Looking for the top colleges in Lucknow in 2026? Lucknow has over 70+ colleges. Top government institutes include IIM Lucknow, RMLNLU, KGMU, SGPGI, AKTU , and leading private universities are IIIT Lucknow, BIET Lucknow, SRMU Lucknow, SR Group of Institutions (SRGI) Lucknow, Ambalika Institute of Management and Technology . These colleges offer Master of Business Administration, B.E. / B.Tech and other programs. Admissions to these colleges are primarily conducted through exams such as JEE Main , GATE , CAT , XAT , GMAT .
When selecting the best colleges in Lucknow, 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 Lucknow 2026 providing all key details on fees, placements, and entrance exams to help students make an informed choice.
Top Colleges in Lucknow 2026: Key Highlights
| Metric | Details |
| Total Colleges in Lucknow | 70+ |
| Top Exams Accepted | JEE Main , GATE , CAT , XAT , GMAT |
| Ownership | ~78% Private, ~22% Government |
| Top Recruiters | Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Airtel, TCS |
| Average Fees | ₹ 1.5 K - ₹ 1.28 Cr |
| Average Placement | ₹ 20.0 K - ₹ 32.30 L |
Top Colleges in Lucknow 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 Lucknow 2026 as per NIRF.
| College | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
| IIM Lucknow | 5 | 7 | 6 |
| SGPGI | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| KGMU | 8 | 19 | 12 |
| RMLNLU | 21 | 20 | 21 |
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 Lucknow 2026 as per various agencies.
India Today Rankings (2025, 2024, 2023)
The Week Rankings (2025, 2024, 2023)
| College | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
| KGMU | 8 | 8 | 4 |
Government vs Private Colleges in Lucknow 2026
aspirants in Lucknow 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 Lucknow 2026
| College | Avg Annual Fees (Total) | Entrance Exams | Average Placement Package | Median Placement Package | Highest Placement Package |
| IIM Lucknow | ₹ 1.38 L - ₹ 26.00 L | CAT, GMAT | ₹ 27.70 L - ₹ 32.30 L | ₹ 28.90 L - ₹ 31.20 L | ₹ 75.00 L |
| RMLNLU | ₹ 1.5 K - ₹ 6.45 L | CLAT | - | - | - |
| KGMU | ₹ 56.0 K - ₹ 3.05 L | Neet PG, NEET | - | - | - |
| SGPGI | ₹ 60.5 K - ₹ 2.60 L | Neet PG | - | - | - |
| AKTU | ₹ 8.5 K - ₹ 11.59 L | - | ₹ 2.00 L - ₹ 12.60 L | ₹ 4.00 L - ₹ 6.50 L | ₹ 5.00 L - ₹ 70.00 L |
Top Private Colleges in Lucknow 2026
| College | Avg Annual Fees (Total) | Entrance Exams | Average Placement Package | Median Placement Package | Highest Placement Package |
| IIIT Lucknow | ₹ 2.93 L - ₹ 11.49 L | JEE Main, GATE | ₹ 18.50 L - ₹ 29.90 L | ₹ 29.90 L | ₹ 27.00 L - ₹ 62.00 L |
| BIET Lucknow | ₹ 1.28 L - ₹ 2.85 L | JEE Main | - | - | - |
| SRMU Lucknow | ₹ 25.0 K - ₹ 26.02 L | - | ₹ 4.00 L - ₹ 4.50 L | ₹ 4.10 L - ₹ 4.50 L | ₹ 14.00 L - ₹ 30.00 L |
| SR Group of Institutions (SRGI) Lucknow | ₹ 2.40 L - ₹ 5.95 L | JEE Main | ₹ 4.00 L | ₹ 4.00 L | ₹ 36.00 L |
| Ambalika Institute of Management and Technology | ₹ 90.5 K - ₹ 4.36 L | CAT | ₹ 12.00 L | ₹ 12.00 L | ₹ 34.00 L |
Top Trending Courses in 2026
in Lucknow 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) | AKTU, AKTU, BIET Lucknow, SRMU Lucknow, SR Group of Institutions (SRGI) Lucknow | CAT, XAT, NMAT, GMAT, AP ICET | ₹ 1.7 K - ₹ 71.47 L | ₹ 1.78 L - ₹ 34.23 L |
| B.Tech.in Mechanical Engineering | AKTU, BBAU, BIET Lucknow, SRMU Lucknow, SR Group of Institutions (SRGI) Lucknow | 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 | AKTU, BIET Lucknow, SRMU Lucknow, SR Group of Institutions (SRGI) Lucknow, Ambalika Institute of Management and 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) | AKTU, AKTU, BBAU, SRMU Lucknow, Integral University | GATE, CAT, XAT, CUET, CBSE Class 12 Exam | ₹ 480 - ₹ 13.43 L | ₹ 1.80 L - ₹ 17.68 L |
| B.Tech. in Civil Engineering | AKTU, BIET Lucknow, SRMU Lucknow, SR Group of Institutions (SRGI) Lucknow, Ambalika Institute of Management and Technology | JEE Main, GATE, CAT, BITSAT, JEE Advanced | ₹ 10.0 K - ₹ 28.60 L | ₹ 2.00 L - ₹ 23.91 L |
| Bachelor of Business Administration(BBA) | AKTU, SRMU Lucknow, Ambalika Institute of Management and Technology, Integral University, IMRT College | 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 | AKTU, AKTU, BIET Lucknow, SRMU Lucknow, SR Group of Institutions (SRGI) Lucknow | 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 | AKTU, AKTU, BIET Lucknow, SRMU Lucknow, SR Group of Institutions (SRGI) Lucknow | JEE Main, GATE, CAT, JEE Advanced, BITSAT | ₹ 8.3 K - ₹ 12.10 L | ₹ 2.40 L - ₹ 28.00 L |
| Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com.) | AKTU, SRMU Lucknow, CEST, Lucknow University, DSMNRU | JEE Main, CAT, XAT, CLAT, CUET | ₹ 540 - ₹ 17.02 L | ₹ 1.20 L - ₹ 37.00 L |
| Bachelor of Computer Application (BCA) | AKTU, LBSIMDS, BBDNITM, Lucknow University, BNCET Lucknow | CAT, XAT, WBJEE, CUET, CBSE Class 12 Exam | ₹ 2.0 K - ₹ 11.46 L | ₹ 2.00 L - ₹ 12.00 L |
Entrance Exams Accepted by Top Colleges in Lucknow 2026
Admission to the top colleges in Lucknow is primarily determined through national, institute-level, and state-level entrance exams.
| Exam | Top Accepting Colleges | Exam Date (2026) |
| JEE Main | IIITs, Amity University Lucknow, AKTU, IET Lucknow | 21 Jan - 30 Jan 2026 |
| GATE | IIITs, SGPGI, AKTU, Ambalika Institute of Management and Technology | - |
| CAT | IIM Lucknow, Amity University Lucknow, AKTU | 30 Nov 2025 |
| XAT | Amity University Lucknow, AKTU, IMRT College | 4 Jan 2026 |
| NMAT | Amity University Lucknow | - |
| GMAT | IIM Lucknow | - |
| Neet PG | KGMU, RMLIMS, SGPGI | - |
| CLAT | RMLNLU, BBDU Lucknow | 7 Dec 2025 |
| CUET | Amity University Lucknow, AKTU, BBAU | - |
| CBSE Class 12 Exam | RMLNLU, KGMU, SGPGI | 17 Feb 2026 - 9 Apr 2026 |
| JEECUP | AKTU, Ambalika Institute of Management and Technology, Rameshwaram Institute of Technology and Management | - |
| AIMA MAT | Amity University Lucknow, AKTU, Ambalika Institute of Management and Technology | - |
| CMAT | Amity University Lucknow, AKTU, IMRT College | 25 Jan 2026 |
| NEET | KGMU, RMLIMS, Amity University Lucknow | - |
| CBSE Class 10 Exam | Ambalika Institute of Management and Technology, Lucknow Institute of Technology, Lucknow University | 17 Feb 2026 - 9 Mar 2026 |
| ATMA | AKTU, BBDU Lucknow, Shri Ram Murti Smarak International Business School | - |
| NCHMCT JEE | UEI Global Lucknow, IHM Lucknow, MLRSM | - |
| SNAP | AKTU, Shri Ram Murti Smarak International Business School | 6 Dec 2025 |
| NATA | AKTU, Institute of Technology and Management, Lucknow | - |
| GRE | IIM Lucknow | - |
| AMUEEE | Integral University | - |
| IPU CET | AKTU | - |
| TANCET | AKTU | 26 Mar 2026 |
| IUET | Integral University | - |
FAQ About Colleges in Lucknow 2026
Which is the No.1 college in Lucknow?
According to NIRF 2026, the No.1 college in Lucknow is IIM Lucknow , followed by RMLNLU and KGMU .
What is the average fee in Lucknow?
The average fees range from ₹ 1.5 K - ₹ 1.28 Cr per year. Government colleges typically charge ₹ 1.38 L - ₹ 26.00 L per year, while private colleges may charge ₹ 2.93 L - ₹ 11.49 L per year.
Which private college has the best placements?
Among private institutions, IIIT Lucknow and BIET Lucknow and SRMU Lucknow have the strongest placement records.