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.
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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.
| 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 |
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 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 | - | - | - | - | - |
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.
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:
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)
NLU Jodhpur has not been ranked in the NIRF Law rankings 2024. The NLU was ranked 10 in NIRF Law rankings 2022.
WBNUJS Kolkata is the best NLU in terms of placement figures with a median salary of Rs 20 LPA.
Yes, candidates with a 1000 rank are likely to get admission into NLU.
NLU Delhi is ranked second in the NIRF law rankings 2024.
NLSIU Bengaluru is the top-ranked NLU in India.
On Question asked by student community
Start preparing for CLAT by first understanding the exam pattern and syllabus, which includes English, Current Affairs, Legal Reasoning, Logical Reasoning, and Quantitative Techniques. Make a simple daily routine and begin with basics read newspapers regularly for current affairs, practice comprehension passages for English and legal sections, and solve basic
Hello
With an AIR of 9076 and EWS rank of 846 in CLAT 2026, getting a top NLUs is unlikely, which is why you didn’t get a seat in the first round. However, you still have some chances in lower-tier NLUs like NLU Odisha, NLU Assam, NLU Tripura, NLU Meghalaya,
Hello
With a CLAT 2026 score of 60.75, AIR 17,715, and OBC-NCL rank 3,347 as an out-of-Delhi candidate, getting a seat in the Faculty of Law, Delhi University is very unlikely. DU’s cut-offs for OBC candidates are usually much higher, even in later rounds. You should keep backup options like
Hello,
With AIR 10542 and OBC rank 1843, getting top NLUs is unlikely. However, you still have chances in newer or lower ranked NLUs like NLU Assam, NUSRL Ranchi, MNLU Nagpur/Mumbai, especially in later or vacancy rounds. Also consider good private law colleges as backup options.
Since you scored 8000 AIR in CLAT, getting into top NLUs may not be possible, so it is a good idea to look for affordable and good law colleges.
State government law colleges are usually low in fees, and have decent reputation. Some options include Government Law College, Mumbai, Faculty
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Excellent curriculum; an impressive range of electives, besides core law courses. Up to 100% merit scholarship on a first-come, first-served basis
Ranked #18 amongst Institutions in India by NIRF | Ranked #1 in India for Academic Reputation by QS Rankings | 16 LPA Highest CTC
Last Date to Apply: 21st December 2025 | Grade 'A+' accredited by NAAC | Ranked 33rd by NIRF 2025
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