Confused about IIT vs NIT? IITs admit candidates based on their JEE Advanced scores while NITs accept JEE Main scores for admission. The number of IITs in India is 23 and the number of NITs is 31.
Table of Contents
The main difference between IIT vs NIT is that IITs are an association of 25 technology-oriented institutions under MHRD that offer high-quality engineering & management courses, while the NITs are an alliance of 31 institutes that impart higher education in engineering & technology. Though both IIT and NIT offer quality education, they differ in terms of the number of institutes, admission process, courses offered, number of seats, facilities and infrastructure, and placements.
IIT vs NIT Key Differences
IITs and NITs are well-noted for their exceptional standards of education. Both institutes have played a significant role in India's growth in technology and science at the global level. Let us now look into the major differences between IIT vs NIT.
| Parameters | IIT | NIT |
| Full form | Indian Institute of Technology | National Institute of Technology |
| Type of Institution | Central government-owned public technical institute | Central government-owned public technical institute |
| Number of Institutes | 23 IITs | 31 NITs |
| Act | Comes under the Institute of Technology Act 1961 | Comes under the National Institute of Technology Act 2007 |
| Admission Criteria | JEE Advanced | JEE Mains |
| No. of Seats | 16,053 | 37,661 |
| Average Total Fees | INR 8-10 Lakhs | INR 5-6 Lakhs |
| Average Package | INR 20 to 30 Lakhs per annum | INR 10 to 15 Lakhs per annum |
What is IIT vs NIT
Both IITs and NITs are central government-owned public technical institutions that offer multiple courses, exceptional facilities and placements. Let us learn about IIT vs NIT in detail through the sections given below.
What is IIT
The Indian Institute of Technology is an autonomous public institute for higher education. IIT comes under MHRD, governed and maintained by the Central Government. There are 23 IITs in India. IITs come under the Institute of Technology Act 1961, which declared IIT an institute of national importance.
The first IIT established in India was in 1950 in Kharagpur. And in 1960, 4 new campuses were inaugurated in Bombay, Madras, Kanpur, and Delhi. Mentioned below are some other relevant details:
- IIT Guwahati was established in 1994
- IIT Roorkee was founded in 2001
- Five colleges were converted into IITs in 2003
- In 2008, eight new IITs were established
- In 2015, six new IITs were established
What is NIT
The National Institute of Technology is an autonomous public higher education institution governed and regulated by the central government. NIT comes under the National Institute of Technology Act, 2007, which declared them an institution of national importance.
There are 31 NITs in India. NIT was previously called Regional Engineering College, established during the second 5-year plan. Other important details related to various NITs are provided below.
- 17 REC was established in 1959 in each major state
- In 1967, six more NITs were established
- In 1985-1986, 2 new NITs were established
- In 2002 all REC became NIT
| IIIT vs NIT | IIM Vs IIT |
IIT vs NIT: Number of Institutes
IITs are a network of 25 premier colleges in India, whereas there are a total of 31 prestigious NIT institutions in the country. The section below provides the entire list of IITs and NITs.
| List of All IITs in India | NIT Colleges in India |
Courses Offered by IIT vs NIT
When it comes to the courses offered by IIT vs NIT, IITs offer a few more courses at the postgraduate level and are known to have better educational standards. Here we have provided the list of bachelor's, master's, and doctorate courses offered by IIT and NIT.
IIT vs NIT Bachelors Courses
The list of undergraduate courses offered by IIT and NIT is given below in a tabular form.
| IIT Courses | NIT Courses |
| B.Tech | B.Tech |
| B.Arch | B.Arch |
| Dual Degree MA | BA |
| Dual Degree M.Sc | Dual Degree Integrated Courses |
| B.Sc. | - |
IIT vs NIT Masters Courses
Check out the master's courses offered by IIT vs NIT through the table below.
| IIT Courses | NIT Courses |
| M.Tech | M.Tech |
| MBA | MBA |
| M.Arch | M.Arch |
| M.Sc | M.Sc |
| MS | MS |
| M.Des | MCA |
| Master in Medical Science & Technology (MMST) | - |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Maritime Operation & Management (PGDMOM) | - |
| Post Graduate Diploma in Information and Technology (PGDIT) | - |
| Post Graduate Diploma (PGDIPL) | - |
IIT vs NIT Doctorate Courses
The doctorate-level courses available at IIT and NIT are shown in the following table.
| IIT Courses | NIT Courses |
| PhD | PhD |
Read More on Courses Offered by IIT Institutes
IIT vs NIT: Admission Criteria
To get admission into IIT or NIT, aspirants need to clear the required entrance exams along with securing the qualifying marks. Complete details related to IIT vs NIT entrance exams and cutoffs are given below.
IIT vs NIT Entrance Exams
There are two entrance exams for admission to NIT and IIT for engineering. The exams are IIT JEE Mains and IIT JEE Advanced. The aspirants who pass JEE Mains will be qualified for NITs only. To get admission to IIT, students must also pass JEE Advanced.
Aspirants must take the IIT JAM exam if they are seeking admissions in IITs for Post-Graduation Programs such as M.Sc. This exam is intended for those who want to pursue M.Sc. from IITs or NITs. The applicants who don’t get admission to IITs by JAM counselling must appeal for CCMN counselling to hold their seats in NITs.
IIT vs NIT Cutoff
The institute-specific admission cutoff varies for IITs and NITs. However, here we have discussed the expected category-wise JEE Main and JEE Advanced qualifying cutoff marks for 2023 that students must achieve for admission into NIT and IIT.
JEE Main 2023 Expected Qualifying Cutoff
The JEE Main 2023 expected qualifying cutoff for various categories on the basis of past years' trends is given in the following table.
| Category | Expected Cutoff |
| UR | 90-95 |
| SC | 50-55 |
| ST | 40-45 |
| EWS | 70-75 |
| OBC-NCL | 70-75 |
JEE Advanced 2023 Expected Qualifying Cutoff
Candidates can find the category-wise JEE Advanced 2023 qualifying cutoff (expected) through the table below.
| Category | Minimum Scores Required | Minimum Aggregate Scores Required |
| Common Rank List | 5 | 55 |
| OBC-NCL Rank List | 5 | 50 |
| GEN-EWS Rank List | 5 | 50 |
| SC Rank List | 3 | 28 |
| GEN-EWS-PwD Rank List | 3 | 28 |
| ST Rank List | 3 | 28 |
| Common-PwD Rank List | 3 | 28 |
| OBC-NCL-PwD Rank List | 3 | 28 |
| SC-PwD Rank List | 3 | 28 |
| ST-PwD Rank List | 3 | 28 |
| Preparatory Course | 1 | 14 |
IIT vs NIT: Facilities and Infrastructure
The infrastructure of IITs is advanced in technology, comprehensive, and outfitted. They have excellent classroom facilities and functional labs. NIT campuses are also equipped with various amenities that are modernized. Let us check out the amenities offered by both institutes.
IIT Facilities
- Library
- Hostel
- Sports Complex
- Labs
- Hospital/Medical Facilities
- Wi-Fi Campus
- Auditorium
- Open-air Theater
- Research Park
- Students Facilities Centre
- Post Office Facility
- Computer Centre
NIT Facilities
- Computer Centre
- Library
- Hostel
- Hospital
- Shopping Complex
- Transport
- Sports
- Auditorium
- Security
IIT vs NIT: Placements
Most IITs have greater possibilities and payroll packages corresponding to NITs. In top IITs, average placement packages range between INR 20 to 30 lakhs per annum. Whereas candidates graduating from top NITs can earn an average salary of INR 10 to 15 lakhs per year. However, the salaries can differ based on the skills and abilities each candidate possesses.
If we compare all the aspects of IIT vs NIT, it is evident that IIT has the edge over NIT. The placement, infrastructure, Alumni network, courses offered, etc., are way more advanced at IIT than at NIT. However, both the institutes are known to provide quality education and hence students must get the required cutoff to get admission into these institutes.
| IIT Placements and Highest Salary Package | NIT Ranking Placement-Wise |
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