NIRF Open University Ranking 2025: Top 3 and Rank History
- Ranked in 2025
- 3
- Editions
- 2
- First ranked
- 2024
- Top score
- —
Checked 13 October 2026
against every NIRF ranking published since 2016
Showing 1–3 of 3 ranked in Open Universities, NIRF 2025 · change vs 2024
1=Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU)New Delhi, Delhi
Rank by year · Open Universities
- 20241
- 20251
NIRF did not publish parameter scores for this entry.
Data the institution submitted to NIRF, 2025(opens in a new tab)
2NewKarnataka State Open University, MysoreMysore, Karnataka
Rank by year · Open Universities
- 20252
NIRF did not publish parameter scores for this entry.
Data the institution submitted to NIRF, 2025(opens in a new tab)
3NewU.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University, AllahabadPrayagraj (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh
Rank by year · Open Universities
- 20253
NIRF did not publish parameter scores for this entry.
Data the institution submitted to NIRF, 2025(opens in a new tab)
The short answer
In the NIRF 2025 open universities ranking, Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is first, followed by Karnataka State Open University, Mysore and U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad. NIRF ranked 3 institutions in this category in 2025. Search below for any of them to see its rank in every year since 2024, its score and the five parameter scores.
- 1
Pick the category that matches what you want to study: engineering, management, medical, law and so on.
- 2
Search the institution, or filter by state. Open a row for its rank in every year, its score and the five parameter scores.
- 3
Compare the trend, not one year’s number, and check the institution’s own data PDF on nirfindia.org before you decide.
2024 to 2025
What changed this year
Ranks compared with NIRF 2024 for institutions ranked in both years. 1 institutions ranked in 2024 are not in the 2025 list.
Biggest climbs
Biggest falls
New this year
- Karnataka State Open University, Mysore#2
- U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad#3
How NIRF scores
The five parameters
Every institution is scored out of 100 on each group, and the groups are weighted into one total. The weights differ by category; NIRF publishes them in each year’s methodology.
TLR
Teaching, Learning and Resources
RPC
Research and Professional Practice
GO
Graduation Outcomes
OI
Outreach and Inclusivity
PR
Perception
NIRF 2025
Every category
- Universities#1 Indian Institute of Science · 100 ranked
- Engineering#1 Indian Institute of Technology Madras · 100 ranked
- Management#1 Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad · 100 ranked
- Colleges#1 Hindu College · 100 ranked
- Pharmacy#1 Jamia Hamdard · 101 ranked
- Medical#1 All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi · 50 ranked
- Law#1 National Law School of India University · 40 ranked
- Architecture and Planning#1 Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee · 40 ranked
- Dental#1 All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi · 40 ranked
- Research Institutions#1 Indian Institute of Science · 50 ranked
- Agriculture and Allied Sectors#1 Indian Agricultural Research Institute · 40 ranked
- Innovation#1 Indian Institute of Technology Madras · 10 ranked
- State Public Universities#1 Jadavpur University · 50 ranked
- Skill Universities#1 Symbiosis Skills and Professional University (Formerly Symbiosis Skill and Open University) · 3 ranked
- Sustainable Development Goals#1 Indian Institute of Technology Madras · 10 ranked
Sources
Where this comes from
Every rank, score and parameter score is copied from the ranking tables the Ministry of Education publishes on nirfindia.org(opens in a new tab), one table per category per year from 2016 to 2025. We match an institution across years and categories by its NIRF institute ID; for 2016 and 2017, when NIRF used older IDs, by name within the same state.
We publish NIRF’s figures as published, including ties, bands and withdrawn ranks, and do not correct them. Check the institution’s data PDF linked in each row for the numbers behind its score.
Latest edition: NIRF 2025 rankings(opens in a new tab).
Free to reuse with credit to CareerBhavan. Get the data (CSV)
Cite as: CareerBhavan, “NIRF rankings 2016 to 2025: every category, institution and year”, careerbhavan.com/nirf-ranking (checked 13 October 2026)
FAQ
Questions students ask
Which is the best open university in India as per NIRF 2025?
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is first in the NIRF 2025 open universities ranking, followed by Karnataka State Open University, Mysore and U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University, Allahabad. Search the list for any other institution’s rank and its trend since 2024.
How many institutions are in the NIRF open universities ranking?
NIRF ranked 3 in 2025. The number changes between editions: 2 in 2024, 3 in 2025.
How do I see an institution’s NIRF rank for earlier years?
Open its row in the list for its rank in every year it was ranked since 2024, or change the year filter to see the full list as NIRF published it that year. Each row links to the data the institution submitted to NIRF.
Is a higher NIRF score always better for students?
The total weighs research heavily for most categories. If placements matter most to you, look at the graduation outcomes (GO) score in the row, and check the programme’s fees and eligibility before shortlisting.
Shortlisting open universities options? A counsellor can check fees, cut-offs and fit for the ones you like.
A free call with a CareerBhavan counsellor, at a time that suits you.