Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Engineering and Technology (SDMCET) is a private engineering institution in Dharwad. The SDM Educational Society established it in 1979. The college is affiliated with Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Belagavi, and has AICTE approval. It received a NAAC 'A' grade in its first accreditation cycle, effective from October 2023. Several programmes also held NBA Tier-I accreditation through June 2026.
SDMCET appeared in the 251-300 band among Indian engineering colleges in the NIRF Engineering 2022 ranking. Its campus on Kalaghatagi Road, Dharwad, includes department laboratories, a central library and five separate hostel blocks for male and female students.
- Eight 4-year BE specialisations are available: Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI-ML), Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE), Information Science and Engineering (ISE), Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE), Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering.
- The 2-year M.Tech programme has five streams: CSE, Digital Electronics, Power Systems Engineering, Computer-Aided Design of Structures (CADS) and Electric Vehicle Engineering.
- The 2-year MBA offers Finance, Human Resource Management, Information Technology and Banking as specialisations.
- PhD research is offered in eleven disciplines, including CSE, ECE, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Management.
Management quota students pay a total of INR 12.88 Lakhs for the four-year BE programmes in CSE, AI-ML, ECE and ISE. The total for Civil Engineering, EEE and Mechanical Engineering is INR 7.57 to 7.58 Lakhs. The two-year MBA costs INR 3.20 Lakhs. Karnataka government rules determine KCET quota fees, which are substantially lower. More than 80% of eligible students are placed each year, according to the college. NIRF 2025 data records a 2024 BE median package of INR 4.80 LPA.
SDMCET Courses and Fees
SDMCET runs undergraduate engineering, postgraduate engineering, management and doctoral programmes. The BE amounts listed below are management quota fees based on 2026 data. Fees for government quota seats are set by the Karnataka Fee Regulatory Committee and are substantially lower.
| Course | Duration | Eligibility | Total Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| BE in CSE / AI-ML / ECE / ISE | 4 years | 10+2 with PCM, 45% and a valid KCET / COMEDK / JEE rank | INR 12.88 Lakhs (Management Quota) |
| BE in Civil / EEE / Mechanical | 4 years | 10+2 with PCM, 45% and a valid KCET / COMEDK / JEE rank | INR 7.57 to 7.58 Lakhs (Management Quota) |
| BE in Chemical Engineering | 4 years | 10+2 with PCM, 45% and a valid KCET / COMEDK / JEE rank | INR 5.57 Lakhs (Management Quota) |
| BE Lateral Entry | 3 years | A diploma in the relevant branch, 45% and a DCET rank | INR 3.75 to 9.35 Lakhs |
| M.Tech | 2 years | BE/B.Tech in the relevant branch and PGCET / GATE | INR 2.04 Lakhs per year |
| MBA | 2 years | Any graduation degree and KMAT / PGCET / MAT / CMAT | INR 3.20 Lakhs (total) |
| PhD | 3 years minimum | A postgraduate degree in the relevant discipline and NET / GATE / KSET | INR 1.44 Lakhs per year |
Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm
The BE course covers eight specialisations. Under the management quota, CSE, AI-ML, ECE and ISE fall in the highest fee band because they attract strong demand. Chemical Engineering gives SDMCET an option that is uncommon among private engineering colleges in the Hubli-Dharwad region. The M.Tech portfolio also includes the recently introduced Electric Vehicle Engineering stream, which addresses developing industry needs.
SDMCET Admission Process
SDMCET uses entrance exam ranks and the applicable seat quota to admit students. BE seats under the Karnataka state quota are allotted through the Karnataka Examinations Authority's online counselling process. The college fills management quota seats directly by considering COMEDK UGET, JEE Main or the SDMCET admission test. Different entrance tests apply to lateral-entry BE, M.Tech, MBA and PhD applicants.
| Course | Entrance Exam Accepted | Quota |
|---|---|---|
| BE, all branches | KCET / COMEDK UGET / JEE Main | CET Quota / Management Quota |
| BE Lateral Entry | Karnataka DCET | CET Quota / Management Quota |
| M.Tech | PGCET / GATE | CET Quota / Management Quota |
| MBA | KMAT Karnataka / PGCET / MAT / CMAT | CET Quota / Management Quota |
| PhD | NET / GATE / KSET or an equivalent examination | Institute quota |
BE Admission
Most BE seats follow Karnataka's state quota system. KEA uses KCET ranks to allot these seats through online counselling. For management quota admission, students may present a valid COMEDK UGET or JEE Main rank, or take the college admission test, subject to seat availability.
- Applicants must pass 10+2 from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics. They need at least 45% aggregate, while SC/ST applicants need 40%.
- A valid KCET rank is needed for a CET quota seat. Management quota applicants must have a valid COMEDK UGET or JEE Main rank.
- Admission involves online rank-based seat allotment through the KEA or COMEDK portal, document checks, payment of the required fee and final confirmation at the college.
M.Tech and MBA Admission
M.Tech applicants can qualify through Karnataka PGCET or a valid GATE score. They must hold a BE or B.Tech degree in the relevant branch with at least 50% aggregate. MBA admission accepts KMAT Karnataka, Karnataka PGCET for management, MAT or CMAT. Eligibility requires a graduation degree from a recognised university with a minimum 50% aggregate.
PhD Admission
For PhD admission, students need a postgraduate degree in the relevant field with at least 55% marks. They must also qualify through NET, GATE or KSET. The college releases PhD admission notices on its official website at the beginning of each academic year. Research opportunities cover eleven disciplines within its engineering and management departments.
SDMCET Cutoffs
KCET closing ranks at SDMCET differ by branch, category, counselling round, the number of applicants and available seats. For the General Category in Round 3, the 2025 closing ranks ranged from 13,118 to more than 2,00,000. The most competitive branch closed at 13,118, while branches with seats still available crossed 2,00,000.
| Course or Category | KCET 2025 Closing Rank | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Most competitive branches | 13,118 | General Category, Round 3 |
| CSE and ISE | 15,000 to 50,000 | Typical General Category range |
| Branches with remaining seats | More than 2,00,000 | General Category, Round 3 |
Management quota admission may be available to a student with any valid rank, provided a seat remains open.
SDMCET Placements
The Training and Placement Cell manages recruitment activities at SDMCET. NIRF 2025 figures show that students graduating in 2024 received a median package of INR 4.80 LPA in BE and INR 5.29 LPA at the postgraduate level. The college states that more than 80% of eligible students secure placements and that over 100 companies visit each year on average.
CSE, ISE and ECE produce the strongest results for both placement percentage and salary packages. Opportunities for Mechanical and Civil Engineering graduates come from manufacturing, construction and public sector undertakings. Chemical Engineering students are mainly recruited by process industries, refineries and FMCG companies.
| Placement Metric | 2024 Batch Data, NIRF 2025 |
|---|---|
| BE median package | INR 4.80 LPA |
| M.Tech median package | INR 5.29 LPA |
| Placement rate | More than 80% |
| Average annual company visits | 100+ |
Employers represent IT services, product and analytics businesses, manufacturing and BFSI. Along with Bengaluru-based IT and product companies, local and regional recruiters are supported by the college's alumni network across the Hubli-Dharwad industrial corridor.
SDMCET Rankings
SDMCET submitted information for the NIRF 2026 cycle and has participated in the national ranking system. Its published NIRF result placed it in the 251-300 band for Engineering in 2022. The institution also earned a NAAC 'A' grade in its first cycle in October 2023, while selected BE programmes held NBA Tier-I status.
| Ranking Body | Category | Rank | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF | Engineering | 251-300 band | 2022 |
The NAAC accreditation and NBA Tier-I accreditation for selected programmes show that SDMCET met national quality standards for technical education. An accredited undergraduate degree also supports eligibility for government jobs and postgraduate admission at institutions that require such accreditation.
SDMCET Campus and Infrastructure
The SDMCET campus is on Kalaghatagi Road in Dharwad, Karnataka. It is a green, self-contained site where academic departments, branch-specific laboratories, computing centres, workshops and the central library operate within the same compound. More than 3,000 students across all programmes are supported by over 160 faculty members.
Male and female students can stay in five separate hostel blocks on campus. The annual hostel charge is up to INR 64,450. Other facilities include sports grounds, a canteen, a campus temple and areas for student activities. Students can reach Dharwad's urban facilities from the campus while studying in a focused academic environment.
SDMCET vs KLE Technological University vs Gogte Institute of Technology
Students using KCET or COMEDK scores for admission in North Karnataka often consider SDMCET alongside KLE Technological University, also called KLE Tech, in Hubli and Gogte Institute of Technology, or GIT, in Belagavi. These three established private engineering institutions attract applicants from the same KCET pool.
| Parameter | SDMCET, Dharwad | KLE Technological University, Hubli | Gogte Institute of Technology, Belagavi |
|---|---|---|---|
| Established | 1979 | 1947 | 1979 |
| Status | VTU-affiliated, Private Aided | Deemed University, Autonomous | VTU-affiliated, Private Aided |
| NAAC Grade | A, 2023 | A+, 2022 | A+, 2022 |
| Location | Dharwad | Hubli | Belagavi |
| Chemical Engineering | Available | Not offered | Not offered |
KLE Tech has greater control over its curriculum and a stronger research focus because it is a deemed university, and it holds a NAAC A+ grade. SDMCET and GIT Belagavi are VTU-affiliated aided colleges with similar fee structures and KCET cutoffs. Among the three, only SDMCET offers Chemical Engineering, giving students interested in this specialisation a distinct option in North Karnataka. Students from Dharwad district may also choose SDMCET to reduce travel distance and commuting expenses.
SDMCET FAQs
Ques. What does SDMCET stand for, and what is its address?
Ans. SDMCET is short for Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara College of Engineering and Technology. Its address is Kalaghatagi Road, Dharwad 580002, Karnataka. The SDM Educational Society established the college in 1979, and it is affiliated with VTU, Belagavi.
Ques. Which tests can students use to enter the BE programme at SDMCET?
Ans. KCET is used for Government and Government-Aided quota seats. Applicants seeking a management quota seat can use COMEDK UGET or JEE Main, while Karnataka DCET applies to lateral-entry admission. Every regular BE applicant must complete 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and score at least 45% aggregate.
Ques. What closing-rank range did SDMCET CSE have in KCET 2025?
Ans. For General Category applicants, the KCET 2025 closing rank for CSE generally fell between 15,000 and 50,000, depending on the counselling round. The cutoff changes each year with seat availability and the size of the applicant pool. Students within this range can place SDMCET CSE on their KEA counselling option list.
Ques. How much does a management quota BE degree cost at SDMCET?
Ans. The total four-year management quota fee is INR 12.88 Lakhs, or INR 3.22 Lakhs per year, for CSE, AI-ML, ECE and ISE. Civil Engineering, EEE and Mechanical Engineering cost INR 7.57 to 7.58 Lakhs in total. The complete Chemical Engineering fee is INR 5.57 Lakhs. Karnataka state rules set KCET quota fees, which are substantially lower.
Ques. What placement results does SDMCET report?
Ans. More than 80% of eligible students are placed, according to SDMCET. NIRF 2025 data gives the 2024 BE batch a median package of INR 4.80 LPA. Over 100 companies visit the campus each year, and CSE, ISE and ECE lead the other departments in placement rates and salary packages.
Ques. Can students live in a hostel on the SDMCET campus?
Ans. Yes. Five separate campus hostel blocks accommodate male and female students. Fees can reach INR 64,450 per year. Every hostel is located inside the college boundary on Kalaghatagi Road in Dharwad.
Ques. What should engineering applicants know when considering SDMCET?
Ans. SDMCET is an established private engineering college in North Karnataka. It received a NAAC 'A' grade in 2023, and selected programmes held NBA Tier-I accreditation. Students can choose from eight BE specialisations, including AI-ML and ISE. The college reports a placement rate above 80%, while the 2024 BE batch had a median package of INR 4.80 LPA. For North Karnataka applicants with KCET ranks from 15,000 to 50,000, it is an option to compare with KLE Tech and GIT Belagavi.
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