NLU Rankings 2024: Placement-wise NLUs Ranking, NIRF Scores

NLU Rankings 2024: Placement-wise NLUs Ranking, NIRF Scores

Sansar Singh ChhikaraUpdated on 22 Nov 2024, 05:00 PM IST

NLU Rankings 2024: The National Law Universities (NLUs) are counted as the best legal educational institutions in the country. There are a total of 26 NLUs in India. These national law universities are spread over almost all parts of the country. Talking about the NLU rankings in 2024, NLSIU Bengaluru is the top-ranked law college in India which offers a medium salary of around Rs. 16 LPA during campus recruitments. The second place has been taken by NLU Delhi. However, WBNUJS Kolkata emerged as the top NLU in placements with the highest medium salary of Rs. 20 LPA. The Ministry of Education releases the National Institutional Research Framework (NIRF) rankings that rank educational institutes based on several parameters. In this article, we will discuss the NLU rankings 2024 in detail.

This Story also Contains

  1. NLU Rankings 2024 - NIRF
  2. NLU Rankings 2024 - Placement wise
  3. NLU Rankings 2024 - Last 5 years
  4. How to get admission to top NLUs?
  5. CLAT 2025 Exam - Overview
  6. AILET 2025 - Highlights
NLU Rankings 2024: Placement-wise NLUs Ranking, NIRF Scores
NLU Rankings 2024: Placement wise NLUs Ranking & NIRF Ranking

NLU Rankings 2024 - NIRF

The Ministry of Education released the NIRF Law ranking 2024 recently. 16 NLUs have been included in the NIRF law rankings for the top 40 law colleges in India. Here are the top NLUs in India according to NLU rankings 2024.

Top NLUs in India based on NIRF rankings

NLU name

Rank

Score

National Law School of India University, Bengaluru

1

83.83

National Law University, Delhi

2

77.48

NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad

3

77.05

The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, Kolkata

4

76.39

Gujarat National Law University, Gandhinagar

8

69.56

Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University, Lucknow

20

55.92

National Law Institute University, Bhopal

21

55.64

National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi

22

55.52

The Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Patiala

24

54.70

National Law University, Cuttack

26

54.49

National Law University and Judicial Academy, Kamrup

27

53.39

Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai

31

51.70

Chanakya National Law University, Patna

31

51.70

Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur

34

51.43

National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi

38

47.96

Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Visakhapatnam

39

47.94

NLU Rankings 2024 - Placement wise

When it comes to rankings, placement is a very important aspect. Here we have listed down

Sl. No

NLU Name

Total no. of graduating students

No. of students placed

Median salary

Students selected for higher studies

1

NLSIU Bengaluru

74

56

Rs 16 lakhs p.a.

15

2

NLU Delhi

83

69

Rs 14 lakhs p.a.

10

3

NALSAR Hyderabad

112

98

Rs 16 lakhs p.a.

12

4

WBNUJS Kolkata

127

108

Rs 20 lakhs p.a.

19

5

GNLU Gandhinagar

175

163

Rs 16 lakhs p.a.

12

6

RMLNLU Lucknow

174

148

Rs 7 lakhs p.a.

26

7

NLIU Bhopal

120

45

Rs 16 lakhs p.a.

65

8

NUSRL Ranchi

116

26

Rs 10 lakhs p.a.

23

9

RGNUL Patiala

163

31

Rs 9 lakhs p.a.

8

10

NLUO Cuttack

177

87

Rs 14.50 lakhs p.a.

11

11

NLUJA Assam

70

16

Rs 6.80 lakhs p.a.

20

12

MNLU Mumbai

54

30

Rs 14 lakhs p.a.

6

13

CNLU Patna

137

105

Rs 10.40 lakhs p.a

16

14

MNLU Nagpur

105

81

Rs 7 lakhs p.a.

24

15

NUALS Kochi

67

30

Rs 15 lakhs p.a.

28

16

DSNLU Visakhapatnam

120

30

Rs 6 lakhs p.a.

20


NLU Rankings 2024 - Last 5 years

NLU Name

NIRF Ranking 2024

NIRF Ranking 2023

NIRF Ranking 2022

NIRF Ranking 2021

NIRF Ranking 2020

NLSIU Bangalore

1

1

1

1

1

NLU Delhi

2

2

2

2

2

NALSAR Hyderabad

3

3

4

3

3

WBNUJS Kolkata

4

4

5

4

6

GNLU Gandhinagar

8

7

8

6

7

NLU Jodhpur

-

-

10

8

5

NLIU Bhopal

21

18

15

14

17

RMNLU Lucknow

20

21

17

15

11

RGNUL Patiala

24

20

18

16

10

NLUJA Kamrup

27

28

24

20

16

NLU Odisha, Cuttack

26

30

25

18

14

CNLU Patna

31

-

-

-

-

NUALS Kochi

38

-

-

-

-

NUSRL Ranchi

22

24

-

-

-

DSNLU Visakhapatnam

39

-

-

-

-

NLU Trichy

-

-

-

-

-

MNLU Mumbai

31


-

-

-

MNLU Nagpur

-

-

-

-

-

MNLU Aurangabad

-

-

-

-

-

NLU Shimla

-

-

-

-

-

NLU Jabalpur

-

-

-

-

-

HNLU Raipur

-

-

-

-

-

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University

-

-

-

-

-

GNLU Silvassa

-

-

-

-

-

NLU Tripura

-

-

-

-

-

NLU Meghalaya

-

-

-

-

-

RPNLU Prayagraj

-

-

-

-

-


How to get admission to top NLUs?

Admission to top NLUs is done through different entrance exams. The biggest exam for admission to NLUs is the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). Apart from CLAT, the second-ranked law university in India - NLU Delhi conducts its entrance exam. Admissions to NLU Delhi are done through the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET). Here is detailed information on both these exams:

Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) - The CLAT exam is conducted once every year usually in December. The entrance exam is conducted offline through pen- and paper-based testing. Admissions to 24 NLUs, India International University of Legal Education and Research (IIULER), Goa and more than 60 private law colleges are done through this entrance exam.

CLAT 2025 Exam - Overview

Particulars

Details

Exam name

Common Law Admission Test (CLAT)

Conducting body

Consortium of National Law Universities (CNLU)

Purpose

Admission to 5-year LLB and LLM

Recruitment for India Army

Recruitment in PSUs

Participating colleges

24 National Law Universities (NLUs) and 60+ affiliated colleges

Seats offered

5-year LLB - 3,400+

LLM - 12,00+

All India Law Entrance Test (AILET) - The AILET exam is conducted once every year for admission to National Law University Delhi. The exam is conducted in offline mode at various exam centres across the country. NLU Delhi only offers a BA LLB course. More detailed information about the exam has been given below:

AILET 2025 - Highlights

Overview

Name of Examination

All India Entrance Test (AILET)

Conducting Body

National Law University Delhi (NLU Delhi)

Level

Undergraduate and postgraduate level

Courses offered

BA LLB, LLM and PhD

Examination mode

Offline

Seats offered

BA LLB - 110 (additional 13 seats under supernumerary quota and FN/OCI/PIO)

LLM - 70

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the ranking of NLU Jodhpur in 2024?
A:

NLU Jodhpur has not been ranked in the NIRF Law rankings 2024. The NLU was ranked 10 in NIRF Law rankings 2022.

Q: Which is the best NLU in terms of placement?
A:

WBNUJS Kolkata is the best NLU in terms of placement figures with a median salary of Rs 20 LPA.

Q: Can I get NLU in the 1000 rank?
A:

Yes, candidates with a 1000 rank are likely to get admission into NLU.

Q: What is the ranking of NLU Delhi?
A:

NLU Delhi is ranked second in the NIRF law rankings 2024.

Q: Which is the top-ranked NLU in India?
A:

NLSIU Bengaluru is the top-ranked NLU in India.

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Questions related to CLAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CLAT ?

With an AIR of 34724 and OBC category rank of 7153, chances of getting a seat in DSNLU Visakhapatnam are low in early rounds. However, since you are already invited for counselling, there may be some chance in later rounds depending on seat vacancy and cut-off movement. You should participate in all counselling rounds and keep other college options open.

You can check CLAT cutoffs and counselling details here:

https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-cutoff


With a CLAT LLM rank of 13656, getting a top NLU is difficult. You may have chances in lower-ranked NLUs or private law universities, depending on seat availability and category.


You can check CLAT LLM counselling details here:

https://law.careers360.com/articles/clat-llm-cut-off


With a CLAT PG rank of 1257 in the SC category and being a woman candidate with Rajasthan domicile, you do have a realistic chance of securing admission to several National Law Universities, though the top NLUs may be difficult at this rank. Admission chances depend heavily on category-wise cut-offs, domicile reservations, and how many seats are available in a given year. For top-tier NLUs like NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, or NLUD, the closing ranks for SC category usually fall much lower, so chances there are minimal. However, you should definitely consider mid- and lower-ranked NLUs where SC category cut-offs often extend beyond 1200–1500 ranks.

You should prioritise NLUs that offer domicile or state quota benefits, especially those closer to your home state or neighbouring regions. National Law University Jodhpur (if applicable under domicile or category movement), Hidayatullah National Law University Raipur, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University Lucknow, Gujarat National Law University Gandhinagar, Maharashtra National Law University (Nagpur or Aurangabad), National Law University Odisha, and Tamil Nadu National Law University are some options where candidates in the SC category with similar ranks have secured seats in previous counselling rounds. Lower-tier NLUs like Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University, Himachal Pradesh National Law University, and Dharmashastra National Law University can also be kept in your preference list as safer options.

Your strategy should be to keep a wide preference list during counselling, placing mid-ranked NLUs first and then moving to lower NLUs, rather than restricting yourself only to a few choices. Also, stay active during subsequent counselling rounds and vacancy rounds, as many seats in the SC category are filled later due to withdrawals. Overall, while top NLUs may be tough, you have a fair chance of getting into a decent NLU if you plan your preferences smartly and remain flexible.

With a CLAT PG rank of around 11,000, getting admission into the top National Law Universities (NLUs) is not likely, as their general category cut-offs usually close much earlier. However, you still have realistic chances in lower-ranked and newer NLUs, especially in the later rounds of CLAT counselling or through vacant seats.

At this rank, you may consider NLUs such as NLU Tripura, NLU Meghalaya, NLU Nagaland, NLU Sikkim, NLU Andhra Pradesh, NLU Odisha, NLU Jabalpur, and NLU Aurangabad, particularly if you belong to a reserved category like SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or have domicile or women reservation applicable. Cut-offs for these universities tend to go higher in rank compared to older NLUs, and seats often open up in subsequent counselling rounds due to withdrawals.

If you do not secure an NLU seat, you should also strongly consider reputed state and private law universities that accept CLAT PG scores or conduct their own entrance tests. Universities such as Faculty of Law, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Delhi University (DU – through CUET PG), Jamia Millia Islamia, Symbiosis Law School, Christ University, Jindal Global Law School, and Nirma University are good alternatives for LLM aspirants. Many of these institutions offer strong academic exposure, experienced faculty, and good research opportunities, sometimes even better than newer NLUs.

Overall, while a rank of 11,000 limits options in top NLUs, admission is still possible in newer NLUs or good non-NLU law universities, provided you actively participate in counselling rounds and keep backup options ready.

With a CLAT 2026 All India Rank around 2070, Telangana domicile, and holding an OBC certificate (girl candidate), your chances of getting admission into a top-tier NLU like NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, NUJS Kolkata or NLU Jodhpur are quite low, as their closing ranks are usually much higher. However, you still have realistic chances in several mid-tier and newer NLUs, especially if OBC reservation and domicile or women reservation is applicable.

Based on previous years’ counselling trends, you can reasonably expect chances in NLUs such as NLU Odisha (Cuttack), NLIU Bhopal (borderline, depending on category movement), NLU Assam (Guwahati), DSNLU Visakhapatnam, TNNLU Tiruchirappalli, HPNLU Shimla, NLU Tripura, NLU Meghalaya, NLU Sikkim, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar NLU Sonipat. Some of these universities see rank movement in later rounds and vacancies, particularly for reserved categories and women candidates.

Since you are from Telangana, you should definitely keep NALSAR Hyderabad in your preference list, but only after all higher NLUs, as the domicile quota is limited and usually closes at a much better rank. Still, it is worth trying because domicile and category together can sometimes help in spot or vacancy rounds.

Your best strategy would be to prepare a balanced preference list: first include all top NLUs, then mid-tier NLUs like NLU Odisha and NLIU Bhopal, followed by newer and lower-ranked NLUs where your rank has a stronger chance. Make sure you actively participate in all counselling rounds, including vacancies, as many seats open up after withdrawals.

Cut-offs vary every year depending on seat intake, category distribution, and counselling dynamics, so even if you miss out in early rounds, you should not lose hope. Keep your documents ready, track counselling updates closely, and stay flexible with preferences to maximize your chances of securing an NLU seat.