IIT Madras vs. IIT Delhi: A comparative analysis of placement success

Two of India’s premier institutes for higher education in engineering and technology, the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, are dream destinations for many aspiring engineers. In the NIRF Rankings 2024 (engineering category), both of the institutes have grabbed the top two spots, in fact, since 2019, both IIT Madras and IIT Delhi have grabbed the top 2 spots in the engineering category.So, what sets these institutes apart? Beyond their distinguished faculty, advanced courses, research facilities, and impressive campuses, one major differentiator is their placement records. Today, we will compare which of these esteemed IITs excels more in terms of placements.

Placement records: A comparative analysis of IIT Madras and IIT Delhi

So, which institute fares better in terms of placement records? Here’s a look at the data from the last three years for both institutes, as published by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) under the management category in 2024:
UG 4 year program

In the academic year 2020-21, IIT Madras graduated 338 students in the minimum stipulated time, with 292 placed and a median salary of Rs. 15 lakh. In contrast, IIT Delhi had a larger graduating cohort of 672 students, with 541 placed and a higher median salary of Rs. 17.6 lakh. Both institutions had a similar number of students pursuing higher education, with IIT Madras reporting 17 and IIT Delhi 101.
Moving to 2021-22, IIT Madras saw an increase in graduates to 388, with 297 placed and a median salary rise to Rs. 17 lakh. IIT Delhi’s numbers improved further, graduating 685 students, placing 621, and achieving a median salary of Rs. 20.5 lakh. IIT Delhi also saw a decrease in the number of students opting for higher education to 64, while IIT Madras witnessed an increase in higher education aspirants to 78.
In the academic year 2022-23, IIT Madras had a substantial rise in graduates to 639, with 496 placed and a median salary of Rs. 16.63 lakh. The number of students pursuing higher education increased to 96. IIT Delhi’s graduating cohort grew to 835, with 676 placed and a median salary of Rs. 20 lakh. The number of students opting for higher education decreased further to 50.
Overall, IIT Delhi consistently offered higher median salaries and had a larger proportion of its graduates placed each year compared to IIT Madras. However, IIT Madras showed a more substantial increase in the number of graduates and those pursuing higher education over the years. The overall placement performance and median salaries at IIT Delhi surpassed those at IIT Madras, indicating a stronger industry connection and higher compensation in Delhi. Meanwhile, IIT Madras demonstrated a commendable growth in both placement and higher education statistics, reflecting a robust academic and professional outcome despite the competitive landscape.