At a Glance — Admission Route & Fee Comparison 2026-27
One aligned table keeps branch fees, route status, and profile checks comparable row by row.
| Branch / check | IIT Dharwad | IIT Bombay |
|---|---|---|
| College profile | IIT Dharwad - Indian Institute of TechnologyDharwad · Estd. 2016 | Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay), MumbaiMumbai · Estd. 1958 |
| Admission route | Official route onlyOfficial admission routeNo separate management quota published. | Official route onlyOfficial admission routeNo separate management quota published. |
| Type | Government | Government (Central-government autonomous Institute of National Importance, Ministry of Education) |
| NAAC / NIRF | NAAC Institute of National Importance · NIRF #77 | NAAC Institute of National Importance · NIRF #3 |
| Branch-wise fees | Current fee rows are not available on this comparison page. | |
Overview
IIT Dharwad (Karnataka, founded 2016) is one of the youngest IITs while IIT Bombay (Powai, founded 1958) is among the oldest.
Both IIT Dharwad and IIT Bombay are established engineering institutions — IIT Dharwad founded in 2016 (NIRF Engineering #77) located in Dharwad, and IIT Bombay founded in 1958 (NIRF Engineering #3) located in Mumbai. Comparison covers JEE/state-entrance cutoffs, branch portfolios, fees structure, placement averages, and campus life — to help families and aspirants make a data-driven 2026 admission decision.
Academics
IIT Dharwad intake approximately 350. IIT Bombay intake approximately 1,360 across full breadth.
Both colleges offer 4-year B.Tech programmes across CSE, ECE, EE, ME, and Civil with branch-specific specialisations. IIT Dharwad is Government with NAAC Institute of National Importance accreditation. IIT Bombay is Government (Central-government autonomous Institute of National Importance, Ministry of Education) with NAAC Institute of National Importance accreditation. Both follow AICTE-approved curriculum with industry-aligned electives, project-based learning, and credit-transfer options. CSE remains the most competitive branch at both, with ECE/IT close behind. Mechanical, Civil, and Chemical have lower cutoffs but solid placements at the better institution of the two.
Placements
IIT Dharwad 2024: highest around 50 LPA, CSE around 22 LPA. IIT Bombay 2024: highest 4 crore, CSE around 35 LPA.
Placement profiles at both institutions follow standard tier-based outcomes. CSE/IT branches typically see top recruiters (Microsoft, Adobe, Goldman Sachs, Amazon, plus Indian product+services companies). Core branches (Mech, Civil, Chemical) place at industry tier-2-3 with PSU pipeline (ONGC, IOCL, NTPC, BHEL) where applicable. Internship + final placement timeline runs sem 5-7 with on-campus drives, off-campus applications, and pre-placement offers from semester-6 internships. Branch-wise median package varies — verify with each college's official placement disclosure (NIRF data submission) for exact numbers.
Campus Life
IIT Dharwad is approximately 470 acres in Dharwad north Karnataka, still under development. IIT Bombay spans 550 acres in Powai.
Verdict
IIT Bombay is the conventional first choice — denser alumni, older legacy, higher placements.
Still deciding between IIT Dharwad and IIT Bombay? Ask a counsellor to review today's practical options.
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