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Tamil Nadu is home to some of the top engineering colleges in India, including prestigious institutions like the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, the National Institute of Technology (NIT) Trichy, and the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT). With around 959 engineering colleges across the state, both private and government-run, Tamil Nadu offers a wide variety of options for students pursuing degrees and diplomas in popular fields like Computer Science (CSE), Electronics and Communication (ECE), Information Technology (IT), Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Aeronautical Engineering, Automobile Engineering, and Civil Engineering.
According to the NIRF rankings for 2023, IIT Madras holds the top spot as the best engineering college in Tamil Nadu, ranked 1st in the country, followed by NIT Trichy, which is placed 9th among the top engineering colleges in India.
The fee structure for B.Tech programs in Tamil Nadu varies from INR 1 lakh to INR 3 lakh per annum, while M.Tech courses range from INR 50,000 to INR 1 lakh per annum. Out of the 959 colleges, 493 are affiliated with Anna University, ensuring a high standard of education. The average salary package (CTC) offered to graduates from these colleges typically ranges between INR 7 lakh to INR 12 lakh per annum, reflecting the quality of education and the demand for skilled professionals in the industry.
Top 10 Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu 2024
Tamil Nadu continues to be a key destination for engineering education in India, offering some of the best institutions that consistently produce top engineering talent. In 2024, the ranking of engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu includes prestigious names that have maintained their standards of excellence in education, research, and placements.
Also Check – Online Engineering Entrance Exams Courses
Here is the list of the top 10 engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu in 2024:
| College Name | Total seat | Cut-off 2023 | Average fee (in INR) |
| Indian Institute of Technology Madras | 1195 | 144 – 10060 | 2,10,000 (First year fees) |
| National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli | 942 | 358 – 29390 | 1,75,000 (First year fees) |
| Vellore Institute of Technology | 5100 | 8000-16000 | 1,98,000 |
| Anna University | 183505 | 1737 – 17039 | 47,200 (First year fees) |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | 2400 | 159 – 194.5 | 3,50,000 (First year fees) |
| S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology | 6000 | 10,000-70,000 | INR 2,75,000 – INR 4,75,000 |
| Shanmugha Arts Science Technology & Research Academy | 2685 | NA | 75,000 Per Semester |
| Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education | 1749 | NA | 1.21 Lakhs (First year fees) |
| Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering | 840 | 913 – 13559 | 2 Lakhs (Total fees) |
| PSG College of Technology | 1434 | 25455 – 79496 | 55,000 (First year fees) |
Top Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu with NIRF Ranking 2023
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is a ranking methodology established by the Government of India under the Ministry of Education. NIRF assesses educational institutions based on five key parameters: Teaching, Learning & Resources, Research & Professional Practices, Graduation Outcomes, Outreach & Inclusivity, and Perception. It is considered one of the most reliable and respected ranking systems in India, providing rankings across various domains, including engineering, every year.
In 2023, a total of 38 engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu were ranked under the NIRF Engineering category. Below is a list of some of the top engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu as per NIRF Ranking 2023, along with their rankings for previous years (2022 and 2021) for comparison:
| College Name | NIRF 2023 | NIRF 2022 | NIRF2021 |
| Indian Institute of Technology Madras | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli | 9 | 8 | 9 |
| Vellore Institute of Technology | 11 | 12 | 12 |
| Anna University | 13 | 17 | 18 |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | 19 | 19 | 16 |
| S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology | 28 | 24 | 34 |
| Shanmugha Arts Science Technology & Research Academy | 34 | 41 | 38 |
| Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education | 36 | 39 | 56 |
| Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering | 45 | 48 | 45 |
| PSG College of Technology | 63 | 57 | 53 |
| Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | 64 | 156 | 121 |
| Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology | 66 | 55 | 55 |
| Sri Krishna College of Engineering and Technology | 77 | 73 | 78 |
| Rajalakshmi Engineering College | 86 | 95 | 110 |
| Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R & D Institute of Science and Technology | 87 | 84 | 93 |
| B. S. Abdur Rahman Crescent Institute of Science and Technology | Not Ranked | 102 | 112 |
| Coimbatore Institute of Technology | Not Ranked | 104 | 102 |
How to Get Admission to Top Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu
Securing admission to the top engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu involves navigating through a structured process that often includes entrance exams and counselling sessions. Below are the main steps and details regarding eligibility and entrance exams for aspiring engineering students.
Admission Process
Entrance Exams: Most engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu admit students based on scores from specific entrance exams. The most common exams include:
- TNEA (Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions): This is the centralized admission process for various engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu, based primarily on the Class 12 marks in Mathematics, Physics, and Chemistry.
- TANCET (Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test): Conducted for M.Tech admissions in Tamil Nadu, this exam evaluates candidates for postgraduate engineering programs.
- GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering): Primarily for M.Tech admissions, GATE scores are accepted by several engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu.
College-Specific Entrance Exams: Some institutions conduct their own entrance exams:
- SRMJEEE (SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Exam): Conducted by SRM Institute of Science and Technology for admissions to its engineering programs.
- VITEEE (Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Examination): Conducted by VIT for admissions to various engineering courses.
Counseling Process: After the entrance exams, qualified candidates must participate in a counseling process where they can select their preferred colleges and courses based on their rank and available seats.
Direct Admission: A few engineering colleges may offer direct admission based on merit, usually considering the candidate’s performance in their previous examinations (such as Class 12 board exams). However, this option is limited and varies by institution.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for admission to engineering programs in Tamil Nadu, candidates generally need to meet the following requirements:
| College Name | Exams accepted | Cutoff | Eligibility criteria |
| IIT Madras | JEE Advanced | JEE Advanced:144 – 2790 | 10+2 with 60% marks |
| NIT Tiruchirappalli | DASA, JEE Main | JEE Main: 358 – 14406 DASA: 6809 – 229489 | 10+2 with 60% Aggregate |
| VIT | VITEEE | 1-20,000 | 10+2 with 60% Aggregate |
| Anna University | TNEA | TNEA: 1737 – 17039 rank | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics |
| Amritha Vishwa Vidyapeetham | AAEE/JEE Main. | AEEE: 159 – 194.5 marks | 10+2 ( class XII ) or its equivalent securing an aggregate of 60% marks in Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry with not less than 55% marks in each of these three subjects individually |
| SRM Institute of Science and Technology | SRMJEEE/JEE Main | 9500 – 70000 | 10+2 in Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics with a minimum aggregate of 50% marks. |
| Shanmugha Arts Science Technology & Research Academy | JEE Main | Based on merit in JEE main | 10+2 in Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics with an aggregate of 50% marks. |
| Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education | JEE Main, KUEE | NA | 10+2 with 45% aggregate |
| Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering | TNEA | TNEA :26791 – 43897 rank. | 10+2 with 45% aggregate |
| PSG College of Technology | TNEA | TNEA: 25455 – 79496 | 10+2 with 46% aggregate |
Top Government Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is home to some of the finest government engineering colleges in India, offering quality education, excellent faculty, and good placement opportunities at affordable fees. Below is a list of the top government engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu, recognized for their academic excellence and strong return on investment.
| Colleges name | Average fee ( in NRI) |
| IIT Madras | 2.1 Lakhs |
| NIT Trichy | 1.75 Lakhs |
| Anna University | 5 Lakhs |
| IIITDM Kancheepuram – Indian Institute of Information Technology Design & Manufacturing | 1.47 Lakhs |
| Coimbatore Institute of Technology | 70,200 |
| Annamalai University | 53,650 |
| Madras institute of technology | 46,060 |
| College of Engineering | 48K – 2 Lakhs |
| Government College of Technology | 31.4K – 2 Lakhs |
Best Private Tier 1 Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is home to several prestigious private engineering colleges that are known for their exceptional educational facilities, faculty, and placement opportunities. Here’s a list of some of the top private tier 1 engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu, including their fee structures:
| College Name | Average fee (in NRI) |
| VIT Vellore | 1.98 Lakhs |
| SRM Engineering College | 2.75 Lakhs |
| SSNCE | 2 Lakhs |
| SASTRA | 1.67 Lakhs |
| PSGCT | 55K |
| Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology | 2.40 Lakhs |
| Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education | 1.21 Lakhs |
| Karunya University | 2.19 Lakhs |
| Kumaraguru College of Technology – [KCT] | 1.00 Lakhs |
| Mepco Schlenk Engineering College | 2.20 Lakhs |
ROI of Top Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu
Return on Investment (ROI) is a crucial metric for evaluating the financial viability of pursuing an engineering degree from a particular college. It helps prospective students determine whether the cost of education is justified by the potential earnings after graduation. The ROI is calculated by comparing the average annual fee of the program to the average placement package offered to graduates.
Here’s a table illustrating the ROI of some of the top engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu:
| Colleges name | Average fees | Average package | ROI% |
| NIT Trichy | INR 175000 | INR 27.27 | 1458.29 |
| IIT Madras | INR 2,10,00 | INR 30 LPA | 1328 |
| Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering | INR 50,000 | INR 6,19,000 | 1138 |
| PSG College of Engineering | INR 55,000 | INR 5,40,000 | 881.82 |
| Coimbatore Institute of Technology | INR 70,200 | INR 4,99,000 | 610.83 |
| Anna University | INR 47,200 | INR 5,00,000 | 959.32 |
| Shanmugha Arts Science Technology & Research Academy | INR 1,65,000 | INR 7,50,000 | 354.55 |
| Vellore Institute of Technology | INR 1,98,000 | INR 9,23,000 | 366 |
| Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education | INR 1,21,000 | INR 4,50,000 | 271.9 |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | INR 3,50,000 | INR 5,80,000 | 65.71 |
Top Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu (Placement-wise)
Tamil Nadu is renowned for its engineering colleges that provide excellent placement opportunities and attract top recruiters. Here’s a list of some of the top engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu based on their placement records:
| College Name | Average package ( in rupees ) | Highest Package (in rupees) | Top recruiters |
| Indian Institute of Technology Madras | INR 30 LPA | 1.31 Crore Per Annum | Texas Instruments, Bajaj Auto Ltd, Cetak Ltd, Qualcomm, Microsoft, Texas Instruments, Google, Uber, C-Dot, Enphase Energy, Oracle, Nutanix, Thoughtspot, MTS-2, Squarepoint SDE, American Express JP Morgan & Chase, Bajaj, Rippling, Tibra, Cohesity, Sprinklr, Procter & Gamble |
| National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli | INR 27.27 LPA | INR 52.89 LPA | Google, Honeywell, HP, HDFC Bank, Microsoft, Morgan Stanley, Facebook, ITC, Nomura |
| Vellore Institute of Technology | INR 9.23 LPA | INR 1.02 CPA | Microsoft, DE Shaw & Co, Appdynamics, Airbnb, JO Morgan, Bajaj Finsery, Intel, Amazon, Paypal |
| Anna University | 15 LPA | 24 LPA | CISCO, Ola, Alstom, Samsung, R&D, Hyundai, TCS, Wipro, HCL, Dell, Microsoft, Accenture, Reliance |
| Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | 6.68 LPA | INR 56.95 LPA | Microsoft, Amazon, Intel, Cisco, American Express, Rockwell Collins, Atlassian, Intuit, SAP, Labs India |
| S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology | INR 7.92 LPA | INR 52 LPA | Aditya Birla, Air Asia, Apexon, Apollo, Amdocs, Hindustan Unilever Ltd, Infosys, IBM, HUAWEI, Hitachi |
| Shanmugha Arts Science Technology & Research Academy | 7.50LPA | INR 27 LPA | Asian Paints, Airtel, KPIT, L&T Constructions, L&T Infotech, L&T Infra Engineering, L&T Technology Services, Latent View, Amazon, Lucas, TVS Limited, LUK, Manali Petrochemicals, McKinsey & Company, Microchip, Microsoft, Mind Gate Morgan Stanley, Mu Sigma, Ametek, The Muthoot Group, NDOT, Nestle, Neway, Newgen Ninja Cart, Novozymes, Ashok Leyland, Orange Scape, PayPal |
| Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education | 4.5 LPA | 50 LPA | Cognizant, Teach Mahindra, Amazon, Wipro, Accenture, IBM, Cisco, Zoho, Federal Bank |
| Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering | INR 6.19 LPA | 64 LPA | Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Uber, CITI, Dell, HSBC, PayPal, Hyundai, TVS, MRF, The MAD Company, EY, Deloitte, Facebook |
| PSG College of Technology | 4.9 LPA – 12.2 LPA | 30 LPA | Qualcomm India Pvt Ltd, Robert Bosch, Reliance Industries Ltd, Infosys Technologies Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd, JSW Steel Ltd, KPMG, Cognizant, Maruti Suzuki Ltd, DE Shaw India, Software Pvt Ltd, Microsoft India, R&D, Deloitte Consulting India, Vedanta, Oracle India Pvt Ltd, Global Scholar |
Top Engineering Colleges in Tamil Nadu FAQs
What are the admission criteria?
Students must qualify for entrance exams like TNEA, TANCET, or GATE. Some colleges also have their own exams, such as VITEEE and SRMJEEE.
What is the average fee structure?
B.Tech fees range from ₹50,000 to ₹3,00,000 per annum, while M.Tech fees typically range from ₹50,000 to ₹1,00,000 per annum.
Which branches have the best placements?
Computer Science, IT, and Electronics Engineering offer the best placements, followed by Mechanical and Civil Engineering.
