List of Top Agricultural Colleges in India 2026 (NIRF 2025)

Looking for the top agricultural colleges in India for 2026? This guide lists the 15 best agriculture universities as ranked in the official NIRF 2025 Agriculture & Allied Sectors category. For each one you get the city, type, popular courses, how admission works and an approximate fee range.

Agriculture is no longer only about farming. Graduates work in agri-business, food processing, dairy, fisheries, seed and fertiliser companies, banking, research and government services. Choosing a strong university matters, because the best campuses offer ICAR-accredited degrees, research farms and good placement support.

Top 15 agricultural colleges in India at a glance (NIRF 2025)

The table below follows the official NIRF 2025 Agriculture & Allied Sectors list. Ranks were cross-checked with two independent reproductions of the NIRF table.

A few other well-known names also appear further down the same list: Bidhan Chandra Krishi Vishwavidyalaya (16), Lovely Professional University (17), Assam Agricultural University (18), OUAT Bhubaneswar (19) and Dr. Y.S. Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry, Solan (20). Some famous state universities, such as MPKV Rahuri, do not appear in the NIRF 2025 top 40 for this category.

Profiles of the best agriculture universities in India

1. IARI, New Delhi

The Indian Agricultural Research Institute, popularly called Pusa Institute, is the country's leading agricultural research centre and played a key role in the Green Revolution. It has held the top spot in the NIRF agriculture category for three years running. Its strength lies in master's and doctoral programmes across more than 20 disciplines.

• Established: 1905 (at Pusa, Bihar; moved to New Delhi in 1936)
• Type: Deemed-to-be University under ICAR
• NIRF 2025: Agriculture & Allied Sectors – Rank 1
• Popular courses: M.Sc and PhD in agronomy, genetics, plant pathology, soil science, agricultural economics and more
• Admission via: ICAR AIEEA (PG) for M.Sc; AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) for doctoral seats; CUET-UG for its UG seats
• Approx. fees: Low, government-subsidised; check iari.res.in for the current fee schedule

2. ICAR-NDRI, Karnal

The National Dairy Research Institute is India's premier institute for dairying. It is the natural first choice for students interested in B.Tech Dairy Technology and dairy science research. The campus has its own model dairy plant and cattle farms for hands-on training.

• Established: 1923 (Bangalore); shifted to Karnal in 1955
• Type: Deemed-to-be University under ICAR
• NIRF 2025: Agriculture & Allied Sectors – Rank 2
• Popular courses: B.Tech Dairy Technology, M.Sc/M.Tech and PhD in dairy science disciplines
• Admission via: CUET-UG (ICAR counselling) for B.Tech; ICAR AIEEA (PG) for master's
• Approx. fees: Modest government fees; see ndri.res.in

3. Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

PAU is one of the most respected state agricultural universities and is closely linked to Punjab's farm success. Its large campus houses colleges of agriculture, agricultural engineering, horticulture and forestry, basic sciences and community science.

• Established: 1962
• Type: State Agricultural University
• NIRF 2025: Agriculture & Allied Sectors – Rank 3
• Popular courses: B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture, B.Tech Agricultural Engineering, B.Sc Horticulture, M.Sc, PhD
• Admission via: PAU's own entrance test for state seats; CUET-UG for ICAR all-India quota seats
• Approx. fees: Varies by course; check pau.edu

4. Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi

BHU's Institute of Agricultural Sciences combines the advantages of a large central university with a strong agriculture faculty. Students benefit from a multidisciplinary campus and a national student mix.

• Established: University 1916
• Type: Central University
• NIRF 2025: Agriculture & Allied Sectors – Rank 4
• Popular courses: B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture, M.Sc (Ag), PhD
• Admission via: CUET-UG for UG; CUET-PG / ICAR route for PG as notified
• Approx. fees: Low to moderate; check bhu.ac.in

5. ICAR-IVRI, Izatnagar (Bareilly)

IVRI is India's top veterinary research institution. It is a strong option for students aiming at animal sciences, veterinary research and livestock development.

• Established: 1889 (as the Imperial Bacteriological Laboratory)
• Type: Deemed-to-be University under ICAR
• NIRF 2025: Agriculture & Allied Sectors – Rank 5
• Popular courses: B.V.Sc & A.H., M.V.Sc, PhD
• Admission via: B.V.Sc seats are filled on NEET-UG merit through IVRI's own counselling (a few seats via VCI); PG through ICAR AIEEA (PG)
• Approx. fees: Government-subsidised; check ivri.nic.in

6. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

TNAU offers one of the broadest menus of UG agriculture-related degrees in India, spread across constituent and affiliated colleges in Tamil Nadu.

• Established: As a university in 1971 (agricultural education in Coimbatore dates back to 1906)
• Type: State Agricultural University
• NIRF 2025: Agriculture & Allied Sectors – Rank 6
• Popular courses: B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, B.Tech Agricultural Engineering, Food Technology, Biotechnology
• Admission via: Class 12 merit-based state counselling; CUET-UG for ICAR quota
• Approx. fees: Lower in government colleges, higher in affiliated self-financing colleges

7 to 10. SKUAST-Kashmir, CIFE, GBPUAT and CCS HAU

SKUAST-Kashmir (Srinagar, est. 1982) is known for temperate horticulture, forestry and veterinary sciences. ICAR-CIFE Mumbai (est. 1961) is India's leading fisheries university, focusing on master's and PhD programmes. GBPUAT Pantnagar (est. 1960) was India's first agricultural university and is famous for agricultural engineering and seed research. CCS HAU Hisar (est. 1970) is a major research hub for wheat, mustard and other crops of north India.

• NIRF 2025 ranks: SKUAST-K – 7, CIFE – 8, GBPUAT – 9, CCS HAU – 10
• Popular courses: B.Sc Agriculture, B.Tech Agri Engineering (GBPUAT), B.F.Sc and M.F.Sc (CIFE and fisheries colleges), B.V.Sc
• Admission via: University or state entrance tests for state seats; CUET-UG for ICAR quota; ICAR AIEEA (PG) for master's

11 to 15. UAS Bangalore, KAU, NIFTEM Thanjavur, RPCAU Pusa and Amity

UAS Bangalore (est. 1964) and Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur (est. 1971) are strong state universities in the south. NIFTEM Thanjavur specialises in food processing technology. Dr RPCAU, Pusa became a central agricultural university in 2016 and fills all its seats through ICAR. Amity University, Noida is the highest-ranked private university in this category.

• NIRF 2025 ranks: UAS Bangalore – 11, KAU – 12, NIFTEM Thanjavur – 13, RPCAU – 14, Amity – 15
• Popular courses: B.Sc Agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Sericulture (UAS-B), B.Tech Food Technology (NIFTEM)
• Approx. fees: State and central universities are affordable; private universities can charge roughly ₹1–2 lakh or more per year

Popular agriculture courses after Class 12

Most of the best agriculture universities in India offer four-year professional degrees accredited by ICAR. The main options are listed below.

How admission works at top agricultural colleges in 2026

Admission is split between an all-India route run by ICAR and state-level routes run by each university or state. Many students apply through both.

1. Write CUET-UG (for B.Sc, B.Tech and similar UG courses): ICAR stopped its separate AIEEA (UG) exam and now uses CUET-UG scores. Choose the subject combination ICAR asks for (for example, Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Agriculture/Maths).
2. Register for ICAR counselling: After CUET results, register on ICAR's counselling portal and give subject consent so a merit rank is generated. ICAR fills 20% of UG seats (the All India Quota) in participating agricultural universities and 100% of seats at institutes such as IARI, NDRI, RPCAU Pusa and RLBCAU Jhansi.
3. Apply for state quota seats: The remaining seats in state agricultural universities are filled through the state's own test or merit list, for example PAU's entrance test, KCET in Karnataka, MHT CET in Maharashtra or Class 12 merit in Tamil Nadu.
4. B.V.Sc admission: Veterinary seats under the Veterinary Council of India's 15% all-India quota and many state quotas use NEET-UG scores.
5. PG and PhD: NTA conducts ICAR AIEEA (PG) for master's admission and AICE-JRF/SRF (PhD) for doctoral seats and fellowships. In 2026, both were held on 4 July in computer-based mode. These exams fill all seats at ICAR deemed universities (IARI, NDRI, IVRI, CIFE) and a fixed share of seats in state universities.

Fees and career scope

Agricultural education in India is among the most affordable professional streams. At government state and central universities, B.Sc Agriculture fees are often approx. ₹20,000 to ₹1 lakh per year (2025-26), excluding hostel. Private universities usually charge approx. ₹1 lakh to ₹2.5 lakh per year. Figures vary widely, so check each official website.

Graduates can choose from many career paths:

• Government jobs: Agriculture Officer, Agricultural Development Officer, Horticulture Officer, Forest Range Officer, IFS through UPSC
• Banking: Agricultural Field Officer posts (IBPS SO) and rural development roles at NABARD
• Research and teaching: ICAR scientist through ASRB's ARS exam, after a master's or PhD
• Private sector: Seed, fertiliser, agrochemical, food processing, dairy and agri-tech companies
• Entrepreneurship: Organic farming, nurseries, agri-startups and Farmer Producer Organisations

How to choose the right agriculture college

• Check ICAR accreditation: Government jobs and ICAR PG admission generally expect a degree from an ICAR-accredited university.
• Look at the farm and labs: Real field exposure, the RAWE (Rural Agricultural Work Experience) programme and research farms make a big difference.
• Match the specialisation: Pick NDRI for dairy, IVRI for veterinary, CIFE for fisheries and NIFTEM for food technology.
• Compare fees and hostel costs: Government universities are far cheaper than private ones.
• Use the NIRF data: Each ranked institute publishes placement and median salary data on nirfindia.org.

Scholarships for agriculture students

Many students in agriculture courses come from rural and farming families, and several schemes can reduce costs. ICAR offers the National Talent Scholarship to students admitted through its all-India quota who study outside their home state. Students can also apply for central and state scholarships through the National Scholarship Portal (NSP), and for post-matric scholarships for SC, ST and OBC students.

Merit-based private scholarships help too. The AISEE scholarship exam supports Class 12 and college students with fee support. You can see more options in our guide to scholarships for college students, and practise with the free test series.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the No. 1 agricultural college in India?

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI), New Delhi, is ranked No. 1 in the NIRF 2025 Agriculture & Allied Sectors category with a score of 89.23. It has held the top position for three consecutive years.

Is ICAR AIEEA UG still conducted?

No. ICAR now uses CUET-UG scores to fill its all-India quota seats in UG agriculture courses. Students must write CUET-UG with the required subjects and then register for ICAR counselling.

How many seats does ICAR fill in state agricultural universities?

For UG courses, ICAR fills 20% of seats in participating agricultural universities through the All India Quota, and all seats at a few central institutes such as IARI, NDRI, RPCAU Pusa and RLBCAU Jhansi. The rest are filled by states.

Can PCM students do B.Sc Agriculture?

Yes, at many universities. ICAR and several states accept PCM, PCB and Agriculture streams for B.Sc Agriculture. However, B.Tech Agricultural Engineering and Dairy Technology usually need Maths, while B.V.Sc needs Biology.

What is the fee for B.Sc Agriculture in government colleges?

At most government agricultural universities, fees are approx. ₹20,000 to ₹1 lakh per year (2025-26), excluding hostel and mess. Private universities usually charge more. Always confirm on the official university website.

Which agricultural university is best for B.Tech Dairy Technology?

ICAR-NDRI Karnal, ranked No. 2 in NIRF 2025 (Agriculture), is the best-known choice for dairy technology. Several state veterinary and agricultural universities also offer the course.

What jobs can I get after B.Sc Agriculture?

You can become an Agriculture Officer, Agricultural Field Officer in a bank, or join seed, fertiliser and food companies. With a master's or PhD, you can become an ICAR scientist or a university teacher.

Conclusion: picking from the top agricultural colleges in India

The top agricultural colleges in India in 2026, led by IARI, NDRI, PAU, BHU and IVRI in NIRF 2025, offer affordable, research-rich education with strong career prospects. Write CUET-UG for the ICAR all-India quota, do not miss your state's own entrance test, and choose a university that matches your preferred specialisation.

Your next step: shortlist three to five universities, check their latest admission notices, and plan your funding early by exploring the scholarships available in India.