If you are interested in law and want to pursue a career in it, then National Law Universities (NLUs) are probably your goal. NLU’s are known as the IITs of the law world. NLUs are autonomous public institutions in India. There are currently 26 NLUs across the country, and the way to get into them is through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT), and a few like NLU Delhi have their own entrance exam, the AILET.
Students attempting CLAT should be aware that the Top 10 NLUs in India are important as they can decide their future in law. These colleges offer not just top-level academics, but also excellent internships, placements, and global exposure, which is essential for their future in pursuing any path in law.
List of Top 10 NLUs in India (2025)
The table below shows a list of the top 10 NLUs in India based on NIRF 2024 rankings. The list includes important details such as their location, year of establishment, and flagship courses, which should be known too.
NLU Name | Location | NIRF Rank 2024 | Year of Establishment | Most Popular Program |
National Law School of India University (NLSIU) | Bengaluru | 1 | 1986 | BA LLB (Hons) |
National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) | Hyderabad | 2 | 1998 | BA LLB (Hons) |
National Law University (NLU Delhi)* | New Delhi | 3 | 2008 | BA LLB (Hons) |
WB National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) | Kolkata | 4 | 1999 | BA LLB (Hons) |
National Law University Jodhpur | Jodhpur | 5 | 1999 | BA LLB (Hons) |
Gujarat National Law University (GNLU) | Gandhinagar | 6 | 2003 | BA/BCom LLB (Hons) |
Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU) | Raipur | 7 | 2003 | BA LLB (Hons) |
Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU) | Lucknow | 8 | 2005 | BA LLB (Hons) |
Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) | Mumbai | 9 | 2014 | BA LLB (Hons) |
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University | Sonipat | 10 | 2012 | BA LLB (Hons) |
Note: NLU Delhi does not accept CLAT scores. It conducts AILET for UG and PG admissions.
These top NLUs come on top due to their strong faculty, research output, placements, alumni networks, and global collaborations. These colleges are some of the go-to colleges for CLAT toppers.
Courses Offered by Top 10 NLUs
All the top NLUs provide core legal programs, but many of them also offer an interdisciplinary option. This is due to the changing trends and new courses that come every few years.
- BA LLB (Hons): A 5-year integrated undergraduate law degree
- LLM: One-year postgraduate law program
- PhD: Doctoral program in law and related disciplines
Some NLUs like GNLU offer a BCom LLB (Hons) and BSc LLB (Hons) as well, depending on student interest, and also it depends on the demand of the growing industries.
Fees at Top 10 NLUs in India
Here’s a quick overview of the approximate annual fees charged by each of the top NLUs in India.
NLU Name | Annual/Total Fee (INR) |
NLSIU Bengaluru | ~3.25 lakh/year |
NALSAR Hyderabad | ~2.50 lakh/year |
NLU Delhi | ~1.86 lakh/year |
WBNUJS Kolkata | ~2.50 lakh/year |
NLU Jodhpur | ~2.55 lakh/year |
GNLU Gandhinagar | ~2.60 lakh/year |
HNLU Raipur | ~2.20 lakh/year |
RMLNLU Lucknow | ~2.15 lakh/year |
MNLU Mumbai | ~2.60 lakh/year |
DBRANLU Sonipat | ~1.50 lakh/year |
Most NLUs offer scholarships and fee waivers for students struggling financially to enter these colleges. This is combined with state and government schemes launched to help them.
CLAT Cutoff for Top 10 NLUs (General Category – Latest Year)
Here’s the CLAT cutoff rank range for general category students for admission into the top 10 NLUs based on the latest available data.
NLU Name | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
NLSIU Bengaluru | 1 | 114 |
NALSAR Hyderabad | 6 | 177 |
WBNUJS Kolkata | 20 | 241 |
NLU Jodhpur | 70 | 350 |
GNLU Gandhinagar | 150 | 430 |
HNLU Raipur | 400 | 700 |
RMLNLU Lucknow | 410 | 750 |
MNLU Mumbai | 460 | 850 |
DBRANLU Sonipat | 700 | 1200 |
Cutoffs may change significantly for SC/ST/OBC/EWS and domicile categories.
Placements at Top 10 NLUs
Placement statistics at NLUs reflect the institutions' strong industry and legal sector connections. You can see below the average package, top firms, and corporate information:
- Average Package: ₹12–18 LPA (Top 5 NLUs)
- Top Firms: Trilegal, AZB & Partners, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas, Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, Khaitan & Co
- Corporates: Tata Group, Infosys, ICICI, HDFC, Reliance
- PSUs: ONGC, BHEL, NTPC (via competitive exams)
Many students also secure PPOs (Pre-Placement Offers) during their internships. Additionally, many students go abroad for future studies or secure roles in the judiciary and civil services.
How to Get into the Top 10 NLUs
- Appear for CLAT: Most NLUs accept CLAT UG/PG scores, except for NLU Delhi, as it has its exam.
- AILET for NLU Delhi: A Separate entrance test with a different pattern, it does not go with the CLAT exam for admission.
- CLAT Exam Patternis as follows:
- English Language
- Current Affairs & GK
- Legal Reasoning
- Logical Reasoning
- Quantitative Techniques
- Target Score: Students should set the target score for nearly 100+ marks for the top 5 NLUs.
- Practice & Strategy: Students should attempt a mock test, they should also keep themselves updated about current affairs, and make sure that they manage time properly during the exam.
Final Thoughts: Is Getting into the Top 10 NLUs Worth It?
Yes, it is worth it to join an NLU for your law degree, as it not only provides you with a degree that holds value internationally, but it also trains students in many different ways for the real world, like:
- Experience
- Practical training
- Exposure
These institutions become a pathway to elite law firms, judiciary services, academic roles, and global careers. But more than that, they build analytical thinking, articulation, and confidence.
