DU Top Colleges 2026: Campus Wise NIRF Ranks & Seat Intake
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Delhi University offers approximately 70,000 undergraduate seats across its North, South, and Off-Campus colleges through the CSAS portal using CUET UG scores.
Approximately 70,000 undergraduate seats are available across Delhi University colleges, requiring applicants to strategically evaluate campus rankings, annual fee structures, and course options. Below is a detailed breakdown of top-ranked North, South, and Off-Campus colleges, NIRF evaluation parameters, fee details, multi-year ranking trends, and the CSAS seat allocation process.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Undergraduate Seat Capacity | Approximately 70,000 seats |
| Top Ranked DU College (NIRF 2025) | Hindu College (Rank 1) |
| DU Overall University NIRF Rank | 5th position (2025) / 6th position (2024) |
| Primary Entrance Exam | CUET (UG) 2026 |
| Counselling Portal | Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS UG 2026) |
| Total Affiliated North Campus Colleges | 13 colleges |
Top Undergraduate Courses Colleges
Delhi University hosts several of India’s most prestigious institutions offering undergraduate degrees across arts, science, and commerce streams. In the NIRF 2025 college category rankings, Hindu College secured rank 1 nationally, followed closely by Miranda House at rank 2, Hans Raj College at rank 3, Kirori Mal College at rank 4, and St. Stephen’s College at rank 5. North Campus institutions consistently claim leading positions in national league tables due to high academic standards and strong campus infrastructure.
In South Campus, Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College (ARSD) achieved NIRF Rank 7 in 2025 after securing Rank 5 in 2024 with a score of 72.59. Lady Shri Ram College for Women achieved NIRF Rank 10 in 2024 with a score of 69.49.
| College Name | Campus | NIRF 2025 Rank | NIRF 2024 Rank | NIRF 2024 Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu College | North Campus | 1 | 1 | 74.47 |
| Miranda House | North Campus | 2 | 2 | 73.22 |
| Hans Raj College | North Campus | 3 | 12 | 68.76 |
| Kirori Mal College | North Campus | 4 | 9 | 69.86 |
| St. Stephen’s College | North Campus | 5 | 3 | 72.97 |
| Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College | South Campus | 7 | 5 | 72.59 |
Government Undergraduate Courses Colleges
All constituent colleges under Delhi University are public institutions supported by government funding. Beyond North Campus, South Campus and Off-Campus colleges provide extensive undergraduate program choices. In South Campus, Deshbandhu College achieved NIRF Rank 16 in 2024 with a score of 66.03, while Acharya Narendra Dev College ranked 18 with a score of 64.73. Sri Venkateswara College secured Rank 21 with a score of 63.98, followed by Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College at Rank 26 with a score of 62.47.
Among Off-Campus public institutions, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences is the highest-ranked off-campus DU college in NIRF 2024 with a national rank of 27 and a score of 61.55. Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce secured Rank 39 with a score of 57.79, Keshav Mahavidyalaya achieved Rank 93 with a score of 52.13, and Delhi College of Arts and Commerce secured Rank 97 with a score of 51.91.
| College Name | Campus Location | NIRF 2024 Rank | NIRF 2024 Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deshbandhu College | South Campus | 16 | 66.03 |
| Acharya Narendra Dev College | South Campus | 18 | 64.73 |
| Sri Venkateswara College | South Campus | 21 | 63.98 |
| Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College | South Campus | 26 | 62.47 |
| Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences | Off-Campus | 27 | 61.55 |
| Maitreyi College | South Campus | 29 | 59.60 |
| Gargi College | South Campus | 31 | 59.28 |
| Dyal Singh College | South Campus | 34 | 58.55 |
| Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce | Off-Campus | 39 | 57.79 |
| Jesus & Mary College | South Campus | 39 | 57.79 |
| Kamala Nehru College | South Campus | 43 | 56.95 |
| Keshav Mahavidyalaya | Off-Campus | 93 | 52.13 |
| Delhi College of Arts and Commerce | Off-Campus | 97 | 51.91 |
Undergraduate Courses Fees
Undergraduate course fees across Delhi University colleges remain highly affordable due to public funding, though exact fee structures vary depending on the stream, lab requirements, and course specialisation. Arts and commerce programmes generally feature lower annual fees compared to professional, computer science, or technology-oriented courses.
At Hindu College, total course fees range from Rs. 48,500 to Rs. 82,200 for popular programs such as B.Com (Hons.), B.Sc (Hons.), and M.A English. Miranda House charges between Rs. 42,480 and Rs. 82,440 across B.A, B.Sc, and M.Sc courses. Hans Raj College lists course fees ranging from Rs. 50,148 to Rs. 1,69,245 for B.Tech, B.A, and B.Com degree options. Kirori Mal College maintains total course fees between Rs. 28,818 and Rs. 42,375 for B.A, B.Com, and M.Sc degree paths.
| College Name | NIRF 2025 Rank | Popular Courses Offered | Total Fee Range (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu College | 1 | B.Com (Hons.), B.Sc (Hons.), M.A English | Rs. 48,500 – Rs. 82,200 |
| Miranda House | 2 | B.A, B.Sc, M.Sc | Rs. 42,480 – Rs. 82,440 |
| Hans Raj College | 3 | B.Tech, B.A, B.Com | Rs. 50,148 – Rs. 1,69,245 |
| Kirori Mal College | 4 | B.A, B.Com, M.Sc | Rs. 28,818 – Rs. 42,375 |
Admission Process for DU Top Colleges via CSAS 2026
- Appear for CUET (UG) 2026 in subjects that were studied and passed in Class XII.
- Fill out the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS UG 2026) application form on the official DU admission website.
- Submit preferences for specific undergraduate programmes and colleges in the CSAS form.
Merit is prepared strictly based on CUET (UG) 2026 scores. Class XII marks are not used for direct merit preparation but are evaluated during tie-breaking in CSAS seat allocation.
How to Choose a Undergraduate Courses College
Evaluating Delhi University colleges requires analyzing multiple institutional parameters established by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). Rather than relying solely on overall rank, applicants should examine core evaluation metrics that reflect teaching quality, academic output, and post-graduation success.
NIRF evaluates colleges across five specific parameters: Teaching, Learning, and Resources (TLR), Research and Professional Practice (RPP), Graduation Outcomes (GO), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI), and Perception (PR). Reviewing these core elements helps students select colleges that align with their long-term academic and career ambitions.
| Parameter Code | NIRF Parameter Name | Core Evaluation Elements |
|---|---|---|
| TLR | Teaching, Learning, and Resources | Student strength, faculty-student ratio, faculty with PhD, budget utilization |
| RPP | Research and Professional Practice | Publication count, quality metrics, IPR and patents, footprint of projects |
| GO | Graduation Outcomes | Placements, higher studies rate, median salary, university exam performance |
| OI | Outreach and Inclusivity | State/country diversity, women percentage, facilities for physically challenged |
| PR | Perception | Academic peer perception, employer perception, public competitiveness |
DU Colleges NIRF Ranking History and Performance Trends
Examining historical NIRF rank trends offers insight into institutional consistency and academic growth over time. Miranda House maintained NIRF Rank 1 nationally for three consecutive years from 2021 to 2023 before holding Rank 2 in 2024 and 2025. Hindu College demonstrated significant upward mobility, rising from Rank 9 in 2021 to Rank 2 in 2022 and 2023, and securing Rank 1 in both 2024 and 2025.
Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College (ARSD) showed steady progress, moving from Rank 12 in 2021 to Rank 7 in 2022, Rank 6 in 2023, Rank 5 in 2024, and Rank 7 in 2025. St. Stephen’s College climbed from Rank 14 in 2023 to Rank 3 in 2024 and Rank 5 in 2025.
| College Name | NIRF 2024 Rank | NIRF 2023 Rank | NIRF 2022 Rank | NIRF 2021 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miranda House | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Hindu College | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 |
| St. Stephen’s College | 3 | 14 | 11 | 8 |
| Atma Ram Sanatan Dharma College | 5 | 6 | 7 | 12 |
| Kirori Mal College | 9 | 9 | 10 | 17 |
| Lady Shri Ram College for Women | 10 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| Hans Raj College | 12 | 12 | 14 | 14 |
| Sri Venkateswara College | 21 | 13 | 14 | 11 |
How to Apply for Undergraduate Courses Admission in 2026: Step by Step
- Check Course Eligibility: Review the Bulletin of Information on admission.uod.ac.in to confirm program-specific eligibility and ensure required subjects were taken in Class XII.
- Appear for CUET UG 2026: Register for CUET (UG) 2026 and choose papers that match the exact subjects passed in Class XII.
- Register on DU CSAS UG 2026 Portal: Fill out the Common Seat Allocation System (CSAS UG 2026) application form on admission.uod.ac.in.
- Fill College and Course Preferences: Select preferred combinations of DU colleges and undergraduate programmes in order of preference inside the CSAS portal.
- Check Merit List and Seat Allotment: DU allocates seats based on CUET UG 2026 scores and program preferences. Class XII marks are evaluated during tie-breaking in seat allocation.
- Track CSAS Portal Updates: Check the admission portal and website regularly for official announcements and seat allocation details.
| What to do | Where | Link |
|---|---|---|
| counselling | Delhi University Admission Branch Portal | admission.uod.ac.in |
Candidates must select CUET UG 2026 papers for subjects they passed in Class XII to participate in CSAS seat allocation.
FAQs
Which are the top 5 DU colleges by NIRF rankings?
In the NIRF 2025 college category rankings, Hindu College secured rank 1, Miranda House rank 2, Hans Raj College rank 3, Kirori Mal College rank 4, and St. Stephen’s College rank 5.
What is the top 1 best college in DU?
Hindu College is ranked as the #1 college in Delhi University and across India according to the NIRF rankings in 2025 and 2024.
Which is the best off-campus college in DU?
Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences is the highest-ranked off-campus DU college, securing Rank 27 nationally in the NIRF 2024 ranking list.
Is CUET compulsory for DU undergraduate admission in 2026?
Yes, admission to all undergraduate programmes across DU colleges requires valid CUET (UG) 2026 scores, except for NCWEB which admits students based on Class XII marks.
Are Class 12 board marks considered for DU admissions in 2026?
No, merit is prepared strictly on CUET (UG) 2026 scores. Class XII board marks are only used as a tie-breaking criterion during CSAS seat allocation.
Can I choose a CUET domain subject that I did not study in Class 12?
No. DU candidate rules state you must compulsorily appear in CUET 2026 papers for subjects that you have studied and passed in your Class XII examinations.
