In India, engineering edjucation is quite famous not only as a profession but also as a passion, an emotion, a legacy, and a turning point for the family or kids. For lakhs of students aspiring to become engineers by cracking the JEE Main and JEE Advanced exams every year, the biggest question comes after the results of these exams are announced. The question is simple but highly impactful—do I take the opportunity to join a Top NIT or a New IIT? This blog will try to cover every aspect of this decision with respect to placements, image, research experience, infrastructure, alumni, campus culture, etc. so that you will have a better understanding of what would be the best decision for you.
The Big Dilemma: Top NITs or New IITs?
We start with the crux of the confusion. You have scored a decent rank in JEE Advanced and are offered a new IIT (IIT Goa, IIT Jammu, IIT Bhilai, IIT Dharwad, etc.) or have cracked JEE Main and can secure a top NIT (NIT Trichy, NIT Surathkal, NIT Warangal, MNIT Jaipur, etc.).
The next question is which of these two options is better in the long run?
The answer is not straightforward; it will depend on each individual’s objectives, stream of preference, and personal hopes.
Here we can provide some comparisons on key factors.
Academic Reputation & Brand Value
Top NITs
- Institutes like NIT Trichy, Surathkal, and Warangal are well established (more than 50 years old) and carry strong reputations in the industry.
- Are known for good-quality teaching, strong connections with industry, and large alumni networks.
- Have established BTech programs and offer good guidance.
New IITs
- Established after 2008 as part of the movement by the government to establish more IITs to increase the number of IITs in the country.
- You get the IIT tag which has direct benefits in India and globally.
- Have not yet formed their faculty strength—infrastructure has also not yet been established.
Verdict: If your preference is the “IIT” as a brand, you prefer new IITs. If you are looking for legacy and excellence, you must consider older NITs.
Placements: Who Wins?
Top NITs
- Regularly provides high placement rates for all branches.
- Strong connection with PSUs and core companies.
- Many students obtain placement with packages ranging from ₹8-20 LPA, especially students from CS, ECE, and Mechanical.
New IITs
- Placement records are improving but still not equal to top NITs.
- Most new IITs have placement connections with IIT Bombay, Delhi, or Madras, which helps a lot.
- Average packages are generally ₹10-14 LPA for CS and ₹6-8 LPA for core.
Verdict: For now, Top NITs might provide better placement security, but new IITs have potential.
Research & Higher Education Opportunities
New IITs
- Great funding for research and innovation through IIT ecosystem (grants, courses, hackathons, etc.).
- The space to have full access to some really good labs, IIT incubators, and startup cells.
- Easy to get research internships and international collaborations.
Top NITs
- Good research facilities, particularly in the older branches (with both government and private institutions)
- Most good students who have options with NIT and IIT would want to take a job over doing research anyway.
- Limited exposure to high-end interdisciplinary research limited to either core or non-core.
Verdict: If you are looking for that MS or PhD, new IITs are a better launchpad for you based on the research ecosystem
Campus Life & Peer Group
Top NITs
- Extensive, lively campuses with already established student clubs, fests and sports.
- Culturally diverse, with student communities from every part of India.
- Strong alumni groups who regularly mentor juniors.
New IITs
- Still developing in terms of campus life.
- Some are still running in temporary campuses or share campuses with different institutes.
- Peer group is very highly motivated and competitive.
Verdict: If campus life and more holistic college experience are important to you, Top NITs win on this one.
Global Recognition
New IITs
- The “IIT” name carries significant weight globally.
- Better recognized amongst foreign universities and research organisations.
- Helps with study abroad opportunities especially for MS/PhD.
Top NITs
- Excellent domestic reputations, but not as recognised globally.
- However, students of NITs are still very successful in GRE/TOEFL and get into top universities abroad.
Verdict: For global recognition, even newer IITs may have an advantage.
Alumni Network
Top NITs
- Longstanding alumni network, lots of alumni working in significant roles (including but not limited to!) cottongists at Google, Microsoft, DRDO, ISRO. Also IAS officers (most probably)
- Many founder / CEO level roles from NITs.
New IITs
- Slowly bringing alumni network.
- Not having much industry influence- at least for now,
Verdict: Above all, for guidance, for job referrals, for mentorship- Top NITs are a definite winner.
Infrastructure & Facilities
Top NITs
- Mature campuses, with existence of hostels, auditorium, labs, messes, gyms and sports and associated facilities.
- Established curriculum, faculty and students support system.
New IITs
- Some still operate out of a transitory campus.
- Instead of being new age modern, the education space is developing more modern facilities but they are still incomplete.
- Use of new age tech, smart classrooms, digital library in some instances.
Verdict: Top NITs have the luxury/advantage of ‘time’. However in a couple of years, new IITs will be close by.
Faculty & Academics
New IITs
- Recruited PhD holders from IITs, IISc, foreign universities.
- Teaching faculty has been – and continues to be – highly research based.
Top NITs
- Mixture of seasoned professors and hired new ones.
- Primarily concerned about mastering basics/fundamentals, predominantly in ground branches.
Verdict: New IITs probably have younger, more research based faculty, however NITs excel in academic pedagogy and filling the academic depth.
Location & Accessibility
- Top NITs (e.g., NIT Warangal, NIT Trichy, NIT Surathkal) are typically located in better connected cities or towns compared to new IITs (e.g., IIT Bhilai, IIT Palakkad) that may be located in remote parts of the country and thus provide limited exposure to industry and visiting faculty.
Final word: When it comes to internships and expanding your network in professional spaces, location matters—Top NITs have the upperhand here.
Stream Preference Matters
If you have to choose between:
- CSE at NIT Trichy vs. Civil at IIT Palakkad → Go for CSE at NIT Trichy.
- ECE at NIT Surathkal vs. Mechanical at IIT Bhilai → ECE is the smarter choice.
Always prioritize branch over brand, especially when the IIT is still developing.
What Do Experts Say?
- Most IIT alumni from the top institutes affirm that it is advisable to go for either Computer Science or ECE in Top NITs, if that is your career interest.
- If you want to do a Masters abroad or want to do research, then even Mechanical or Civil in a new IIT can be a better launch pad.
What Origin Educare Recommends
At Origin Educare we have helped thousands of students make better career decisions. Our recommendation to you is:
- Do not chase the IIT tag blindly.
- Choose based on your interest, stream, long-term goal, and campus environment.
- Leverage the various mock counselling tools available to you to simulate your options.
- Speak to existing students, attend webinars on the campus, and conduct deep research prior to your decisions.
Your 4 years should shape your skills and future, not just your resume.
Final Verdict: What Should You Choose?
| Parameter | Top NITs (Trichy, Warangal, etc.) | New IITs (Goa, Bhilai, etc.) |
| Brand Recognition | High (in India) | High (Globally, due to “IIT” tag) |
| Placements | Strong across branches | Growing, great in CS/EE |
| Research Opportunities | Moderate | Excellent |
| Campus Life | Rich and vibrant | Developing |
| Alumni Network | Strong and influential | Still building |
| Infrastructure | Established | Modern but evolving |
| Faculty | Experienced | Young and research-driven |
| Study Abroad Scope | Good | Better due to IIT exposure |
Final Thoughts
Whether you select a top NIT or a new IIT, it’s not just about rank, it’s about what’s right for your interests and future plans. So take your time, do your research, ask for advice and make a decision that you will be proud of years down the line.
If you are still confused feel free to contact Origin Educare, the trusted guidance platform for engineering aspirants in India.
If your long-term plans include engineering and/or research, then it is likely a new IIT would benefit you. If it does not, go with a better branch in NIT.
Overall, for CS and ECE, yes. For other branches, top NIT’s have a stronger connection into industry.
Top NIT’s currently seem to have a stronger entrepreneurial alumni base, but IIT’s (including new ones) seem to have a better overall incubator ecosystem.
New IIT’s are better known internationally because of the IIT tag, thereby making MS applications smoother.
Extremely important. Your branch decides your career path. Always prioritize interest and scope of the branch over the college name.
