The career and scope of design colleges in India is growing rapidly and thus more of candidates are inclining towards this. However, applicants must be well aware of how to choose a design college in India based on their interest and requirement. One must follow up the courses offered, fee structure and of course the placement criteria for a promised future.
Candidates aspiring to become designers are looking to find the best design colleges in India. There are some factors to consider while choosing the best design college in India that fulfills your career aspirations.
Every year top design colleges in India conduct national-level entrance exams such as NIFT, NID DAT, UCEED, etc., for admission into the best programs in design. However, design has various domains and career aspirations so candidates need to research properly before finalizing the right colleges for them to pursue a career in design.
India is gradually becoming the hub of design as the demand for designers in top organizations is increasing rapidly. It is therefore important to consider a few factors while choosing a design college to build an unparalleled career in design. Several factors like infrastructure, faculty expertise, placement statistics, and accreditations are the top factors to be considered for choosing a design college in India.
List of Best Design Colleges in India
The list of the best Design Colleges in India will give the aspirant an idea of which top design entrance exams to target and how to prepare accordingly to secure a seat. Here is the list of the best design colleges in India that rank at the top of the list in every aspect.
|
Name of College |
Design Entrance Exams Score Accepted |
Average Fee for Design Courses |
Top Recruiters |
|
National Institute of Design (NID) (Ahmedabad, etc.) |
NID DAT (Design Aptitude Test) |
INR 16.84 lakh |
|
|
National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) (Delhi, Mumbai, etc.) |
NIFT Entrance Exam |
INR 5.6 lakh to INR 12.3 lakh |
|
|
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) (Bombay, Delhi, Guwahati, etc.) |
UCEED (Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design), CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design) |
INR 8 lakh to INR 11.6 lakh |
|
|
Srishti Manipal Institute of Art, Design and Technology |
UCEED, SMEAT (Srishti Manipal Entrance and Aptitude Test) |
INR 16.72 Lakh |
|
|
Pearl Academy |
Pearl Academy Entrance Exam |
INR 3,75,100 |
|
|
MIT Institute of Design (MITID) |
MITID DAT |
INR 6.52 lakh |
|
|
CEPT University, Ahmedabad |
varying entrance exams according to their specific department courses. |
INR 22.75 Lakh |
|
|
World University of Design |
Conducts their entrance tests. |
INR 3,68,000 to INR 4,02,500 |
|
|
Symbiosis Institute of Design (SID) |
SEED (Symbiosis Entrance Exam for Design) |
INR 18.68 Lakh |
|
|
Arch College of Design & Business |
AIEED (All India Entrance Examination for Design) |
INR 7 Lakh to INR 17.40 Lakh |
|
|
Lovely Professional University (LPU) |
LPU NEST (National Entrance and Scholarship Test) |
INR 6.4 to INR 9.6 Lakhs |
|
|
UPES School of Design |
UPES Design Aptitude Test (UPES-DAT) |
INR 21.58 Lakh to INR 43.74 Lakh |
|
|
Chandigarh University |
Chandigarh University Entrance Test (CUCET) |
INR 792,000 |
|
|
ISDI Parsons Mumbai |
ISDI Challenge |
INR 26.80 Lakh |
|
|
VIT School of Design (Vellore Institute of Technology) |
V-DAT(VIT Design Aptitude Test) |
INR 6.92 Lakh |
|
Relevant Links Related to Design Colleges:
Best Design Colleges Apart From NIFT and NID
List of Design Courses at IGNOU: Curriculum, Duration, Fees, Admission Process
Factors to Consider While Choosing a Design College in India
When choosing a Design College in India one needs to consider a few factors. These factors give an overview of the program, recognition of the degree, and placement prospects. Candidates must know what to consider while choosing a design college in India.
- Diversity of Programs and Curriculum: To get a degree in design one must have a complete understanding of what curriculum a college follows and what specialization they offer. If both meet the candidate’s career aspirations then the college can be considered as one of the top options. Check if the college has updated its curriculum as per National Education Policy (2020) or follows the UGC guidelines or not.
- Accreditation and Recognitions: A top accredited and well-recognized college offers potential chances of meeting and fulfilling the career prospects of the design aspirants. When choosing a design college, aspirants can look for NAAC grading, NIRF Rankings, and affiliations from international organizations like the World Design Organization (WDO) or the International Council of Design (ICoD).
- Infrastructure and Facilities Offered: For the best experience at a design college look for a college that offers world-class infrastructure and facilities of international standards for a smooth experience and to match the requirements of the job market.
- Experience and Expertise of Faculty: The faculty of the colleges will have the power to shape your career hence a college with experienced faculty (high research skills, innovative and creative) must be chosen. Colleges having faculty with strong profiles and who root for innovation and are tech-driven must only be considered.
- Strong Alumni Network: A strong alumni network can offer mentorship opportunities, industry connections, and insights into various design opportunities. Alumni working in design firms, fashion houses, or creative industries can help expand your professional network.
- Internship and Placement Opportunities: Hands-on experience becomes important before jumping right into the design industry. Internships offer practical exposure and prepare candidates for diverse roles after placements. A strong placement cell ensures that no talent is wasted and each student gets a fair chance to be at the top organizations.
Considering the factors in choosing a design college in India is one of the crucial steps in making a rock-solid career in the design industry, as the future of design in coming years is expected to rise widely with multiple opportunities. Special attention needs to be paid to infrastructure, meteor-mentee ratio, and placements as they will have a huge impact on your career. Although these factors are not exhaustive, they are some of the most important ones to be considered before finalizing a design college in India.
