Best Design Schools in India 2025: Complete Guide

India has emerged as a force in design education very quickly. Designers with skills in fashion and communication design, UX, animation, and interiors are in high demand, and the field keeps expanding year after year. The choice of the design college to attend is also crucial since it determines your learning as well as your career prospects.

This guide will provide the top design colleges in India, their 2025 ranking, their fee structure, and the courses offered. In case you intend to take a degree in design, this will provide a good point of departure.

Criteria for Selecting the Best Design Schools

It is useful to understand what makes design institutes in India worth attending before you commit your time and money to them. Reputation and accreditation are the first since they give weight to your degree. Faculty experience and modern infrastructure also make a difference to the quality of education. Check the placement record to know the kind of industries the company hires the students from and the nature of industry tie-ups. All these combined can guide you to know which college will be the best fit for your objectives.

Top 10 Design Schools in India (2025 Rankings)

Here are the top 10 design colleges in India for 2025, arranged alphabetically:

1. Anant University (Ahmedabad): The idea of sustainability and multidisciplinary design. It has B.Des specialisations in product, communication, interaction, and fashion & textile design.
2. Atlas ISDI (Mumbai): Collaborated with Parsons School of Design, New York. Provides international exposure and coursework in communication, fashion, product, interior, animation, and strategic design.
3. Designversity: International B.Des pathway. The first year in India and then the years in other universities abroad. Proficient in visual communication, game design, UX/UI, and motion graphics.
4. Ecole Intuit Lab: French-based institute with campuses in India. It has programmes in fine arts, visual communication, and design and has international exchange opportunities.
5. Istituto Marangoni (Mumbai): Part of an international group. Popular in fashion, luxury brand management, and interior design.
6. ITM Institute of Design & Media (Mumbai): An affordable institute that offers courses in fashion, interior design, animation, and visual communication. Great emphasis on placements.
7. MIT Institute of Design (Pune): Considered to be good in industrial design, communication design, and fashion. Reputed as a school of academic rigour and a solid alumni network.
8. Parul University (Vadodara): Low-cost design school. It also has modern facilities that offer programmes in fashion, interior, and product design.
9. Unitedworld Institute of Design, Ahmedabad (UID): Has bachelor’s and master’s courses in design and has advanced labs and studios.
10. INSD Luxe: Specialises in Fashion and Luxury Brand Management. Related to the fashion and retail business.

These colleges stand out as some of the best colleges for design in India, each offering unique strengths and career opportunities.

Best Design Schools in Mumbai

Mumbai boasts some of the most coveted design institutes in the country. Powerful programmes like Bachelor’s of Design are offered by colleges like Atlas ISDI, Ecole Intuit Lab, Istituto Marangoni, Pearl Academy, and INSD Luxe. The positivity of learning in Mumbai is that one gets to see many industries, such as fashion, advertising, and media. The city is popular among many students because of its professional opportunities and the fame of its design schools. Read ahead to know the best design schools with a fee structure in India.

Popular Design Courses Offered

• Fashion Design: Careers in apparel, textiles, and luxury brands
• Communication Design: Focus on advertising, branding, and digital content
• Product Design: Training to create practical and user-friendly products
• UX/UI Design: High demand due to the growth of mobile apps and websites
• Animation and Game Design: Opportunities in film, gaming, and entertainment
• Interior Design: Careers in real estate, architecture, and lifestyle projects

Each of these art and design courses in Mumbai provides career opportunities across different industries.

Fee Structure of Top Design Colleges

Here’s a quick look at the best design colleges in India with fee structures in India:

• Atlas ISDI: ₹1.8 lakh per year
• Ecole Intuit Lab: ₹16–20 lakh total (B.Des)
• Istituto Marangoni: ₹0.8 lakh to ₹28.65 lakh (course dependent)
• Pearl Academy: ₹3.4–7.6 lakh per year
• ITM Institute of Design & Media: ₹16.8–17.5 lakh total (B.Des)
• Designversity: Year 1: ₹6 lakh; Year 2 onwards: ₹8.5–14 lakh per year
• Anant University: ₹4.16–25.5 lakh total
• UID (Unitedworld Institute of Design): ₹24–40 lakh total (B.Des); ₹11 lakh total (M.Des)
• Parul University: ₹2–3 lakhs per year
• MIT Institute of Design (MITID): ₹5–7 lakhs per year
• INSD Luxe: ₹3–5 lakhs per year

This will give you a clear idea of the investment required for studying at some of the best design colleges in India, with fees.

Admission Process & Entrance Exams

Entrance exams are held at most renowned colleges. The NID DAT is an examination that is necessary to get admission to the National Institute of Design. The NIFT entrance exam is required for NIFT campuses. CEED is one of the major exams for postgraduate programmes. Most of the private institutes, including Pearl Academy, UID, and Atlas ISDI, have their own admission tests and portfolio reviews. Preparing early enough will make you better in such exams and give you a chance to attend your favourite college. You can seek admissions in NID Coaching in Mumbai to prepare under guidance.

Career Scope After Studying in Top Design Colleges

Graduates of the top design schools in India can work in various industries. You will be able to work as a fashion designer, UX/UI designer, product designer, interior designer, or communication specialist. The industries that employ designers are e-commerce, advertising, film, gaming, and fashion.
The starting salary is 4-7 lakhs per year on average, depending on the course and college. Some of the graduates opt to work with established firms, and others set up their own design studios. The market of creative professionals is expanding all over India.

Conclusion

The top design schools in India have a combination of good education and creativity, as well as job prospects. The courses offered range in fashion, animation, and UX, among others, and are industry-specific. Institutions such as Atlas ISDI, Pearl Academy, MITID, UID, and other institutions mentioned above have proved to be good options. Prepare in advance for entrance exams in order to have a wider range of options when the admission season comes. The appropriate college can establish the foundation for a successful career in design.

Komal Ullal

Ms. Komal Ullal, a recipient of the prestigious President’s Award and Co-founder of UAF, is an expert in student profiling, enhancing artistic skills, mentoring in design thinking and an inspiring women entrepreneur. With an impressive collection of 577 awards—including 196 trophies and 109 medals—earned in drawing and painting at both national and international levels, she was featured in the Limca Book of Records in 2007 as the youngest achiever of such accolades. Her passion and dedication continue to inspire budding artists and designers worldwide.