Choosing the right college is one of the most important decisions for any student. If you want to become an engineer or a scientist, you must know about IIT Kanpur. This institute is one of the best engineering colleges in India. It offers world-class education, advanced research, and many opportunities for students to grow. Since it started in 1959, IIT Kanpur has built a reputation for excellence. Many top companies hire students from here, and its campus life is full of exciting activities.
If you dream of studying at a place where you can learn from experts, work on cutting-edge projects, and be part of a vibrant student community, then IIT Kanpur is a great choice. This article will guide you through everything you need to know about IIT Kanpur, from admission to campus life and placements. Read on to learn why IIT Kanpur stands out among engineering institutes.
Overview of IIT Kanpur
The Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, commonly called IIT Kanpur or IITK, is one of the top engineering institutes in India. It is a government-funded institute that focuses on science, engineering, and technology education. IIT Kanpur was established in 1959, and its operations officially began in 1960. Since then, it has grown into a center of excellence for teaching and research.
IIT Kanpur is located in the city of Kanpur in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The city is an important industrial and educational hub in northern India. The institute’s campus is situated on a large area of about 1050 acres. The campus is well planned and green, with many buildings for academic departments, hostels, sports facilities, and staff quarters. The wide campus provides students with a peaceful and focused environment for study and research.
The institute has modern infrastructure that supports advanced learning. It has well-equipped classrooms, computer labs, and large libraries filled with books and journals. There are many research centers and laboratories where students and faculty work on new ideas and projects. Some important labs include the Advanced Materials Research Laboratory, where scientists study new materials, and the Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Labs, which focus on the latest computer technologies. These labs help students learn through experiments and practical work.
IIT Kanpur encourages innovation and problem-solving skills. It offers students many opportunities to participate in research projects, workshops, and seminars. The institute has a strong focus on practical learning alongside theory. Many departments collaborate with industries and companies to work on real-world problems. This gives students exposure to how technology is used outside the classroom.
IIT Kanpur Rankings & Reputation
IIT Kanpur is one of the most well-known engineering institutes in India. It has earned a strong reputation both in India and internationally. Many ranking agencies evaluate universities and colleges every year. These rankings help students and parents understand how good an institute is. IIT Kanpur performs very well in these rankings, showing its strength in teaching, research, innovation, and overall quality.
International Rankings
IIT Kanpur is ranked by many international organizations. One of the most popular ranking agencies is QS (Quacquarelli Symonds). In the QS World University Rankings for 2025, IIT Kanpur is ranked 263rd among universities worldwide. This is an improvement from the 278th position in 2024, which shows progress.
When it comes to engineering and technology subjects, IIT Kanpur is ranked 93rd in QS rankings for 2024. This rank is slightly lower than 85th in 2023, but the institute still remains among the top 100 engineering schools globally.
In the QS Asia University Rankings for 2025, IIT Kanpur holds the 67th place. This is a small drop from 63rd in 2024, but the institute stays in the top tier in Asia.
Another important international ranking is the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), also known as the Shanghai Ranking. IIT Kanpur falls in the 901-1000 band for both 2023 and 2024. Although this is a large range, it shows that IIT Kanpur is among recognized research universities globally.
| Ranking Body | Category | Rank (Latest) | Rank (Previous) |
| QS World University Rankings | Overall | 263 (2025) | 278 (2024) |
| QS Engineering & Technology | Engineering & Technology | 93 (2024) | 85 (2023) |
| QS Asia Rankings | Asia University Rankings | 67 (2025) | 63 (2024) |
| ARWU (Shanghai Rankings) | Academic Ranking of World Universities | 901-1000 (2024) | 901-1000 (2023) |
National Rankings
In India, the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) is the official ranking system run by the government. IIT Kanpur consistently ranks among the top institutes.
In the NIRF overall ranking for 2024, IIT Kanpur holds 5th place. It maintained this position from 2023, showing steady performance.
For engineering specifically, IIT Kanpur is ranked 4th in both 2024 and 2023. This proves that the institute is one of the best places to study engineering in India.
NIRF also ranks institutes based on research output. IIT Kanpur was ranked 7th in 2024, slightly down from 6th in 2023. This indicates that research is still strong but has minor changes year to year.
The Innovation ranking by NIRF shows a bigger change. IIT Kanpur was ranked 1st in 2023 but moved to 5th in 2024. Innovation is important because it measures how well the institute creates new ideas, patents, and startups.
Other rankings by popular magazines also show IIT Kanpur’s reputation:
- The Week ranked IIT Kanpur 4th among the best technical universities and engineering colleges in India in 2023 and 2024.
- Outlook India placed IIT Kanpur 5th in the list of top government technical universities and engineering colleges in 2023 and 2024.
- India Today ranked IIT Kanpur 3rd among all engineering colleges in 2024 and also 3rd among government engineering colleges in 2022.
| Ranking Body | Category | Rank (Latest) | Rank (Previous) |
| NIRF Overall Rankings | Overall | 5 (2024) | 5 (2023) |
| NIRF Engineering Rankings | Engineering | 4 (2024) | 4 (2023) |
| NIRF Research Rankings | Research | 7 (2024) | 6 (2023) |
| NIRF Innovation Rankings | Innovation | 5 (2024) | 1 (2023) |
| The Week Best Technical Universities India | Technical Universities | 4 (2023) | — |
| The Week Top Engineering Colleges India | Engineering Colleges | 4 (2024) | 4 (2023) |
| Outlook India’s Top Govt. Technical Universities | Govt. Technical Universities | 5 (2024) | 5 (2023) |
| Outlook India’s Top Govt. Engineering Colleges | Govt. Engineering Colleges | 5 (2024) | 5 (2023) |
| India Today Top Engineering Colleges | Engineering Colleges | 3 (2024) | 3 (2023) |
| India Today Top Govt. Engineering Colleges | Govt. Engineering Colleges | 3 (2022) | — |
IIT Kanpur Admission Process (JEE Advanced & Eligibility)
Admission to IIT Kanpur for undergraduate courses is mainly through the JEE Advanced exam. But first, students must qualify JEE Main to be eligible for JEE Advanced.
Eligibility
- Students must first clear JEE Main.
- Only those who qualify in JEE Main can appear for JEE Advanced.
- After clearing JEE Advanced, students participate in seat allocation through JoSAA counselling.
Class XII Requirements
- For General and OBC category students, the minimum percentage required in Class XII board exams is 75% or they must be in the top 20 percentile of their board.
- For SC, ST, and PwD students, the minimum percentage is 65%.
IIT Kanpur JEE Advanced Cutoff Year Wise
IIT Kanpur JEE Advanced Cutoff (General – All India)
| Course | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| B.Tech. in Civil Engineering | 6297 | 6116 | 5948 |
| B.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering | 4683 | 4027 | 3638 |
| B.Tech. in Biological Science and Bioengineering | 7309 | 8031 | 6952 |
| B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering | 4649 | 4344 | 4015 |
| B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering | 237 | 238 | 252 |
| B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering | 1368 | 1349 | 1290 |
| B.Tech. in Materials Science and Engineering | 6535 | 6939 | 6008 |
| B.Sc. in Economics | 3300 | 3653 | 3106 |
| B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering | 3155 | 2940 | 2776 |
| B.Sc. in Chemistry | 9676 | 11824 | 10498 |
| B.Sc. in Mathematics and Scientific Computing | 1143 | 1060 | 990 |
| B.Sc. in Physics | 6383 | 6153 | 5508 |
| B.S. in Earth Science | 9614 | 11426 | 10058 |
| B.S. in Statistics and Data Science | 1082 | 1090 | 1030 |
IIT Kanpur JEE Advanced Cutoff (OBC – All India)
| Course | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| B.Tech. in Civil Engineering | 2582 | 2862 | 2764 |
| B.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering | 2214 | 2158 | 1980 |
| B.Tech. in Biological Science and Bioengineering | 3262 | 3608 | 3476 |
| B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering | 2034 | 2208 | 2058 |
| B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering | 155 | 146 | 132 |
| B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering | 696 | 788 | 743 |
| B.Tech. in Materials Science and Engineering | 3003 | 3292 | 3126 |
| B.Sc. in Economics | 1971 | 1571 | 2051 |
| B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering | 1529 | 1479 | 1392 |
| B.Sc. in Chemistry | 4440 | 5256 | 4766 |
| B.Sc. in Mathematics and Scientific Computing | 681 | 684 | 673 |
| B.Sc. in Physics | 3781 | 3875 | 3602 |
| B.S. in Earth Science | 4513 | 4846 | 4562 |
| B.S. in Statistics and Data Science | 833 | 799 | 714 |
IIT Kanpur JEE Advanced Cutoff (SC – All India)
| Course | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| B.Tech. in Civil Engineering | 1380 | 1590 | 1509 |
| B.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering | 1092 | 1347 | 987 |
| B.Tech. in Biological Science and Bioengineering | 2071 | 2138 | 2071 |
| B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering | 1281 | 1139 | 1185 |
| B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering | 94 | 77 | 96 |
| B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering | 410 | 581 | 452 |
| B.Tech. in Materials Science and Engineering | 1881 | 2059 | 1853 |
| B.Sc. in Economics | 1461 | 1351 | 1430 |
| B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering | 914 | 970 | 834 |
| B.Sc. in Chemistry | 2631 | 2893 | 2667 |
| B.Sc. in Mathematics and Scientific Computing | 646 | 609 | 372 |
| B.Sc. in Physics | 2446 | 2380 | 2363 |
| B.S. in Earth Science | 2826 | 3111 | 2567 |
| B.S. in Statistics and Data Science | 588 | 455 | 534 |
IIT Kanpur JEE Advanced Cutoff (ST – All India)
| Course | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| B.Tech. in Civil Engineering | 430 | 503 | 482 |
| B.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering | 744 | 698 | 681 |
| B.Tech. in Biological Science and Bioengineering | 1213 | 1269 | 1168 |
| B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering | 678 | 706 | 684 |
| B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering | 43 | 41 | 54 |
| B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering | 269 | 202 | 203 |
| B.Tech. in Materials Science and Engineering | 1083 | 1124 | 1080 |
| B.Sc. in Economics | 759 | 900 | 725 |
| B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering | 465 | 461 | 509 |
| B.Sc. in Chemistry | 1442 | 1543 | 1434 |
| B.Sc. in Mathematics and Scientific Computing | 325 | 340 | 343 |
| B.Sc. in Physics | 1383 | 1509 | 1277 |
| B.S. in Earth Science | 1314 | 1520 | 1369 |
| B.S. in Statistics and Data Science | 378 | 330 | 224 |
IIT Kanpur JEE Advanced Cutoff (Economically Weaker Section – All India)
| Course | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| B.Tech. in Civil Engineering | 1078 | 1192 | 1020 |
| B.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering | 853 | 923 | 875 |
| B.Tech. in Biological Science and Bioengineering | 1409 | 1387 | 1341 |
| B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering | 762 | 758 | 707 |
| B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering | 55 | 47 | 51 |
| B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering | 287 | 279 | 259 |
| B.Tech. in Materials Science and Engineering | 1226 | 1408 | 1258 |
| B.Sc. in Economics | 765 | 789 | 690 |
| B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering | 592 | 537 | 506 |
| B.Sc. in Chemistry | 1728 | 2109 | 1650 |
| B.Sc. in Mathematics and Scientific Computing | 212 | 205 | 209 |
| B.Sc. in Physics | 1568 | 1650 | 1436 |
| B.S. in Earth Science | 1714 | 2093 | 1627 |
| B.S. in Statistics and Data Science | 246 | 269 | 207 |
IIT Kanpur JEE Advanced Cutoff (PWD – All India)
| Course | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| B.Tech. in Aerospace Engineering | – / – | 87 | – / – |
| B.Tech. in Computer Science and Engineering | 12 | 13 | 11 |
| B.Tech. in Electrical Engineering | 109 | 169 | 128 |
| B.Sc. in Economics | – / – | – / – | 169 |
| B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering | – / – | – / – | 186 |
| B.Sc. in Mathematics and Scientific Computing | 118 | 67 | 100 |
| B.Sc. in Physics | – / – | – / – | 95 |
| B.S. in Statistics and Data Science | 161 | 75 | 105 |
JoSAA Counselling Process
- Students who clear JEE Advanced register for JoSAA counselling.
- They fill their preferred choices of branches and institutes online.
- Seat allotment happens based on rank and preferences.
- After seat allotment, students must verify documents to confirm admission.
Reservation Policy
IIT Kanpur follows the government reservation policy:
- Scheduled Castes (SC): 15%
- Scheduled Tribes (ST): 7.5%
- Other Backward Classes – Non Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL): 27%
- Economically Weaker Sections (EWS): 10%
- Persons with Disabilities (PwD): 5%
IIT Kanpur Fee Structure & Scholarships (2025)
When you join IIT Kanpur, it is important to understand the fees you need to pay and the scholarships available. The fee structure covers tuition, hostel, and other charges. IIT Kanpur also offers several fee waivers and scholarships to help students from different backgrounds.
Fee Structure for 2025
The fees at IIT Kanpur are divided into different parts. Some fees are one-time payments, while others are charged every semester. Below is a clear breakdown of the fees you can expect to pay:
| Particulars | Amount (₹) |
| Caution Money (One-Time, Refundable) | 17,000 |
| One-Time Fees | 2,950 |
| Tuition Fee (per Semester) | 1,00,000 |
| Hostel Charges (per Semester) | 14,425 |
| Other Fees (per Semester) | 3,735 |
| Total (per Semester) | 1,38,110 |
Caution Money is a refundable deposit you pay only once when you join. It is returned to you when you leave the institute, provided there are no dues or damages.
One-Time Fees include charges like registration and other administrative costs. The Tuition Fee is the main fee for your academic program. It is charged every semester. IIT Kanpur charges ₹1,00,000 per semester for tuition, which is typical for premier engineering institutes. Hostel Charges cover your stay in the institute’s hostels. This includes maintenance and room rent. Other Fees include expenses like electricity, water, and other student services.
Fee Waivers and Scholarships
IIT Kanpur believes that financial issues should not stop bright students from studying here. Therefore, it offers fee waivers and scholarships for eligible students.
Here are the main fee waiver categories:
| Category | Fee Waiver Details |
| SC/ST/PwD Students | 100% Tuition Fee waiver |
| Most Economically Backward Students (Family income < ₹1 LPA) | 100% Tuition Fee remission |
| Other Economically Backward Students (Family income ₹1 LPA to ₹5 LPA) | 2/3rd Tuition Fee remission |
SC/ST/PwD students get a full waiver of the tuition fee. This means they do not have to pay the ₹1,00,000 tuition fee each semester. Students from Most Economically Backward Families with a yearly income below ₹1 lakh also get 100% tuition fee remission. This is to support families with very low income.
Students from Other Economically Backward Families with a yearly income between ₹1 lakh and ₹5 lakh get two-thirds (about 66%) remission on tuition fees. This helps reduce the financial burden for students from middle-income families.
Merit-cum-Means Scholarships
In addition to fee waivers, IIT Kanpur offers Merit-cum-Means Scholarships. These scholarships are given based on both academic performance and financial need. Students who perform well in their studies and have limited financial resources can apply for these scholarships.
These scholarships may cover part or all of the tuition fee and sometimes include additional financial support for books and supplies.
IIT Kanpur Placements (2024 Stats)
IIT Kanpur is known for its strong placement record. Many top companies visit the campus every year to hire students. The placement process at IIT Kanpur is smooth and well-organized. In 2024, students from various branches got good job offers with attractive salary packages. Let’s look at the placement details and understand what you can expect if you join IIT Kanpur.
Overall Placement Rates
The overall placement rate for the 4-year B.Tech courses was 82.48%. This means more than 8 out of 10 students got placed through the campus recruitment drives.
For the 4-year B.S. courses, the placement rate was 72.45%, which is also quite good. B.S. courses include subjects like Chemistry, Economics, Mathematics, Physics, and Earth Sciences.
Branch-wise Placement Percentage
Placement rates vary by branch. Some branches had very high placement percentages, especially Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), which always attracts many recruiters.
| Branch | Placement Percentage (2024) |
| Aerospace Engineering | 80.56% |
| Biological Sciences and Bioengineering | 65.22% |
| Chemical Engineering | 82.95% |
| Civil Engineering | 72.12% |
| Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) | 95.87% |
| Electrical Engineering | 87.65% |
| Materials Science and Engineering | 74.65% |
| Mechanical Engineering | 78.95% |
| Overall (B.Tech) | 82.48% |
| Chemistry (B.S.) | 40.00% |
| Earth Sciences (B.S.) | 42.86% |
| Economics (B.S.) | 84.00% |
| Mathematics and Scientific Computing (B.S.) | 85.00% |
| Physics (B.S.) | 66.67% |
| Overall (B.S.) | 72.45% |
Salary Packages Offered
Salary packages at IIT Kanpur vary by branch and company. The packages are usually offered as CTC (Cost to Company) and are expressed in lakhs per annum (LPA). Let’s check the median and average salaries offered to students.
- Median salary means the middle value of the salary offers — half of the students get less, and half get more than this amount.
- Average salary is the total of all salary offers divided by the number of students placed.
Median CTC by Branch (2024)
| Branch | Median CTC (LPA) |
| Aerospace Engineering | ₹17.50 |
| Biological Sciences and Bioengineering | ₹15.00 |
| Chemical Engineering | ₹16.00 |
| Civil Engineering | ₹15.70 |
| Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) | ₹40.70 |
| Electrical Engineering | ₹23.50 |
| Materials Science and Engineering | ₹15.00 |
| Mechanical Engineering | ₹18.40 |
| Overall (B.Tech) | ₹19.20 |
| Chemistry (B.S.) | ₹12.50 |
| Earth Sciences (B.S.) | ₹10.50 |
| Economics (B.S.) | ₹17.50 |
| Mathematics and Scientific Computing (B.S.) | ₹20.30 |
| Physics (B.S.) | ₹17.20 |
| Overall (B.S.) | ₹17.50 |
Average CTC by Branch (2024)
| Branch | Average CTC (LPA) |
| Aerospace Engineering | ₹19.90 |
| Biological Sciences and Bioengineering | ₹14.30 |
| Chemical Engineering | ₹18.80 |
| Civil Engineering | ₹16.10 |
| Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) | ₹52.70 |
| Electrical Engineering | ₹27.20 |
| Materials Science and Engineering | ₹17.00 |
| Mechanical Engineering | ₹19.30 |
| Overall (B.Tech) | ₹26.90 |
| Chemistry (B.S.) | ₹12.00 |
| Earth Sciences (B.S.) | ₹15.30 |
| Economics (B.S.) | ₹21.00 |
| Mathematics and Scientific Computing (B.S.) | ₹26.50 |
| Physics (B.S.) | ₹17.00 |
| Overall (B.S.) | ₹22.30 |
Top Recruiters at IIT Kanpur: Many leading companies visit IIT Kanpur for placements. These include:
- Tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon.
- Financial firms like Goldman Sachs.
- Indian research organizations like ISRO and DRDO.
- Industrial companies like Tata.
These companies offer roles in software development, research, consulting, finance, engineering design, and more.
Internship Opportunities: IIT Kanpur also supports summer internships. Students get internships at top tech firms and research labs. These internships give real-world experience and help in better placements later.
Conclusion
IIT Kanpur is one of India’s top engineering institutes. It offers great education, excellent research facilities, and strong industry connections. The admission process is tough but fair, based mainly on JEE Advanced performance. Once admitted, students enjoy good infrastructure, active clubs, sports, and cultural events that make campus life enjoyable.
The fee structure includes scholarships and waivers to support deserving students. Placements at IIT Kanpur are very strong, with top companies recruiting every year. Students get many chances to do internships and build their skills.
Overall, IIT Kanpur is a perfect place for students who want to grow academically and personally. If you work hard and prepare well, you can join this institute and take a big step towards a bright future in engineering and technology. IIT Kanpur can open many doors for your career and help you achieve your goals.
