GENERAL

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

NS
Natasha Singh • 6 Mins read • 16 Sep 25
iit bhubaneswar Vs nit rourkelaiit bhubaneswar Vs nit rourkela

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.