List of Top Universities in Karnataka 2026: NIRF Ranks & Fees

Looking for the top universities in Karnataka for 2026? Karnataka has India's best-ranked university (IISc Bengaluru), the top law school (NLSIU), the second-best B-school (IIM Bangalore) and a strong mix of deemed and state universities in Bengaluru, Manipal, Mysuru and Mangaluru. This guide lists 15 leading institutes with their verified NIRF 2025 ranks, popular courses, admission routes and approximate fees.

We used the NIRF 2025 India Rankings (released by the Ministry of Education on 4 September 2025), because an official NIRF 2026 list could not be confirmed at the time of writing. Each rank below names its category: University, Overall, Engineering, Management, Law or Medical.

Top 15 universities in Karnataka at a glance (2026)

The table mixes multi-discipline universities with specialist institutes, because Karnataka's best options in law, management and mental health are standalone institutions. Use the NIRF category column to compare like with like.

Best universities and institutes in Karnataka: detailed profiles

1. Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru

Founded in 1909, IISc is India's leading research institution and has been the No. 1 university in NIRF every year since the University category began. Undergraduates join its four-year BS (Research) programme, while most students are in M.Tech, MS and PhD programmes. Visit the official IISc website for current notices.

• Established: 1909
• Type: Deemed-to-be university, funded by the Government of India
• NIRF 2025: University rank 1; Overall rank 2
• Popular courses: BS (Research), M.Tech, M.Des, MS (Research), PhD
• Admission via: JEE Main, JEE Advanced, NEET-UG or the IISER Aptitude Test for BS; GATE/CEED and interviews for postgraduate courses
• Approx. fees: Low by national standards (M.Tech fee about Rs 40,000+ per year approx., 2025); check the official website

2. Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal

MAHE grew out of Kasturba Medical College, which was set up in 1953, and is now one of India's largest private deemed universities. Its colleges include Kasturba Medical College (NIRF 2025 Medical rank 10) and Manipal Institute of Technology. See the official MAHE website for programmes and deadlines.

• Established: 1953 (KMC); deemed university status in 1993
• Type: Private deemed-to-be university
• NIRF 2025: University rank 3; Overall rank 14
• Popular courses: MBBS, B.Tech, B.Pharm, allied health sciences, MBA
• Admission via: Manipal Entrance Test (MET) for engineering and many other courses; NEET-UG for MBBS/BDS
• Approx. fees: B.Tech about Rs 10–24 lakh for the full course (approx., 2025), depending on branch

3. National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), Surathkal

NITK began as Karnataka Regional Engineering College and has a beach-side campus near Mangaluru. It is the highest-ranked engineering institute in the state and is known for steady core and IT placements.

• Established: 1960 (as KREC); NIT status in 2002
• Type: Institute of National Importance (central)
• NIRF 2025: Engineering rank 17
• Popular courses: B.Tech (CSE, ECE, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical), M.Tech, MBA, PhD
• Admission via: JEE Main and JoSAA counselling for B.Tech; GATE/CCMT for M.Tech
• Approx. fees: Central NIT fee structure, with fee waivers for eligible family incomes; check nitk.ac.in

4. Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB)

IIM Bangalore has held second place in NIRF's Management category for several years running. Its flagship two-year MBA attracts top CAT scorers, and its Bannerghatta Road campus is a landmark of Bengaluru.

• Established: 1973
• Type: Institute of National Importance
• NIRF 2025: Management rank 2
• Popular courses: MBA, MBA (Business Analytics), Executive MBA, PhD
• Admission via: CAT, followed by the institute's own shortlisting and interviews
• Approx. fees: Over Rs 25 lakh for the two-year MBA (approx.); check the official website

5. National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru

NLSIU was India's first national law university and pioneered the five-year integrated law degree. It has topped the NIRF Law ranking since that category was introduced.

• Established: 1986 (set up under a Karnataka state Act)
• Type: State law university
• NIRF 2025: Law rank 1
• Popular courses: BA LLB (Hons), LLM, Master's in Public Policy, PhD
• Admission via: CLAT (UG and PG)
• Approx. fees: Several lakh rupees per year including hostel; check the official website

6. NIMHANS, Bengaluru

The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences is India's apex centre for psychiatry, neurology and neurosurgery. It mainly offers postgraduate, super-speciality and doctoral programmes rather than MBBS.

• Established: 1974 (in its present form; roots go back much earlier)
• Type: Institute of National Importance
• NIRF 2025: Medical rank 7
• Popular courses: MD Psychiatry, DM/MCh, M.Phil Clinical Psychology, nursing and PhD programmes
• Admission via: NEET-PG / INI-SS for medical PG seats; institute entrance tests for other programmes
• Approx. fees: Government-institute fees, generally low; check the official website

7. JSS Academy of Higher Education & Research (JSS AHER), Mysuru

JSS AHER is a health-sciences focused deemed university that includes JSS Medical College (NIRF 2025 Medical rank 37) and a highly rated pharmacy college. It is a good choice for students set on medicine or pharmacy in south Karnataka.

• Established: Deemed university status in 2008
• Type: Private deemed-to-be university
• NIRF 2025: University rank 21
• Popular courses: MBBS, BDS, B.Pharm, Pharm.D, M.Pharm, allied health
• Admission via: NEET-UG (MCC deemed-university counselling) for MBBS/BDS; university process for others
• Approx. fees: M.Pharm about Rs 5–7 lakh for the course (approx., 2025); MBBS fees are much higher

8. International Institute of Information Technology Bangalore (IIIT-B)

IIIT Bangalore is a compact, research-led institute in Electronic City, close to Bengaluru's tech companies. It is best known for its five-year integrated M.Tech and its postgraduate programmes in computing and data science.

• Established: 1999
• Type: Deemed-to-be university (not-for-profit, public-private partnership)
• NIRF 2025: Engineering rank 69
• Popular courses: Integrated M.Tech (CSE, ECE), M.Tech, M.Sc (Digital Society), PhD
• Admission via: JEE Main for integrated M.Tech; GATE/own test for M.Tech
• Approx. fees: Check the official website

9. Jain (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru

Jain University has a large footprint across Bengaluru and is popular for commerce, management, sports and engineering. It also features in the NIRF 2025 Engineering and Management lists.

• Established: Deemed university status in 2009
• Type: Private deemed-to-be university
• NIRF 2025: University rank 62
• Popular courses: B.Com, BBA, B.Tech, MBA, B.Sc
• Admission via: Jain Entrance Test (JET) and interview, depending on the course
• Approx. fees: B.Tech about Rs 5.5–14 lakh for the course (approx., 2025)

10. Christ University, Bengaluru

Christ University is known for disciplined campus life and strong arts, commerce, psychology and law departments. It is one of the few Karnataka universities ranked in several NIRF categories, including Overall, Engineering, Management and Law.

• Established: 1969 (as Christ College); deemed university status in 2008
• Type: Private deemed-to-be university
• NIRF 2025: University rank 63
• Popular courses: BBA, B.Com, BA (Hons) Psychology, BA LLB, MBA
• Admission via: Christ University entrance test, skills assessment and personal interview
• Approx. fees: BA (Hons) about Rs 3.7–5.9 lakh for the course (approx., 2025)

11. Bangalore University

Bangalore University is a large state university with a big Jnana Bharathi campus. It is an affordable option for science, commerce and arts degrees, and its departments offer many postgraduate programmes.

• Established: 1964
• Type: State public university
• NIRF 2025: University rank 65
• Popular courses: B.Sc, B.Com, BA, M.Sc, MA, M.Com
• Admission via: Merit-based UG admission; PG entrance or merit as notified
• Approx. fees: Generally low at university departments; varies widely across affiliated colleges

12. University of Mysore

Founded in 1916, the University of Mysore is one of India's oldest universities and its Manasagangotri campus is known for sciences, languages and social sciences. Fees at its own departments are modest.

• Established: 1916
• Type: State public university
• NIRF 2025: University rank 71
• Popular courses: B.Sc, BA, M.Sc, MA, M.Com, PhD
• Admission via: Merit for UG; entrance or merit for PG as notified
• Approx. fees: B.Sc about Rs 69,000–1.7 lakh for the course (approx., 2025)

13. Nitte (Deemed-to-be University), Mangaluru

Nitte runs medical, dental, nursing, pharmacy and engineering institutions in and around Mangaluru. Coastal Karnataka is a major health-sciences hub, and Nitte is one of its main players.

• Established: Deemed university status in 2008
• Type: Private deemed-to-be university
• NIRF 2025: University rank 80
• Popular courses: MBBS, BDS, B.Pharm, B.Tech, nursing
• Admission via: NEET-UG for medical and dental; university process for other courses
• Approx. fees: B.Tech about Rs 6.4–14.4 lakh for the course (approx., 2025)

14. RV College of Engineering (RVCE), Bengaluru

RVCE is an autonomous college affiliated to Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) and is one of the most sought-after KCET choices. It has a strong record in IT and core placements.

• Established: 1963
• Type: Private, autonomous, VTU-affiliated college
• NIRF 2025: Engineering rank band 101–150 (it was ranked 99 in 2024)
• Popular courses: B.E. CSE, ISE, ECE, AI & ML, M.Tech
• Admission via: KCET, COMEDK UGET and management quota
• Approx. fees: Lower under KCET government quota than under COMEDK/management quota; check the official website

15. PES University, Bengaluru

PES University grew out of the well-known PES Institute of Technology and is now a private state university with campuses on Ring Road and Electronic City. It is a popular choice for computer science.

• Established: 2013 (as a university)
• Type: Private state university
• NIRF 2025: University rank band approx. 151–200
• Popular courses: B.Tech CSE, ECE, BBA, MBA, M.Tech
• Admission via: PESSAT, KCET and COMEDK UGET
• Approx. fees: Check the official website; private-quota B.Tech fees run into several lakh per year

Other well-known names include M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology (NIRF 2025 Engineering rank 75), University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore (University rank 95) and Visvesvaraya Technological University (University band approx. 101–150).

How admission works at top colleges in Karnataka

Karnataka uses a mix of national and state exams. The exam you need depends on the course and on whether you want a government, private or deemed-university seat.

1. Pick your course first. Engineering, medicine, law, management and general degrees all use different exams.
2. Engineering: JEE Main (NITK, IIIT-B and many others), JEE Advanced (IITs and IISc BS), KCET run by the Karnataka Examinations Authority for state-quota seats, COMEDK UGET for private colleges, and university tests such as MET and PESSAT.
3. Medical and dental: NEET-UG is compulsory. State-quota seats are filled through KEA counselling; deemed-university seats through MCC counselling.
4. Law: CLAT for NLSIU and other national law universities; private universities may run their own tests.
5. Management: CAT for IIM Bangalore; Karnataka PGCET, MAT or university tests for many state and private MBA seats.
6. Arts, science and commerce: Mostly Class 12 merit at state universities; private deemed universities usually hold their own entrance test and interview.
7. Counselling and documents: Register on time, fill choices carefully and keep caste, income and domicile certificates ready for Karnataka quota benefits.

How to choose the right college in Karnataka

A high NIRF rank is a good starting point, but it is not the whole picture. Think about what you want from the next four or five years.

• Match the ranking to your field. For law, the NIRF Law list matters more than the University list. The same goes for engineering, medicine and management.
• Compare total cost. Add tuition, hostel, mess and exam fees for the whole course, not just the first year.
• Check placements honestly. Look at median salaries and the share of students placed, which institutes report in their NIRF data.
• Consider location. Bengaluru offers internships and industry exposure; Manipal, Mysuru and Mangaluru offer calmer campus towns with lower living costs.
• Confirm approvals. Check UGC recognition on ugc.gov.in, plus AICTE, NMC or BCI approval for professional courses.

Scholarships and funding for students in Karnataka

Fees at private and deemed universities in Karnataka can be high, so plan your funding early. Several central, state and private schemes can reduce the cost.

• AISEE scholarship: The All India Scholarship Entrance Examination (AISEE) offers merit-based scholarships for students joining engineering, medical and other courses at participating institutions.
• National Scholarship Portal (NSP): Central schemes such as the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships and post-matric scholarships for SC, ST, OBC and minority students.
• Karnataka State Scholarship Portal (SSP): Fee reimbursement and post-matric scholarships for eligible Karnataka students, plus schemes such as Vidyasiri for hostel and food support.
• AICTE schemes: Pragati (for girls) and Saksham (for students with disabilities) in AICTE-approved technical courses.
• Institute support: IITs, NITs, IIMs and many deemed universities offer need-based fee waivers and merit scholarships.

If you are heading for B.Tech, our guide to scholarships for engineering students lists more options. You can also track deadlines on the scholarship examination important dates page.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the No. 1 university in Karnataka?

The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru is the No. 1 university in Karnataka and in India. It holds University rank 1 and Overall rank 2 in NIRF 2025.

Which is the best private university in Karnataka?

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is the highest-ranked private university in Karnataka, with NIRF 2025 University rank 3. JSS AHER, Mysuru (rank 21) is next.

Which is the best engineering college in Karnataka?

NIT Karnataka, Surathkal is the top engineering college in the state, with NIRF 2025 Engineering rank 17. Manipal Institute of Technology and IIIT Bangalore are also in the national top 70.

Which are the best government universities in Karnataka?

Among state public universities, Bangalore University (NIRF 2025 University rank 65) and the University of Mysore (rank 71) are the highest ranked. Centrally funded institutes like IISc, NITK, IIM Bangalore and NIMHANS are also government-run.

Is the NIRF 2026 ranking out?

At the time of writing we could not confirm an official NIRF 2026 list, so this guide uses NIRF 2025. Check nirfindia.org for the latest edition before making a final decision.

Which exam do I need for engineering colleges in Karnataka?

Most students write KCET for state-quota seats and COMEDK UGET for private colleges. JEE Main is needed for NITK and IIIT-B, while some universities run their own tests such as MET and PESSAT.

Conclusion: choosing among the top universities in Karnataka

The top universities in Karnataka cover every major field, from IISc and MAHE for broad academics to NITK for engineering, IIM Bangalore for management, NLSIU for law and NIMHANS for mental health. Start with the NIRF category that matches your course, then compare fees, location and placements.

Your next step: list the entrance exams for your shortlisted colleges, note their 2026–27 application dates, and apply for scholarships early so cost does not limit your choice.