Top Engineering Colleges in Karnataka 2026 - Complete Guide

Karnataka is home to some of India’s premier engineering institutions, offering world-class education in technology and innovation. Whether you’re looking for top engineering colleges in Bangalore, affordable BTech colleges under 2 lakhs, or colleges with highest placements, this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about engineering admissions in Karnataka for 2025.

Top 10 Engineering Colleges
Admission Process (KCET/COMEDK)
Fees Structure Comparison
Placement Statistics
Best Colleges by Category

Top 10 Engineering Colleges in Karnataka 2025

Based on NIRF rankings, placement records, and academic excellence, here are the top engineering colleges in Karnataka:

1. NIT Karnataka, Surathkal (NIRF Rank: 17)

Average Package: ₹13 LPA
Highest Package: ₹54 LPA
Placement Rate: 92.99%
Top Recruiters: Google, Microsoft, Amazon, TCS
Fees (JEE Mains): ₹1.2-1.5 Lakhs/year

2. IIIT Bangalore

Average Package: ₹20 LPA
Highest Package: ₹65 LPA
Placement Rate: 98%+
Specialization: IT & Data Science
Top Recruiters: Google, Microsoft, Adobe

3. RV College of Engineering, Bangalore

Average Package: ₹15.24 LPA
Highest Package: ₹92 LPA
Placement Rate: 85%+
KCET Fees: ₹83,526/year
COMEDK Fees: ₹2.22-2.92 Lakhs/year

4. BMS College of Engineering, Bangalore

Average Package: ₹12-15 LPA
Highest Package: ₹45 LPA
Placement Rate: 95%+
KCET Fees: ₹58,806-1.07 Lakhs/year
COMEDK Fees: ₹2.01-2.81 Lakhs/year

5. MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology, Bangalore

Average Package: ₹7-10 LPA
Highest Package: ₹47 LPA
Placement Rate: 95%+
KCET Fees: ₹1.21-1.53 Lakhs/year
COMEDK Fees: ₹2.32-2.81 Lakhs/year

6. PES University, Bangalore

Average Package: ₹8-12 LPA
Highest Package: ₹60+ LPA
Placement Rate: 90%+
KCET Fees: ₹1.2-1.3 Lakhs/year
JEE Main Fees: ₹4.8-5.5 Lakhs/year

7. Manipal Institute of Technology

Average Package: ₹7 LPA
Highest Package: ₹44 LPA
NIRF Rank: 56
Top Recruiters: Microsoft, Amazon, Cisco

8. Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumkur

Average Package: ₹9 LPA
Highest Package: ₹46.5 LPA
Placement Rate: 80-90%
KCET Fees: ₹1-1.5 Lakhs/year

9. Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering

Average Package: ₹6-10 LPA
Highest Package: ₹56 LPA
Placement Rate: 74%+
Students Placed: 2500+ annually

10. NMAM Institute of Technology, Nitte

Average Package: ₹6-7.6 LPA
Highest Package: ₹58.93 LPA
Placement Rate: 90-100% (CSE/ISE/ECE)

Admission Process: KCET vs COMEDK

KCET (Karnataka Common Entrance Test)

For: Government and aided colleges, some private colleges
Exam Date: Usually in April-May
Eligibility: Karnataka domicile students
Advantages: Lower fees, government quota seats
Top Cutoffs (CSE 2024):
- RVCE: ~501
- MSRIT: ~2012
- BMSCE: ~2995
- UVCE: ~4914

COMEDK UGET

For: Private unaided engineering colleges
Exam Date: Usually in May
Eligibility: Open to all students
Expected Cutoffs (CSE 2026):
- RVCE: ~7,000
- MSRIT & BMSCE: ~10,000
- BIT: 10,000-30,000

Fees Structure Comparison 2025

Government Colleges (KCET Quota)

Annual Fees: ₹22,000 - ₹1.5 Lakhs
Best Value: UVCE (₹25,000-1 Lakh/year)
Top Choice: Government Engineering Colleges

Top Private Colleges

College	KCET Quota	COMEDK Quota	Management Quota
RVCE	₹83,526/year	₹2.22-2.92 L/year	₹14-42 L (4 years)
BMSCE	₹58,806-1.07 L/year	₹2.01-2.81 L/year	-
MSRIT	₹1.21-1.53 L/year	₹2.32-2.81 L/year	-
PES University	₹1.2-1.3 L/year	-	₹5-12 L/year

Affordable Engineering Colleges Under ₹2 Lakhs/Year

Dr. Ambedkar Institute of Technology - ₹40,000-60,000/year
Bangalore Institute of Technology - ₹50,000-80,000/year
PES College of Engineering, Mandya - ₹1.71 Lakhs (4 years total)
NIE Mysore - ₹1.71 Lakhs (4 years total)
Malnad College of Engineering, Hassan - ₹1.8-2.5 Lakhs/year

Placement Statistics 2024-2025

Colleges with Highest Packages

RV College of Engineering: ₹92 LPA
IIIT Bangalore: ₹65 LPA
PES University: ₹60+ LPA
NITTE Meenakshi: ₹58.93 LPA
Dayananda Sagar: ₹56 LPA

Best Placement Rates

IIIT Bangalore: 98%+
MSRIT: 95%+
BMSCE: 95%+
RVCE: 85%+
NMIT: 90-100% (CSE/ISE/ECE)

Top Recruiting Companies

IT Giants: Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Adobe, IBM
Consulting: Deloitte, Accenture, KPMG, EY, PwC
Core Engineering: Bosch, L&T, Mercedes-Benz, Cisco
Indian IT: TCS, Infosys, Wipro, HCL, Tech Mahindra

Best Colleges by Category

Best for Computer Science Engineering

Best for Placements

IIIT Bangalore (98%+)
MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology (95%+)
BMS College of Engineering (95%+)
RV College of Engineering (85%+)
Nitte Meenakshi Institute of Technology (90-100% for CSE/ISE/ECE)

Best Value for Money (Quality + Affordability)

Best in Bangalore

Best Outside Bangalore

Branch-wise Best Colleges

Mechanical Engineering

Electronics & Communication

Civil Engineering

Aerospace Engineering

How to Choose the Right Engineering College

Factors to Consider:

NIRF Ranking & Accreditation (NBA, NAAC)
Placement Records (Average package, placement rate)
Fees Structure (KCET vs COMEDK vs Management)
Location (Bangalore vs other cities)
Infrastructure & Facilities
Faculty Qualifications
Industry Connections
Alumni Network

Decision Matrix:

Budget-Conscious: Government colleges via KCET
Placement-Focused: IIIT Bangalore, RVCE, BMSCE
Brand Value: NIT Surathkal, IIT Dharwad
Bangalore Location: RVCE, BMSCE, MSRIT, PES
Affordable Private: Dr. AIT, BIT, NIE Mysore

Admission Timeline 2026

KCET

Application: March-April
Exam: April-May
Results: June
Counseling: June-July

COMEDK

Application: March-April
Exam: May
Results: June
Counseling: June-July

Scholarships & Financial Aid

Government Scholarships

SC/ST Students: Full tuition fee waiver
OBC Students: Partial fee concessions
Merit-based: Fee waivers for top rankers

College-specific Scholarships

KCET Rank 1000-2000: 100% fee remission
KCET Rank 2000-5000: 75% fee waiver
KCET Rank 5000-7000: 25% fee remission

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is the No. 1 engineering college in Karnataka?

NIT Karnataka, Surathkal is ranked #1 (NIRF Rank 17 nationally). For private colleges, RV College of Engineering and IIIT Bangalore are top choices.

What is the average fees for engineering in Karnataka?

Government Colleges: ₹22,000-1.5 Lakhs/year
Private Colleges (KCET): ₹1-2 Lakhs/year
Private Colleges (COMEDK): ₹2-3 Lakhs/year
Management Quota: ₹3-12 Lakhs/year

Which college has the highest placement in Karnataka?

IIIT Bangalore has the highest placement rate (98%+) and average package (₹20 LPA). RV College of Engineering has the highest package recorded (₹92 LPA).

Is KCET better than COMEDK?

KCET offers lower fees and access to government colleges, making it better for budget-conscious students. COMEDK provides more options in private colleges and is open to non-Karnataka students.

Can I get admission without KCET or COMEDK?

Yes, through management quota in private colleges, but fees will be significantly higher (₹3-12 Lakhs/year).

Explore Engineering Colleges

Browse our comprehensive directory of engineering colleges in Karnataka with detailed information on:

Fees structure (KCET/COMEDK/Management)
Placement statistics
Course offerings
Admission cutoffs
Campus facilities
Student reviews

Last Updated: December 2025
Data Sources: NIRF Rankings 2024, Official College Websites, KCET/COMEDK 2024 Data

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