Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi is one of India's most prestigious central universities, ranked #2 among universities and #10 Overall in NIRF 2025. Founded in 1969, it is a research-led institution strong in social sciences, international studies, languages, and sciences, admitting through CUET, at near-free fees. About {{COLLEGE_COUNT}} colleges in our database are comparable institutions.
The defining feature is its standing as a research and academia powerhouse: JNU is consistently India's #2 university, built around postgraduate study, research, and doctoral work rather than campus placements. Its strengths are social sciences, international studies, and languages, with sciences and a smaller engineering and management presence.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Jawaharlal Nehru University |
| Founded | 1969 |
| Type | Central university (government) |
| Location | New Delhi |
| Admission | CUET (UG and most PG); JNUEE for some programmes |
| Fee | Near-free (central-university fees) |
| Focus | Social sciences, international studies, languages, sciences, research |
| NIRF 2025 | University #2, Overall #10 |
| Official website | jnu.ac.in |
[Source: JNU official site; NIRF India Rankings 2025.]
JNU charges the very low fees of a central university, among the lowest of any major Indian university, which is part of its identity as a publicly-funded research institution. Programme-specific figures are set under central-university norms.
[Source: JNU central-university fee structure.]
JNU is research and academia oriented, so it does not run corporate campus placements in the way professional institutes do. The real outcomes are:
Jawaharlal Nehru University was established in 1969 and grew into India's leading research university in the social sciences and humanities, on a large campus in south Delhi. It is a central university, predominantly postgraduate and doctoral.
It spans schools of social sciences, international studies, languages and literature, sciences, life sciences, computer and systems sciences, and smaller schools of engineering and management (the Atal Bihari Vajpayee School of Management and Entrepreneurship). Degrees are awarded by JNU as a central university.
In NIRF 2025 it ranks #2 among universities and #10 Overall, behind only IISc among universities.
Four points stand out for an applicant.
NIRF 2025 University #2, Overall #10
A leading research university, especially in social sciences
Central-university fees, among the lowest anywhere
Among the best in India for languages and international relations
Honest caveat: JNU is research and academia focused, not a placement-package institution. Its value is the quality of postgraduate and doctoral training and its strength as a base for academia, research, civil services, policy, and journalism, rather than corporate campus placements.
| Framework | Category | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF | University | 2025 | #2 |
| NIRF | SDG Institutions | 2025 | #7 |
| NIRF | Overall | 2025 | #9 |
| NIRF | Research | 2025 | #21 |
11 courses offered. Fees in INR lakhs.
| Course | Specialization | Duration | Total seats | Total fee | Avg package |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Sc (Bachelor of Science) | — | — | — | ₹0.21L | — |
| B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | — | — | — | ₹2L | — |
| BA (Bachelor of Arts) | — | 36 months | — | ₹0.15L | — |
| BA (Bachelor of Arts) | Honours (General) | 36 months | — | ₹0.15L | — |
| M.Sc (Master of Science) | — | — | — | ₹0.3L | — |
| M.Tech (Master of Technology) | Data Sciences | — | 30 | — | — |
| M.Tech (Master of Technology) | — | — | — | ₹0.8L | — |
| M.Tech (Master of Technology) | Computer Science & Technology | — | 30 | — | — |
| MA (Master of Arts) | — | 36 months | — | ₹0.18L | — |
| MBA (Master of Business Administration) | — | — | — | ₹0.6L | — |
| MCA (Master of Computer Applications) | — | 24 months | 60 | ₹0.36L | — |
1-year placement history, latest data from 2024.
166 cutoff records across exams, courses, and categories.
| Year | R | Exam | Course | Category | Gender | Quota | Opening | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 11749 | 25706 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 25670 | 33831 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | OBC | Gender-Neutral | AI | 7179 | 10912 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | OBC | Gender-Neutral | AI | 11291 | 13650 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | SC | Gender-Neutral | AI | 5329 | 6059 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | SC | Gender-Neutral | AI | 2468 | 5056 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | ST | Gender-Neutral | AI | 1327 | 2253 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | ST | Gender-Neutral | AI | 2248 | 2991 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | EWS | Gender-Neutral | AI | 3602 | 4330 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | EWS | Gender-Neutral | AI | 5249 | 5891 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | PwD | Gender-Neutral | AI | 723 | 723 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | PwD | Gender-Neutral | AI | 102 | 102 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | PwD | Gender-Neutral | AI | 728 | 728 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | PwD | Gender-Neutral | AI | 527 | 527 |
| 2025 | 1 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | PwD | Gender-Neutral | AI | 322 | 322 |
| 2025 | 2 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 25670 | 33831 |
| 2025 | 2 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | 11749 | 25706 |
| 2025 | 2 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | OBC | Gender-Neutral | AI | 11291 | 13650 |
| 2025 | 2 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | OBC | Gender-Neutral | AI | 7179 | 10912 |
| 2025 | 2 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | SC | Gender-Neutral | AI | 5329 | 6059 |
| 2025 | 2 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | SC | Gender-Neutral | AI | 2468 | 5056 |
| 2025 | 2 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | ST | Gender-Neutral | AI | 1327 | 2253 |
| 2025 | 2 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | ST | Gender-Neutral | AI | 2248 | 2991 |
| 2025 | 2 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | EWS | Gender-Neutral | AI | 5249 | 5891 |
| 2025 | 2 | JEE Main | B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology) | EWS | Gender-Neutral | AI | 3602 | 4330 |
Campus size, faculty strength, hostel facilities, and academic infrastructure.
In NIRF 2025, JNU ranks #2 among universities and #10 Overall, one of India's top universities.
Very low: JNU charges central-university fees, among the lowest of any major Indian university, set under central-university norms.
Mainly through CUET (CUET-UG for undergraduate, CUET-PG for most postgraduate programmes), with JNUEE for some. You need the relevant qualifying degree.
Not in the corporate campus-placement sense. JNU is research and academia focused; its graduates move into academia, research, civil services, policy, journalism, and international organisations.
A leading research university, especially strong in social sciences, international studies, and languages, and a major feeder for academia and the civil services.
Last reviewed: May 21, 2026. Next scheduled review: August 2026, after the CUET 2026 cycle.
