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NIRF 2025 Rankings: These are the top colleges in India this year

In 2025, six of the top seven colleges are DU institutions — Hindu, Miranda, Hans Raj, Kirori Mal, St. Stephen’s, and Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm.

The rankings, released annually by the Ministry of Education, assess higher education institutions across the country, have been unveiled in 17 categories (Express archive photo)

The Ministry of Education (MoE) Thursday released the NIRF India Rankings 2025 for 17 categories, including colleges, with Hindu College maintaining its top position for the second consecutive year. Miranda House followed in second place, while Hans Raj College and Kirori Mal College made debut entries into the top five, signaling a reshaping of Delhi University’s hierarchy.

In 2025, six of the top seven colleges are DU institutions — Hindu, Miranda, Hans Raj, Kirori Mal, St Stephen’s, and Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm.

Meanwhile, Presidency College (Chennai), once third in 2022 and 2023, has fallen out of the top 10. Loyola College (Chennai), ranked as high as third in 2021, has also exited. Lady Shri Ram College for Women, second in 2021, slipped steadily before disappearing from the 2025 top 10 list.

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Regional players continue to fight for space, with St Xavier’s (Kolkata) and PSGR Krishnammal (Coimbatore) holding ground, while new entrant PSG College of Arts and Science (Coimbatore) ensured Tamil Nadu’s representation this year.

NIRF 2025 Rankings: List of top colleges

Rank 1: Hindu College, Delhi
Rank 2: Miranda House, Delhi
Rank 3: Hans Raj College, Delhi
Rank 4: Kirori Mal College, Delhi
Rank 5: St. Stephen’s College, Delhi
Rank 6: Rama Krishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College, Kolkata
Rank 7: Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College, New Delhi
Rank 8: St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata
Rank 9: PSGR Krishnammal College for Women, Coimbatore
Rank 10: PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore

From 2021 to 2025, the NIRF rankings have witnessed significant shifts in India’s college landscape.

In 2021, Miranda House claimed the top spot, with Lady Shri Ram College, Loyola College (Chennai), St. Xavier’s College (Kolkata), and Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira (Howrah) completing the top five, while Hindu College stood much lower at ninth.

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A year later in 2022, Miranda House retained its lead, but Hindu rose to second place, with Presidency College, Loyola, and Lady Shri Ram following closely. In 2023, Miranda House again remained first, trailed by Hindu and Presidency, while PSGR Krishnammal College for Women (Coimbatore) and St. Xavier’s broke into the top five. The 2024 rankings marked a turning point, with Hindu overtaking Miranda House for the first time, while St. Stephen’s, Rama Krishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College (Kolkata), and Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College (Delhi) surged ahead, pushing Lady Shri Ram down to tenth.

By 2025, Delhi tightened its grip as Hindu retained the best position, Miranda followed, and Hans Raj and Kirori Mal broke into the top five for the first time.