IIT Bhubaneswar vs NIT Rourkela: Ranking, Courses, Fees, Placements & Campus Life

Choosing between IIT Bhubaneswar and NIT Rourkela for an engineering degree is a crucial step for any aspiring student. They are both leading government technical institutes in India and have a good academic reputation, research, and high placements.
When it comes to fee structure, the annual B.Tech fee at IIT Bhubaneswar is approximately ₹2.8 - ₹3 lakhs per annum, which is relatively expensive, and NIT Rourkela is approximately 1-1.5 lakhs per annum, a very affordable option. In admissions, IIT Bhubaneswar needs students to qualify in JEE Advanced after passing JEE Main, and NIT Rourkela admits students through direct JEE Main scores, after which they go through JoSAA counselling.
In terms of seat availability, IIT Bhubaneswar has approximately 420 B.Tech seats, whereas NIT Rourkela has almost 792 seats and has a higher number of students. Placement-wise, IIT Bhubaneswar has an average package of ₹12 LPA with the best recruiters, such as Microsoft and Amazon, whereas NIT Rourkela has an average package of ₹8 - ₹10 LPA with recruiters such as Infosys and Wipro.
IIT Bhubaneswar vs NIT Rourkela: Quick Highlights
This table will give a summary of the year of establishment, ownership, admission procedure, courses, size of the campus, placements, and location.
Particulars | IIT Bhubaneswar | NIT Rourkela |
Established Year | 2008 | 1961 |
Ownership | Central Government (Ministry of Education) | Central Government (Ministry of Education) |
Admission Process | JEE Advanced + JoSAA Counselling | JEE Main + JoSAA Counselling |
Total Courses | B.Tech, M.Tech, PhD, Dual Degree | B.Tech, M.Tech, PhD, Dual Degree |
Total Seats (B.Tech) | ~420 | ~792 |
Campus Size | ~936 acres | ~625 acres |
Placement Details | Avg. ₹12 LPA; recruiters Microsoft, Amazon, TCS | Avg. ₹8–10 LPA; recruiters Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant |
Infrastructure | Modern labs, smart classrooms, research centers | Well-equipped labs, hostels, and sports facilities |
Location | Bhubaneswar, Odisha | Rourkela, Odisha |
IIT Bhubaneswar vs NIT Rourkela: B.Tech Course Details
IIT Bhubaneswar and NIT Rourkela are both able to offer undergraduate, post-graduate, and doctoral engineering and sciences in a variety of specializations, with full-time residential education controlled through national-level examinations.
Course Name | IIT Bhubaneswar | NIT Rourkela |
Course Type | Undergraduate, Postgraduate, PhD | Undergraduate, Postgraduate, PhD |
Duration | 4 years (B.Tech), divided into 8 semesters | 4 years (B.Tech) divided into 8 semesters |
Mode | Full-time, residential | Full-time, residential |
Specializations | Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, etc. | Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, etc. |
Admission Process | JEE Advanced + JoSAA | JEE Main + JoSAA |
IIT Bhubaneswar vs NIT Rourkela: Courses & Fees
IIT Bhubaneswar is more expensive than NIT Rourkela, and both schools have hostels and mess fees that cover the cost of affordable housing facilities, quality technical facilities, and campus amenities.
Course | IIT Bhubaneswar | NIT Rourkela |
B.Tech Annual Fees | ₹2,84,690 | ₹2,48,000 |
M.Tech | ₹65,390/- | ₹1,81,500 |
Dual Degree | ₹65,390/- | ₹2,48,000 |
Hostel & Mess Fees | Included in total fees | Included in total fees |
IIT Bhubaneswar vs NIT Rourkela: Admission Process
IIT Bhubaneswar accepts JEE Advanced after qualifying JEE Main, whereas NIT Rourkela accepts JEE Main scores. They both adhere to JoSAA counselling and government reservation policies of category-wise admissions.
Particulars | IIT Bhubaneswar | NIT Rourkela |
Entrance Exam | JEE Advanced (after qualifying JEE Main) | JEE Main |
Counselling Authority | JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) | JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) |
Admission Criteria | Rank in JEE Advanced, category-wise cutoff | Rank in JEE Main, category-wise cutoff |
Academic Eligibility | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics |
Reservation Policy | As per Government of India norms (SC/ST/OBC/EWS, PwD) | As per Government of India norms (SC/ST/OBC/EWS, PwD) |
IIT Bhubaneswar vs NIT Rourkela: Cutoff
IIT Bhubaneswar Cutoffs are generally higher due to JEE Advanced. NIT Rourkela admits through JEE Main with relatively relaxed cutoffs, offering wider accessibility across branches.
Particulars | IIT Bhubaneswar | NIT Rourkela |
Exam Accepted | JEE Advanced | JEE Main |
CSE Cutoff (Closing Rank) | ~2,800 – 3,200 | ~1,000–1,200 |
Other Branches Cutoff | 6,000 – 10,000 | 5,000 – 15,000 |
IIT Bhubaneswar vs NIT Rourkela: Total Seats
NIT Rourkela has a population of approximately 2,000 students, and IIT Bhubaneswar has almost 920 seats per year. The intake capacity of NIT Rourkela is much higher, particularly in postgraduate and doctoral programs.
Particulars | IIT Bhubaneswar | NIT Rourkela |
BTech Seats | ~420 | ~792 |
PG & PhD Seats | 500+ | 1,200+ |
Total Student Intake | ~920 annually | ~2,000 annually |
IIT Bhubaneswar vs NIT Rourkela: Placement Details
Both IIT Bhubaneswar and NIT Rourkela have good placement records and have regular performance. Average packages are higher at IIT Bhubaneswar, whereas NIT Rourkela guarantees a high involvement of recruiters and great employment prospects.
Parameters | IIT Bhubaneswar | NIT Rourkela |
Average Package | ₹12 LPA | ₹8–10 LPA |
Top Recruiters | Microsoft, Amazon, TCS | Infosys, Wipro, Cognizant |
Placement Percentage | High, consistent | High, consistent |
IIT Bhubaneswar vs NIT Rourkela: Accreditation & Approval
IIT Bhubaneswar and NIT Rourkela are approved by UGC, accredited by NBA in major programs, a nd have a good NIRF rating. The two institutes are globally connected so that the students get academic quality and exposure at the international level.
Particulars | IIT Bhubaneswar | NIT Rourkela |
UGC Recognition | Yes | Yes |
NAAC Accreditation | Not yet (IITs are autonomous; exempt) | NAAC Accredited with ‘A’ grade |
NBA Accreditation | Selected UG & PG Programs Accredited | Most B.Tech. Programs NBA Accredited |
NIRF Ranking (2025) | 39th rank in the Engineering Category and the 6th rank in the Overall Category | 13th |
International Tie-ups | MoUs with US, UK, Japan, and EU universities | MoUs with the US, Germany, Singapore, and the UK |
IIT Bhubaneswar vs NIT Rourkela: Infrastructure & Facilities
IIT Bhubaneswar and NIT Rourkela have good facilities and infrastructure, such as large campuses, well-equipped laboratories, hostels, and sports facilities. IIT is very strong in modern innovation centres, and NIT is strong in connectivity and industrial exposure.
Particulars | IIT Bhubaneswar | NIT Rourkela |
Campus Size | 936 acres | 625 acres |
Labs & Research | Advanced research centres, innovation hubs | Well-established labs and research facilities |
Hostels | Separate hostels for boys and girls | Separate hostels for boys and girls |
Sports & Recreation | Modern sports complexes | Established sports facilities |
Location Advantages | Located in an emerging IT and industrial hub | Situated in an industrial region with good connectivity |
Conclusion
IIT Bhubaneswar and NIT Rourkela are dignified institutions with high-quality education in the field of engineering, good research prospects, and good placements. IIT Bhubaneswar is the right choice when students want to achieve the IIT brand name, advanced research, and international exposure.
NIT Rourkela is more appropriate for students who are in need of low-cost education, a larger campus experience, and various academic opportunities. The last decision is based on the ranking of the entrance, preferred branch, money, and the type of campus one desires.
FAQs
Ques. What entrance test is necessary to get in?
Ans: IIT Bhubaneswar and NIT Rourkela admit students to their respective courses using JEE Advanced and JEE Main, respectively, and then use JoSAA counselling to allocate seats to all branches.
Ques. What are the average placement packages provided?
Ans: IIT Bhubaneswar has an average package of 12 LPA with the best MNC recruiters, whereas NIT Rourkela offers 8-10 LPA with regular placements in engineering branches.
Ques. Which institute is larger in terms of campus?
Ans: The modern campus of IIT Bhubaneswar is 936 acres with smart classes and a research centre, but NIT Rourkela has a well-established campus of 625 acres with a dynamic hostel and sports culture.
Ques. When did these institutes come into existence?
Ans: One of the new IITs was created in 2008 with the name of IIT Bhubaneswar, and NIT Rourkela was created in 1961, which is one of the oldest and most reputed NITs.
Ques. Which institute is more accredited and recognized?
Ans: Both institutes are UGC-certified. IIT Bhubaneswar has NAAC A, and NIT Rourkela has NAAC A++, which indicates good academic and research standards.