Do you want to study at one of India’s affordable universities? Indian universities often have lower tuition than many universities in the Western Hemisphere, but costs vary widely by institution, program, nationality, and admission route. For international students, this can make India a more affordable study destination for programs in engineering, technology, science, medicine, humanities, and social sciences.
In this article, we have compiled current tuition information for selected Indian universities. These rates are for international students where the institution publishes a separate international, DASA, Study in India, FN/NRI, or foreign national fee. Students should always confirm the latest fee circular before applying, as Indian universities revise fees regularly. Let’s take a look at these affordable universities in India for international students.
Affordable Schools in India for International Students
1. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi)
The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, located in Hauz Khas, New Delhi, was established as the College of Engineering in 1961 and later renamed the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi. It is a public technical institute that offers programs in engineering, physical sciences, management, humanities, and social sciences.
2. Indian Institute of Technology Mandi (IIT Mandi)
- Admissions | Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: around 84,000 – 354,000 INR in first-semester academic fees for foreign national new entrants (varies by program)
Located in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India, the Indian Institute of Technology Mandi is an autonomous public technical institute. Its tuition varies by program and admission category. In the 2025 NIRF Engineering ranking, IIT Mandi ranked 26th.
3. Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar (IIT Bhubaneswar)
- Admissions | Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: around 200,000 – 600,000 INR/year (B.Tech foreign nationals) | around 5,000 – 300,000 INR/sem (M.Tech foreign nationals)
A public technical institute founded in 2008, IIT Bhubaneswar is located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The institute offers B.Tech, M.Tech, and PhD programs, and its foreign national tuition varies significantly by program and country group.
4. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay)
The Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, located in Powai, Mumbai, Maharashtra, was established in 1958. It offers programs across engineering, science, design, management, and humanities, and its current fee circular lists a separate undergraduate foreign national tuition fee.
5. Indian Institute of Technology Jammu (IIT Jammu)
- Admissions | Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: around 83,140 – 173,140 INR in first-semester charges for PhD international students; other programs vary by the official fee schedule
Located in Jammu, IIT Jammu is one of India’s newer IITs. It was inaugurated in 2016 and is an Institute of National Importance. In the 2025 NIRF Engineering ranking, IIT Jammu ranked 56th.
6. Indian Institute of Technology Ropar (IIT Ropar)
- Admissions | Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: around 100,000 – 150,000 INR/sem in tuition (undergraduate foreign nationals) | around 24,570 – 41,895 INR/sem (M.Tech, depending on category)
With its permanent campus in Rupnagar, Punjab, India, IIT Ropar is mainly a technology and engineering institute. It was set up by the Ministry of Education in 2008 and started functioning in the 2008-09 academic year. In the 2025 NIRF Engineering ranking, IIT Ropar ranked 32nd.
7. National Institute of Technology Delhi (NIT Delhi)
- Admissions | Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: around USD 2,000 – 4,000/sem + applicable institute and hostel fees (DASA/SII undergraduate and postgraduate students)
Classified as an Institute of National Importance, the National Institute of Technology Delhi is a public engineering institution in Delhi. It offers four-year bachelor’s programs and two-year M.Tech programs. In the 2025 NIRF Engineering ranking, NIT Delhi ranked 65th.
8. National Institute of Technology Raipur (NIT Raipur)
- Admissions | Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: around USD 2,000 – 4,000/sem for DASA students + applicable institute and hostel fees
The National Institute of Technology Raipur was founded in 1956 as Government Engineering College Raipur. With its main campus in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, the institute offers programs through multiple engineering, science, architecture, and related departments. In the 2025 NIRF Engineering ranking, NIT Raipur ranked 86th.
9. National Institute of Technology Silchar (NIT Silchar)
- Admissions | Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: around USD 2,000 – 4,000/sem for international B.Tech students + applicable institute and hostel fees
Established in 1967 as a Regional Engineering College in Assam, the National Institute of Technology Silchar is now an Institute of National Importance in Silchar, Assam. In the 2025 NIRF Engineering ranking, NIT Silchar ranked 50th.
10. Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology
- Admissions | Tuition Fees
- Tuition Fees: around USD 3,200 – 10,000/year for FN/NRI undergraduate and graduate programs (PhD fees are equivalent to the fees for Indian students)
Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology is a deemed-to-be university in Patiala, Punjab, with undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs. In the 2025 NIRF Engineering ranking, it ranked 29th.
We hope this article on cheap universities in India was helpful. To learn more about studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students.
