There are lakhs of students each year who secure a JEE rank, but only a handful of them know how to use it for a great career outcome. B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering is being offered by NIT. There is a difference when it comes to the institute, industry access, and career outcomes. The important thing is not to get admission in a top institute, but to carefully choose the institute and branch combination that helps in long-term career development.
NIT Trichy is considered the best NIT for Computer Science & Engineering among students. However, NIT Surathkal, NIT Warangal, NIT Calicut, and NIT Rourkela are the top alternatives for aspirants.
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The following table highlights the maximum closing ranks for Mechanical Engineering in the top NITs. These closing ranks are based on JEE Main 2025 data. Based on this, students can at least get an estimate of which college is for them at their rank.
| NIT | Open | EWS | OBC-NCL | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
8339 | 1565 | 4067 | 1321 | 263 | |
11950 | 2023 | 4559 | 2378 | 866 | |
14037 | 2071 | 5176 | 2856 | 1278 | |
15035 | 2367 | 5577 | 2896 | 1015 | |
19452 | 3166 | 6547 | 3994 | 1246 | |
19897 | 3216 | 7523 | 4256 | 1810 | |
20213 | 3269 | 7694 | 3703 | 1578 | |
21049 | 3296 | 7226 | 3644 | 1375 |
These institutes are the top-tier NITs for Mechanical Engineering admissions.
Mechanical Engineering remains accessible across several Mid-Tier NITs between the 20,000-35,000 rank range.
| NIT | Open | EWS | OBC-NCL | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
21612 | 3460 | 7554 | 4321 | 1525 | |
24753 | 3610 | 8442 | 4481 | 1773 | |
27882 | 4119 | 9757 | 5569 | 2184 | |
29158 | 4302 | 9526 | 5567 | 1839 | |
29613 | 4447 | 9616 | 5755 | 2090 | |
32249 | 4836 | 10357 | 5678 | 2096 | |
NIT Goa | 32890 | - | 10506 | 5995 | 2259 |
34130 | 5031 | 10706 | 5669 | 2239 |
These mid-tier institutes have good academic infrastructure and decent placement opportunities. These are especially useful for those students who have an interest in pursuing core engineering careers.
Mechanical Engineering is available across a wide rank spectrum.
| NIT | Open | EWS | OBC-NCL | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
35303 | 5778 | 11006 | 5951 | 2076 | |
36258 | 5634 | 11328 | 5975 | 2306 | |
37407 | 5847 | 12262 | 6038 | 2498 | |
40975 | 6403 | 12344 | 6332 | 2872 | |
42881 | 6461 | 13587 | 6354 | 2261 | |
43912 | 6611 | 14086 | 7104 | 2817 | |
45924 | 6920 | 15850 | 7494 | 2859 | |
47505 | 7146 | 14453 | 7268 | 3073 | |
48977 | 6936 | 15732 | 6990 | 2678 | |
49151 | - | 15295 | 6894 | 3011 | |
50560 | 7550 | 16768 | 8274 | 3054 | |
52716 | 8051 | 17549 | 8159 | 3077 | |
55295 | 8149 | 18092 | 8679 | - | |
56813 | 8209 | 18276 | 9063 | - |
Although there are certain NITs that grant admission in B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering to students between the rank range of 35,000 to 56,000; it is upto the students to make that decision. In such NITs the infrastructure, industry exposure and placement ecosystem differe a lot. This is were strategising becomes important because even though the branch might remind he same, the career outcome can be quite different.
Placement data provides critical insight into actual career outcomes.
| Metric | IITs | NITs | IITs/NITs |
|---|---|---|---|
Total Institutes Considered | 12 | 8 | 20 |
Approved Intake (2021–22) | 816 | 995 | 1811 |
Students Registered for Placements | 685 | 890 | 1575 |
Placement Offers Accepted | 576 | 735 | 1311 |
Placement % against Registered | 84.09% | 82.58% | 83.33% |
Placement % against Intake | 70.59% | 73.87% | 72.23% |
Average CTC (₹ LPA) | 15.11 | 10.41 | 12.76 |
Placement data across IITs and NITs reveals the true performance of Mechanical Engineering.
Across analysed NITs, approximately 74 per cent of students secure placements relative to the approved intake. The average salary stands at Rs.10.41 lakh per year. When it comes to IITs, the average salary increases to about Rs. 15.11 lakhs per year with placements around 70 per cent, considering the intake.
When taken together, B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering in both IITs and NITs have an average salary of around Rs. 12.76 per year.
Although the placement remains strong, the salary outcomes differ a lot between the two types of institutes. This indicates that the quality of the institute, student potential and career plan play a key role in long-term career outcomes.
Based on admission and placement data, the realistic outlook is clear:
Under 10,000 rank: Access to top NITs
10,000–25,000 rank: Access to strong core NITs
25,000–40,000 rank: Access to mid-tier NITs
40,000–55,000 rank: Access to newer and developing NITs
A student’s JEE Main rank affects the mechanical engineering opportunities. Those with a rank under 15,000 have access to the top NITs. Ranks between 15,000 and 30,000 ensure that good institutes are available for B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering. However, when the rank is between 30,000 and 50,000, students should carefully evaluate their options. Good long-term career options often depend on the combination of the branch and institute rather than just the institute's strength.
Mechanical Engineering is one of the most steady engineering branches in India. However, what the student needs to understand is that not all B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering programmes have the same career outcome. The decision during the admission process is a huge factor in the future trajectory.
Students and parents who look into the closing rank data and the placement outcomes will be better informed than others, hence, make an informed decision that will reap rewards in the future.
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