India’s top Arts colleges are Hindu College New Delhi, St Stephen's College New Delhi, St. Xavier's College Kolkata, LSR New Delhi, and Miranda House New Delhi. As per the Collegedunia India rankings, Hindu College New Delhi is ranked 1st with an overall score of 1963, St Stephen's College New Delhi at 2nd with an overall score of 1798, and St. Xavier's College Kolkata at 3rd with an overall score of 1701.
Key Summary
- Fee Range of Top 30 Colleges:
- Government Colleges: 35.21 K (SGTB New Delhi) to 3.56 Lakh (St Joseph's University Bangalore)
- Private Colleges: 52.5 K (St. Xavier's College Mumbai) to 3.98 Lakh (Christ University Bangalore)
- Cheapest Option: UUC Bhubaneswar - 0.1 K total fees
- Direct Admission: St. Xavier's College Kolkata, MCC Chennai, St. Xavier's College Mumbai
- Entrance Exam Accepted:
- CUET: Hindu College New Delhi, St Stephen's College New Delhi, Miranda House New Delhi
- Best Specialisations:
- English: Hindu College New Delhi, St Stephen's College New Delhi
- Economics: Lady Shri Ram College for Women, Shri Ram College of Commerce
- Psychology: Jesus and Mary College, Gargi College New Delhi
- Political Science: Miranda House New Delhi Government Arts Colleges in India: Hindu College New Delhi, St Stephen's College New Delhi, Hansraj College New Delhi Private Arts Colleges in India: St. Xavier's College Kolkata, Christ University Bangalore, Mount Carmel College Bangalore.
Top 30 Arts Colleges in India 2026
| Ranking in India | College Name | College Type | Course Type | Eligibility Criteria | Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hindu College New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Political Science) | 10+2 with 50%, CUET | 86.01 K |
| 2 | St Stephen's College New Delhi | Government | BA | 10+2 with 50%, CUET | 88.31 K |
| 3 | St. Xavier's College Kolkata | Private | BA (Hons.) (English) | 10+2 with 50% | 1.93 Lakh |
| 4 | LSR New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Psychology) | 10+2 with 60%, CUET | 60.46 K |
| 5 | Miranda House New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Political Science) | 10+2 with 50%, CUET | 48.18 K |
| 6 | KMC New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Geography) | 10+2 with 45%, CUET | 67.26 K |
| 7 | SRCC New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Economics) | 10+2 with 50%, CUET UG | 1.25 Lakh |
| 8 | JMC New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Psychology) | 10+2 with 50%, CUET | 83.04 K |
| 9 | Ramjas College New Delhi | Government | BA | 10+2 with 50%, CUET | 46.78 K |
| 10 | Indraprastha College for Women New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Psychology) | 10+2 with 50%, CUET | 1.13 Lakh |
| 11 | Hansraj College New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Economics) | 10+2 with 50%, CUET | 86.16 K |
| 12 | Sri Venkateswara College - Delhi New Delhi | Government | BA | 10+2 with 50%, CUET | 66.06 K |
| 13 | MCC Chennai | Private | BA (Political Science) | 10+2 with 50% | 56.16 K |
| 14 | DRC New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Psychology) | 10+2 with 50%, CUET | 1.05 Lakh |
| 15 | Loyola College Chennai | Private | BA (Economics) | 10+2 with 50% | 84.66 K |
| 16 | Gargi College New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Applied Psychology) | 10+2 with 60%, CUET | 82.82 K |
| 17 | KNC New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Psychology) | 10+2 with 50%, CUET | 52.65 K |
| 18 | SGTB New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Business Economics) | Graduation with 50% | 95.35 K |
| 19 | Aryabhatta College New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Psychology) | 10+2 with 50%, CUET | 72.66 K |
| 20 | ARSD New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Political Science) | 10+2 with 50%, CUET UG | 57.09 K |
| 21 | St. Xavier's College Mumbai | Private | BA (Psychology) | 10+2 with 40% | 52.5 K |
| 22 | Keshav Mahavidyalaya New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Psychology) | 10+2 with 50%, CUET | 53.92 K |
| 23 | Mithibai College of Arts Mumbai | Private | BA (Psychology) | 10+2 with 60%, CUET | 93.5 K |
| 24 | Ramanujan College New Delhi | Government | BA | 10+2 with 50%, CUET UG | 55.26 K |
| 25 | Christ University Bangalore | Private | BA (Psychology) | 10+2 with 50%, Entrance Test | 3.98 Lakh |
| 26 | Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Business Economics) | 10+2 with 50% | 1.61 Lakh |
| 27 | DCAC New Delhi | Government | BA | 10+2 with 50%, CUET | 40.2 K |
| 28 | Mount Carmel College Autonomous Bangalore | Private | BA (Psychology) | 10+2 with 50% | 3.62 Lakh |
| 29 | Zakir Husain Delhi College New Delhi | Government | BA (Hons.) (Psychology) | 10+2 with 50% | 57.3 K |
| 30 | St Joseph's University Bangalore | Government | BA (Hons.) (International Relations) | 10+2 with 50% | 3.56 Lakh |
Top-Ranked Arts Colleges in India by Various Agencies
Hindu College New Delhi holds the top position across all rankings, followed by St Stephen's College New Delhi and St. Xavier's College Kolkata. Here is the list of the Collegedunia, NAAC, India Today, The Week, and Outlook rankings for the top Arts Colleges in India.
| College Name | Collegedunia Rankings | NAAC | India Today (India) | The Week (India) | Outlook (India) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CD Rank | CD Score (out of 2000) | |||||
| Hindu College New Delhi | 1 | 1963 | A+ | 1 | 3 | 3 |
| St Stephen's College New Delhi | 2 | 1798 | A++ | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| St. Xavier's College Kolkata | 3 | 1701 | A++ | - | 9 | - |
| LSR New Delhi | 4 | 1632 | A++ | 3 | 1 | 1 |
| Miranda House New Delhi | 5 | 1597 | A+ | 2 | 4 | 2 |
Student Ratings of Best Arts Colleges in India
These are the ratings given by current students and alumni for the best Arts colleges in India. They cover important aspects such as academics, faculty, infrastructure, accommodation, social life, and placements. In terms of placements, St Stephen's College New Delhi and St. Xavier's College Kolkata are top-rated colleges in India. Hindu College New Delhi, and St Stephen's College New Delhi, are the best colleges for academics. Here is the list of student ratings for the best Arts Colleges in India 2026.
| College Name | Academics | Faculty | Infrastructure | Accommodation | Social Life | Placements |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu College New Delhi | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 3.9 |
| St Stephen's College New Delhi | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 3.8 | 4.5 | 4.3 |
| St. Xavier's College Kolkata | 4.3 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 3.8 | 4.4 | 4.0 |
| LSR New Delhi | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Miranda House New Delhi | 4.3 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 3.7 |
Disclaimer: The data is based on student reviews and alumni reviews available on Collegedunia
Student Perception of Best Arts Colleges in India
Arts colleges in India, like St Stephen's College New Delhi and LSR New Delhi, provide genuine input on academics, faculty, facilities, placements, and more. Based on Collegedunia student reviews, the following table presents the most loved things & the areas of improvement.
| College Name | Overall Ratings | Most Loved Things | Area of Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu College New Delhi | 4.2 (390 reviews) | Great faculty, campus life & societies. | High fees & tough competition. |
| St Stephen's College New Delhi | 4.3 (72 reviews) | Top faculty & strong academics. | Strict rules & high pressure. |
| St. Xavier's College Kolkata | 4.1 (601 reviews) | Good faculty & placements. | Strict rules & pressure. |
| LSR New Delhi | 4.3 (194 reviews) | Strong faculty & placements. | High pressure & no hostel. |
| Miranda House New Delhi | 4.2 (277 reviews) | Good faculty & campus life. | High competition & crowd. |
Govt Arts Colleges in India 2026
Out of 1801 government colleges in India, 1498 offer BA and 1156 offer MA. Hindu College New Delhi, St Stephen's College New Delhi, and LSR New Delhi are the top Government Arts Colleges in India. Fees range from 48.18 K at Miranda House New Delhi, to 88.31 K at St Stephen's College New Delhi. Following is a table listing the course details and total course fees of these colleges.
| College Name | Course Type | Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Hindu College New Delhi | BA (Hons.) (Political Science) | 86.01 K |
| St Stephen's College New Delhi | BA | 88.31 K |
| LSR New Delhi | BA (Hons.) (Psychology) | 60.46 K |
| Miranda House New Delhi | BA (Hons.) (Political Science) | 48.18 K |
| KMC New Delhi | BA (Hons.) (Geography) | 67.26 K |
Private Arts Colleges in India 2026
Out of 3620 private colleges in India, 2928 offer BA and 1882 offer MA. St. Xavier's College Kolkata, MCC Chennai, and Loyola College Chennai are the top Private Arts Colleges in India. Fees range from 52.5 K at St. Xavier's College Mumbai to 1.93 Lakh at St. Xavier's College Kolkata. Following is a table listing the course details and total course fees of these colleges.
| College Name | Course Type | Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| St. Xavier's College Kolkata | BA (Hons.) (English) | 1.93 Lakh |
| MCC Chennai | BA (Political Science) | 56.16 K |
| Loyola College Chennai | BA (Economics) | 84.66 K |
| St. Xavier's College Mumbai | BA (Psychology) | 52.5 K |
| Mithibai College of Arts Mumbai | BA (Psychology) | 93.5 K |
Best Arts Colleges in India without Entrance Exam
St. Xavier's College Kolkata, MCC Chennai, and St. Xavier's College Mumbai are some of the Arts colleges that offer direct admission to the Arts course based on merit in Class 12th. Here is the list of Arts colleges in India that offer direct admission, along with their course fees and admission criteria.
| College Name | Course Type | Total Course Fee | Admission Process |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Xavier's College Kolkata | BA (Hons.) (English) | 1.93 Lakh | Admission is based on merit in Class 12th, followed by the university’s selection process. |
| MCC Chennai | BA (Political Science) | 56.16 K | Admission is generally merit-based as per college guidelines. |
| St. Xavier's College Mumbai | BA (Psychology) | 52.5 K | Admission is granted based on Class 12th merit and institutional norms. |
| Mount Carmel College Autonomous Bangalore | BA (Psychology) | 3.62 Lakh | Admission is based on merit and university admission criteria. |
| St Joseph's University Bangalore | BA (Hons.) (International Relations) | 3.56 Lakh | Admission is based on merit through the online application process. |
Best Arts Colleges in India: Admission 2026
The Arts colleges in India offer admission through both merit-based and entrance exam-based processes, with merit-based selection is more common. Admission to BA programs is based on Class 12th marks, while MA admissions depend on graduation marks or entrance exams. Some institutions also accept CUET scores. Candidates must have completed Class 12th for BA or graduation for MA from a recognised board/university, and final-year students are also eligible to apply. Here is the list of the top Arts colleges along with their admission details and admission timeline.
| College Name | Exam Accepted | Admission Timeline 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Hindu College New Delhi | CUET |
|
| St Stephen's College New Delhi | CUET |
|
| St. Xavier's College Kolkata | Merit-Based |
|
| LSR New Delhi | CUET |
|
| Miranda House New Delhi | CUET |
|
Top MA Colleges in India 2026
Out of 5591 Arts colleges in India, 3110 colleges offer MA. Hindu College New Delhi, St Stephen's College New Delhi, and St. Xavier's College Kolkata are top MA colleges in India. The course fees range from 25.87 K at SRCC New Delhi to 2.18 Lakh at St. Xavier's College Kolkata. Here is the list of the top MA colleges in India, along with their course fees, eligibility criteria, and top specialisations.
| College Name | Eligibility Criteria | Top Specialization | Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hindu College New Delhi | Graduation with 50%, CUET PG | Political Science | 55.95 K |
| St Stephen's College New Delhi | Graduation with 50%, CUET PG | English | 58.22 K |
| St. Xavier's College Kolkata | Graduation with 55% | English | 2.18 Lakh |
| LSR New Delhi | Graduation with 60%, CUET PG | English | 37.94 K |
| Miranda House New Delhi | Graduation with 50%, CUET PG | English | 32.06 K |
| KMC New Delhi | Graduation with 50%, CUET PG | Political Science | 33.8 K |
| SRCC New Delhi | Graduation with 50%, CUET PG | Economics | 25.87 K |
| JMC New Delhi | Graduation with 50%, CUET | English | 56.83 K |
| Ramjas College New Delhi | Graduation with 50%, CUET PG | Music | 30.71 K |
| Indraprastha College for Women New Delhi | Graduation with 50%, CUET PG | Psychology | 28.94 K |
Top Full-Time Arts Colleges with the Cheapest Fees in India 2026
Nehru Memorial College Tiruchirappalli, Kamaraj College Tuticorin, and JNU New Delhi are top Arts colleges with the Cheapest Fees in India, which have total fees ranging from 0.76 K to 0.98 K. Similarly, the following is a list of the top Arts colleges in India with the Cheapest Fees.
| College Name | Course Fees (INR) |
|---|---|
| Nehru Memorial College Tiruchirappalli | 0.76 K |
| Kamaraj College Tuticorin | 0.8 K |
| JNU New Delhi | 0.95 K |
| Government Degree College Dhalai | 0.96 K |
| Quaide-E-Millath Government College for Women (Autonomous) Chennai | 0.98 K |
Top Specialisations offered by Arts Colleges in India 2026
English is one of the most popular Arts programs in India, with 3344 colleges offering the course. Below is the list of the top Arts specialisations in India, along with the total number of colleges offering the specialisations and the top 3 colleges for each specialisation.
Best Arts Colleges in India: City-Wise Count 2026
New Delhi is the top city with 215 Arts colleges, and Bangalore is the second most popular city with 181 Arts Colleges. Here is the list of top cities with their count of Arts colleges and Best colleges.
| City Name | Total Colleges | Best College |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | 215 | Hindu College New Delhi |
| Bangalore | 181 | Christ University Bangalore |
| Mumbai | 165 | St. Xavier's College Mumbai |
| Kolkata | 157 | St. Xavier's College Kolkata |
| Chennai | 132 | Madras Christian College Chennai |
Best Arts Colleges in India with Other Programs
There are a total of 5588 Arts colleges in India, offering programs in various modes such as full-time, part-time, online, and distance education.
| Program Type | Number of Colleges | Top College |
|---|---|---|
| On Campus | 5539 | Hindu College New Delhi, St Stephen's College New Delhi, St. Xavier's College Kolkata |
| Full Time | 5487 | Hindu College New Delhi, St Stephen's College New Delhi, St. Xavier's College Kolkata |
| Part Time | 558 | Hindu College New Delhi, Ramjas College, New Delhi, Hansraj College New Delhi |
| Distance | 158 | HICAS Chennai, BRAOU Hyderabad, Vels Institute of Science Technology & Advanced Studies Chennai |
| Online | 85 | Parul University Vadodara, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology Chennai, Mumbai University Mumbai |
| Off Campus | 28 | PMIST Thanjavur, Mumbai University Mumbai, IGNOU New Delhi |
Best Arts Colleges in India FAQs
Ques. How many Arts colleges are there in India?
Ans. There are 5588 colleges in India, 3618 are private, and 1801 are government-owned.
Ques. How many Arts Colleges in India are approved by RCI?
Ans. RCI approved 40 Arts colleges in India. The top 5 on the list include:
Ques. How many Arts colleges in India accept CUET scores?
Ans. 218 Arts colleges in India accept CUET scores. Here’s the list of 3 Arts Colleges in India that accept the CUET score:
Ques. What is the admission process for Arts colleges in India?
Ans. Admission is mainly merit-based, where students are selected based on Class 12 marks (for BA) or graduation marks (for MA). Some colleges also accept CUET scores or conduct entrance tests/interviews for specific courses.
Ques. Do Arts colleges in India accept entrance exams?
Ans. Some colleges accept exams like CUET or conduct their own tests. Colleges such as Mithibai College of Arts Mumbai, and LSR New Delhi accept CUET for some courses. However, most colleges still offer direct admission based on merit.
Ques. What are the specialisations provided by Arts colleges in India?
Ans. English, Economics, History, Political Science, Psychology, Social Science, and Hindi are the Best specializations offered by the Best Arts Colleges in India.
Ques. How many colleges in India offer part-time Arts programs?
Ans. 558 Arts colleges in India offer a part-time Arts program. The top 3 on the list include:
Ques. How many colleges in India offer Distance Arts programs?
Ans. 158 Arts colleges in India offer a Distance Arts program. The top 3 on the list include:
Ques. How many colleges in India offer Online Arts programs?
Ans. 85 Arts colleges in India offer an Online Arts program. The top 3 on the list include:
Ques. How many women-only Arts colleges are in India?
Ans. There are 591 women-only Arts colleges in India. Here are the top 3 women-only Arts colleges in India.
Ques. Which are the most Popular entrance exams accepted by the Best Arts colleges in India?
Ans. CAT, CUET, IPMAT, JIPMAT, and IIMK Arts AT are the main entrance exams considered by most colleges during the Arts admission process. Here is the list of all entrance exams accepted by colleges in India.
| Exam Name | Total No of Colleges Accepting the Exam |
|---|---|
| WB CAP | 234 |
| CUET | 218 |
| CUET PG | 191 |
| AP OAMDC | 69 |
| TS DOST | 45 |
| CBSE UGC NET | 32 |
| Odisha CPET | 26 |
| UPTAC | 9 |
| IPU CET | 8 |
| OUCET | 6 |
![Hansraj College - [HRC] logo](https://image-static.collegedunia.com/public/college_data/images/logos/1491982583logo..png?h=43&w=43&mode=stretch)
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