Top Engineering Colleges in Gujarat 2026: NIRF Ranks & Fees

Looking for the top engineering colleges in Gujarat for 2026? Gujarat has an IIT, an NIT, an IIIT and several strong private universities, plus more than a hundred GTU-affiliated colleges. This guide ranks the best B.E./B.Tech colleges by their NIRF 2025 Engineering rank, then covers well-known government and private colleges that are not in the NIRF list. It also explains ACPC admission, GUJCET, JEE Main, approximate fees and the MYSY scholarship.

NIRF 2025 (released by the Ministry of Education in September 2025) is the latest edition with verifiable results, so every rank below is from that edition. Only seven Gujarat institutes appear in the NIRF 2025 Engineering list, which runs to rank 300. Colleges outside that list can still be very good choices, especially for Gujarat students who want low fees.

Top 18 engineering colleges in Gujarat at a glance

The first seven rows are in the order of the NIRF 2025 Engineering rankings. Institutes in a rank band have no individual rank, so they are listed alphabetically within the band. The rest are popular colleges that did not appear in the NIRF 2025 Engineering list (top 300). They are grouped by type, not ranked against each other.

NIRF-ranked engineering colleges in Gujarat (2025)

1. IIT Gandhinagar

IIT Gandhinagar is the highest-ranked engineering institute in Gujarat. Its green campus sits on the banks of the Sabarmati. Students praise its flexible curriculum, small class sizes and strong research culture, which includes undergraduate research programmes. Admission is only through JEE Advanced and JoSAA. Details are on the official IIT Gandhinagar website.

• Established: 2008
• Type: Institute of National Importance (central)
• NIRF 2025: Engineering rank 25
• Popular B.Tech courses: CSE, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, Materials, AI
• Admission via: JEE Advanced, then JoSAA counselling
• Approx. fees: about ₹1–1.3 lakh per semester in tuition and other fees, plus hostel and mess. Families with lower incomes can get full or partial tuition waivers.

2. SVNIT Surat

SVNIT is one of India's older NITs. Its civil, mechanical, chemical and electrical departments are well regarded. Half of its B.Tech seats go to Gujarat-domicile students under the NIT Home State quota, so it is often the best affordable option for Gujarat students who have a good JEE Main rank. The SVNIT official website publishes fee notices every year.

• Established: 1961
• Type: Institute of National Importance (NIT)
• NIRF 2025: Engineering rank 66
• Popular B.Tech courses: CSE, AI, ECE, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Civil
• Admission via: JEE Main, then JoSAA/CSAB
• Approx. fees (2025-26): about ₹1.07 lakh for the first semester, including one-time charges, and roughly ₹77,000–85,000 per later semester. Tuition remission is available based on family income.

3. Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU)

PDEU was earlier called Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University. It is best known for petroleum and energy engineering, but its computer, ICT and mechanical branches are now in high demand. It moved from the 101–150 band in 2024 into the top 100 in NIRF 2025.

• Established: 2007
• Type: State private university
• NIRF 2025: Engineering rank 98
• Popular B.Tech courses: Computer, ICT, Petroleum, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical, Civil
• Admission via (2026 policy): about 25% of seats through ACPC (GUJCET merit), 60% All India seats on JEE Main and 15% NRI seats
• Approx. fees: about ₹1.5 lakh tuition per semester (2026), plus hostel

4. Nirma University – Institute of Technology

Nirma's Institute of Technology is one of the most sought-after private engineering colleges in Ahmedabad. Its computer science and electronics branches fill up early in ACPC rounds. Nirma does not conduct its own entrance test.

• Established: 1995 (Institute of Technology); university since 2003
• Type: State private university
• NIRF 2025: Engineering band 101–150
• Popular B.Tech courses: CSE, ECE, Electrical, Mechanical, Chemical, Civil, VLSI and semiconductor technology
• Admission via: Gujarat quota through ACPC (GUJCET merit), All India seats on JEE Main, and NRI seats
• Approx. fees: roughly ₹1.7–2.5 lakh per year depending on quota and year. Check the official notice.

5. Dhirubhai Ambani University (formerly DA-IICT)

The institute, long known as DA-IICT, has been renamed Dhirubhai Ambani University (DAU). It is the place in Gujarat for ICT and computing, and its graduates are popular with software companies.

• Established: 2001 (as DA-IICT)
• Type: State private university
• NIRF 2025: Engineering band 201–300
• Popular B.Tech courses: ICT, ICT with Computational Science, Mathematics and Computing, Electronics and VLSI Design
• Admission via: JEE Main (All India) and GUJCET/ACPC (Gujarat seats)
• Approx. fees: roughly ₹1.8–2.2 lakh per year

6. MSU Baroda – Faculty of Technology & Engineering

The Faculty of Technology & Engineering at MSU Baroda has roots in Vadodara's 19th-century Kala Bhavan. As part of a state university, it charges some of the lowest fees of any ranked engineering college in the country.

• Established: University in 1949
• Type: State university
• NIRF 2025: Engineering band 201–300
• Popular B.E. courses: Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, Textile
• Admission via: ACPC merit for Gujarat seats (check the MSU notice for any university-level seats)
• Approx. fees: very low, typically well under ₹25,000 per year in tuition

7. Marwadi University

Marwadi University is the only Saurashtra-region institute in the NIRF 2025 Engineering list. It offers many B.Tech specialisations and has a large intake.

• Established: 2016 (as a university)
• Type: State private university
• NIRF 2025: Engineering band 201–300
• Popular B.Tech courses: CSE, AI and Data Science, ICT, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical
• Admission via: ACPC (GUJCET) and direct university admission
• Approx. fees: roughly ₹1.1–1.4 lakh per year

Other well-known engineering colleges in Gujarat

The colleges below did not appear in the NIRF 2025 Engineering list. Many did not apply or are affiliated to GTU, so a missing rank does not always mean low quality. Look at branch-wise cut-offs, faculty and placement reports.

IIIT Vadodara

IIIT Vadodara was set up in 2013 under the public-private partnership model and is an Institute of National Importance. It currently runs from the Government Engineering College campus in Sector 28, Gandhinagar, while its permanent campus is built at Dumad, Vadodara. It offers B.Tech in CSE and ICT, and admission is through JEE Main and JoSAA. Its fees are higher than an NIT's, so check the institute website.

L.D. College of Engineering, Ahmedabad

LDCE was founded in 1948. It is Gujarat's best-known government engineering college, and the ACPC office itself is on the LDCE campus. Seats are filled through ACPC merit, and annual fees are only a few thousand rupees, which makes it excellent value.

Government Engineering College, Gandhinagar

GEC Gandhinagar is a GTU-affiliated government college that attracts strong ACPC ranks. It suits students who want a government college near the capital at minimal cost.

Private and grant-in-aid options

• IITRAM, Ahmedabad: a state autonomous university focused on infrastructure-related engineering. It was in the 201–300 band in NIRF 2024 but is not in the 2025 list.
• Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad: began as an institute of technology in 1968. Its Computer and IT branches are popular.
• BVM Engineering College, Vallabh Vidyanagar: a grant-in-aid college with a long history and an active alumni network.
• CHARUSAT, Changa: its engineering institutes CSPIT and DEPSTAR are well known for CE and IT.
• Ganpat University, Mehsana; Parul University, Vadodara; Adani University and Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad: private universities that admit through ACPC and their own processes.

For a broader view that includes non-engineering institutions, see our guide to the top universities in Gujarat.

How admission to engineering colleges in Gujarat works

There are three main routes. JoSAA covers IIT Gandhinagar, SVNIT and IIIT Vadodara. ACPC covers government, grant-in-aid and most private colleges. Direct or university-level admission fills the All India and management or NRI seats at private universities. Here is how the ACPC route works for the 2026-27 session, according to the official ACPC notice:

1. Appear for GUJCET and/or JEE Main. Gujarat-board and other Gujarat-school students need GUJCET for state-quota seats. JEE Main is needed for JoSAA and for All India seats.
2. Meet the minimum marks. You must pass Class 12 with at least 45% (40% for reserved categories) in the subjects prescribed by AICTE.
3. Register on the ACPC portal. Registration runs online on gujacpc.admissions.nic.in, with a fee of ₹350. For 2026-27 it opened on 30 March 2026, and you could register before your results came out.
4. Understand the merit formula. For 95% of seats in government and grant-in-aid colleges and 50% of seats in unaided (self-financed) colleges, merit is 50% Class 12 theory percentile in Physics, Chemistry and Maths (or Biology for eligible branches) plus 50% GUJCET percentile.
5. Check the JEE Main seats. The remaining 5% of government and grant-in-aid seats are filled on JEE Main All India Rank, and students from any state can apply.
6. Fill choices and confirm. After the merit list, you fill college and branch choices, receive an allotment in rounds, and pay token tuition fees online to confirm your seat.

Approximate fee ranges by college type

Fees at self-financed colleges for ACPC seats are approved by Gujarat's Fee Regulatory Committee (FRC), so the same college cannot charge ACPC students more than the approved amount. Hostel, mess and exam fees are extra.

How to choose the right engineering college in Gujarat

• Branch vs college: a branch you enjoy at a good college usually beats an unwanted branch at a slightly higher-ranked one.
• Check placements by branch: ask for official placement reports that show the median package, not just the highest.
• Compare total cost: add four years of tuition, hostel and travel. Government colleges and MSU can save you several lakh rupees.
• Look at accreditation: check AICTE approval and the NBA status of the specific branch.
• Visit the campus: labs, library hours and the hostel tell you more than brochures do.

Scholarships for engineering students in Gujarat

Engineering in Gujarat can be very affordable if you use the right schemes:

• MYSY (Mukhyamantri Yuva Swavalamban Yojana): for Gujarat students with at least 80 percentile in Class 12 and family income up to ₹6 lakh a year. Degree engineering students get 50% of tuition fees or ₹50,000 a year, whichever is lower. Check the latest rules on the official MYSY portal.
• Institute fee waivers: IITs and NITs give full or partial tuition remission based on family income and category.
• National Scholarship Portal (NSP): central schemes for SC, ST, OBC, minority and merit students.
• AISEE scholarship: the All India Scholarship Entrance Examination offers merit-based help with fees. See the AISEE scholarship for engineering students, check the important exam dates, and prepare with the free test series.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the No. 1 engineering college in Gujarat?

IIT Gandhinagar is No. 1, with Engineering rank 25 in NIRF 2025. SVNIT Surat (rank 66) and PDEU Gandhinagar (rank 98) are the next two.

Is GUJCET compulsory for engineering admission in Gujarat?

For state-quota ACPC seats, yes. Merit is 50% GUJCET percentile and 50% Class 12 theory percentile. GUJCET is not needed for IITs, NITs or IIIT Vadodara, which admit through JEE and JoSAA.

Can students from other states get admission in Gujarat engineering colleges?

Yes. They can join IIT Gandhinagar, SVNIT and IIIT Vadodara through JoSAA. Under ACPC, they can compete for the 5% JEE Main seats in government and grant-in-aid colleges. They can also apply for All India seats at private universities such as Nirma, PDEU and DAU.

Which is the best government engineering college in Gujarat for GUJCET students?

L.D. College of Engineering, Ahmedabad, and Government Engineering College, Gandhinagar, are the most popular government options. MSU Baroda's Faculty of Technology & Engineering is also a strong low-fee choice and is in the NIRF 2025 201–300 band.

What is the fee for B.Tech in Gujarat?

It ranges from a few thousand rupees a year at government colleges to roughly ₹1–3 lakh a year at private universities. IIT and NIT fees fall in between, and income-based waivers are available. Always check the current FRC or institute notice.

Can I get the MYSY scholarship at a private engineering college?

Yes, if you meet the 80 percentile and ₹6 lakh income criteria and are admitted through the eligible route. For degree engineering, the scholarship covers up to 50% of tuition fees or ₹50,000 a year, whichever is lower.

Conclusion: picking from the top engineering colleges in Gujarat

The top engineering colleges in Gujarat for 2026 are led by IIT Gandhinagar, SVNIT Surat and PDEU, followed by Nirma, DAU, MSU Baroda and Marwadi in the NIRF 2025 bands. Government colleges such as LDCE give excellent value. Your next step: take both GUJCET and JEE Main, follow the ACPC and JoSAA schedules closely, and apply for MYSY and the AISEE scholarship to lower your fees.