BA Fees: Government/Private Colleges Cost, Scholarships, Factors Affecting
The total BA fees in India range from INR 400 - 10,00,000. The BA course fees vary significantly across colleges in India due to several influencing factors such as institution type, infrastructure and facilities, reputation, geographical location, etc. In addition, the BA regular fees structure is also affected by the benefits availed from scholarships that provide financial assistance to the students in the form of fee concession.
The BA fees in private colleges such as Loreto College start from INR 1,800 per year and reach up to INR 9,74,000 per year in colleges such as Ashoka University. The BA fee structure in government colleges such as JNU, Deshbandhu College, etc are relatively lower compared to BA private fees and range from INR 400- 50,000 per year.
BA or Bachelor of Arts is an undergraduate degree awarded to candidates who complete a three-year course in arts, humanities, and related fields. To be eligible for BA admission, students must have completed 10+2 from a recognized board with a minimum of 50% aggregate for general students and 45% for reserved category students. In addition, students must appear for entrance exams such as IPU CET, BHU UET, DU JAT, etc.
Table of Contents
- BA Fees in India
- BA Fees in Top Colleges in India
- BA Fees for Top BA Specialisation
- BA Course Fees in Top States
- BA Course Scholarships in India
BA Fees in India
BA fees in India are in the range of INR 1,000 - 1,00,000 per year. However, students must note that BA course fees vary across colleges and are subject to change solely at the discretion of the respective institution. The BA program fees include additional charges such as admission fees, development fees, exam fees, cost of living, etc.
The total components of the BA fees in India is tabulated below:
| Components | Average Amount |
| Tuition Fees | INR 400-1,00,000 |
| Admission Fees | INR 50-50,000 |
| Housing and Living Expenses | INR 15,000 - 70,000 |
| Additional Expenses | INR 30,000 |
| Total Fees | INR 46,000 - 2,50,000 |
BA Fees in Top Colleges in India
The fees of pursuing a BA course in India ranges from INR 400 - 10,00,000 per year. However, there are variations in the BA fees structure across institutions in India based on the types of institutions.
The BA course fees of the top-ranking institutions in India are detailed in the sections below.
BA Fees in Government Colleges
The total BA course fees in government colleges range from as low as INR 400 per year in top government colleges such as JNU and can reach up to INR 50,000 per year. There are more than 3,000 government colleges in India offering BA programs.
The BA fees in government colleges are provided in the table below for some of the top-ranking colleges.
| NIRF 2023 Ranking | College Name | Tuition Fees Per Year | Admission Fees | Miscellaneous Fees Per Year |
| 6 | Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College | INR 180 | - | INR 14,380 |
| 10 | JNU | INR 216 | - | INR 160 |
| 12 | Jamia Millia Islamia | INR 1,100 | INR 100 | INR 6,000 |
| 14 | St. Stephens's College | INR 42,020 | INR 100 | INR 7,000 |
| 17 | Deshbandhu College | INR 781 | - | INR 12,070 |
| 23 | Calcutta University | INR 300 | INR 50 | INR 800 |
| 25 | Panjab University | INR 4,500 | - | INR 8,700 |
| 28 | Daulat Ram College | INR 31,200 - 33,700 | INR 50 | - |
| 31 | Gargi College | INR 15,725 | - | INR 1,200 |
| 35 | Savitribai Phule Pune University | INR 8,000 | - | - |
| 71 | Mysore University | INR 12,000 | INR 1,750 | INR 4,180 |
| - | IGNOU | INR 6,000 | - | INR 1,200 |
| - | Rajasthan University | INR 1,630 | INR 90 | INR 1,010 |
BA Fees in Private Colleges
There are numerous private institutions in India such as LPU, Chandigarh University, etc, offering Bachelor of Arts programmes with various specialisations. The BA private fees in these institutions range from INR 1,800 - 9,74,000 per year.
The BA fees in private colleges is detailed in the table below.
| NIRF 2023 Ranking | College Name | Tuition Fees Per Year | Admission Fees | Miscellaneous Fees Per Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | St. Xavier’s College Kolkata | INR 40,200 | INR 30,000 | INR 11,000 |
| 27 | Chandigarh University | INR 45,000 - 73,500 | - | - |
| 46 | LPU | INR 50,000 | - | INR 9,000 |
| 58 | Banasthali Vidyapith | INR 53,000 | INR 2,000 | INR 38,500 |
| 80 | St. Aloysius College | INR 25,000 - 45,000 | - | - |
| 101 | Ashoka University | INR 9,74,000 | INR 75,000 (refundable) | INR 2,06,400 |
| - | YBN University | INR 15,000 | INR 1,100 | INR 5,000 |
| - | Poddar Group of Institutions | INR 30,000 | - | INR 500 |
| - | Uttaranchal University | INR 34,000 | - | INR 1,500 |
| - | G.D.C. Memorial College | INR 16,300 | INR 1,500 | INR 65,000 |
| - | Sri Guru Gobind Singh College | INR 23,354 | - | INR 6,000 |
| - | Subharti University | INR 10,000 | INR 5,000 | - |
| - | Rungta Educational Foundation | INR 6,000 | INR 1,000 | INR 1,400 |
| - | Loreto College | INR 1,800 | INR 3,000 | INR 15,000 |
| - | Salesian College | INR 70,660 | - | INR 10,000 |
BA Fees for Top BA Specialisation
Candidates can pursue undergraduate degree in various subjects within the BA program that enables them to specialise in the specific area. There are various subjects offered under BA courses in India such as BA in English, BA in Sociology, BA in Economics, BA in History, etc.
Listed below are the top BA courses offered in India along with their fee structure.
| BA Courses | Tuition Fee Per Year |
| BA English | INR 3,000 - 1,50,000 |
| BA English Literature | INR 10,000 - 2,00,000 |
| BA Sociology | INR 3,000 - 1,00,000 |
| BA Economics | INR 5,000 - 1,00,000 |
| BA History | INR 2,500 - 1,00,000 |
| BA Political Science | INR 1,500 - 2,00,000 |
| BA Psychology | INR 6,000 - 1,50,000 |
| BA Philosophy | INR 3,000 - 1,00,000 |
| BA Education | INR 5,000 - 1,00,000 |
| BA Geography | INR 3,000 - 1,00,000 |
BA Course Fees in Top States
The BA fees in India vary significantly based on their locations. However, there are top government colleges in most cities in India allowing students access to quality and affordable education.
The BA course fees in top states such as Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, etc lie between INR 500-45,000 per year. An overview of the top 5 states along with their BA colleges is provided in the sections below.
BA Fees in Maharashtra for Top 5 Colleges
Maharashtra is one of the top states in India for having numerous colleges. The BA course fees in Maharashtra range from INR 2,500 - 24,000 per year. Listed below are the top BA colleges in Maharashtra along with their BA course fees.
| College Name | Estimated Tuition Fees in INR (Per Year) |
| Indira College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Pune | INR 22, 600 |
| St. Xaviers College, Mumbai | INR 5,751-6,571 |
| KESCC | INR 23,600 |
| LS Raheja College of Arts and Commerce | INR 7,495 |
| KJ Somiya College | INR 2,512 |
BA Fees in Kolkata for Top 5 Colleges
The BA fee structure across colleges in West Bengal start from INR 500 per year and reach up to INR 15,150 per year. West Bengal is popular for top quality education and low cost of living making it an ideal city for students to pursue higher studies.
The top colleges in West Bengal along with their BA course fees are provided below.
| College Name | Estimated Tuition Fees in INR (Per Year) |
| St. Joseph’s College | INR 15,150 |
| Sarsuna College | INR 500 |
| Bijanbari Degree College | INR 1,000 |
| Kalimpong College | INR 6,100 |
| Mirik Degree College | INR 3,000 |
BA Fees in Gujarat for Top 4 Colleges
The BA fees in Gujarat range from INR 3,000 - 45,000 per year. Some of the top institutions in Gujarat include Parul University, St. Xaviers College, etc. The list of the top colleges in Gujarat along with their BA fee structure is tabulated below.
| College Name | Estimated Tuition Fees in INR (Per Year) |
| Gujarat University | INR 40,200 |
| MTB Arts College | INR 5,630 |
| Parul University | INR 45,000 |
| St. Xaviers College, Ahmedabad | INR 3,055 |
BA Fees in Karnataka for Top 5 Colleges
The BA course fee in Karnataka is estimated to be between INR 1,400 - 22,000 per year in top colleges such as Bangalore City University, SPM College, etc. Listed below are some of the top colleges in Karnataka along with their BA fees.
| College Name | Estimated Tuition Fees in INR (Per Year) |
| Banglore City University | INR 21,473 |
| St. Aloysius College | INR 13,000 |
| SPM College | INR 3,425 |
| Karnataka Arts College | INR 6,485 |
| Kuvempu College | INR 1,452 |
BA Fees in Uttar Pradesh for Top 5 Colleges
BA courses in UP are offered by colleges such as CMP Degree College, Lucknow Christian College, etc with fees ranging from INR 1,300 - 22,000 per year. Listed below are the top colleges in Bangalore with their BA fee structure.
| College Name | Estimated Tuition Fees in INR (Per Year) |
| U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University | INR 2,600 |
| CMP Degree College | INR 1,320 |
| Lucknow Christian College | INR 7,600 |
| Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gorakhpur University, Gorakhpur | INR 2,592 |
| GBU | INR 22,000 |
BA Course Scholarships in India
Students pursuing BA courses in India can avail scholarships offered by the private, state, and national government organisations. These scholarships help students to complete their studies by providing them with monetary assistance and other benefits. Some institutions also provide scholarships in the form of fee concessions to meritorious students.
The list of some of the well-known scholarships, along with their benefits, is given below.
| Scholarships | Benefits |
| Oasis Scholarship | INR 300-750 per month |
| Swami Vivekananda Scholarship | INR 2,50,000 per year |
| SSP Scholarship | 100% tuition fee coverage |
| Bhumi Fellowship | INR 35,000 per month |
| Nirankari Rajmata Scholarship | 100% tuition fee coverage |
| KVPY Scholarship | INR 28,000 |
| Sitaram Jindal Scholarship | INR 3,200 per month |
BA Admission Process
BA admissions in India are based on merit and entrance exams such as BHU UET, IPU CET, DU JAT, etc depending on the institution. To be eligible for BA admissions students must have completed 10+2 from a recognised board with 50% aggregate score for general category candidates and 45% for reserved category candidates. In addition, candidates may be required to clear the necessary entrance examination of the university.
Candidates can fill out the application form online or offline. They will be required to pay BA registration fees ranging from INR 100 to INR 1,500 depending on the selected college. A merit list containing the names of the shortlisted candidates will be released. Selected candidates must submit the documents for verification and pay the BA admission fees.
Read more: BA Admission
Factors Affecting BA Fees
The BA program fee in India can be significantly affected by several factors such as location, infrastructure, etc. Some of the major BA fees influencing factors are outlined below:
- Type of Institution: The BA fee structure depends on the type of institution the student is enrolled in. Government-run colleges have a lower fee structure compared to private colleges.
- Location: The BA fees is most commonly affected by location where the college is situated. Colleges in major cities or metropolitan areas such as Delhi, Bangalore,etc are usually expensive compared to other areas.
- Reputation: Renowned institutions may charge higher fees due to their value and quality of education.
- Infrastructure and Facilities: Colleges with better infrastructure and facilities have a higher fee rate to cover the cost of maintaining and upgrading its infrastructure.
- Hostel and Accommodation: Institutions with hostel and accommodation have extra fees for these facilities. Depending on the type of institution the hostel and accommodation fees range from INR 18,000 to INR per year.
- Scholarship and Financial Aid: Students with scholarships for Bachelors program will avail fee concession depending on the benefits of the scholarship.
Top BA [Bachelor of Arts] Colleges
Top Arts Entrance Exams
BA Fee Structure
FAQs on BA Fees
Q: Do government colleges offer lower fees for BA courses compared to private colleges?
A: Yes, government colleges offer fees which are as low as INR 300 for accessible and quality education for all.
Q: What is the admission fee for BA programs?
A: The BA admission fees in India lie between INR 50-30,000. While most institutions such as Calcutta University, St.Stephen’s College, Jamia Millia Islamia, etc charge BA 1st year admission fees ranging from INR 50-30,000 some colleges such as St. Bede’s College may also charge BA 2nd year admission fees of INR 600.
Q: What is the fees of the BA course in West Bengal vs Karnataka?
A: The BA course fees in West Bengal ranges from INR 500 - 15,150 per year while the BA course fees in Karnataka lies between INR 2,500 - 24,000 per year.
Q: Is IGNOU BA costly?
A: The total BA tuition fees in IGNOU is INR 6,000 per year. Students will also incur some additional charges ranging from INR 1,000 to 3,000.
Q: What are the BA colleges with low fees?
A: Some of the best colleges with low fees in India are Jamia Millia Islamia, JNU, Deshbandhu College, etc.
Q: Are there additional costs besides the tuition fees for BA?
A: Yes, students will incur other additional charges apart from the tuition fee that must be paid to the colleges such as admission fee, exam fee, development fees, hostel and accommodation charges, etc.
Q: What are the typical BA 1st year fees in government colleges compared to private institutions?
A: The BA fees for first year in government colleges such as Atma Ram Sanatan Dharm College, JNU, Calcutta University is covered well under INR 1,000. On the other hand, colleges such as St.Xavier’s College have a fee ranging from INR 40,000 - 10,00,000 per year.
Q: How much can students expect to pay for BA 1st year exam fees in colleges across India?
A: The BA exam fees vary depending on the college and institution type. On average, exam fees can range from INR 200 - 1,500 per semester.
Q: What is the average cost of BA 3rd year fees in government colleges versus private universities?
A: In government colleges, BA 3rd year fees remain relatively affordable ranging usually in the same range of INR 400 - 50,000 per year. The private universities fees for third year remains actively the same with minor reductions and ranges from 1,800 to 9,74,000 per year.
