Top Agriculture Colleges in India 2024

The majority of the top agriculture colleges in India offer the agriculture course for UG, PG, PhD or various certifications in full-time, part-time or distance learning online and offline mode. Agriculture is a discipline more than farming that contributes to the ecological balance, provides food, and boosts the economy. An applied science that encloses features involved in producing crops, raising livestock, or several products.

The disciplines under Diploma, B.Sc, M.Sc, PhD in agriculture include agricultural economics, agricultural extension, agronomy, horticulture, soil science, pathology, fishery science, animal husbandry and many more. To start a career in the agricultural domain, check out the advantages, guidance under the best faculties, professionals, and facilities. You can look into the curated lists posted below India's top agricultural institutes, which fall under the ranking lists by the reputed courses like NIRF, The Week, India Today, and others.

Top Agriculture Colleges in India by NIRF

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) under MHRD implements methodologies via certain parameters, which computes to rank the different institutes in India and score-wise.

The standard parameters in practice to rank different colleges include:

Teaching, Learning, and Resources (TLR) - 30%
Research and Professional Practice (RP) - 20%
Graduation Outcomes (GO) - 20%
Outreach and Inclusivity (OI) - 10%
Peer Perception (PR) - 10%

According to the NIRF ranking system, the table below consists of the top agriculture colleges in India by NIRF ranking:

Ranking	College Name	NIRF Score
1	Indian Institute of Technology, (IIT) Kharagpur	75.85
2	Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi	68.76
3	Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi	59.85
4	Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh	52.54
5	Andhra University (AU), Visakhapatnam	51.24
6	University of Madras, Chennai	50.76
7	Amity University, Noida	46.88
8	Tezpur University (TU), Tezpur	46.83
9	Kashmir University, Srinagar	44.67
10	Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar	43.81

Top Agriculture Colleges in India by The Week

Given below are the top agriculture colleges in India by The Week ranking system are as follows:

Ranking	College Name	Composite Score
1	Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi	392
2	Andhra University College of Engineering, Visakhapatnam	292
3	Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science, Chennai	261

Top Agriculture Colleges in India Based on Zones

Refer to the details below to check the list of zone-wise colleges in India, as per ranking lists of NIRF, The Week, and GetMyUni reviews:

Top Agriculture Colleges in North India

The following list are some of the top colleges in North India:

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi
Jamia Millia Islamia University, New Delhi
Amity University, Noida

Top Agriculture Colleges in South India

Here is the list of the top colleges in South India are:

Andhra University (AU), Visakhapatnam
University of Madras, Chennai
Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT), Kochi

Top Agriculture Colleges in East India

A few of the top colleges in East India include:

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur
Tezpur University (TU), Tezpur
Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM), Bhubaneswar

Top Agriculture Colleges in West India

The top colleges in West India are as follows:

College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Bikaner
Mewar University, Chittorgarh
BIRSA Agricultural University, Ranchi

Specialisations-wise Top Agriculture Colleges in India

You can choose specialisation after a Bachelor degree in agriculture. There are various specialisations under M.Sc. Agriculture, like agronomy, nematology, agricultural chemistry, horticulture, forestry, plant physiology, genetics and plant breeding, agricultural economics, biotechnology. Entomology, farm management, etc. Students can choose from multiple specialisations to be expertise in the interested field, noting the career options. Based on the specialisations taken, the salary and career prospects variates.

Given below are some of the popular specialisations provided by India's top agriculture colleges that offer good career prospects and income:

Top Agronomy Colleges in India

Agronomy deals with researching methods and approaches utilised to improve the production of food and its security. You can work as agronomists, crop consultant, crop scout, agriculture chemical representatives, and others. Given below are the top agronomy colleges in India:

Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana

Top Horticulture Colleges in India

Horticulture focuses on the production of vegetables, fruits, flowers, spices and beverages, etc. Career options include horticulturist, agriculture forest officer, assistant professor, and more. The top horticulture colleges in India include:

Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

Top Genetics and Plant Breeding Colleges in India

Genetics and plant breeding cover studies that utilise genetics to improve plants under different environmental conditions with better quality. Job options are plant breeders, project associate, farm manager, etc. Cited below are the top genetics and plant breeding colleges in India:

Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi
Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore

Fee Structure for Top Agriculture Colleges in India

The agricultural fees in India depend on the college type, degree programs, infrastructure, facilities, placement opportunities, etc.

The following details highlight the various fee structures of the best public and private colleges for varying agriculture programs:

Public Agriculture Colleges with UG Fees

The various government agriculture colleges and their undergraduate fees are shown in the following table:

Public College Name	Agriculture Total UG Fee (in INR)
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore	1,65,000
BIRSA Agricultural University, Ranchi	54,000
Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur	90,120
Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh	85,570
Bihar Agricultural University, Bhagalpur	30,850

Private Agriculture Colleges with UG Fees

The various undergraduate fees of the top private agriculture colleges are cited in the table below:

Private College Name	Agriculture Total UG Fee (in INR)
Vanavarayar Institute of Agriculture, Pollachi	94,152
Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture, Noida	3,80,000
Dr DY Patil College of Agriculture Business Management, Pune	2,21,000
Ramkrishna Bajaj College of Agriculture, Wardha	40,070
Mewar University, Chitoorgarh	2,40,000

Public Agriculture Colleges With PG Fees

The various government agriculture colleges and their postgraduate fees are shown in the following table:

Public College Name	Agriculture Total PG Fee (in INR)
Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore	1,01,000
BIRSA Agricultural University, Ranchi	31,000
Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur	37,860
Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh	78,280
Bihar Agricultural University, Bhagalpur	18,090

Private Agriculture Colleges with PG Fees

The various postgraduate fees of the top private agriculture colleges are cited in the table below:

Private College Name	Agriculture Total PG Fee (in INR)
Amity Institute of Organic Agriculture, Noida	1,72,000
Sharda University, Greater Noida	2,06,000
Centurion University of Technology and Management (CUTM), Paralkhemundi	3,00,000
Mewar University, Chittorgarh	76,000
Doon Post Graduate College of Agriculture Science and Technology (DCAST), Dehradun	1,50,000

Entrance Exams Accepted by Top Agriculture Colleges in India

Common entrance exams conducted by the different top colleges for agriculture course at the national/state/university level are given below:

BCECE (Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination)
ICAR (All India Competitive Examination-Junior Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow)
MHT CET (Maharashtra Health and Technical Common Entrance Test)
KEAM (Kerala Engineering Architecture Medical Entrance Examination)
OUAT (Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology Entrance Examination)
LPUNEST (Lovely Professional University National Eligibility and Scholarship Test)
AAU VET (Assam Agricultural University Veterinary Entrance Test)
AGRICET (Agriculture Common Entrance Test)
BHU UET (Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Examination)
BBAU Entrance Exam (Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University Exam)

Eligibility Criteria and Admissions for Top Agriculture Colleges in India

The eligibility criteria and admissions process for the multiple programs is different for every institution. Each candidate must satisfy the eligibility criteria of the respective course followed by clearing all the admissions process for getting the seat in the desirable college or university. Admissions are given either on the marks/rank obtained in the entrance exam or direct admission on previous results record, personal interviews, etc. There is also a category wise quota and management quota followed for seat reservation.

Below are the steps involved in the eligibility criteria and its admission process under top agriculture institutes across India:

Eligibility Criteria for Top Agriculture Colleges in India

The points cited below are the general eligibility criteria for various agriculture programs within the top colleges across India:

UG Level: A candidate should pass 12th standard with 50% marks in minimum with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics as compulsory subjects from a recognised board in India. A candidate should be 17 years of age or above.
PG level: Candidates should have a bachelor's degree in agriculture/forestry/horticulture/related discipline from a recognised institution with the required aggregate score (score set by the institutions of preference).
Doctorate/PhD level: Candidates should have a Master's degree in agriculture from a recognised institution with the required percentage (percentage set by the institutions).

Admissions for Top Agriculture Colleges in India

About 400 plus agriculture colleges provide admissions for the different degree programs. Candidates who have satisfactorily passed the eligibility criteria might attempt a test conducted by the institution or direct admission based on academic performance. Based on it, candidates will be shortlisted for the final selection. In addition, candidates can research the course, register, download and submit an application form from the college's official site.

Some of the important admission criteria for top agriculture colleges in India are:

The candidate belonging to a certain category will be eligible for reserved seats.
Candidates should submit a valid entrance test score or rank.
All the documents and application fee (if applicable) should be submitted on the given deadlines (online/offline) as directed by the guidelines.

Cut Offs for Top Agriculture Colleges in India

As cut off is released for the multiple programs after results declaration by considering multiple factors, these cut-offs score is important for students trying to seek admissions into an interesting course. Students should always look over the qualifying cut-off score or rank for the particular course set by the respective institution. A candidate would be called for the counselling process by the college officials after passing the cut-offs for admission.

BCECE Cut Off

Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination (BCECE) is a state-level entrance examination for undergraduate programs organised by the Undergraduate Graduate Engineering Admission Counseling (UGEAC) instead of Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board (BCECEB).

Check out the latest BCECE cut off category-wise from the table below:

Type of Category	Overall Cut Off Percentage
General	50%
General (PwD)	45%
Reserved PwD	40%
ST	40%
SC	40%
OBC	40%

ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (PGS) Cut Off

All India Competitive Examination-Junior Research Fellow/Senior Research Fellow ICAR AICE-JRF/SRF (PGS) is a national entrance examination for Doctorate (PhD) course into a various program like agricultural, allied sciences, veterinary, and others, conducted by the ICAR (Indian Council of Agricultural Research).

Every institution has various cut off trends under the ICAR exam. Get an idea from the table below of the previous year ICAR cut off and estimate a rough score for cracking the exam even better.

Category-wise	Cut Off Score	Cut Off Rank
General	450	400
OBC	430	680
Scheduled Caste	365	2550
Scheduled Tribe	310	4550

Scope of Agriculture in India

The agricultural field will always play a relevant part in the Indian economy. In India, more than half of the population's livelihood depends on the agriculture domain. India is among one of the largest producers of fruits, vegetables and dairy products in the world. The scope is vast within the country and internationally. Agricultural industries need professionals as the rise of hunger-related causes surges every day with the increasing population.

A good number of qualified batches are recruited each year for maintaining food security, food process, improving crop production, etc., in the agricultural sector. Candidates can secure jobs in central/ government or public sectors after B.Sc Agriculture, M.Sc Agriculture, PhD or take examinations like ARS (Agriculture Research Service), University Grant Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET). The greater the qualification, the higher the salary package. Moreover, income varies on the company type and job designations.

Graduates can check the diverse job profiles and its employability areas, as pointed below:

Areas of Employment

Planning Commission
Agri-Tech Companies
District/State Agriculture Department
Educational Firms
Research and Development
Fertiliser companies
Commercial Farming
Banking
Insurance
Marketing and Sales, etc

Job Profiles

Agriculturist
Agriculture Development Officer
Agricultural Technician
Agricultural Research Scientist
Agricultural Officer
Plant Breeder
Food Quality Manager
Plantation Manager
Production Manager
Farm Manager, etc.

Agriculture Placements in India

Placement options for agriculture courses are indeed lucrative. Many students, after completion of agricultural studies, get placed into various industries. The agriculture field is vast and competitive. Therefore, the college aims to develop students with analytical skills, commercial ideas, interaction skills, marketing, ready for any job take-up or further studies after graduation through placement options and internships.

Refer to the details below of the selected lists of few recruiters from the top agriculture colleges across India:

Top Agriculture Recruiters

As per the college's official website, some of the popular recruiters from India's top agriculture colleges are highlighted in the following table:

Name of College	Top Recruiters
Dr Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University, Samastipur	TAFE, Agrevolution, Aditya Birla Group, Kribhco, Dr Reddys Foundation, YARA, Agrovet Brighter Farming, Dhanuka, TechnoServe, Rasi Seeds, PAN, NCML, DCM Shriram, Virbac, Crystal, Syngenta, C.P.S India, Jain Irrigation Inc, Monsanto, Excel Crop Care Limited, Basix, Axis Bank, Khistiz Agro Tech Pvt Ltd., Aga Khan Foundation, etc.
Junagadh Agricultural University, Junagadh	Altret Biotech Ltd, Sura, Biostadt, Ahmedabad, Dept. of Horticulture, Gandhinagar, Dena Bank, KRIBHCO - New Delhi, RML Information Service Private Limited - Pune, Gujarat Agroseeds LTd. Ahmedabad, Gujarat State Seed Corporation, Gandhinagar, HDFC Bank, Pest Control India Ltd. Mumbai, Vaishnavi Biotech Ltd., Siho, etc.
Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences, Allahabad	Amdocs, Aditya Retail, Era group, Hindustan Construction Company, HCL, IFFCO, Indian Army, ITC, Infosys, John Deere, Jain Irrigation, Lupin Limited, Mahindra & Mahindra Limited, Netafim, NETA firm, Parle, Reliance, ThoughtWorks, Tech-Mahindra, United Phosphorus Ltd, Union Bank of India, etc.
Lovely Professional University (LPU), Jalandhar	Acadecraft, Crimson Interactive, Cactus Communications, DCM Group Of Schools, Darrick International School, Education Culture Pvt Ltd, Freyr Solutions, IDS Infotech Limited, IVY World School, Kashmir Herbal Remedies, Shree Krishna Pranami Public School, Siwani Keva Industries, Toppr, YS Group, etc.
National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad	Ballarpur Industries Limited [BILT], Canara Bank, Cargill India Ltd, Dow Chemical, Dabur India Ltd, Hindustan Unilever Limited, KRIBHCO, Olam International, UPL Limited, etc.

Average Salary Offered in Top Agriculture Colleges in India

Under the PayScale report, the average yearly salary for B.Sc Agriculture is 6 LPA, M.Sc Agriculture is 11 LPA, and PhD in Agriculture is 22.5 LPA in India.

According to the college's official website, the average salary offered under the top agriculture colleges in India is shown in the following table:

Name of College	Average Annual Salary
Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar	3 LPA
Sharda University, Greater Noida	3.5 - 5 LPA
Jaipur National University (JNU), Jaipur	6.5 LPA
LPU, Jalandhar	7 LPA
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kharagpur	15 - 19 LPA