Looking for the top colleges in Chennai in 2025? Chennai has over 124+ colleges. Top government institutes include IIT Madras, College of Engineering Guindy, IIITDM Kancheepuram, Madras University, MIT Chennai , and leading private universities are Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai, Ethiraj Chennai, LIBA Chennai, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, IIKM . These colleges offer MBA/PGDM, B.E. / B.Tech and other programs. Admissions to these colleges are primarily conducted through exams such as JEE Main , GATE , CAT , JEE Advanced , XAT .
When selecting the best colleges in Chennai, students should consider factors such as NIRF rankings, placement records, return on investment (ROI), location, faculty, and specializations. This guide highlights the top-ranked colleges in Chennai 2025 providing all key details on fees, placements, and entrance exams to help students make an informed choice.
Top Colleges in Chennai 2025: Key Highlights
| Metric | Details |
| Total Colleges in Chennai | 124+ |
| Top Exams Accepted | JEE Main , GATE , CAT , JEE Advanced , XAT |
| Ownership | ~81% Private, ~19% Government |
| Top Recruiters | Infosys, Cognizant, Wipro, HCL, TCS |
| Average Fees | ₹ 500 - ₹ 1.95 Cr |
| Average Placement | ₹ 2.50 L - ₹ 84.00 L |
Top Colleges in Chennai by Rankings 2025
The NIRF 2025 is the most trusted ranking for colleges in India, evaluating institutes on teaching, research, graduation outcomes, outreach, and perception. Below are the top 10 colleges in Chennai 2025 as per NIRF.
| College | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
| IIT Madras | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| MMC | - | 10 | 11 |
| SRM IST | 14 | 13 | 28 |
| Anna University | 20 | 14 | 13 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai | - | 52 | 31 |
Other Ranking Agencies
Different media houses and education platforms release their own rankings every year besides NIRF. These rankings consider parameters like academic reputation, placements, infrastructure, research, and student perception. Below are the top colleges in Chennai 2025 as per various agencies.
India Today Rankings (2025, 2024, 2023)
| College | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
| SRM Institute of Hotel Management | 21 | 22 | 21 |
The Week Rankings (2025, 2024)
| College | 2025 | 2024 |
| SRM IST | 21 | - |
| MMC | 9 | 10 |
| SRM Institute of Hotel Management | 19 | 23 |
Government vs Private Colleges in Chennai 2025
aspirants in Chennai can choose between government-funded institutes known for their affordability and high ROI, and private universities that offer modern infrastructure, global exposure, and multiple entrance options. The comparison below will help you determine which path best aligns with your academic and career goals.
Top Government Colleges in Chennai 2025
| College | Avg Annual Fees (Total) | Entrance Exams | Average Placement Package | Median Placement Package | Highest Placement Package |
| IIT Madras | ₹ 18.0 K - ₹ 17.00 L | JEE Main, GATE, JEE Advanced | ₹ 6.80 L - ₹ 84.00 L | ₹ 12.70 L - ₹ 23.30 L | ₹ 19.50 L - ₹ 86.90 L |
| College of Engineering Guindy | ₹ 51.2 K - ₹ 5.50 L | GATE | ₹ 4.90 L - ₹ 6.90 L | ₹ 6.90 L | ₹ 10.00 L - ₹ 36.50 L |
| IIITDM Kancheepuram | ₹ 4.72 L - ₹ 11.97 L | JEE Main, GATE | ₹ 3.50 L - ₹ 19.90 L | ₹ 7.80 L - ₹ 14.00 L | ₹ 3.50 L - ₹ 35.40 L |
| Madras University | ₹ 1.4 K - ₹ 8.01 L | TANCET | ₹ 2.50 L - ₹ 6.30 L | ₹ 2.60 L - ₹ 6.30 L | ₹ 6.00 L - ₹ 26.00 L |
| MIT Chennai | ₹ 86.6 K - ₹ 4.85 L | - | ₹ 5.30 L - ₹ 6.90 L | ₹ 6.90 L | ₹ 13.00 L - ₹ 40.00 L |
Top Private Colleges in Chennai 2025
| College | Avg Annual Fees (Total) | Entrance Exams | Average Placement Package | Median Placement Package | Highest Placement Package |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai | ₹ 12.97 L - ₹ 22.65 L | CAT, XAT, NMAT, GMAT | ₹ 15.00 L - ₹ 17.80 L | ₹ 15.70 L - ₹ 17.10 L | ₹ 30.80 L - ₹ 39.30 L |
| Ethiraj Chennai | ₹ 16.5 K - ₹ 2.41 L | TANCET | - | - | - |
| LIBA Chennai | ₹ 17.0 K - ₹ 18.89 L | CAT, XAT | ₹ 11.20 L | ₹ 11.20 L | ₹ 21.00 L |
| Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology | ₹ 60.0 K - ₹ 90.0 K | - | ₹ 5.40 L - ₹ 5.60 L | ₹ 5.60 L | ₹ 41.20 L - ₹ 53.00 L |
| IIKM | ₹ 3.00 L - ₹ 11.42 L | CAT, XAT, ATMA, CMAT, TANCET | - | - | - |
Top Trending Courses in 2025
in Chennai offers a wide range of courses to match industry demand and student interest. The most popular fields include Master of Business Administration (MBA) , B.Tech.in Mechanical Engineering , B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering . The table below highlights the top courses, their leading colleges, entrance exams, average fees, and placement packages.
| Course | Top Colleges | Entrance Exams | Average Fees (Total) | Average Package |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | IIT Madras, Ethiraj Chennai, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Madras University, Madras University | JEE Main, GATE, CAT, JEE Advanced, XAT | ₹ 1.7 K - ₹ 71.47 L | ₹ 1.78 L - ₹ 34.23 L |
| B.Tech.in Mechanical Engineering | IIT Madras, Vel Tech, HITS, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, VIT Chennai | JEE Main, GATE, CAT, BITSAT, JEE Advanced | ₹ 10.5 K - ₹ 28.77 L | ₹ 2.00 L - ₹ 23.91 L |
| B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering | IIT Madras, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Vel Tech, HITS, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute | JEE Main, GATE, CAT, BITSAT, JEE Advanced | ₹ 10.5 K - ₹ 31.48 L | ₹ 2.00 L - ₹ 52.32 L |
| Bachelor of Business Administration(BBA) | Ethiraj Chennai, SDNBVC, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Madras University, Madras University | JEE Main, CAT, BITSAT, XAT, WBJEE | ₹ 1.6 K - ₹ 94.63 L | ₹ 1.49 L - ₹ 37.00 L |
| Master of Computer Applications (MCA) | College of Engineering Guindy, Ethiraj Chennai, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Madras University, MCC Chennai | GATE, CAT, XAT, CUET, CBSE Class 12 Exam | ₹ 480 - ₹ 13.43 L | ₹ 1.80 L - ₹ 17.68 L |
| B.Tech. in Civil Engineering | IIT Madras, Vel Tech, HITS, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, VIT Chennai | JEE Main, GATE, CAT, BITSAT, JEE Advanced | ₹ 10.5 K - ₹ 28.60 L | ₹ 2.00 L - ₹ 23.91 L |
| B.Tech.in Electronics and Communication Engineering | SRIHER Chennai, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Vel Tech, HITS, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute | JEE Main, GATE, CAT, BITSAT, JEE Advanced | ₹ 6.0 K - ₹ 28.60 L | ₹ 2.00 L - ₹ 27.30 L |
| M. Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering | IIT Madras, Vel Tech, HITS, Dr MGR Educational and Research Institute, T J Institute of Technology | JEE Main, GATE, CAT, JEE Advanced, BITSAT | ₹ 8.3 K - ₹ 12.10 L | ₹ 2.40 L - ₹ 28.00 L |
| Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) | Ethiraj Chennai, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Madras University, Madras University, MCC Chennai | JEE Main, CAT, XAT, CLAT, CUET | ₹ 540 - ₹ 17.02 L | ₹ 1.20 L - ₹ 37.00 L |
| Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) | Ethiraj Chennai, SDNBVC, Madras University, Madras University, MCC Chennai | CAT, XAT, WBJEE, CUET, CBSE Class 12 Exam | ₹ 2.0 K - ₹ 11.46 L | ₹ 2.00 L - ₹ 18.00 L |
Entrance Exams Accepted by Top Colleges in Chennai 2025
Admission to the top colleges in Chennai is primarily determined through national, institute-level, and state-level entrance exams.
| Exam | Top Accepting Colleges | Exam Date (2025) |
| JEE Main | IIT Madras, IIITs, SRM IST, Anna University, Rajalakshmi Institute of Technology | - |
| GATE | IIT Madras, IIITs, SRM IST, Anna University, College of Engineering Guindy | - |
| CAT | IIT Madras, SRM IST, Anna University, Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai | 30 Nov 2025 |
| XAT | Anna University, Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai, LIBA Chennai | 4 Jan 2026 |
| JEE Advanced | IIT Madras, Sai University Chennai | - |
| NMAT | SRM IST, Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai, VIT Business School Chennai | 5 Nov 2025 - 23 Dec 2025 |
| GMAT | Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai | - |
| VITEEE | VIT Chennai | - |
| CLAT | SRM IST, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, Vel Tech | 7 Dec 2025 |
| Neet PG | IIT Madras, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, MCC Chennai, SRIHER Chennai | - |
| NIFT | NIFT Chennai | 9 Feb 2026 |
| CUET | IMU Chennai, SCSVMV, Sai University Chennai | - |
| CBSE Class 12 Exam | SRM IST, SRM Institute of Hotel Management, Anna University | 17 Feb 2026 - 9 Apr 2026 |
| TANCET | SRM IST, Anna University, College of Engineering Guindy | - |
| AIMA MAT | SRM IST, Anna University, Madras University | - |
| NATA | Anna University, Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, MEASI Academy of Architecture | - |
| CBSE Class 10 Exam | SRM Institute of Hotel Management, Madras University, TNOU | 17 Feb 2026 - 9 Mar 2026 |
| CMAT | SRM IST, Anna University, IIKM | 25 Jan 2026 |
| ATMA | Anna University, IIKM, VIT Business School Chennai | - |
| NEET | SRM IST, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, SRIHER Chennai | - |
| UGC NET | IIT Madras, Anna University, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Vadapalani Campus | - |
| CSIR NET | IIITs, Anna University, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Vadapalani Campus | - |
| SRMJEEE | SRM IST, SRM Ramapuram, SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Vadapalani Campus | - |
| TANCET | ISSM Business School, VELS University Chennai | - |
| GRE | Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai | - |
| VITMEE | VIT Chennai | - |
| HITSEEE | HITS | - |
| CEED | IIITs | 18 Jan 2026 |
| NCHMCT JEE | IHM Chennai | - |
| MHT CET | IMU Chennai | - |
| AILET | VIT Chennai | 14 Dec 2025 |
FAQ About Colleges in Chennai 2025
Which is the No.1 college in Chennai?
According to NIRF 2025, the No.1 college in Chennai is IIT Madras , followed by College of Engineering Guindy and IIITDM Kancheepuram .
What is the average fee in Chennai?
The average fees range from ₹ 500 - ₹ 1.95 Cr per year. Government colleges typically charge ₹ 18.0 K - ₹ 17.00 L per year, while private colleges may charge ₹ 12.97 L - ₹ 22.65 L per year.
Which private college has the best placements?
Among private institutions, Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai and Ethiraj Chennai and LIBA Chennai have the strongest placement records.