AI/ML colleges: India now has over 1,600 institutes offering B.Tech programmes in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, split across roughly 1,300 private colleges, 150+ government institutes, and a smaller set of semi-government bodies. Among the IITs offering a dedicated AI track, fees for the four-year programme range from INR 8.79 lakh at IIT Gandhinagar to INR 11.94 lakh at IIT Hyderabad, the most expensive in this group. Placement outcomes vary just as widely, with IIT Hyderabad’s AI branch reporting an average package near INR 40 LPA in its 2026 Phase 1 placement cycle.
Quick facts:
- Total AI/ML colleges in India: 1,600+
- Fee range among top IITs: INR 8.79 L – 11.94 L (total course)
- IIT Hyderabad average AI package (2026): ~INR 40 LPA
- Highest domestic package at IIT Hyderabad: INR 1.58 crore per annum
IITs With a Dedicated BTech AI/ML Track
A handful of IITs run a standalone B.Tech in Artificial Intelligence rather than offering it as a CSE specialisation. IIT Hyderabad was among the earliest to launch this programme and remains the most recognised name for it. IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, and IIT Gandhinagar also offer comparable four-year AI degrees, each with its own fee structure and cutoff pattern.
Beyond the IITs, IIIT Hyderabad is widely regarded as a strong CSE and AI destination too, though it runs its own UGEE-based admission process rather than JEE Main counselling alone.
Comparing Fees Across the AI/ML colleges
Here’s how total course fees stack up across the leading AI-focused programmes:
- IIT Hyderabad — INR 11.94 lakh
- IIT Madras — INR 9.39 lakh
- IIT Kharagpur — INR 8.96 lakh
- IIT Gandhinagar — INR 8.79 lakh
More affordable options also exist outside the IIT system. Institutes such as NIT Jalandhar, MNNIT Allahabad, NIT Patna, MANIT Bhopal, and NIT Agartala offer AI/ML-adjacent specialisations with total fees closer to INR 2–3 lakh, making them viable for students prioritising cost over brand recognition.
What Placement Numbers Actually Show
IIT Hyderabad’s 2026 Phase 1 placement data shows its AI, CSE, and Mathematics & Computing branches all posting average packages around INR 40 LPA, with placement rates between roughly 77% and 83% in these departments. The institute’s highest-ever offer, INR 2.5 crore per annum, went to a Computer Science student recruited by a Netherlands-based trading firm in January 2026 — the largest package in the institute’s history since it opened in 2008.
A Realistic Way to Shortlist Colleges
Students choosing between these options should weigh fee against placement consistency rather than name recognition alone. A mid-fee NIT with steady NIRF 2025 ranking performance can offer better value than a costlier private college chasing the AI/ML label without a matching placement record. As of 28 July 2026, admission to most of these programmes still runs through JEE Main and JEE Advanced counselling, alongside institute-specific exams like IIIT Hyderabad’s UGEE.
