Chitkara University is a state private university in Punjab set up in 2009 under The Chitkara University Act, 2008. The main campus is in Rajpura, Punjab, on the Chandigarh-Patiala National Highway (NH-44), 33 km from Chandigarh. It is recognised by the UGC and has NAAC A+ Grade accreditation with a CGPA of 3.26.

The university has 30,000+ students from 28 countries, 300+ university collaborations across the world and 900+ faculty members. Its Rajpura campus covers more than 50 acres and includes 12 schools for engineering and technology, business, pharmacy, health sciences, nursing, hospitality, law, architecture, art and design, and education.

In NIRF 2025, Chitkara University is placed at #78 in the University category, while its Pharmacy programme is ranked #16 in India. The university is known for pharmacy, engineering, management, design, architecture and health sciences programmes.

  • BE (B.Eng) is a 4-year programme offered in CSE, AI and ML, AI, Software Engineering, CS and Technology, Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, ECE, Automobile, and Mechatronics Engineering
    • Total fees range from INR 8,50,000 for core branches to INR 12,70,000 for CSE and INR 14,80,000 for AI and ML
  • MBA is a 2-year course with Marketing, Finance, HR, Data Science and AI, Logistics and Supply Chain, Rural Management, Healthcare Management, and other specialisations. Total fees are INR 2,00,000 to INR 9,01,100
  • B.Pharm is a 4-year programme with total fees of INR 8,10,000
  • B.Arch runs for 5 years and has total fees of INR 10,10,000
  • B.Des is a 4-year course available in Animation, Fashion, Communication, Interior, Graphic, Product, and UX Design. Total fees are INR 12,10,000
  • BBA, BCA, B.Com, B.Sc are offered in several specialisations
  • IPM, or Integrated Programme in Management, is a 5-year course with total fees of INR 15,10,000
  • Pharm.D is a 6-year programme, and Ph.D. is offered across 12 disciplines

Students can apply for scholarships based on merit and government categories. The Chitkara Scholarship Test (CST) is held for new applicants to decide merit-based fee concessions.

During the 2025 placement season, Amazon made the highest offer of INR 1.11 Crore per annum. The university recorded more than 870 Super Dream offers above INR 10 LPA, while the average B.Tech package stood at INR 8 to 10 LPA. More than 2,000 companies take part in campus hiring every year.

Admission Update: Chitkara University admissions for the 2026-27 academic session have ended for most programmes. For the 2027-28 cycle, application registrations are expected to open in November 2026, before JEE Main and CUET 2027.

Chitkara University Admission Dates 2027

The 2026-27 admission process at Chitkara University is over. For the 2027-28 intake, the admission schedule is expected to move with the national entrance exam calendar used for JEE Main, CUET, CLAT, NATA and JEE Paper 2.

EventDate
Chitkara Scholarship Test (CST) for 2027-28 admissionDecember 2026 to February 2027
JEE Main Session 1 for 2027-28 admissionJanuary to February 2027
CUET UG for 2027-28 admissionMay to June 2027
University application last date for 2027-28 admissionJune to July 2027
Programme commencement for 2027-28 admissionAugust 2027

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

The university accepts different entrance exams for different programme groups in the 2027-28 admission cycle.

ProgrammeEntrance Exam Accepted
BE (Engineering)JEE Main / CUET UG / Chitkara Scholarship Test / Merit
MBACAT / XAT / CMAT / GMAT / Chitkara Aptitude Test / Merit
B.ArchNATA / JEE Main Paper 2 / CUET UG
B.PharmCUET UG / Merit
BA LLB / LLBCLAT / LSAT India / Merit
BBA / BCA / B.ComCUET UG / CST / Merit
B.DesNID / UCEED / Chitkara Design Aptitude Test / Merit
Ph.D.UGC-NET / GATE / Chitkara Research Entrance Test

Chitkara University Courses and Fees

Chitkara University runs undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral courses through 12 schools. Engineering at the undergraduate level is offered as BE, not B.Tech, and follows a 4-year AICTE-approved curriculum. Fees differ by course and specialisation.

CourseDurationEligibilityFee
BE (CSE)4 years10+2 PCM, JEE Main / CUET / meritINR 12,70,000
BE (AI and ML)4 years10+2 PCM, JEE Main / CUETINR 14,80,000
BE (AI / Software Engineering)4 years10+2 PCM, JEE Main / CUETINR 13,90,000
BE (Civil / Mechanical / EEE / ECE / Automobile / Mechatronics)4 years10+2 PCM, JEE Main / CUETINR 8,50,000
B.Arch5 years10+2 with Maths, NATA / JEE Paper 2INR 10,10,000
B.Pharm4 years10+2 PCB, 50%INR 8,10,000
B.Des (all specialisations)4 years10+2, design aptitude testINR 12,10,000
BBA (standard)3 years10+2, 50%INR 4,58,000
B.Com3 years10+2 Commerce, 50%INR 4,58,000
BCA3 years10+2, Maths preferredINR 4,00,000
IPM (Integrated Management)5 years10+2, 60%, IPMAT or meritINR 15,10,000
MBA (standard specialisations)2 yearsGraduation 50%, valid CAT / CMATINR 2,00,000 to 9,01,100
M.Pharm2 yearsB.Pharm, 55%INR 4,10,000
Pharm.D6 years10+2 PCB, 50%INR 15,70,000

Subject to revision. Kindly check with the official sources to confirm

The university also offers some less common options among private universities in northern India, including Integrated Programme in Management (IPM), B.Des in UX Design, B.Sc Nautical Science, Pharm.D, and M.Sc in Reproduction and Development Biology. Its design and planning strength is also reflected in the NIRF Architecture rank of 38.

Chitkara University Admission Process

Chitkara University admissions are based on programme-wise eligibility, entrance exam scores, merit and the university tests accepted for selected courses. Students must meet the minimum marks requirement for their course before applying.

BE (Engineering) Admission

For BE admission, Chitkara University considers JEE Main, CUET UG and Chitkara Scholarship Test (CST) scores. Students must have passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics and at least 45% marks. CST is held several times between December and April, so students can apply and secure seats before national entrance results are declared.

Students with a Polytechnic Diploma and at least 45% marks can enter directly into the second year of BE through Punjab State Board of Technical Education (PSBTE) counselling. Regular engineering admission does not require GD or PI.

MBA and IPM Admission

Chitkara Business School accepts CAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT and Chitkara Aptitude Test scores for MBA admission. Applicants need graduation with at least 50% marks. MBA specialisations include Marketing, Finance, HR, Data Science and AI, Logistics, Rural Management, and Healthcare Management.

The 5-year Integrated Programme in Management (IPM) is open after Class 12. Students need at least 60% marks, and admission is based on IPMAT, CST or merit. The course combines BA and MBA study over 5 years, similar in structure to IPM programmes run by IIMs.

Pharmacy Programmes

B.Pharm admission requires 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology, at least 50% marks, and either CUET UG score or merit. Pharm.D has the same eligibility and runs for 6 years. For M.Pharm, students must have B.Pharm with at least 55% marks. Chitkara College of Pharmacy is ranked among India’s top 16 pharmacy schools in NIRF 2025.

Law, Architecture, and Design

BA LLB is a 5-year course, and admission is through CLAT, LSAT India or merit. B.Arch applicants need NATA or JEE Paper 2 scores along with 10+2 Mathematics. For B.Des, the university accepts NID, UCEED portfolio tests or the Chitkara Design Aptitude Test.

Other UG and PG Programmes

BBA, B.Com and BCA admissions use CUET UG scores or Class 12 merit. B.Sc Nursing needs PCB in Class 12 with at least 45% marks. Ph.D. admission is through the Chitkara Research Entrance Test or NET/GATE qualification. Research scholars are admitted in 12 Ph.D. disciplines, including Engineering, Pharmacy, Management, Law and Health Sciences.

Chitkara University Placements

Career Advancement Services (CAS) manages Chitkara University placements across course groups. In the 2025 season, Amazon offered the highest package of INR 1.11 Crore per annum. Students also received more than 870 Super Dream offers, which means packages above INR 10 LPA. The average BE package was INR 8 to 10 LPA, while Chitkara Business School’s 2025 batch recorded an average package of INR 11 LPA.

More than 2,000 companies join the university’s placement drive every year. Engineering hiring is led mainly by IT and product companies such as Amazon, Deloitte, Accenture, KPMG, TCS, Infosys, Wipro, Google, Airtel and HCL. CBS recruiters come from consulting, FMCG, BFSI and analytics. Across engineering branches, the placement rate is above 95%.

Placement Metric2025 Season
Highest PackageINR 1.11 Crore per annum (Amazon)
Super Dream Offers (above INR 10 LPA)870+
Average BE PackageINR 8 to 10 LPA
Average MBA (CBS) PackageINR 11 LPA
Placement Rate95%+
Recruiting Companies2,000+
Key RecruitersAmazon, Deloitte, Accenture, KPMG, TCS, Wipro, Infosys, Google, HCL, Airtel

Chitkara University Rankings

Chitkara University recorded its best NIRF performance in 2025 with a University rank of #78 and a Pharmacy rank of #16. The Pharmacy rank shows the research and academic strength of Chitkara College of Pharmacy. The university is also listed in the QS Asia ranking and takes part in Times Higher Education Impact Rankings.

Ranking BodyCategory2025 Rank
NIRFUniversity78
NIRFPharmacy16
NIRFEngineering89
NIRFArchitecture38
NIRFManagement78
QS World University RankingsAsia501-550 band (2025 edition)

Chitkara’s NIRF Pharmacy rank of 16 places it among a small group of private institutions in India that appear in the top 20 for Pharmacy, along with institutions such as Amrita, Manipal and Jamia Hamdard. Its Architecture rank of 38 also points to the standing of the School of Architecture and Planning.

Chitkara University Scholarships

Chitkara University gives merit-based fee concessions through the Chitkara Scholarship Test (CST), which is conducted several times in an academic year for new students. Students from government categories can also apply for Punjab state and central government scholarships through official portals for SC, ST, OBC and minority categories.

SchemeEligibilityCoverage
Chitkara Scholarship Test (CST)Appearing in or passed Class 12, any streamMerit-based fee concession, with amount decided by CST score
Post-Matric Scholarship (SC/ST)SC or ST category, Punjab or HP domicileAs per Punjab government norms
NSP Central ScholarshipsAs per central NSP scheme criteriaAs per government notification
Sports / NCC / Defence MeritVerified achievement or service backgroundFee concession as per university policy

Students who want a fee concession should take the Chitkara Scholarship Test early in the admission cycle. Applications for government scholarships are submitted through the NSP portal during the academic year.

Chitkara University Campus and Infrastructure

Chitkara University’s main campus is spread across more than 50 acres in Rajpura, Punjab, on the Chandigarh-Patiala highway. Since it is 33 km from Chandigarh, students get access to the wider Chandigarh-Tricity region while studying in a campus-based setting. The university also has a second campus in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh in Solan district, which functions as a separate state university named Chitkara University Himachal Pradesh.

The Rajpura campus includes all 12 schools, a central library, Wi-Fi-enabled smart classrooms, advanced labs for pharmaceutical and engineering study, a nursing simulation centre, a hospitality training kitchen and a sports complex. Boys and girls have separate hostels on campus. Research facilities support the four NIRF-ranked schools in Engineering, Pharmacy, Architecture and Management.

The university has 300+ international university collaborations for student exchange and joint-degree programmes. This global network also supports placements with multinational employers, especially for pharmacy and engineering graduates in Europe and the US.

Chitkara University vs Chandigarh University vs LPU

Students comparing Chitkara University often look at Chandigarh University and Lovely Professional University (LPU) as well. All three are state private universities in Punjab, offer many programmes and have strong placement records. The table gives the main points of comparison.

ParameterChitkara UniversityChandigarh UniversityLovely Professional University (LPU)
Established200920122005
LocationRajpura, Punjab (33 km from Chandigarh)Mohali, Punjab (near Chandigarh)Phagwara, Punjab (near Jalandhar)
NAAC GradeA+ (CGPA 3.26)A+ (CGPA 3.31)A+ (CGPA 3.30)
NIRF University 2025782636
NIRF Pharmacy 202516Not ranked in top 25Not ranked in top 25
BE/B.Tech (CSE) Total FeesINR 12,70,000Contact official websiteContact official website
Student Count30,000+50,000+35,000+

Chandigarh University, with NIRF University rank 26, and LPU, with NIRF University rank 36, are ahead of Chitkara University’s NIRF University rank of 78. Chitkara performs better in Pharmacy with rank #16 and Architecture with rank #38, both stronger than CU and LPU in those same areas. For pharmacy, nursing and design, Chitkara is the strongest option among the three. For students who want very large engineering batches and higher placement volume, CU and LPU have greater scale.

Chitkara University FAQs

Ques. Where does Chitkara University stand in NIRF 2025?

Ans. Chitkara University is ranked #78 in the University category in NIRF 2025. Its Pharmacy school holds #16 nationally, which is one of the strongest pharmacy ranks among private universities in India. The university is also ranked #38 in Architecture, #89 in Engineering and #78 in Management.

Ques. What was Chitkara University’s top package in 2025 placements?

Ans. The highest package in the 2025 placement season was INR 1.11 Crore per annum, offered by Amazon to an engineering graduate. Students received more than 870 Super Dream offers above INR 10 LPA. The average B.Tech (BE) package was INR 8 to 10 LPA.

Ques. How much does BE CSE cost at Chitkara University?

Ans. The full 4-year BE Computer Science and Engineering fee at Chitkara University is INR 12,70,000, paid semester-wise across 8 semesters. Core branches such as Civil, Mechanical, Electrical and ECE have lower total fees of INR 8,50,000.

Ques. What is Chitkara University’s NAAC grade?

Ans. Chitkara University has NAAC A+ Grade accreditation with a CGPA of 3.26. It is recognised by the UGC. Its engineering programmes are approved by AICTE, its pharmacy school is approved by PCI, and its law school is recognised by BCI.

Ques. Which exams are used for BE admission at Chitkara University?

Ans. Chitkara University accepts JEE Main, CUET UG and Chitkara Scholarship Test (CST) scores for BE admission. CST is held several times between December and April and helps students confirm seats early while also becoming eligible for merit-based fee concessions. Students need 10+2 with PCM and at least 45% marks.

Ques. Are hostels available at Chitkara University?

Ans. Yes. The Rajpura campus of Chitkara University has separate hostels for boys and girls. The campus also provides Wi-Fi, a sports complex, cafeteria, library and other residential facilities. Hostel applications should be submitted before the academic session starts because seats are allotted on priority.

Ques. Is Chitkara University better than Chandigarh University?

Ans. Chandigarh University has a higher NIRF University rank of 26, while Chitkara University is ranked 78. Chitkara is ahead in Pharmacy with NIRF rank 16 and Architecture with NIRF rank 38. Both universities have NAAC A+ grade. Chandigarh University has a bigger student base of 50,000+, which can mean higher overall placement numbers, while Chitkara has a more focused academic setup and stronger subject-specific rankings in pharmacy and design.