India has witnessed a significant boom in the creative economy, leading to an increased demand for skilled designers across various industries such as fashion, communication, product, animation, automobile, interior, UX/UI, and more. For students aspiring to build a future in design, selecting the right institution is a crucial decision that can shape their creative journey and career prospects. Government design colleges are considered the best in terms of academic excellence, infrastructure, affordability, and industry exposure. From NIDs to NIFTs, and IITs offering design programs to emerging IITDMs and central universities, these colleges offer a diverse set of UG & PG design courses. There are a total number of 103 Government design colleges in India.
Why Choose Government Colleges for Designing?
Studying fashion designing at a government college offers several advantages. Few of them are listed below:
- Affordability: Government colleges typically charge lower tuition fees compared to private design institutes, making quality education accessible to a wider range of students.
- Credibility: Degrees from government fashion designing colleges hold significant weight in the industry, enhancing your employability and carries a national and international recognition.
- Experienced Faculty & Infrastructure: Government colleges often boost faculty members with extensive industry experience, providing students with practical insights and expertise, world-class labs and studios
- Job Placement Opportunities: Many government fashion designing colleges have strong connections with the fashion industry, offering internships and job placement opportunities for students.
- Government Funding & Support: Government design colleges gives access to government funded scholarships, research grants, and international exposure.
Top Government Design Colleges: Fees, Exam Accepted, Courses Offered and Highest Package
Top Government Design colleges are NIDs, NIFTs, IITs and other renowned institutions across all over India. There are a total number of 103 government design colleges in India. Some of the top government design colleges in India are listed below.
| College | Average Fees | Exam Accepted | Courses Offered | Highest Package |
| NIDs | Rs. 3.5-4 LPA | NID DAT | B.Des, M.Des | INR 25-30 LPA |
| NIFTs | Rs. 2.7-3.5 LPA | NIFT Entrance Exam | B.Des, M.F.M, M.F.Tech | INR 30 LPA |
| IIT Mumbai (IDC) | Rs. 2.5 LPA | UCEED/CEED | B.Des, M.Des | INR 25 LPA |
| IIT Guwahati | Rs. 2.2 LPA | UCEED/CEED | B.Des, M.Des | INR 18 LPA |
| IIT Hyderabad | Rs. 2.5 LPA | UCEED/CEED | B.Des, M.Des | INR 20 LPA |
| IIT Delhi | Rs. 2.1 LPA | CEED | M.Des | INR 20 LPA |
| IIITDM Jabalpur | Rs. 2 LPA | UCEED/CEED | B.Des, M.Des | INR 18 LPA |
| DTU, Delhi | Rs. 2.2 LPA | UCEED | B.Des | INR 12-14 LPA |
| NSUT, Delhi | Rs. 2.5 LPA | UCEED/JEE + Portfolio | B.Des (UX/UI) | INR 15 LPA |
Top Government Design Colleges in India
In addition to focusing on the top government Design colleges in India, it’s beneficial to consider a wider range of institutions nationwide. India offers an array of design programs across both government and private institutions, each providing unique opportunities for design aspirants. Here’s a closer look at the best government design colleges across India.
- IDC School of Design, IIT Mumbai: The Industrial Design Centre (IDC) at IIT Mumbai is a premier institution renowned for its cutting-edge research and interdisciplinary approach, offering B.Des, M.Des, and Ph.D programs in India. IDC School of Design provides specializations in Industrial Design, Communication Design, Animation, Interaction Design, Mobility & Vehicle Design. IDC also supports independent design research and has multiple innovation labs. Students often work on real-world projects with faculty and industry partners.
- Annual Fees: INR 2.5 lakhs(approx.)
- Admission: UCEED (B.Des), CEED (M.Des)
- Average package: INR 12-14 LPA
- Top Recruiters: Microsoft, SAP, Google, TCS, Ola Electric, Adobe, Samsung
- National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad and Other Campuses: NID with its flagship in Ahemdabad and other campuses in Gandhinagar, Bengaluru, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, and Assam, stands as India’s top-most prestigious government design institutes known for its rigorous curriculum and excellent infrastructure, offering B.Des and M.Des programs. NID graduates have been placed in top companies like Adobe, IBM, and TATA Motors. This institute offer specialization such as Product Design, Textile Design, Graphic Design, and Animation Film Design. The NID college also fosters a strong entrepreneurial culture, with many students launching startups in product and service design.
- Annul Fees: INR 6-7 lakhs/year (approx.)
- Admission: NID DAT Prelims + Mains
- Average Package: INR 10-15 LPA
- Top Recruiters: IBM, Infosys, Microsoft, Whirlpool, TATA, SAP Labs.
- National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), Delhi and Other Campuses: NIFT, operating under the Ministry of Textiles, has 19 campuses across India, with Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata being the most sought-after government design colleges. NIFT offers B.Des, B.F.Tech, M.Des, M.F.Tech and M.F.M courses with specialization in Fashion Design, Textile, Accessory Design, and Fashion Communication. NIFT has a strong industry interface and organizes centralized placements where top brands hires in bulk. NIFT graduates are known for their strong indsutry readiness and practical exposure.
- Annual Fees: INR 2.5-3.5 lakhs/year (approx.)
- Admission: NIFT Entrance Exam (GAT, CAT, Situation Test, and PI)
- Average Package: INR 6-8 LPA
- Top Recruiters: H&M, Zara, Aditya Birla fashions, Amazon, Myntra, TCS, Reliance Brands, and Arvind Lifestyles.
- IIT Guwahati – Department of Design (DOD): IIT Guwahati’s Department of Design (DOD) is one of the first dedicated design departments in IIT system, offering B.Des, M.Des and Ph.D programs. The IIT Guwahati has an outstanding campus and well-equipped design labs which enhances the creative learning environment. The institute offers specializtion such as Interaction Design, Product Design, Visual Communication, and Animation.
- Annual Fees: INR 2.2 lakhs/year (approx.)
- Admission: UCEED and CEED Entrance Exam
- Average Package: INR 8-10 LPA
- Top Recruiters: Cognizant, Microsoft, Infosys,Samsung, Zomato, Flipkart, and Deloitte.
- IIT Hyderabad – Department of Design (DOD): The Department of Design at IIT Hyderabad is rapidly growing in popularity due to its forward-thinking curriculum that blends design with technology, especially AR/VR, AI, and UX Design. The Department of Design has invested heavily in digital labs and innovation studios. Hyderabad being emerging as a design-tech hubs, graduates benefit from excellent networking, incubation support and startup ecosystems.
- Annual Fees: INR 2.5 lakhs/year (approx.)
- Admission: UCEED and CEED Entrance Exam
- Average Package: INR 6-A0 LPA
- Top Recruiters: Microsoft, L&T, Deloitte, Cognizant, Infosys, Razorpay, and Byju’s.
- IIT Delhi – Department of Design: IIT Delhi’s Department of Design is newly came into existence but has quickly established a reputation for excellence. The institute offers an M.Des program and Doctoral Research opportunities in Design Thinking, Sustainability, and Industrial Design. The IIT Delhi Department of Design placements have been promising due to IIT Delhi’s strategic location and reputation. Many students also pursue startups or move into academic research and user experience consultancies. Collaboration with other departments and design bootcamps enhance students’ real-world skills.
- Annual Fees: INR 2.1 lakhs/year (approx.)
- Admission: CEED Entrance Exam
- Average Package: INR 9-11 LPA
- Top Recuiters: Accenture, Samsung, Infosys,Wipro, Cognizant, and Deloitte Digital
- IIITDM Jabalpur – Design Discipline: IIITDM Jabalpur, a Design + Engineering focused institute, offers B.Des and M.Des courses under Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD). The institute emphasizes Product Design, Electronics-Integrated Design, and Digital Fabrication. Students at IIITDM, undergo rigorous hands-on training, and design studios are equipped with CAD, 3D printing, and usability labs.IIITDM’s integrated approach makes it a strong choice for students interested in industrial and tech-based design roles.
- Annual Fees: INR 2 lakhs/year (approx.)
- Admission: UCEED and CEED Entrance Exam
- Average Package: Rs. 5-8 LPA
- Top Recruiters: TCS, Infosys, Samsung, L&T, and Maruti Suzuki
- Delhi Technological University (DTU) – Department of Design
Delhi Technological University’s B.Des program focuses on Industrial Design and Communication Design. The institute’s curriculum blends design theory with technical application, digital fabrication labs, and prototyping spaces. DTU’s multidisciplinary environment allows design students to collaborate with engineering and business peers, creating a well-rounded design education. The placement cell supports design department, and students secures roles in top companies with highest packages upto Rs. 12-14 LPA for UX/UI and product roles.
- Annual Fees: INR 2.2 lakhs/year (approx.)
- Admission: UCEED Entrance Exam
- Average Package: INR 6-7 LPA
- Top Recruiters: Deloitte, Zomato, TCS, Infosys, Capgemini, Cognizant, and startups like Razorpay.
- NSUT Delhi – School of Design: Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT) has recently introduced its B.Des program in Product Design and User Experience Design. NSUT’s design program emphasizes industry-aligned curriculum in UX/UI, mobile application design and sustainable product design. Being located in Delhi, NSUT attracts many design consultancies and startups for placements.
- Annual Fees: INR 2.5 lakhs/year (approx.)
- Admission: UCEED or JEE Main + Portfolio
- Average Package: INR 5-7 LPA
- Top Recruiters: TCS, Wipro Digital, Deloitte, Accenture, Mindtree, UX Startups.
Choosing the right government design college is a critical step for aspiring designers in India. Institutes like NID and IITs not only offer top-tier education system but also opens door to exciting global career opportunities by providing the academic depth, practical exposure, and industry access required for successful design career.
