Choosing an engineering branch today is no longer just about securing a seat in a reputed institute; it is about understanding the final result. Engineering Sciences is primarily an interdisciplinary and research-driven programme. It attracts students who are academically strong across IITs and NITs. But the question remains how all of it translates into placements and salaries.
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This article uses the RTI data, analyzes the intake, registration patterns, placement conversions, and salary. The objective is to help students and parents gauge whether the engineering sciences course is a good fit for them in terms of academic goals and career expectations.
The data shows the placement trends across a select few institutions: two IITs and two NITs. Although it is not comprehensive, this analysis is indicative of how engineering sciences perform at good public institutions.
This table showcases the intake, registration, offers, placement rates, and salary data for each institute.
| Institute Name | Approved Intake 2021-22 | Students Registered for Placements 2024-25 | Placement Offer Accepted by Students 2024-25 | Placement % (Intake) | Placement % (Registered) | Max CTC | Average CTC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
29 | 15 | 11 | 37.93% | 73.33% | Rs.36 LPA | Rs.16 LPA | |
47 | 28 | 18 | 38.30% | 64.29% | - | - | |
37 | 8 | 3 | 8.11% | 37.50% | Rs.6.5 LPA | Rs.6.16 LPA | |
50 | 27 | 18 | 36.00% | 66.67% | Rs.18 LPA | Rs.8.79 LPA | |
Total | 163 | 78 | 50 | 30.67% | 64.10% | - | Rs.10.52 LPA |
Observation: From a total of 163 intakes, only 78 students registered for placements. From those 78 students who registered, only 50 were able to secure placements. The overall placement rate of registered students is 64.10 per cent, and only 30.67 per cent of the total intake.
With Rs. 16.60 LPA, IIT Dhanbad has the highest CTC. NIT Calicut has a placement conversion of just 8.11 per cent of the total intake, which is a cause for serious concern.
To understand positioning, Engineering Sciences is compared with CSE across a broader dataset.
| Parameters | CSE (Top Branch) | Engineering Sciences |
|---|---|---|
No. of Institutes | 23 | 4 |
Approved Intake (2021–22) | 2332 | 163 |
Students Registered for Placements (2024–25) | 2188 (93%) | 78 (47%) |
Placement Offers Accepted (2024–25) | 1892 | 50 |
Placement % (Registered) | 86.47% | 64.10% |
Placement % (Intake) | 81.13% | 30.67% |
Average CTC | 20.35 L | 10.52 L |
Observation: If we compare engineering sciences with a top branch such as CSE, it has a lower intake and smaller scale in all the parameters. The average salary is almost half of CSE. The registration gap is also significantly wider. 93 per cent of CSE register for placements on the other hand only 47 per cent of students registered for placements in engineering science. This is also indicative that students might have opted for alternative career paths, higher studies or further research or a lower placement participation.
To remove the institutional bias, the comparison is restricted to the same four institutions.
| Parameters | CSE (Top Branch) | Engineering Sciences |
|---|---|---|
No. of Institutes | 4 | 4 |
Approved Intake (2021–22) | 544 | 163 |
Students Registered for Placements (2024–25) | 502 (92%) | 78 (47%) |
Placement Offers Accepted (2024–25) | 473 | 50 |
Placement % (Registered) | 94% | 64.10% |
Placement % (Intake) | 86% | 30.67% |
Average CTC | 20.26 L | 10.52 L |
Observation: Although we have taken the same four institutions for branch comparison, engineering sciences still fall behind CSE in all the placement parameters. For engineering sciences, the placement rate for the registered student is 30 percentage points less than CSE. This is again indicative of the fact that the difference is primarily based on the branch rather than the institute itself.
Scale Matters: Engineering Sciences has limited seats and lower participation when it comes to campus placements.
Salary Spread Exists: Top IITs have a good salary potential (Rs. 36 LPA highest at IIT Dhanbad), but averages vary sharply across institutes.
Research-Oriented Profile: Lower registration numbers might indicate students opting for higher studies or going for further research.
Branch vs College: Although the brand helps, branch demand has the upper hand as it includes the placement outcomes significantly.
Students interested in interdisciplinary engineering, physics-driven problem solving or research careers. However, if placement and salary are immediate goals, then the data showcases that CSE has better outcomes.
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