NIFT 19 campuses list based on their performance in all the rounds in the NIFT entrance exam.

Also Check: NIFT college-wise seat matrix

National Institute of Fashion Technology Rankings

Candidates seeking information about the top 10 best NIFT colleges in India can refer to the NIFT colleges ranking by India Today. With the help of the NIFT rankings, candidates can select the best NIFT colleges in India. The National Institute of Fashion Technology rankings in India 2025 is based on various parameters such as academic excellence, faculty quality, infrastructure, placement record, student satisfaction, etc. Aspiring candidates can check the table below for the ranking of all NIFT colleges in India of previous years.

College ID

College Name

2024

2023

2022

590

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Delhi

1

1

1

1302

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Gandhinagar

6

6

5

1304

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata

7

8

8

1547

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore

3

3

3

1616

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Jodhpur

10

10

NP

1633

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bhopal

-

NA

NA

1634

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bhubaneswar

13

12

15

1635

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Hyderabad

4

5

7

1636

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Raebareli

14

14

11

1637

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Srinagar

-

NA

NA

8469

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai

2

2

2

8505

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Patna

8

7

6

8697

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kangra

17

17

17

8828

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kannur

11

13

13

9085

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai

5

4

4

16975

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Shillong

15

16

14

39486

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Panchkula

-

NA

NA

54698

National Institute of Fashion Technology, Daman

-

NA

NA

The NIFT campus ranking in India reflects the high standards of education and innovation these colleges uphold. As we look at all top NIFT colleges in India, it’s evident that each campus is a hub of creativity and excellence. The top NIFT colleges in India not only educate but inspire and create a place where new ideas can grow well. The top 5 NIFT colleges in India are well-versed with their preparation recognised as leading institutions for fashion education, high-quality programmes, and innovative approaches.

NIFT Courses 2025

Aspirants can get admission in any of the courses offered by top NIFT colleges in India once they clear the entrance exam as long as they fulfil the eligibility. The total NIFT colleges in India provide a diverse range of programmes catering to various specializations. NIFT offers both UG and PG design courses to candidates. The top NIFT colleges in India offer several highly regarded courses. Here are some of the best NIFT courses available for the candidates to pursue.

  • 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
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Browse Top Design Colleges by Location

How to select the best NIFT college in India?

The colleges of best NIFT in India depend on the preference and budget of the student. Some of the possible criteria to choose the top 5 NIFT colleges in India are:

Ranking: According to the India Today ranking , NIFT Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata are among the top four fashion design colleges in India as per National Institute of Fashion Technology rankings.

Fees: The NIFT colleges in India 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 among the most affordable ones. The top NIFT colleges in India 2025 fees are comfortable for the design aspirants to pursue their desired course.

Location: The location of the NIFT campuses is very much facilitated with availability of resources, exposure to the industry, and placement opportunities. For example, NIFT New Delhi is the headquarters of NIFT and has a strong network with the fashion industry. The NIFT 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

Other Top Design Colleges in India

Some of the other reputed design institutes in India besides top 5 NIFT colleges in Indiathat are famous for quality education and good placement opportunities are listed in the table below.

College Name

Location

INIFD Pune

Mumbai, Maharashtra

Indian Institute of Art & Design (IIAD)

Delhi, Delhi

ARCH College of Design & Business

Jaipur, Rajasthan

United World Institute of Design (UID)

Gandhinagar, Gujarat

Amity University

Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Vogue Institute of Art and Design (VIAD)

Bengaluru, Karnataka

Satyam Fashion Institute (SFI)

Noida, Uttar Pradesh

LISAA School of Design (LISAA)

Bengaluru, Karnataka

Centre for Design Excellence (CODE)

Jaipur, Rajasthan

NIFT Colleges Cutoffs

Aspirants applying for admission at NIFT campuses need to obtain NIFT cutoffs that will be released. It is mandatory for the aspirants to meet the minimum qualifying criteria to gain admission to NIFT campuses in India. The NTA authorities will release the NIFT 2025 cutoff on the official website - nift.admissions.nic.in and nift.ac.in.

Previous Year cutoff for NIFT colleges

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

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

There are a total of 19 NIFT colleges in India. These colleges offer various design programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The admission to these programmes is based on the performance of the candidates in the NIFT entrance exam 2025. 

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 are the top NIFT colleges in India?
A:

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

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 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 design fashion institutes. NIFT provides several workshops and projects to the students.

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 Neharika

These are the topics which are most important in the Current affairs section in respect to NIFT Entrance Exam:

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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 .

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 :

  • Communication ability and English comprehension
  • Quantitative ability
  • Analytical and Reasoning
  • Case study
  • General knowledge and current affairs

The CAT syllabus consists important topics like

  • Creative ability
  • Observation power
  • Discernment ability
  • Design ability
  • Colour combination ability

To download the complete syllabus kindly refer this

https://design.careers360.com/articles/nift-syllabus

Good luck !