Engineering Colleges in Chennai: Top 10 Government & Private Engineering Colleges
Chennai, the capital and largest city of Tamil Nadu, known for its technological advancement, all-round development across sectors, and rich national heritage, has also emerged as a major educational hub for engineering studies. The city is home to some of the world’s leading institutions, including IIT Madras, Anna University, and SRM Institute of Science and Technology.
However, the presence of over 150 engineering colleges in Chennai can make the decision-making process challenging for students—especially for those who do not reside in the city but aspire to pursue their studies here. Fear not! We are here to help you find the best B.Tech or M.Tech engineering college that suits your goals.
We present a curated list of top engineering colleges and institutions in Chennai, both government and private colleges along with a brief overview of their certification, rankings, reputation, fee structure, and placement statistics. So, let’s get started.
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Top 10 Engineering Colleges in Chennai with their Certification, Reputation, & Accreditation
Many engineering aspirants are likely to miss the best colleges and institutions unless they actively look for the certification, reputation, and accreditation of the college before admission. Well, let’s not forget that an engineering college with proper certification, and higher reputation doesn’t just provide the student with quality education but also ensures better career opportunities, industry recognition, and long-term professional credibility.
|
College / Institute |
Certifications / Approvals |
Reputation |
Accreditation |
|
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) |
AICTE approved; Institute of National Importance |
Consistently #1 in NIRF Engineering & Overall in India; top-tier research & placements |
NAAC accredited; recognized internationally; high research output |
|
SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST) |
AICTE approved; UGC Category‑I |
Strong private university reputation with high placements |
NAAC A++ grade; UGC approved |
|
Anna University (College of Engineering, Guindy) |
AICTE / Government University |
Leading state university; core engineering reputation |
NAAC accredited; long‑standing academic reputation |
|
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS) |
UGC & AICTE approved |
Rising reputation with NIRF presence |
NAAC accredited |
|
Sathyabama Institute of Science & Technology (SIST) |
UGC, AICTE approved; Deemed University |
Well‑known private research institute with strong industry ties |
NAAC A++, NBA accredited |
|
Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science & Technology |
AICTE approved |
Recognized private engineering institute in Chennai |
NAAC accredited |
|
Chennai Institute of Technology (CIT) |
AICTE approved |
NIRF ranking band; notable regional presence |
NAAC accredited |
|
Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science (HITS) |
AICTE approved; Deemed University |
Good placements; established private institute |
NAAC accredited |
|
Indian Institute of Information Technology Design & Manufacturing (IIITDM) Kancheepuram |
AICTE approved; IIIT status |
Specialized reputation in design/manufacturing engineering |
NAAC / NBA accredited (varies by program) |
|
Rajalakshmi Engineering College (REC) |
AICTE approved |
Steady regional reputation; NIRF band presence |
NAAC A++; NBA accreditation |
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Best Engineering Colleges in Chennai with Fee – List of Government & Private Engineering Colleges with Fee
Even though the fee of Government engineering colleges in Chennai is low, they don’t compromise on the quality of education. Yes, most Government-funded engineering institutions and universities come with experienced faculty, well-structured curricula, and strong academic standards, ensuring the overall development and technical competence of students. In short, your decision to study engineering in a government engineering college will bring you quality education, recognized degrees, and promising career opportunities—the only thing that is going to change is the fee, which is very affordable and within the budget of most students. On the other hand, there are students who believe that Government colleges lack modern infrastructure or industry exposure, but this prevalent belief should not be a concern for you, because affordable engineering institutions in Chennai are available to provide students with cost-effective education without compromising academic excellence.
|
College Name |
Type |
Approx. Total Tuition Fees (₹) |
Notes / Source
|
|
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) |
Government
|
₹8,00,000 – ₹10,00,000
|
Top national institute, JEE Advanced; approximate fee range noted on Shiksha‑linked sources. |
|
College of Engineering, Anna University (CEG) |
Government
|
₹40,000 – ₹75,000
|
Affordable fees via TNEA; one of Tamil Nadu’s premier govt. colleges. |
|
IIITDM Kancheepuram |
Government |
₹7,00,000 – ₹9,00,000 |
Centrally funded IIIT. |
|
SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRM IST) |
Private |
₹9,00,000 – ₹12,00,000 |
One of Chennai’s most popular private universities. |
|
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS) |
Private |
₹10,00,000 – ₹14,00,000 |
Known private engineering institute. |
|
Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute |
Private |
₹10,00,000 – ₹14,00,000 |
Known private engineering institute. |
|
Chennai Institute of Technology (CIT) |
Private |
₹2,00,000 – ₹2,50,000 |
Mid‑range private affiliated college. |
|
Rajalakshmi Engineering College (REC) |
Private |
₹2,00,000 – ₹2,50,000 |
Popular private college affiliated to Anna University. |
|
Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science (HITS) |
Private |
₹9,00,000 – ₹11,00,000 |
Deemed university with various engineering streams. |
|
SSN College of Engineering |
Private |
~₹2,00,000* |
Historically strong, though stopping fresh admissions from 2026‑27 with integration to Shiv Nadar University. |
Note: The fees of engineering colleges in Chennai mentioned above are subject to change at the discretion of the university. For the latest updates or any possible changes in fees, please check the university's official website.
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Chennai Engineering Colleges with Best Ranking
Deciding a college on the basis of its ranking could be one of the best decisions to determine the reputation of the institution before admission. Yes, remember a college with ranking goes beyond academic performance and reflects the quality of faculty, infrastructure, research output, industry collaborations, and placement success.
|
College / Institute |
NIRF 2025 (Engineering)/ India Today/ The Week Ranking |
|
Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM) |
NIRF: 1 — Top engineering institute in India & Chennai |
|
SRM Institute of Science & Technology (SRMIST) |
NIRG: 14 |
|
Anna University (CEG, Guindy) |
NIRF: 20 The Week: 12 (The Week national engineering list) |
|
Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS) |
NIRF: 45 |
|
Sathyabama Institute of Science & Technology |
NIRF: 67 |
|
Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Inst. of Sci & Tech |
NIRF: 87 |
|
Sri Sairam Engineering College |
45 (The Week survey) |
|
Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science (HITS) |
NIRF: Not in top 100 (101–150 Or beyond) India Today: Ranked in India Today list (approx rank ~64) |
Note: The rankings information of Chennai engineering colleges are indicative and based on publicly available information from the internet. They are meant to give a general idea about the universities; actual data and figures may vary.
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Engineering Colleges in Chennai with Placement & Average Salary
If you are concerned about the placement opportunities and average salary offered to students during campus hiring, the facts and figures will not disappoint you. The placement rate for the best-performing students from top engineering colleges in Chennai ranges from 80% to 100%, with annual average salary packages going up to ₹10 lakh. With the continued progress and economic growth of the nation, placement opportunities and annual salary packages for both freshers and experienced engineers are expected to increase significantly in the coming years.
|
College / Institute |
Avg. Salary (Approx.) |
Highest Package (Approx.) |
Placement Notes |
|
IIT Madras |
~₹30–₹35 LPA+ (overall) |
Up to ₹4.3 Cr+ (domestic/international) |
Elite campus placements with global recruiters like Apple, Google, Airbus, JP Morgan. |
|
Anna University (CEG & campuses) |
~₹8 LPA
|
~₹40 LPA
|
Good PSU & IT placements; core & software roles. |
|
SRM Institute of Science & Technology |
~₹7 LPA
|
~₹57 LPA
|
Large placement drives; recruiters include Infosys, Amazon, Deloitte. |
|
SSN College of Engineering |
~₹5.4 LPA
|
~₹1.17 Cr
|
Strong private placements with Amazon, Microsoft, Google etc. |
|
Sathyabama Institute of Science & Tech |
~₹5.4 LPA
|
~₹49.6 LPA
|
Active IT & core company placements. |
|
Vel Tech R&D Institute of Sci & Tech |
~₹5.1 LPA
|
~₹21 LPA
|
Mid‑range placement outcomes. |
|
Rajalakshmi Engineering College |
~₹4.5 LPA
|
~₹21 LPA
|
Mid‑range placement outcomes. |
|
Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science |
~₹19.8 LPA |
~₹30.9 LPA |
Figures vary; strong in core & IT sectors. |
Note: The placement and salary figures provided above are indicative and meant to give a general idea about the universities. Actual data and figures may vary.
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Eligibility Criteria for Admission in Engineering Colleges in Chennai, Tamil Nadu
A proper understanding of the eligibility criteria and academic requirements for admission can significantly improve your chances of securing a seat in top B.Tech or M.Tech engineering colleges in Chennai. If you are unclear about what it takes to gain admission to a leading engineering college in Chennai, the following section is meant for you and should be read carefully.
|
Eligibility Criteria |
Government Colleges (Anna University, IIT, IIIT) |
Private Colleges (SRM, Sathyabama, SSN, etc.) |
Notes / Details |
|
Educational Qualification |
10+2 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
10+2 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
Required for all B.Tech/B.E admissions. Vocational or other streams generally not eligible. |
|
Minimum Marks in 10+2 |
50% aggregate in PCM for General category, 45% for reserved categories |
Usually 50% aggregate in PCM; some colleges allow 45% for reserved categories |
Some private colleges are more flexible; percentile cutoff may vary. |
|
Entrance Exam |
JEE Main for IITs, TNEA (based on 10+2 marks) for Anna University |
SRMJEEE, SAT/Board marks, or TNEA for some colleges |
IITs/IIITs strictly require JEE Main ranks; private colleges often have own exams (SRMJEEE, Sathyabama SAT). |
|
Age Limit |
Typically 17 years by 31 Dec of admission year |
Usually 17 years by 31 Dec; some private colleges allow small relaxations |
Maximum age limit may apply for lateral entry courses (~21–22 years). |
|
Reservation / Quota |
As per Government of Tamil Nadu norms (OBC, SC, ST, EWS) |
Some private colleges follow state quotas; management/NRI quota is flexible |
Government colleges strictly adhere to TNEA reservation rules. |
|
Lateral Entry Eligibility |
Diploma holders with minimum 50% in Diploma |
Same criteria; some colleges require 60% in Diploma |
Applies for direct 2nd-year B.Tech admissions. |
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Writen By:
Pawan Rawat
Pawan Rawat is a full-stack content writer with expertise in crafting research-based educational blogs and articles, paying close attention to detail. He has mastered the art of creating SEO-optimized content for websites. When he's not working to pay the bills, he spends his time lifting weights at the gym, clicking random photos, reading books, or planning his next adventure.
