List of Best NID Colleges in India: Fees, Eligibility, Courses

Recognised globally, NID is affiliated with the International Council of Design and is registered as a Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation under the Government of India. Some of the best NID colleges in India 2025 include NID Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, and Gandhinagar. Institutes here deliver leading-edge infrastructure, hands-on experience, and highly qualified faculties focusing on unlocking a student's creative potential. The National Institute of Design should be the first on your list if you are passionate about a design career. It was founded in 1961, and it comes under the DPIIT that governs it under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In the years gone by, its reputation has only soared higher, and the NID Act awarded it the title of an 'Institution of National Importance' back in 2014. Read below to explore the list of best NID colleges in India including admission requirements, courses, fees and more.

Also Read: What is a Good Score in NID DAT 2025?

List of Best NID Colleges in India

With a robust alumni network and promising placements, NID College is a top-tier destination for design enthusiasts which has seven campuses all over India. Here is a list of the best NID colleges in India:

Courses Offered at Top NID Colleges in India

NID colleges provide different courses at both the bachelor and graduate levels. They offer Bachelor of Design (BDes) programs that typically last for four years and Master of Design (MDes) programs with a duration of two years. Additionally, certain NID colleges provide a doctoral program in Design.

Bachelor of Design (BDes) at NID Colleges in India

Explore the comprehensive Bachelor of Design (B.Des) program and specialisations offered at NID colleges in India.

Master of Design (MDes) at NID Colleges in India

The National Institute of Design comprises five faculties: Communication Design, Industrial Design, Information Technology-Integrated Programmes, Interdisciplinary Design Studies, and Textile, Apparel, and Lifestyle Accessory Design. Check out the specialisations offered at NIDs at the masters-level:

PhD in Design at Best NID Colleges in India

Among the best NID colleges in India, some NID colleges offer a PhD programme in Design for students who are interested in advancing their design knowledge through research and academics. This course includes research work while exploring design theories and an in-depth study of the design field. PhD aspirants get to learn from experienced faculty members, collaborate with them, and get involved in cross-disciplinary research.

Institute-wise Seat Intake at Top NID Colleges in India

The NIDs offer B.Des and M.Des programs across various specializations. Here's the seat intake for each institute:

Institute-wise Seat Intake for BDes

The table below outlines the institute-wise BDes seat intake at various NID campuses which students can use for reference.

Institute-wise Seat Intake for MDes

The table below outlines the institute-wise MDes seat intake at various NID campuses which students can use for reference.

Note: NIDs adhere to the reservation policies set by the Government of India for different categories, including General-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST.

Eligibility Criteria to Study at NID Colleges in India

To be a part of one of the best colleges on the list of best NID colleges in India, a student has to make sure that all the eligibility criteria for NID are met. Mentioned below are the eligibility criteria according to the courses offered at NID colleges that a candidate needs to keep in mind before applying to any of the top NID colleges in India.

NID BDes Eligibility Criteria

• Candidates who have qualified for the higher secondary (10+2) examination in any stream from any recognised board can apply for the undergraduate course.

• If any candidate has not appeared for the 10+2 examination before the date of admission, he/she is not eligible for admission and can not apply for it. The upper age limit is 20 years as of 30 June 2025 for the general category and 23 years for OBC, SC and ST. Also, for PWD the upper age limit goes to 25th years.

• The lower age limit for the general candidate is that a candidate should be born on or after 1st July 2001. For OBC, SC and ST, the candidates need to be born on or before 1st July 1999. A PWD candidate born on or after 1st July 1997 is also eligible for the application.

NID MDes Eligibility Criteria

• The minimum eligibility criteria for applying for M.Des. is a 4-year or 3-year degree from any specialisation after qualifying for the higher secondary (10+2) examination.

• A candidate with a full-time diploma of a minimum 4-year duration in the field of fine arts/design/applied arts/architecture after qualifying for the class 12 examination is also eligible to apply for the M.Des course. Either a bachelor’s degree or a diploma is required before applying for the postgraduate programme from NID College.

• The upper age limit for a general candidate is 30 years as of 30th June 2023. Also, he should have been born on or after 1st July 1992. For OBC, SC, and ST candidates the upper limit is 33 years as of 30th June 2023 and for PWD the upper limit is 35 years as of 30th June 2023.

Admission Process at the Best NID Colleges in India

Admission into the list of best NID colleges in India is made based on a good performance or good score in the NID DAT 2025 exam. The admission into the NIDs in India happens mainly in two phases: NID DAT Prelims and NID DAT Mains. The Prelims is a written test for BDes and MDes. You would be eligible only for Mains, consisting of a studio test and personal interview if you clear the Prelims.

The final score for NID DAT 2025 is the average of 30% Prelims and 70% Mains score. A candidate can seek admission to the NID DAT exam on its official website that is www.admissions.nid.edu. Before applying, one must gather all the documents so that it will be easy to manage during the process. While filling up the NID DAT 2025 application form , you will get a chance to select an NID DAT 2025 exam centre from the choices available at NID DAT 2025.

Here's a simple step-wise procedure to apply for the NID DAT exam:

• NID DAT Registration: Apply through the application form. This procedure comprises filling in details, uploading documents, and payment of application fees.
• Filling the Application Form: You will have to fill in basic information such as your name, date of birth, contact information, educational qualification, etc.
• Upload Documents: Upload all the documents such as photograph, signature, passport, and caste certificate in case required.
• Pay Application Fee: Complete the application process by paying the needful amount as the NID DAT application fee.
• Download/Print: After successful submission of the application form, download and print a copy for further use.

Course Fees at the Top NID Colleges in India

The list of best NID colleges in India comes with the best education and very significant placement opportunities. Though the institutes for NID courses seem to be quite more costly than other institutes, the learning quality over there is well worth it. Tuition fee structures differ according to the citizenship of the student; the fee for Indian citizens will differ from the applicant from SAARC or African nations, whereas from international countries, it differs from the former two.

Fee for B.Des Programs

Fee for M.Des Programs

Placements at Top NID Colleges in India

As a graduate of one of the best NID colleges in India, you will expect good salary offers in your chosen field. In many cases, it will be higher. However, the figure will depend on the company and the role pursued. For a better understanding, here's a breakdown of potential salary ranges for NID placements in 2024:

Top Recruiting Companies

Top Job Profiles

Every year, some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Microsoft, Google, and Wipro, visit campuses at NID for the annual placement drives. About 90% of its students get placed during this placement season, and those are the top organizations in the industry that are eager to hire NID graduates. The placement statistics for the year 2023 were also particularly noteworthy. The starting salary package was INR 12 LPA, while the average stood at INR 30.5 LPA. The highest offer reached an impressive INR 50 LPA, which showed the immense value NID graduates bring to the table. Most of the students were attracted towards graphic design, product design, and interior design, indicating their expertise in creativity. NID has well-earned a reputation as one of the best design institutes in India, with its excellent track record in placement and its strong alumni network.

Want to know more about the NID DAT exam, check out the links below:

To get any admission-related help to choose from the list of best NID colleges in India, either give a call at the toll-free number 1800-572-9877 (toll-free) or fill up the Common Application Form. In case of any queries, please write to us in the QnA zone. For more education-related information, stay tuned to CollegeDekho .