NIT Rourkela Admission 2026: Cutoffs, Placements, Branch-Wise Salary & ROI Analysis

NIT Rourkela Institutional Profile: Seats, Diversity, and Faculty Strength

The institution was established in 1961 as REC Rourkela and was declared an NIT in 2002. It is an Institute of National Importance. There are several degrees that the institute provides, such as B.Tech, B.Arch, M.Tech, M.Sc, MBA and PhD programmes.

NIT Rourkela Closing Rank Cutoff (Outside Home State)

The cut-off is for students who do not belong to the home state. The cut-off data gives students an understanding of branch-level demand across categories. A lower cut-off rank is indicative of higher competition and stronger student preference. Courses such as computer science and new-age tech streams dominate. On the other hand, core and specialised branches seem to have a lower competitive pressure.

CSE and AI are quite popular among students who are not from the home state. Branches such as Electrical and Chemical engineering have mid-level competitiveness. Interdisciplinary programmes have a limited interest.

NIT Rourkela Placement Statistics (NIRF Data Analysis))

Admission vs Placement Gap: Should Aspirants Be Concerned?

The steady and stable rise in median salary, from Rs. 10 lakh to Rs. 15.25 lakh, marks increasing compensation outcomes. However, there is a cause for concern. In the 2021-24 batch 1,131 students got admission, out of which 821 got placements. 310 students (27 per cent) did not get campus placements.

There is a similar gap in previous batches as well, and is often overlooked when the placement data is considered of those students who registered for the placement. Over the years, this gap has widened.

Branch-Wise Placement Report 2023–24: CSE vs Core Engineering

A proper scrutiny at branch-wise placement percentages and salary outcomes reveals variations in employability trends, market demand, and possible compensation. The following table presents placement rate, average, median, and highest CTCs across major engineering branches, offering a clearer understanding of how outcomes differ within the same institution.

Observation: Placement results vary across branches. Mechanical Engineering has the highest placement rate (83.65 per cent), followed by Electrical (78.38 per cent). CSE has the leads highest average (Rs.17.89 LPA) and the highest package (Rs.64 LPA). ECE shows stable median pay. If we look at civil engineering, it has a lower placement rate (55.77 per cent) and lower salaries.

Recruiter Mix at NIT Rourkela: Tech, Consulting, Core & PSU

NIT Rourkela’s recruiter pool reflects a diversified hiring ecosystem that includes technology, core engineering, consulting, finance, and public-sector research organisations. With key participation from global tech firms, manufacturing giants and consulting majors, the institute does not depend on just one industry.

Observation: Tech companies have the highest share of recruiters. There is a significant demand for coding, analytics, and product-oriented roles. Engineering and consulting recruiters ensure varied career pathways. Students have the option to choose technical, managerial, and research-driven careers.

Alumni Distribution

This consolidated graph presents NIT Rourkela’s currently employed alumni across nine major global companies, combining data from both LinkedIn alumni tables. It reflects how the alumni is spread across consulting, semiconductor, cloud, and tech firms.

Alumni Footprint: Where NIT Rourkela Graduates Work Globally

Qualcomm (227) and Amazon (197) have the highest alumni. This is an indicator that there is a strong presence in semiconductor and large tech ecosystems. Microsoft (166) and Deloitte (146) also show strong representation. Google (92) has a moderate presence. Meta, Apple, NVIDIA, and EY have smaller numbers. What this indicates is that the alumni have a stronger presence in core technology and large enterprise firms than in social media or pure consulting firms.

Conclusion

NIT Rourkela is considered one the top NITs. The highest placement offer was Rs. 64 LPA with a strong tech presence and a wide alumni network. What students need to understand is that placement outcomes change across branches. What students want from their careers, whether they want good placements or want more research-oriented job roles, branch selection is probably more important than the institute’s name.