National Institute of Technology Rourkela Fees, Admission 2026, Courses, Cutoff, Ranking, Placement

About National Institute of Technology - [NIT] Rourkela

National Institute of Technology Rourkela (NIT Rourkela), established in 1961, is located in Rourkela, Odisha. It is a centrally funded autonomous technical institute under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. Originally founded as Regional Engineering College Rourkela, it was granted autonomy in 2002 and recognized as an Institute of National Importance by the NIT Act, 2007.

NIT Rourkela holds a NAAC grade of A and is ranked 13th among engineering institutes in India by NIRF 2025. The institute offers 21 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across 17 departments in engineering, architecture, science, humanities, and management. With over 6,000 students and a strong faculty base, NIT Rourkela is known for its research excellence, innovative academic programs, and active industry collaborations.

Key Highlights

Admission Dates 2026

Admission to NIT Rourkela for undergraduate programs like B.Tech and integrated M.Sc is through the JEE Main exam followed by JoSAA counselling. Postgraduate admissions for M.Tech, M.Sc, and MBA require valid scores in GATE, JAM, and national management entrance exams respectively, with centralized counselling processes such as CCMT for M.Tech and institute-level selection for MBA.

Admission Process

Admission to NIT Rourkela is primarily through national-level entrance exams: JEE Main for B.Tech, GATE for M.Tech, and CAT/XAT/CMAT/MAT for MBA. Postgraduate admissions also involve centralized counseling or institute-level selection processes including GD/PI rounds.

B.Tech Admission

Steps to Apply

1. Appear and qualify in JEE Main examination.
2. Participate in JoSAA counseling for seat allocation.
3. Complete document verification and fee payment at NIT Rourkela after seat allotment.

M.Tech Admission

Steps to Apply

1. Qualify GATE exam in the relevant discipline.
2. Register and participate in CCMT centralized counseling.
3. Choose NIT Rourkela as preferred institute during counseling.
4. Complete admission formalities after seat allotment.

MBA Admission

Steps to Apply

1. Obtain a valid score in CAT, XAT, CMAT, or MAT.
2. Apply online on NIT Rourkela’s official application portal within the specified dates.
3. Submit required documents and application fee online.
4. Shortlisted candidates are called for Group Discussion and Personal Interview (GD/PI) at the institute.
5. Final selection is based on entrance exam score (40%), academic record (30%), work experience (10%), GD (10%), and PI (10%).
6. Complete admission formalities after selection.

Eligibility Criteria & Fees

Documents Required

• Class 10th and 12th mark sheets and certificates
• Qualifying degree mark sheet and certificate
• Entrance exam scorecard (JEE Main/GATE/CAT/XAT/CMAT/MAT as applicable)
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PH) if applicable
• Work experience certificate (for MBA, if applicable)
• Signed copy of the online application form (for MBA candidates called for interview)
• Proof of date of birth (e.g., High School Certificate)

Cutoff 2025

The JEE Main cutoff ranks for NIT Rourkela in 2025 showed a slight softening in competition for core branches like Mechanical, Electrical, and Civil Engineering, with closing ranks rising notably for home state candidates. However, popular branches such as Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) remained highly competitive, with closing ranks slightly higher than in 2024 for other state candidates. GATE cutoffs for M.Tech admissions ranged between 351 and 665, with Computer Science being the most sought-after specialization.

Placements 2025

NIT Rourkela achieved a strong placement season in 2025 with 1,274 job offers from 373 companies and an overall B.Tech placement rate of 82.2%. The highest package was ₹62.44 LPA, with an average package of ₹13.29 LPA across all programs. The software and IT sector led recruitment, followed by manufacturing and BFSI.

Placement Statistics

Top Recruiters

IT: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Apple, AMD, Qualcomm, Accenture, Deloitte, MathWorks

Consulting: Deloitte, McKinsey & Company, BCG, EY, PwC

Core: Tata Steel, Larsen & Toubro, Bharat Petroleum, JSW, ExxonMobil, Wells Fargo, ISRO, DRDO

Branch-wise Placement

Rankings & Accreditations

National Institute of Technology Rourkela holds a strong position among India's top technical institutes, ranking 13th in Engineering and 34th overall in the NIRF 2025 rankings. It also ranks 7th in Architecture and 30th in Research categories, reflecting its comprehensive academic and research excellence.

NIRF 2025

Other Rankings

Accreditations

• NAAC: A+ Grade
• NBA: Accredited for multiple engineering programs including Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, and Electronics & Communication Engineering

Scholarships & Financial Aid

NIT Rourkela offers a range of scholarships and financial aid options for undergraduate, postgraduate, and research students, including institute-funded scholarships, government schemes, and corporate-sponsored awards. These scholarships support meritorious and economically disadvantaged students, with specific provisions for SC/ST categories and students in select disciplines like Computer Science.

Institute Scholarships

Government Scholarships

External Scholarships

• Reliance Foundation Scholarship: Up to ₹4 lakh for undergraduate and ₹6 lakh for postgraduate students in Computer Science and related courses, based on academic excellence and leadership potential

Comparison

National Institute of Technology Rourkela is compared with NIT Tiruchirappalli and NIT Karnataka Surathkal as they are among the top-ranked NITs in India, known for their strong engineering programs, research output, and consistent performance in national rankings like NIRF.

Key Strengths

• National Institute of Technology - Rourkela: Strong research culture with top rankings in Sustainable Development Goals and Architecture, excellent industry collaborations, and a robust multidisciplinary academic environment.
• National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli: Consistently ranked among the top NITs with superior placement records, strong alumni network, and extensive research funding.
• National Institute of Technology Karnataka Surathkal: Known for its scenic campus, strong focus on innovation and entrepreneurship, and excellent industry interface, especially in core engineering sectors.

Campus & Infrastructure

National Institute of Technology Rourkela is located at the eastern end of Rourkela Steel City, Odisha, spread over approximately 700 acres. The campus is bordered by small mountains and offers a vibrant environment with modern academic and residential facilities.

Campus Details

Academic Facilities

• Library: 85,000 books, 2,000+ online research journals
• Classrooms: Modern classrooms with smart boards and air ventilation

Hostel

Other Facilities

• Dilip Tirckey Football-Hockey Stadium with gymnasium and two instructors
• Sachin Tendulkar Cricket Ground with floodlights
• Two tennis courts and a basketball court with separate timings for male and female students
• Indoor sports facilities including badminton and volleyball courts in hostels
• Swimming pool for male and female students
• Air-conditioned auditorium with seating capacity over 1,000 and additional auditorium with 300 seats
• Wi-Fi enabled campus covering academic blocks, hostels, library, and sports complex
• Guest houses with 15 air-conditioned rooms for visitors and faculty
• Health centre with 24-hour medical services
• Shopping centre, post office, bank, and ATM on campus