Looking for the top colleges in Kolkata in 2026? Kolkata has over 134+ colleges. Top government institutes include IIM Calcutta, NLU Kolkata, IPGMER Kolkata, WBUHS, IHM Kolkata , and leading private universities are GNIHM Kolkata, IMI Kolkata, IISWBM, Praxis Business School, Sister Nivedita University . These colleges offer B.Sc., BBA and other programs. Admissions to these colleges are primarily conducted through exams such as JEE Main , GATE , CAT , XAT , NMAT .
When selecting the best colleges in Kolkata, 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 Kolkata 2026 providing all key details on fees, placements, and entrance exams to help students make an informed choice.
Top Colleges in Kolkata 2026: Key Highlights
| Metric | Details |
| Total Colleges in Kolkata | 134+ |
| Top Exams Accepted | JEE Main , GATE , CAT , XAT , NMAT |
| Ownership | ~84% Private, ~16% Government |
| Top Recruiters | Wipro, TCS, Cognizant, IBM, Infosys |
| Average Fees | ₹ 300 - ₹ 89.40 L |
| Average Placement | ₹ 2.20 L - ₹ 34.20 L |
Top Colleges in Kolkata by Rankings 2026
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 Kolkata 2026 as per NIRF.
| College | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
| NLU Kolkata | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| IIM Calcutta | 7 | 5 | 4 |
| IPGMER Kolkata | - | 22 | 24 |
| IMI Kolkata | - | 61 | 70 |
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 Kolkata 2026 as per various agencies.
India Today Rankings (2025, 2024, 2023)
| College | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
| NLU Kolkata | 2 | 2 | 2 |
The Week Rankings (2025, 2024)
| College | 2025 | 2024 |
| NLU Kolkata | 4 | 4 |
| St. Xavier's Kolkata | - | 8 |
Government vs Private Colleges in Kolkata 2026
aspirants in Kolkata 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 Kolkata 2026
| College | Avg Annual Fees (Total) | Entrance Exams | Average Placement Package | Median Placement Package | Highest Placement Package |
| IIM Calcutta | ₹ 59.0 K - ₹ 33.50 L | CAT, GMAT | ₹ 30.90 L - ₹ 34.20 L | ₹ 31.70 L - ₹ 33.40 L | ₹ 78.20 L - ₹ 1.45 Cr |
| NLU Kolkata | ₹ 10.0 K - ₹ 5.41 L | CLAT | - | - | - |
| IPGMER Kolkata | ₹ 8.0 K - ₹ 1.20 L | Neet PG, NEET | - | - | - |
| WBUHS | ₹ 17.8 K - ₹ 89.40 L | Neet PG, NEET | - | - | - |
| IHM Kolkata | ₹ 55.7 K - ₹ 4.39 L | NCHMCT JEE | - | - | - |
Top Private Colleges in Kolkata 2026
| College | Avg Annual Fees (Total) | Entrance Exams | Average Placement Package | Median Placement Package | Highest Placement Package |
| GNIHM Kolkata | ₹ 1.36 L - ₹ 5.29 L | GNIHM JET | - | - | - |
| IMI Kolkata | ₹ 40.0 K - ₹ 14.00 L | CAT, XAT, CMAT | ₹ 10.70 L - ₹ 12.00 L | ₹ 10.70 L - ₹ 11.30 L | ₹ 14.00 L - ₹ 20.40 L |
| IISWBM | ₹ 47.2 K - ₹ 8.18 L | CAT, XAT, ATMA, CMAT | ₹ 4.10 L - ₹ 8.50 L | ₹ 5.60 L - ₹ 8.20 L | ₹ 13.50 L - ₹ 71.00 L |
| Praxis Business School | ₹ 11.30 L | CAT, XAT, ATMA, CMAT | ₹ 9.10 L - ₹ 9.50 L | ₹ 9.10 L | ₹ 17.50 L |
| Sister Nivedita University | ₹ 12.0 K - ₹ 9.03 L | - | - | - | - |
Top Trending Courses in 2026
in Kolkata 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) | IIM Calcutta, Sister Nivedita University, IEM Kolkata, UEM Kolkata, Haldia Institute of Technology | XAT, NMAT, GMAT, AP ICET, MHT CET | ₹ 1.7 K - ₹ 71.47 L | ₹ 1.78 L - ₹ 35.22 L |
| B.Tech.in Mechanical Engineering | IEM Kolkata, Heritage Institute of Technology, UEM Kolkata, Haldia Institute of Technology, Techno Main Salt Lake | 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 | Sister Nivedita University, IEM Kolkata, Heritage Institute of Technology, UEM Kolkata, Haldia Institute of Technology | JEE Main, GATE, CAT, BITSAT, JEE Advanced | ₹ 10.0 K - ₹ 31.48 L | ₹ 2.00 L - ₹ 52.32 L |
| Master of Computer Applications (MCA) | Sister Nivedita University, Heritage Institute of Technology, UEM Kolkata, Haldia Institute of Technology, Techno Main Salt Lake | GATE, CAT, XAT, CUET, CBSE Class 12 Exam | ₹ 480 - ₹ 13.43 L | ₹ 1.80 L - ₹ 17.68 L |
| B.Tech. in Civil Engineering | Heritage Institute of Technology, Haldia Institute of Technology, Techno Main Salt Lake, Adamas University Kolkata, MAKAUT | JEE Main, GATE, CAT, BITSAT, JEE Advanced | ₹ 10.0 K - ₹ 28.60 L | ₹ 2.00 L - ₹ 23.91 L |
| Bachelor of Business Administration(BBA) | Sister Nivedita University, IEM Kolkata, UEM Kolkata, Techno Main Salt Lake, Institute of Business Management and Research(IBMR KOLKATA) | JEE Main, CAT, BITSAT, XAT, WBJEE | ₹ 1.6 K - ₹ 94.63 L | ₹ 1.49 L - ₹ 37.00 L |
| B.Tech.in Electronics and Communication Engineering | Sister Nivedita University, IEM Kolkata, Heritage Institute of Technology, UEM Kolkata, Haldia Institute of Technology | 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 | Sister Nivedita University, IEM Kolkata, Heritage Institute of Technology, UEM Kolkata, Haldia Institute of Technology | JEE Main, GATE, CAT, BITSAT, JEE Advanced | ₹ 8.3 K - ₹ 12.10 L | ₹ 2.40 L - ₹ 28.00 L |
| Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) | Vidyasagar University, Kalyani University, West Bengal State University, Sammilani Mahavidyalaya, Sonarpur Mahavidyalaya | JEE Main, CAT, XAT, CLAT, CUET | ₹ 540 - ₹ 17.02 L | ₹ 1.20 L - ₹ 37.00 L |
| Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) | IEM Kolkata, Techno Main Salt Lake, Kingston Educational Institute, Guru Nanak Institute of Technology - GNIT, Vidyasagar University | 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 Kolkata 2026
Admission to the top colleges in Kolkata is primarily determined through national, institute-level, and state-level entrance exams.
| Exam | Top Accepting Colleges | Exam Date (2026) |
| JEE Main | IEM Kolkata, University of Calcutta, Heritage Institute of Technology | 21 Jan - 30 Jan 2026 |
| GATE | NITs, IISWBM, IEM Kolkata, Heritage Institute of Technology | - |
| CAT | IIM Calcutta, IIFT Kolkata, IMI Kolkata | 30 Nov 2025 |
| XAT | IMI Kolkata, IISWBM, Praxis Business School | 4 Jan 2026 |
| WBJEE | WBUHS, Sister Nivedita University, IEM Kolkata | - |
| NMAT | SXUK, Amity University Kolkata, IBS Kolkata | - |
| GMAT | IIM Calcutta | - |
| Neet PG | IPGMER Kolkata, WBUHS, JIMS | - |
| CLAT | NLU Kolkata, Adamas University Kolkata | 7 Dec 2025 |
| NIFT | NIFT Kolkata, Ecole Intuit Lab, Kolkata, Techno India University | 9 Feb 2026 |
| CUET | Amity University Kolkata | - |
| CBSE Class 12 Exam | NLU Kolkata, IPGMER Kolkata, WBUHS | 17 Feb 2026 - 9 Apr 2026 |
| AIMA MAT | IISWBM, Praxis Business School, Calcutta Business School | - |
| CBSE Class 10 Exam | GNIHM Kolkata, UEM Kolkata, IHM Kolkata | 17 Feb 2026 - 9 Mar 2026 |
| CMAT | IMI Kolkata, IISWBM, Praxis Business School | 25 Jan 2026 |
| ATMA | IISWBM, Praxis Business School, Calcutta Business School | - |
| WBJEE JELET | Haldia Institute of Technology, Guru Nanak Institute of Technology - GNIT, MAKAUT | - |
| NEET | IPGMER Kolkata, WBUHS, JIMS | - |
| UGC NET | IIM Calcutta, NLU Kolkata, SXUK | - |
| NCHMCT JEE | IHM Kolkata, SBIHM Kolkata | - |
| CSIR NET | Amity University Kolkata, JISIASR | - |
| KCET | MAKAUT, EIILM Kolkata (Esplanade) | - |
| SET Exam | UEM Kolkata, SXUK | - |
| UCEED | Ecole Intuit Lab, Kolkata, Techno India University | 18 Jan 2026 |
| GRE | IIM Calcutta | - |
| NID DAT | Ecole Intuit Lab, Kolkata, Techno India University | - |
| NATA | Jadavpur University | - |
| IBSAT | IBS Kolkata | 27 Dec - 28 Dec 2025 |
| JEECUP | SRIST Kolkata | - |
| SITEEE | IISWBM | - |
| IIHM eCHAT | MAKAUT | - |
| UGAT | JIS University, Techno India University Kolkata | - |
| GNIHM JET | GNIHM Kolkata | - |
FAQ About Colleges in Kolkata 2026
Which is the No.1 college in Kolkata?
According to NIRF 2026, the No.1 college in Kolkata is IIM Calcutta , followed by NLU Kolkata and IPGMER Kolkata .
What is the average fee in Kolkata?
The average fees range from ₹ 300 - ₹ 89.40 L per year. Government colleges typically charge ₹ 59.0 K - ₹ 33.50 L per year, while private colleges may charge ₹ 1.36 L - ₹ 5.29 L per year.
Which private college has the best placements?
Among private institutions, GNIHM Kolkata and IMI Kolkata and IISWBM have the strongest placement records.