Kerala, famous for its rich culture, scenic beauty, and educated population, is also famous for its quality education. If you happen to be an engineering aspirant, Kerala should be there on the list of places to seek admission into engineering courses. One can find the best engineering colleges in Kerala that can compete with any of the top-class engineering colleges in India. Kerala has some of the sharpest minds, and engineering colleges offer engineering in several streams. These institutions do not lack in terms of quality of education, facilities, quality of faculties, and placements.
Let’s move forth and discuss the top 10 engineering colleges in Kerala and various aspects related to them.
Admission Process for Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala
Undergraduate and postgraduate admission to engineering courses depends on the following factors:
For undergraduate courses:
- Candidates must attain the minimum required score in their 10+2 examinations to apply to the university.
- A student must have passed his +2 from a well-known and recognized board. Applicants for undergraduate engineering courses should have science as their main subject.
- Some colleges require state and national entrance examinations. Applicants have to pass these exams to be eligible.
- Engineering students take the JEE Mains exam to get into engineering schools. Several states also conduct state-specific tests.
For postgraduate courses:
- In order to enter any engineering program, a student must pass the undergraduate exams with an aggregate passing score in the field of engineering.
- The GATE entrance exam is required for postgraduate courses. To be eligible for admission, students must pass the GATE exam.
- Also, the cut-offs differ for different colleges. Students need to keep this in mind and prepare accordingly.
Popular Exams to Qualify for Top Engineering Colleges in Kerala
Candidates must take an entrance exam to gain admission into top engineering colleges in Kerela. Entrance exams for engineering programs in Kerala are:
- JEE Mains and JEE Advanced:
Examinations are administered by the National Testing Agency. Those who wish to secure admission to IITs, NITs, or other leading engineering schools must achieve the required marks to be selected for counselling.
- KEAM:
This state-level entry exam is for students who wish to enroll in various engineering colleges in Kerala. It is conducted by the Commissioner of Entrance Examinations, Kerala.
- GATE:
Students seeking admission to the top engineering colleges in Kerala must take the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering to be considered for postgraduate engineering courses.
- CUSAT CAT:
A wide variety of professional undergraduate courses, including B.Tech, are offered through this exam. For the admissions process through the CUSAT CAT exam, a rank list is released.
List of Top 10 Engineering Colleges in Kerala
- NIT Calicut – National Institute of Technology
- IIST – Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
- College of Engineering Trivandrum
- Government Engineering College, Thrissur
- TKM College – Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering
- MEC Kochi – Government Model Engineering College
- Muthoot Institute of Technology and Science
- NSS College of Engineering, Palakkad
- Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Kottayam
- Government Engineering College, Kozhikode
NIT Calicut – National Institute of Technology
A public technical university, the National Institute of Technology Calicut, formerly known as Regional Engineering College Calicut. It is an institution of national importance mandated by the NIT Act passed by the Indian Parliament. It is one of the top 10 engineering colleges in Kerala. Its campus is located in Kozhikode on the Kozhikode-Mukkam Road, 22 kilometers northeast of Kozhikode.
The NIIT Calicut imparts high-quality technical education to students across the country. A supercomputer is located on the campus of NIT Calicut. The institute also has a nanotechnology department.
How to get admission?
● A student must pass the JEE (Main) and the Class XII board examinations. For more information, read the JEE Main Performance Criteria.
● Admission is based on ranking in the JEE (Main) via JoSAA Counseling and CSAB Special Round.
Placements:
The placements at the National Institute of Technology Calicut for 2021 registered respectable numbers in terms of placement percentages and salaries. With the highest package of Rs 43.31 LPA, NIT Calicut Grads (+B.Arch) were rewarded the highest salary. Because of consistent successful placement drives in the past, it is among the best engineering colleges in Kerela. The lowest was Rs 3 LPA. In UG programs, the placement rate was 87.3%; in PG programs, the rate was 58.19%. Some of the top employers at NIT Calicut include MRF, Microsoft, Lowes, Mphasis, Infosys, and MBB Labs.
IIST – Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology
The Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology is a private institute based in Thiruvananthapuram. Founded in 1956, the institute is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). As a government-funded and designated university, it researches in all areas of space science. In the NIRF 2021 rankings, IIST is ranked 40th in Engineering.
Since 15 August 2010, the institute has been operating from its new campus at Ponmudi Hills, Thiruvananthapuram, It is an extension of the campus that’s also home to its observatory as well.
IIST offers undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD degrees in departments such as Aerospace Engineering, Avionics, Chemistry, Earth and Space Sciences, Humanities, Mathematics, and Physics. The courses offered by the school are BTech, MTech, and PhD. In the field of aerospace, it is amongst the best Btech colleges in Kerala.
To gain admission to IIST, students must pass entrance exams such as JEE Advance and GATE. In order to enrol in any of the programs at IIST, you must apply online and engineering aspirant students must register online through the University website before the last date. The annual fee for its B.Tech program is INR 1.36 lakhs.
Placements:
By 2020, students who achieved a minimum CGPA are being placed in various ISRO centres. About 1,051 students have been placed in ISRO centres so far, of which 100 got jobs last year.
Additionally, the list of IIST top recruiters consists of
Adobe Systems, Tech Mahindra, Infosys, BOSCH, TCS, M/s Collins Aerospace, M/s Cypress Semi-Conductors, Delta Electronics. ESSI Integrated Systems, Mercedes Benz, and Pinnacle Solution.
College of Engineering Trivandrum
Located in Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, the College of Engineering Trivandrum was the first engineering college in the state. It ranks highly among the top engineering institutes in Kerala. Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the Travancore King, founded it in 1939. A 13-kilometre drive is needed to reach the college from Thiruvananthapuram Central (railway station). The college campus is located in Kulathoor near Sreekariyam. It has one of the largest campuses in the country, with a land area of more than 250 acres (500,000 m2).
Several courses in engineering, computer applications, and architecture are available at the university. These courses are offered annually at the College of Engineering, Trivandrum. For the BTech and BArch programs, applications must be submitted through KEAM and NATA, respectively, while the GATE test is required for admission to the MTech program. It offers Btech programs in the following fields:
● Applied Electronics & Instrumentation
● Civil Engineering
● Computer Science & Engineering
● Electronics & Communication Engineering
● Electrical & Electronics Engineering
● Industrial Engineering
● Mechanical Engineering
● Architectural Engineering
It runs several inter-and intra-collegiate cultural, technical, and technical festivals, including Demo Week, which lets students dress up according to different themes.
College of Engineering, Trivandrum’s placement cell provides students with career opportunities in line with their dreams and aspirations. Among the top employers in the latest placement drive were Verizon, Exeter, Caterpillar, Cisco, Patni, Delphi, Motorola, Ashok Leyland, and Mahindra & Mahindra. The highest package in terms of CTC was 32.9 LPA in 2019.
Fee– ₹2 Lakhs (Total Fees) (Btech)
Government Engineering College, Thrissur
A renowned and prestigious engineering college in Thrissur, Kerala, India, (GEC T) Government Engineering College Thrissur had an association with the late MR. APJ Kalam. It is the second oldest government engineering college in Kerala.
It is located at Ramavarmapuram, five kilometers from Thrissur city centre and six kilometers from the railway station. The campus spreads over 75 acres (0.30 km2). Among the programs that it offers that make it one of the top 10 engineering colleges in Kerala are Central Library, Central Computing Centre, a Gymnasium, and a spacious canteen.
Offered B.Tech Programmes
● Mechanical Engineering
● Civil Engineering
● Electrical and Electronics Engineering
● Chemical Engineering
● Electronics and Communication Engineering
● Production Engineering
● Computer Science and Engineering
● Architecture (B.Arch)
Various postgraduate programs, including MCA, Mtech, and PhD, are also offered.
In 2021, it was ranked 156th among engineering colleges in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF).
Placement:
A placement cell offers placement opportunities for the college’s bright and intelligent students. Companies such as TCS, Accenture, Tara Elxsi, Mitsogo, Infosys, Bosch, Oracle, Reliance, Mahindra, Huawei, etc. Visit campus to hire students.
TKM College – Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering
One of the best engineering colleges in Kerala, TKMCE (Thangal Kunju Musaliar College of Engineering) was founded in 1958 in Kollam, Kerala.
The institution is affiliated with the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. As an accredited NCAA college, the college is authorized by AICTE, and it is regularly counted amongst the top 10 engineering colleges in Kerala. Students can pursue B.Tech, B.Arch at the UG level as well as M.Tech, M.Arch, MCA at PG level. It also offers excellent placement opportunities to its students.
The college boasts a huge library with a large collection of books. Over 70,350 books and 100 technical journals are available in the college’s central library. The classrooms and labs are spacious, and the hostels offer free Wi-Fi.
Undergraduate course admission is determined by the Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical (KEAM). Students from Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman, and Lakshadweep, and members of the management quota get reservations for some Btech seats.
Placement:
Students get placed in about 70% of cases, and most placements come from IT companies. The highest salary package was INR 7 LPA, and the lowest was INR 2 LPA in the latest placement drive. The average salary package was INR 5 LPA. Several IT companies visit the college for placements, including TCS and L&T. Students often get jobs in IT firms as trainees, software developers, and software engineers.
MEC Kochi – Government Model Engineering College
MEC, or Government Model Engineering College, was established by the Indian Institute of Human Resource Development. It is located in Thrikkakara, Kochi, Kerala, India. The college is affiliated with Cochin University of Science and Technology and APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University.
With a capacity of 80 students per floor, it offers a very good hostel for boys. Students at Government Model Engineering College have access to a clean and good hostel mess, as well as a canteen. Outdoor sports facilities include football, cricket, basketball, volleyball, etc. Indoor sports include table tennis and other sports.
Students who have passed Class 12 or have a diploma in engineering are eligible for UG courses. Below are the details:
- The KEAM score is a requirement for MEC Kochi BTech admission
- Admission to MEC Kochi for MTech requires a valid GATE score
- BTech admissions are also open to international students
- There is a lateral entry option for the BTech program
- Candidates can fill out the application form in both online and offline modes.
At MEC, you can study Btech in the fields of electronics and communication, computer science, electrical and electronics, biomedical, mechanical, and applied sciences. Accreditation of all courses is provided by the National Board of Accreditation
The fees are paid annually. Merit students have to pay INR 35,000 per year for 4 years, management quota students have to pay 65,000 per year, and NRI admission students have to pay 1 lakh per year.
Placements:
In 2020, MEC Kochi saw a placement rate of 75%. DE Shaw & Co., FactSet, Microsoft, Broadcom, Oracle, and GE Healthcare are among the companies participating in the final placement drive. Google has recruited one student from the 2017-21 BTech CSE batch.
Muthoot Institute of Technology and Science
MITS is a self-financing technical institution offering undergraduate engineering programs and is located in the industrial suburb of Kochi, India. It is one of the best engineering colleges in Kerala, accredited by the National Board of Accreditation (NBA) and affiliated with the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University.
This is a premier engineering college in Kochi that provides undergraduate and postgraduate engineering programs. Various specializations are available in the institute’s B.Tech and M.Tech programs.
Courses Offered:
● Civil Engineering
● Computer Science and Engineering
● Electrical & Electronics Engineering
● Electronics & Communication Engineering
● Mechanical Engineering
The college is equipped with modern facilities. It includes a library that houses 14,000+ books and 1500+ DVDs. The college has a hostel, WIFI-enabled campus, and sports complex. It has built a special niche for itself amongst the best engineering colleges in Kerala over the years.
Placements:
Placements and job opportunities offered at the college are excellent, and about 50 to 60 known and big companies come to college for placement drives each year. Companies like IBM, TCS, Wipro, Bosch, etc. As well as a few smaller ones. After the final University examinations, up to 75% of successful placements are recorded each year.
NSS College of Engineering, Palakkad
It is one of the best engineering colleges in Kerala with a glorious history. NSS College of Engineering, Palakkad (commonly called NSSCE) is the fourth engineering institution to be founded in Kerala by the Nair Service Society in 1960. It is one of the top 10 engineering colleges in Kerala. The college is affiliated with the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University. AICTE has accredited the college as the first Govt-Aided Engineering College in Kerala. Among the college’s facilities are basketball courts, football fields, volleyball courts, badminton courts, a gymnasium, and a cricket ground.
- In undergraduate programs, students can get admission after clearing the Kerala Engineering Entrance Examination, KEAM.
- In post-graduate programs, they need to crack the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE).
Placement:
Every year, NSS conducts a successful placement drive, where around 80% of the students get placed. Offered salary packages started at INR 3 LPA and went all the way up to INR 10 LPA in the latest drive. TCS and Astrom were among the top recruiters.
Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, Kottayam
A government college owned and operated by the Government of Kerala, Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Technology, is named after former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. It is situated 14 km north of Kottayam near Pampady. Kerala’s government founded the institute in 1991, intending to make it a centre for postgraduate and research studies. It is easily one of the best engineering colleges in Kerala, as itsfacilities, placements, and overall programs put it among the top engineering colleges in Kerala. At this college, like many top engineering institutes, students can get admission after passing the Kerala Engineering Entrance Examination (KEAM) in undergraduate programs. While to get admission into post-graduate programs, they need to crack the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE).
Offered courses:
● Computer Science and Engineering
● Electrical and Electronics Engineering
● Civil Engineering
● Electronics and Communication Engineering
● Mechanical Engineering
● Bachelor of Architecture
Placements:
Approximately 75% of students were placed in last year’s drive. The average package offered was about INR 3.5 LPA. Most students were able to secure internships.
There are many recruiting companies on campus, including IDBI Bank, Infosys IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Allianz, VVDN, WIPRO, Suntec EXPERION, etc.
Fee- About INR-22000/Ist Year
Government Engineering College, Kozhikode
Govt Engineering College, Kozhikode is an engineering college administrated by Kerala’s Department of Technical Education. It is counted among one of the top BTech colleges in Kerala. It is situated in the Malabar region’s Westhill Kozhikode. Among the five Government Engineering Colleges that were sanctioned in 1999, Government Engineering College Kozhikode is counted among the top options. Students are selected for admission to the program based on their performance on the KEAM.
Offered Programs:
Programs for Undergraduates:
● B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering
● B.Tech. in Civil Engineering
● B.Tech. in Electronics and Communication Engineering
● B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering
● B.Tech. in Applied Electronics and Instrumentation
Programs for Postgraduates:
● M.Tech. in Electronics and Communication Engineering
● M.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering
● M.Tech. in Chemical Engineering
GECK has several facilities to offer, including a library, computer labs, playground, a WIFI-equipped campus, spacious hostels, and a large canteen. GECK runs a placement drive each year where about 50% of the students get placed with an average offered CTC of around INR 4 LPA/per annum.
Fee – Since it is a government engineering college, fees range from INR 7000 to INR 19,000 depending on the program.
Conclusion
Kerala is a beautiful place with huge opportunities for engineering aspirant students. Among the top engineering institutes, we have compiled a list of the top 10 engineering colleges that can help you choose one for you. This list includes some of the best government and private best engineering colleges in Kerala. We hope the students will find the above information useful and plan better.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which are the popular exams to get admission into top engineering colleges in Kerala?
JEE Mains, JEE Advanced, and KEAM are the most acceptable entrance exams to get admission into the best B-tech colleges in Kerala.
- What are the top specializations offered by top engineering colleges in Kerala?
The top specializations are:
● B.Tech. In Chemical Engineering
● B.Tech. In Mechanical Engineering
● B.Tech. In Applied Electronics and Instrumentation
● B.Tech. In Civil Engineering
● B.Tech. In Electronics and Communication Engineering
- Which are the best engineering colleges in Kerala in terms of placement?
Even though all of the above engineering colleges offer good placements, NIT Calicut – National Institute of Technology is the best with a placement rate of over 85% over the years.
- What is the estimated annual fee for pursuing engineering in Kerala?
Since several government colleges are amongst the top 10 engineering colleges, the fee can be very low (7K/yearly). However, the maximum fee can be between INR 75K to INR 2 lakhs.
- Which top companies offer placement to students pursuing engineering from top colleges in Kerala?
Some of the best IT companies, financial, manufacturing and banking/ Companies visit the campuses each year. It includes Google, Microsoft, IDBI bank, HDFC bank, DE Shaw & Co., FactSet, GE Healthcare and many more.
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