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Compare IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur: Complete 2025 Guide

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Prince Sharma • 6 Mins read • 15 Sep 25
 IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur

IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur are two of the top engineering institutions in India, especially for their B.Tech in Computer Science and Engineering programs. Both institutes admit students via JEE Advanced, followed by JoSAA counselling, and normally  IIT Delhi Cutoff is higher (AIR 126) compared to the IIT Kanpur cutoff (AIR 159). 

IIT Delhi B.Tech fee is ₹1,00,000 per annum, whereas IIT Kanpur B.Tech fee is ₹1,00,000 per semester. Both institutes have excellent placement records. Both institutes have excellent placement records, with IIT Delhi reporting a median salary of ₹19.1 LPA and IIT Kanpur offering similar packages. Intake of seats is close to 100 at IIT Delhi and 108 at IIT Kanpur. Both institutes are full-time residential, have good infrastructure, and exposure to the industry. Your decision should be based on rank, location preference, or long-term goals.

In this blog, we will cover a detailed comparison of IIT Delhi admissions and IIT Kanpur, seat matrix, fees, campus infrastructure, placements, curriculum comparison, cost-benefit analysis, and more.


IIT Delhi vs IIT Kanpur: Quick Highlights

Below is a table that shows quick comparison highlights of IIT Madras and IIT Delhi:

Particulars

IIT Delhi

IIT Kanpur

Established Year

1961

1959

Ownership

Central Government (Ministry of Education)

Central Government (Ministry of Education)

Admission Process

JEE Advanced + JoSAA Counselling

JEE Advanced + JoSAA Counselling

Total Courses

B.Tech, M.Tech, MBA, PhD

B.Tech, Dual Degree, M.Tech, MBA, PhD

Total Seats (CSE)

100

108

Placement Details

Top recruiters include Google, Microsoft, and Amazon

Top recruiters include Google, Microsoft, and Amazon

Accreditation

Recognised by AICTE; NIRF Ranked

Recognised by AICTE; NIRF Ranked

Approval

Approved by the Ministry of Education, Government of India

Approved by the Ministry of Education, Government of India


IIT Delhi vs IIT Kanpur: B.Tech Course Details

Below is a simple comparison table of B.Tech course descriptions, IIT Delhi, and IIT Kanpur. This will help you see how they differ in configurations, duration, and formats, medium of instruction, campus facilities, etc.

Particulars

IIT Delhi

IIT Kanpur

Course Type

Undergraduate (B.Tech in CSE) 

Undergraduate (B.Tech in CSE) 

Duration

4 Years

4 Years

Mode

Full-time, residential

Full-time, residential

Number of Specializations

CSE only (electives in AI, ML, etc.)

CSE only (electives and open minors available)

Internship

Mandatory industry internship (usually in 3rd or 4th year)

Mandatory industry internship (usually in 3rd or 4th year)

Medium of Instruction

English

English

Campus Facilities

Labs, innovation centers, hostels, library, sports grounds

Labs, computing center, hostels, library, sports complex


IIT Delhi vs IIT Kanpur: Course Fees

Here is a comparison of course Fees between IIT Delhi Course and IIT Kanpur in tabular form:

Course

IIT Delhi

IIT Kanpur

B.Tech

₹1,00,000 per year (General category)

₹1,00,000 per semester (General category)


IIT Delhi vs IIT Kanpur: B.Tech Admission Process

Both institutes offer the B.Tech program through JEE Advanced, followed by JoSAA counselling. Below is a table that displays the differences between IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur admission processes.

Particulars 

IIT Delhi B.Tech Admission

IIT Kanpur B.Tech Admission

Accepted Exams

JEE Advanced

JEE Advanced

Eligibility

10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics; minimum 75% marks or top 20 percentile (General category)

10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics; minimum 75% marks or top 20 percentile (General category)

Selection Process

JEE Advanced rank → JoSAA counselling → seat allotment

JEE Advanced rank → JoSAA counselling → seat allotment 


IIT Delhi vs IIT Kanpur: Cutoff

Below are the JEE Advanced 2025 cutoff ranks of IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur for comparison.

Category

IIT Delhi Cutoff (AIR)

IIT Kanpur Cutoff (AIR)

General (UR)

Round 4: Closing Rank – 126

Expected Closing Rank – 242–262

OBC-NCL

Round 4: Closing Rank – 91

Expected Closing Rank – 9–155 

SC

Round 4: Closing Rank – 45

Expected Closing Rank – 76–96

ST

Round 4: Closing Rank – 26

Expected Closing Rank – 41–54


IIT Delhi vs IIT Kanpur: Total Seats

Here is a quick overview of the total seats available in some flagship courses at IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur to compare their academic capacity.

Courses

IIT Delhi Seats

IIT Kanpur Seats

B.Tech

1,209 seats across multiple branches

1,198 seats across multiple branches

M.Tech

Varies by specialization; approx. 25–30 seats per branch

Varies by specialization; approx. 20–30 seats per branch

Ph.D.

Limited seats; varies by department

Limited seats; varies by department


IIT Delhi vs IIT Kanpur: Placements

Below is a comparison of IIT Delhi placements with IIT Kanpur in tabular format.

Parameters

IIT Delhi

IIT Kanpur

Median Salary (B.Tech)

₹19.1 LPA (2023–24)

₹26.27 LPA (2023–24)

Highest Salary (B.Tech)

₹2 Cr+ (international offer, 2023–24)

₹1.9 Cr (domestic offer, 2023–24)

Students Placed (B.Tech)

900+ students placed, including PPOs

913 students placed, including PPOs


IIT Delhi vs IIT Kanpur: Accreditation & Approval

Here is a table that shows the Accreditation & Approval for the B.Tech programs at IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur.

Particulars

IIT Delhi

IIT Kanpur

Accreditation

Recognized by AICTE; Ranked 2nd in Engineering and 4th Overall in NIRF 2025

Recognized by AICTE; Ranked 4th in Engineering and 5th Overall in NIRF 2025

Approval

Approved by the Ministry of Education, Government of India

Approved by the Ministry of Education, Government of India 


IIT Delhi vs IIT Kanpur: Infrastructure & Facilities

Below is a brief overview of IIT Delhi infrastructure and IIT Kanpur infrastructure, and other facilities in tabular format.

Particulars

IIT Delhi

IIT Kanpur

Infrastructure Details

Academic blocks, innovation labs, central library, hospital, sports grounds, auditorium

Academic blocks, computing centers, central library, flight lab, sports complex, research centers

Hostels Available

Yes – Multiple hostels for boys and girls; West Campus hosts student accommodations 

Yes – Spacious hostels with large rooms and 24-hour amenities

Hostel Fees

Approx. ₹500/month (excluding mess charges)

Approx. ₹500/month (excluding mess charges)

Library Access

Central library with e-resources, reading zones, LAN access

P.K. Kelkar Library with 3,00,000+ volumes and digital access

Campus Facilities

Wi-Fi campus, gym, mess, reading rooms, sports courts, student clubs, hospital

Wi-Fi campus, food courts, gymnasiums, open-air theatre, sports arenas, student clubs

Campus Size

Approx. 330 acres in New Delhi

Approx. 1055 acres in Kanpur


Conclusion

IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur are both viable options for engineering aspirants, especially in Computer Science. IIT Delhi has a bit higher cutoffs and low fee structure, IIT Kanpur has a huge campus and also a higher median salary (which can be helpful for placements in the long run). Academically, both have supported frames and good placements in engineering and infrastructure. In the end, it is essential to consider your feasible JEE rank and your suitability to study in the region you would prefer, and your aspirations.


IIT Delhi vs IIT Kanpur: FAQs


Ques: How do we compare IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur as a whole?

Ans: If we compare IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur, both are one of the premier IITs and offer good Computer Science and Engineering programs. The cut-offs for Delhi are slightly higher while Kanpur has a much larger campus and higher median salary packages.


Ques: What is the IIT Delhi vs. IIT Kanpur placements statistics?

Ans: The placements are really good at both of these institutes. IIT Delhi vs IIT Kanpur placements statistics, IIT Delhi had a median salary of ₹19.1 LPA and IIT Kanpur reported ₹26.27 LPA for the academic year 2023–24. Both crossed ₹1.9–2 crore as the highest package.


Ques: What are the research areas at IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur?

Ans: Research areas at IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur include AI, robotics, data science, aerospace, renewable energy, and advanced materials. IIT Kanpur has a good reputation in the aerospace space (flight lab), while IIT Delhi has strong industry-relevant AI and ML labs.


Ques: What is student life like in IIT Delhi and Kanpur?

Ans: Student life at IIT Delhi and Kanpur is creative and lively with cultural fests, student clubs, and sports. IIT Delhi is located in an urban space with industry connections, while Kanpur has a broader residential campus with a small student community.


Ques: What kind of facilities will I find on the IIT Delhi campus? 

Ans: IIT Delhi campus facilities include innovation labs, playing fields, auditoriums, a Wi-Fi campus, library, gymnasium, and many hostels in West Campus.