NATA Colleges List 2026: Check Colleges Accepting NATA score​

NATA colleges are architecture institutions in India that accept NATA scores for admission into the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) program. These colleges include a mix of government, state university, and private institutes, ranked based on accreditation, placement outcomes, faculty strength, and academic infrastructure.

What to expect in this article: For admission to NATA-participating institutes, you must meet the eligibility criteria established by the Council of Architecture (CoA) and qualify the NATA entrance exam conducted by them every year, to provide admissions to architecture courses in various colleges across India. 

More than 600 colleges NATA exam colleges in India accept it's score for providing admissions to design Courses like B. Arch and M. Arch. 

These NATA participating institutes independently organise counselling for students who successfully clear the exam. This article gives a complete overview of top NATA Exam Colleges in 2026 (both government & private), NATA cut-offs, Best architecture colleges in India through NATA, placement scenarios, admission fees, and more. 

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Table of Contents

1. Top 10 NATA Colleges List in India as per NIRF Ranking 2026
2. NATA 2025 Question Paper Structure
3. NATA 2025 Question Paper PDF Download
4. What Appeared in NATA 2025 Question Paper?
5. NATA 2025 Qualifying Criteria and Validity of Scores (Official)
6. NATA 2025 vs Previous Year Question Paper (Trend Analysis)
7. How to Use NATA 2025 Question Paper for Preparation

Top NATA Colleges List in India as per NIRF Ranking 2026

The concept of NIRF ranking was introduced by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) to outline the brand value of a specific college in India. It provides the most accurate ranking of the best architecture colleges in India through NATA, considering various factors, as shown in the graph below:

Institute Name	City	State	NIRF Rank	Approx Annual Fee	Seat Intake
Jamia Millia Islamia	New Delhi	Delhi	5	70-80K	70-80
Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University	Ahmedabad	Gujarat	6	4-5 lakhs	~120
Chandigarh University	Mohali	Punjab	14	1-2 lakhs
College of Engineering Trivandrum	Thiruvananthapuram	Kerala	15	20-30K	40-50
Jadavpur University	Kolkata	West Bengal	16	4-5K
S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology	Chennai	Tamil Nadu	18	2-3 lakhs
BMS College of Architecture	Bengaluru	Karnataka	20	4-5 lakhs
Manipal University Jaipur	Jaipur	Rajasthan	21	2-3 lakhs
Birla Institute of Technology	Ranchi	Jharkhand	22	3-4 lakhs
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University	Katra	Jammu and Kashmir	23	1-2 lakhs
Lovely Professional University	Phagwara	Punjab	24	2-2.5 lakhs
Amity University	North Twenty Four Parganas	West Bengal	25	1.2 to 2.5 lakhs
Aligarh Muslim University	Aligarh	Uttar Pradesh	26	20-30K
Manipal School of Architecture and Planning, MAHE	Udupi	Karnataka	27	4-5 lakhs
Anna University	Chennai	Tamil Nadu	28	80-90K	~80
Nirma University	Ahmedabad	Gujarat	29	3-3.5 lakhs	120
M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology	Bengaluru	Karnataka	31	1-2 lakhs	~40
Dr. M. G. R. Educational and Research Institute	Chennai	Tamil Nadu	32	1-1.5 lakhs	NA
Thiagarajar College of Engineering	Madurai	Tamil Nadu	33	80K to 1 lakh
Christ University	Bengaluru	Karnataka	34	1-2 lakhs	~80
Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University	New Delhi	Delhi	36	2-3 lakhs	~300 across 3 institutes
BMS School of Architecture, Yelahanka	Bengaluru	Karnataka	37	4-5 lakhs	~120
Chitkara University	Rajpura	Punjab	38	2-3 lakhs	~120
Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dr APJ Abbdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow	Lucknow	Uttar Pradesh	39	~1 lakhs	~80
Anant National University	Ahmedabad	Gujarat	40	3-4 lakhs	40-60

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All Time Top 10 NATA Colleges List in India 2026

After the declaration of the results of the NATA exam, the participating colleges, recognized among the best architecture colleges in India through NATA will start with their own counselling process. You must complete the respective institute's counselling form to participate in the counselling. 

Check the table below for the list of top  NATA scores accepting colleges in India.

Top 10 NATA Colleges List

CEPT, Ahmedabad

Faculty of Architecture, JMI

Chandigarh College of Architecture, Chandigarh

Department of Architecture, BIT, Mesra

Amity University

Nirma University

BMS College of Architecture

Faculty of Architecture and Planning, Dr APJ Abbdul Kalam Technical University, Lucknow

Manipal School of Architecture and Planning

Sir J. J College of Architecture, Mumbai

To help you better understand the NATA top colleges in India for the B.Arch course, we have explained each architecture college that accepts NATA scores below.

1. CEPT Ahmedabad

Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology University (CEPT) is one of India’s leading architecture colleges, consistently ranked among the top architecture institutes in the country with a strong design and built-environment focus.

CEPT University’s B.Arch programme equips students with competencies in architectural design, technology, and planning, and combines professional exposure with academic rigour.

Cut Off Rank / Score	Courses Offered	Course Fee	Placement
NATA Cutoff: 120+ (Indicative for General Category)	B.Arch, Bachelor of Urban Design, M.Arch, M.Plan, M.Des	Approx. ₹22.75 L (Total for B.Arch)	Median package ~₹5.80 LPA

2. Faculty of Architecture - Jamia Millia Islamia

Founded in 1920, JMI, Jamia Millia Islamia, is one of the oldest Indian Universities. The university offers B. Arch & B. Arch. (self-financing), M. Ekistics, M.Arch courses in the faculty of Architecture and Ekistics. Admission to JMI's Architecture courses will be based on a written exam followed by an Interview.

Courses Offered	B. Arch. M. Arch
Course Fee	55,750 per annum
Placement	Kumar Moorthy Associates

3. Chandigarh College of Architecture, Chandigarh

One of the leading architectural institutes in Punjab, Chandigarh College of Architecture, Chandigarh, offers 5 years of full-time B. Arch Course. Over the years, the college has garnered huge accolades for its excellent pedagogy in the field of Planning and designing.

Students are encouraged to learn through tutorials, theoretical subjects, studio work, and workshop practice to acquire basic knowledge & skills, followed by six months of practical training and a thesis for three years.

Cut Off Rank	554-4717
Courses Offered	B. Arch, M. Arch
Course Fee	1-2 lakh per annum
Placement	Gaursons India, Architect Hafeez contractor, RSP architect contractor, Somya & Kalappa consultants, C P Kukreja Associates

4. Department of Architecture, BIT, Mesra

Established in 1993, the Department of Architecture, BIT, Mesra,  is a leading centre for research and teaching in architecture. Co-relating the scope of art and science for designing spaces and adding value to a built structure.

The course structure is poised to give students theoretical knowledge and its practical application with ample application-based lab subjects evenly distributed throughout the syllabus.

Courses Offered	B. Arch. M. Arch
Course Fee	17.32 Lakh (5 years)
Placement	ACC Limited, Adhunik, Crompton Greaves

Also Read: How to Crack NATA in 1 month

5. Amity University - School of Architecture & Planning

Amity University’s School of Architecture & Planning offers a 5-year full-time Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) degree approved by the Council of Architecture (CoA). The university combines modern architectural pedagogy with design studios, research labs, and industry exposure, making it one of the recognized private institutions accepting NATA scores for B.Arch admissions.

Cut Off (Indicative)	Courses Offered	Course Fee (Approx.)	Placement (B.Arch Only)
Based on NATA / JEE Main Paper 2 scores and counselling merit	B.Arch, M.Arch	Approx. ₹16-18 Lakhs (total tuition for 5 years)	Data not separately published

Check: NATA Exam Eligibility Criteria

6. Nirma University

Nirma University’s Institute of Architecture offers a 5-year full-time Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) programme approved by the Council of Architecture (CoA). The architecture department combines a strong design foundation with technology, sustainability, and research-oriented studios, making it a notable private institution accepting NATA scores for admission.

Cut Off (Indicative)	Courses Offered	Course Fee (Approx.)	Placement (B.Arch Only)
Based on NATA score and state/central counselling merit	B.Arch, M.Arch	Approx. ₹13-15 Lakhs (total tuition for 5 years)	Data not separately published

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7. BMS College of Architecture

BMS College of Architecture is one of India’s oldest and most respected private architecture institutes, known for its strong design culture, studio-based learning, and industry collaborations.

It accepts valid NATA scores for admission into its B.Arch programme and consistently ranks among the top architecture colleges in South India.

Cut Off (Indicative)	Courses Offered	Course Fee (Approx.)	Placement (B.Arch Only)
Based on NATA / JEE Main Paper 2 merit	B.Arch, M.Arch (Post-B.Arch)	Approx. ₹22–24 Lakhs (tuition for 5 years)	Not separately published

Also read: Sir JJ College of Architecture Cut-Off Marks

 8. Faculty of Architecture & Planning, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), Lucknow

The Faculty of Architecture & Planning at Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University (AKTU), Lucknow offers a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) program approved by the Council of Architecture, accepting NATA and JEE Main Paper-2 scores for admission.

Cut Off (Indicative)	Courses Offered	Course Fee (Approx.)	Placement (B.Arch Only)
Based on NATA / JEE Main Paper 2 merit via counselling	B.Arch, M.Arch (Post-B.Arch options)	Approx. ₹10–13 Lakhs (total tuition for 5 years)	Data not separately published

Check: How to fill NATA Application form

9. Manipal School of Architecture and Planning

Providing world-class education in a multicultural environment, Manipal University offers a great environment for Architecture courses. For the past few years, the faculty of Architecture has rapidly grown its reputation as one of the finest in the nation.

However, due to the great demand for this institution, it requires a good NATA score to get admitted to B. Arch courses offered by Manipal University.

Courses Offered	B. Arch, M. Arch
Course Fee	19.45 L (for 5 years)
Placements	Goldman Sachs, Quest Global, BPLMedical, SAP Labs, TESCO, and Maruti Suzuki

Read more: NATA Exam Pattern

10. Sir J J College of Architecture

Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy College of Architecture is one of the oldest architecture NATA colleges in Asia. The institute offers both Graduate & Post Graduate courses in Architecture i. e. B.Arch (Bachelor in Architecture) and M. Arch (Master of Architecture). B. Arch degree is a five-year full-time course,  whereas M. Arch is two years full-time course.

Over the years, the institution has garnered a great reputation among NATA architecture colleges. This college will definitely provide the right elements needed to be an exemplary Architect. 

You are eligible for Counselling for NATA only if you score above the cut-off in the entrance exam. 

Cut Off	107
Courses Offered	B. Arch, M. Arch
Course Fee	17,385 (1st Year Fees)
Placement	Amazon, UDA Architects, Zalani Architects, Hsc Design, and Ingrain Architects

Also check: How to download NATA Admit Card

Other Colleges accepting NATA Scores in India

In the table below, we have prepared a list of colleges under NATA that offer courses based on NATA scores.

Thiagarajar College of Engineering (TCE)	Tamilnadu School of Architecture
Sushant School of Art and Architecture	Sinhgad College of Architecture
School of Planning and Architecture	School of Planning & Architecture – Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University (JNA&FAU)
Sathyabama University	Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Institute of Technology (SVIT)
Rizvi College of Architecture (RCA)	RIMT – College of Architecture
Rachana Sansad Academy of Architecture	R V College of Engineering (RVCE)
NMIMS University	MEASI Academy of Architecture
Manipal Institute of Technology (MIT)	Malik Sandal Institute of Art & Architecture
Maharshi Karve Stree Shikshan Samstha’s Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Architecture for Women	Lovely Professional University
L S Raheja School of Architecture	KLS Gogte Institute of Technology
Kavikulguru Institute of Technology and Science (KITS)	Kamla Raheja Vidyanidhi Institute for Architecture and Environmental Studies (KRVIA)
Jawahar Lal Nehru Engineering College (JNEC)	Indo Global Colleges
IES College of Architecture	Giani Zail Singh College of Engineering & Technology
Gateway Group of Institutions	Dr. K. M. Vasudevan Pillai’s Campus Pillai’s College of Architecture (PICA)
Dehradun Institute of Technology (DIT)	College of Engineering- Trivandrum
College of Architecture, IET Bhaddal	Chitkara School of Planning & Architecture
BMS College of Engineering	Bengal Engineering and Science University
Apeejay Institute of Technology, School of Architecture & Planning	Aayojan School of Architecture

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Top Government Architecture Colleges in India Through NATA 2026

Apart from these colleges, various other NATA government colleges in India offer B. Arch courses.

• Andhra University - AU
• Anna University - Chennai
• BMS College of Architecture, Karnataka
• Anna University of Technology Madurai
• CEPT University
• Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Technical University
• Goa College of Architecture
• Birla Institute of Technology

Admission Process for NATA Colleges 2026

The admission process for NATA 2026 colleges typically involves the following steps:

1. Eligibility Criteria: Candidates must have passed 10+2 with Mathematics as a compulsory subject and obtained a valid NATA score.
2. Application Process: Apply to the respective colleges through their official websites or centralized counseling processes.
3. NATA Exam: Appear for the NATA 2026 exam and secure a good score.NATA Exam: Appear for the NATA 2026 exam and secure a good score.
4. Merit List and Counseling: Colleges release merit lists based on NATA scores, and candidates are invited for counseling and seat allotment.
5. Final Admission: Upon document verification and fee payment, admission is confirmed.

Also Read: How to start preparation for NATA

Career Opportunities after B.Arch

Graduating from a top NATA 2026 college opens doors to diverse career opportunities in architecture and design. Some of the career paths include:

• Architect (Residential, Commercial, Industrial Design)
• Urban Planner
• Interior Designer
• Landscape Architect
• Sustainable Design Consultant
• Project Manager in Construction Firms
• Teaching and Research in Architecture

Also check: NATA Exam Centres List

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Conclusion

In conclusion, choosing the right NATA colleges accepting NATA score is an important decision that will impact your future in architecture. By considering factors like college reputation, program offerings, faculty expertise, facilities, and financial aid, you can find the best fit for your academic goals and interests.

Here's where NATA preparation books come in: To maximize your chances of getting into your dream college, strong preparation for the NATA exam is crucial. Utilize recommended NATA books or subject-specific guides to solidify your understanding of the tested concepts.

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