Tier 2 Colleges in India: Top Colleges, Fees, Ranking, & Scholarships

Last Updated on December 19, 2025

Tier 2 Colleges in India refer to institutions that offer quality education, solid infrastructure, and good placement opportunities, though they may have different international recognition than tier 1 and tier 2 engineering colleges in indiautions. These colleges cater to students from diverse backgrounds, providing vital academic programs at a more accessible level than Tier 1 institutions. While there’s no globally accepted list of Tier 2 colleges, several institutions fall into this category based on their reputation, faculty, and student outcomes. This article will take a detailed look at Tier 2 colleges.

List of Top 20 Tier 2 Colleges In India

If you’re looking for a Tier 2 college that offers a blend of good education and campus facilities, the following institutions are among the best options in India:

Rank	College Name	City	QS Ranking (2024)	NIRF Ranking (2024)
1	Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT)	Vellore	1001-1200	13
2	SRM Institute of Science and Technology	Chennai	N/A	43
3	Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE)	Manipal	751-800	4
4	Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham	Coimbatore	801-850	7
5	Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA)	Thanjavur	N/A	47
6	Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT)	Bhubaneswar	801-850	15
7	Shiv Nadar University	Greater Noida	751-800	95
8	University of Hyderabad	Hyderabad	651-700	17
9	Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI)	New Delhi	701-750	3
10	Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra	Ranchi	N/A	90
11	Chandigarh University	Chandigarh	801-850	20
12	Symbiosis International University	Pune	N/A	N/A
13	Jain University	Bengaluru	N/A	101-150
14	Lovely Professional University (LPU)	Jalandhar	N/A	45
15	Christ University	Bengaluru	N/A	N/A
16	National Institute of Technology (NIT), Durgapur	Durgapur	1001-1200	93
17	Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT)	Mumbai	N/A	56
18	Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU)	New Delhi	N/A	65
19	Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology	Chennai	N/A	51
20	Acharya Institute of Technology	Bengaluru	N/A	80

What are the Different Entrance Exams Required for Indian Universities?

There are many tests that students will be required to appear if they wish to get admission to the top universities in India. Some of the entrance exams for tier 2 colleges in India are as follows:

1. CUET (Common University Entrance Test)

CUET is conducted for admission to various central universities in India. The exam is used to evaluate the students’ knowledge on many subjects like General Knowledge, Language Proficiency, and Subject specific topics, providing a standardized platform for undergraduate admissions across multiple universities.

2. JEE (Joint Entrance Examination)

JEE is a national-level entrance exam for engineering aspirants. The exam is mainly divided into two stages, JEE Main and JEE Advanced, it tests students in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics for admission to premier engineering institutes like IITs, NITs, and IIITs.

3. NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)

NEET is a medical entrance exam for MBBS, BDS, and other related programs in India. It assesses students’ knowledge in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, serving as the primary gateway for admission to medical colleges across the country.

4. CAT (Common Admission Test)

CAT is an entrance test for admission to MBA programs in top management institutes like IIMs. It evaluates candidates on Quantitative Ability, Data Interpretation, Logical Reasoning, and Verbal Ability, emphasizing aptitude and decision-making skills.

5. CLAT (Common Law Admission Test)

CLAT is an entrance exam for admission to undergraduate and postgraduate law programs at National Law Universities (NLUs). It tests candidates on subjects like English, Logical Reasoning, Legal Aptitude, General Knowledge, and Mathematics.

Tier 2 Colleges in India By Courses

Best Tier 2 Engineering Colleges in India

For students aiming to pursue engineering, here are the best Tier 2 Engineering colleges in India that offer solid academic programs and placements:

Rank	Names of 2 Tier colleges in India	QS Ranking (2024)	Total Course Fee (B.Tech)	Entrance Exam
1	VIT Vellore	1001-1200	₹8-9 Lakhs	VITEEE
2	SRM Institute of Science and Technology	N/A	₹10-12 Lakhs	SRMJEEE
3	Manipal Institute of Technology	751-800	₹15-17 Lakhs	MET
4	Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham	801-850	₹7-9 Lakhs	AEEE
5	KIIT Bhubaneswar	801-850	₹13-15 Lakhs	KIITEE
6	Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA)	N/A	₹7-8 Lakhs	N/A
7	Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University	N/A	₹9-11 Lakhs	BVP CET
8	Lingaya’s University	N/A	₹8-10 Lakhs	N/A
9	Jaipur National University	N/A	₹12-14 Lakhs	JNU Entrance Test
10	Galgotias University	N/A	₹11-13 Lakhs	GEEE

Management Colleges in India

Here’s a list of the best Tier 2 Colleges in India for management courses:

Rank	Names of 2 Tier Colleges in India	QS Ranking (2024)	Total Course Fee (MBA)	Entrance Exam
1	Symbiosis International University	N/A	₹18-22 Lakhs	SNAP
2	Manipal Academy of Higher Education	751-800	₹14-16 Lakhs	CAT/GMAT
3	NMIMS (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies)	N/A	₹18-20 Lakhs	NMAT
4	Christ University	N/A	₹5-6 Lakhs	CAT/MAT
5	Jain University	N/A	₹7-9 Lakhs	CAT/MAT/XAT
6	Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMT)	N/A	₹12-14 Lakhs	CAT/MAT
7	International School of Business & Media (ISBM)	N/A	₹8-10 Lakhs	SNAP/CAT
8	Great Lakes Institute of Management	N/A	₹14-16 Lakhs	GMAT/CAT
9	Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad	N/A	₹12-14 Lakhs	CAT/GMAT
10	Amity Business School	N/A	₹10-12 Lakhs	CAT/MAT

Medical Colleges in India

For those interested in pursuing medical studies, here are the top 2 tier colleges in India:

Rank	Dr D.Y. Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai	QS Ranking (2024)	Total Course Fee (MBBS)	Entrance Exam
1	Kasturba Medical College, Manipal	N/A	₹50-60 Lakhs	NEET
2	JSS Medical College, Mysore	N/A	₹25-30 Lakhs	NEET
3	Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai	N/A	₹35-40 Lakhs	NEET
4	Amrita School of Medicine, Kochi	N/A	₹20-25 Lakhs	NEET
5	Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS)	N/A	₹45-50 Lakhs	NEET
6	Sree Balaji Medical College, Chennai	N/A	₹30-35 Lakhs	NEET
7	Saveetha Medical College, Chennai	N/A	₹40-45 Lakhs	NEET
8	Dr. D.Y. Patil Medical College, Navi Mumbai	N/A	₹50-55 Lakhs	NEET
9	Mahatma Gandhi Medical College, Indore	N/A	₹25-30 Lakhs	NEET
10	Sardar Patel Medical College, Bikaner	N/A	₹15-20 Lakhs	NEET

Law Colleges in India

Here are the best Tier 2 colleges in India for law:

Rank	Names of 2 tier colleges in India	QS Ranking (2024)	Total Course Fee (LLB)	Entrance Exam
1	Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow	N/A	₹3-5 Lakhs	CLAT
2	National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi	N/A	₹2-4 Lakhs	CLAT
3	Army Institute of Law (AIL), Mohali	N/A	₹3-5 Lakhs	AILET
4	Chanakya National Law University, Patna	N/A	₹2-4 Lakhs	CLAT
5	National Law School and Judicial Academy, Assam, Guwahati	N/A	₹2-3 Lakhs	CLAT
6	National University of Advanced Legal Studies, Kochi	N/A	₹3-5 Lakhs	CLAT
7	I.L.S. Law College, Pune	N/A	₹1.5-3 Lakhs	CLAT
8	National Law University, Shimla	N/A	₹2-4 Lakhs	CLAT
9	Symbiosis Law School, Pune	N/A	₹6-8 Lakhs	SLAT
10	Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University New Law College, Pune	N/A	₹1.5-3 Lakhs	CET

Scholarships for Tier 2 Colleges in India

Here are some of the scholarships available to help students pursuing education at 2 tier colleges in India:

Scholarship Name	Eligible Courses	Eligibility Criteria	Benefit Amount
Central Sector Scholarship Scheme	B.Tech, B.Sc., B.Com	Family income < ₹8 lakh, good academic performance	₹10,000 – ₹20,000 annually
Prime Minister’s Scholarship Scheme	Professional courses (Engineering, Medical, etc.)	Children of ex-servicemen/widows, min 60% in previous exams	₹30,000 – ₹36,000 per year
Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship	B.Tech, BBA, BA, B.Sc.	Financial need, good academic record	₹500 – ₹2,500 per month
LIC Golden Jubilee Scholarship	Undergraduate courses	Family income < ₹1 lakh, min 60% in Class 12	₹20,000 annually
INSPIRE Scholarship	B.Sc., M.Sc. in natural and basic sciences	Top 1% in Class 12, pursuing science	₹80,000 annually
National Scholarship Scheme (SC/ST)	Any professional course	SC/ST students with financial need	Full tuition fee waiver
ONGC Scholarship (SC/ST)	Engineering, MBBS, MBA, Geology	SC/ST students, min 60% in previous academic year	₹48,000 annually
MOMA Scholarship (Minority Communities)	Professional and technical courses	Minority communities, family income < ₹2.5 lakh	₹25,000 – ₹30,000 annually
ONGC Scholarship (OBC)	Engineering, MBA, Medicine	SC/ST students, min 60% in the previous academic year	₹48,000 annually
Aditya Birla Scholarship	Engineering, Management	Outstanding academic performance from top colleges	₹1 lakh annually

Difference Between Tier 1 and Tier 2 Colleges in India

Tier 1, in the case of India, refers to the best institutions in India, known for academic excellence, excellent faculty, and world-class infrastructure. IITs, IIMs, NITs – these are some of the examples of tier 1 colleges in India. It includes colleges with a higher global ranking, better research facilities, and excellent placements. The admission process is highly competitive, often requiring the highest marks in entrance tests such as JEE or CAT.

While Tier 2 colleges in India, such as VIT, SRM, and Manipal, provide a better education infrastructure, they are not international bodies of prestige or reputation and have less stringent cutoffs and entrance exam requirements for entry into the respective institutions.

To that effect, the Tier 2 colleges are known to provide quality education and promising career opportunities despite lesser research facilities and industry connections than the Tier 1 colleges. Overall, they offer safe programs and could be an option for students seeking better ones which could be more competitive.

Final Insights

Tier 2 colleges in India provide quality education, solid infrastructure, and competitive placement opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. Top Tier 2 colleges include VIT Vellore Institute of Technology, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, and more. They offer solid academic programs and placements in engineering, such as B.Tech, MBA, MBS, and LLB.

Medical students can find top Tier 2 colleges like Kasturba Medical College, JSS Medical College, and Amrita School of Medicine. Scholarships available for Tier 2 colleges include the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme, Prime Minister’s Scholarship, and ONGC Scholarship. These colleges often provide more accessible education with solid infrastructure and industry connections. Whether aiming for engineering, management, law, or medicine, Tier 2 institutions can help you build a promising career.

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