India has 24 National Law Universities. They are not equal — not in ranking, not in fees, not in placement, and not in the CLAT rank required to get in. This guide gives you everything in one place: NIRF rankings, actual 5-year fees, CLAT closing ranks, median salaries, and a tier-wise breakdown so you can set your target NLU the right way.
💡 There are 24 NLUs in India offering 4,500+ undergraduate law seats. All accept CLAT scores except NLU Delhi, which uses AILET. NIRF 2025 ranks NLSIU Bangalore #1 — a position it has held for 10+ consecutive years.
All Top NLUs — NIRF Rank, Fees & Cutoff at a Glance
| # | NLU | NIRF 2025 | 5-Yr Fees | CLAT Closing Rank | Median Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NLSIU Bangalore | 1 | ₹25 L | ~116 (Gen) | ₹16 LPA |
| 2 | NLU Delhi (AILET) | 3 | ₹21 L | AIR ~65 (AILET) | ₹18 LPA |
| 3 | NALSAR Hyderabad | 4-5 | ₹15.35 L | ~250 (Gen) | ₹17.5 LPA |
| 4 | WBNUJS Kolkata | 6-7 | ₹17 L | ~400 (Gen) | ₹20 LPA |
| 5 | GNLU Gandhinagar | 8 | ₹14 L | ~550 (Gen) | ₹18 LPA |
| 6 | NLU Jodhpur | 9-10 | ₹13 L | ~650 (Gen) | ₹12 LPA |
| 7 | HNLU Raipur | 11-12 | ₹10 L | ~900 (Gen) | ₹10 LPA |
| 8 | RGNUL Patiala | 13 | ₹9 L | ~1100 (Gen) | ₹9 LPA |
| 9 | CNLU Patna | 21 | ₹1.1 L | ~1400 (Gen) | ₹4.8 LPA |
| 10 | NLIU Bhopal | 28 | ₹2.9 L | ~1600 (Gen) | ₹9 LPA |
ℹ Yellow rows = Tier 1 NLUs. Blue rows = Tier 2 NLUs. Fees are approximate 5-year total. CLAT closing ranks are based on 2025 counselling data.
NLSIU Bangalore — National Law School of India University
📍 Bangalore, Karnataka | Est. 1987 | India's First NLU
India's oldest and most prestigious NLU. Founded in 1987, NLSIU set the template for all NLUs that followed. It has produced more Supreme Court justices, top law firm partners, and Rhodes Scholars than any other Indian law school. Admission is via CLAT — General category requires a rank within top 120. The 5-year fee of ₹25 lakh includes hostel and mess charges.
NLU Delhi — National Law University, Delhi
📍 Dwarka, New Delhi | Est. 2008 | Admission via AILET
NLU Delhi is unique — it is the only NLU that does NOT participate in CLAT. It conducts its own AILET exam. With only 110 BA LLB seats and proximity to the Supreme Court of India, NLU Delhi offers unmatched litigation and arbitration exposure. The median salary of ₹18 LPA (2025) is among the highest of all NLUs.
NALSAR Hyderabad — National Academy of Legal Study and Research
📍 Hyderabad, Telangana | Est. 1998 | CLAT
NALSAR is widely regarded as the second-best law school in India and is often preferred by students who want strong corporate law and international law exposure in South India. It has one of the highest placement rates among all NLUs — 108 out of 115 UG students placed in 2025. The 5-year fee is considerably lower than NLSIU at ₹15.35 lakh.
WBNUJS Kolkata — West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences
📍 Kolkata, West Bengal | Est. 1999 | CLAT
WBNUJS Kolkata recorded the highest median placement salary of ₹20 LPA among all NLUs in 2025 — above even NLSIU and NLU Delhi. Known for its strong alumni network in top law firms and excellent clinical legal education programme. CLAT closing rank of ~400 makes it more accessible than NLSIU while offering comparable outcomes.
GNLU Gandhinagar — Gujarat National Law University
📍 Gandhinagar, Gujarat | Est. 2003 | CLAT
GNLU has rapidly emerged as a top-5 NLU with exceptional placement numbers — 175 out of 181 UG students placed in 2025, the highest placement volume of any NLU. Located in India's business capital corridor, GNLU has strong connections with Gujarat-based corporates, Reliance Legal, and multinational law firms. The median salary of ₹18 LPA with the most accessible Tier 1 cutoff (~550) makes it excellent value.
| NLU | Location | NIRF 2025 | 5-Yr Fees | Closing Rank | Avg Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLU Jodhpur | Rajasthan | 9-10 | ₹13 L | ~650 | ₹12 LPA |
| HNLU Raipur | Chhattisgarh | 11-12 | ₹10 L | ~900 | ₹10 LPA |
| RGNUL Patiala | Punjab | 13 | ₹9 L | ~1100 | ₹9 LPA |
| NLUO Cuttack | Odisha | 17 | ₹12 L | ~1000 | ₹13 LPA |
| NUSRL Ranchi | Jharkhand | 34 | ₹5.5 L | ~1700 | ₹10 LPA |
| NLIU Bhopal | MP | 28 | ₹2.9 L | ~1600 | ₹9 LPA |
ℹ️ Note on RGNUL Patiala: For students from Punjab preparing at Surya Law Academy, RGNUL Patiala is the closest Tier 2 NLU. A CLAT rank within 1100 secures admission. RGNUL has particularly strong connections with Punjab & Haryana High Court for litigation career aspirants.
NLU Placement Data 2025 — Verified NIRF Figures
| NLU | Students Graduating | Students Placed | Median Salary | Top Offer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bangalore | 85 | 70 | ₹16 LPA | ₹22+ LPA |
| NLU Delhi | 79 | 65 | ₹18 LPA | ₹25 LPA |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 115 | 108 | ₹17.5 LPA | ₹22 LPA |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 127 | 122 | ₹20 LPA | ₹24 LPA |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 181 | 175 | ₹18 LPA | ₹22 LPA |
How to Set Your NLU Target — Strategy
- If you score 100+/120 in CLAT mocks: Target NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS — Tier 1
- If you score 88-99/120: Target GNLU, NLU Jodhpur, HNLU — Tier 1-2 boundary
- If you score 78-87/120: Target RGNUL Patiala, NLIU Bhopal, CNLU Patna — strong Tier 2
- If you score 65-77/120: Target newer NLUs — NUSRL Ranchi, MNLU Mumbai, DNLU Jabalpur
- Always apply to PU Law Entrance too — UILS Chandigarh is an excellent parallel option for Punjab students
Want to Get Into a Top NLU in 2026?
Surya Law Academy students have secured ranks at NLSIU, NLU Delhi, and top 10 NLUs. AIR 4, AIR 17 CLAT — your rank is our mission. Free counselling with Megha Sharma.