The top 5 NLUs in India are NLSIU Bangalore, NLU Delhi, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, and GNLU Gandhinagar.
These National Law Universities (NLUs) consistently lead in academics, research, placements, and overall legal education quality.
In this guide, we break down why these are the top 5 national law colleges, how their performance has evolved over the years, and what students can expect from each of them in terms of fees, seats, campus experience, and opportunities.
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Top 5 National Law Universities (NLUs)
These are the top 5 NLUs in India:
| Rank | NLU Name | State |
| 1 | NLSIU Bangalore | Karnataka |
| 2 | NLU Delhi | Delhi |
| 3 | NALSAR Hyderabad | Telangana |
| 4 | WBNUJS Kolkata | West Bengal |
| 5 | GNLU Gandhinagar | Gujarat |
Placements at Top 5 NLUs
Below is the top 5 NLUs placement record for the latest year reported:
| NLU | Placement Rate % | Average Package (₹) |
| NLSIU Bangalore Placements | 82.35% | ₹16 lakhs |
| NLU Delhi Placements | 82.27% | ₹18 lakhs |
| NALSAR Hyderabad Placements | 93.91% | ₹17 lakhs |
| WBNUJS Kolkata Placements | 96.06% | ₹20 lakhs |
| GNLU Gandhinagar Placements | 96.69% | ₹18 lakhs |
Check the latest NIRF NLU rankings.
Total Seats in Top 5 NLUs in India
Check the total seats in the top 5 law schools in India:
| NLU | UG Seats (5-Year Program) | PG Seats (1-Year LLM) |
| NLSIU Bangalore Seats | 310 | 120 |
| NLU Delhi Seats | 120 | 81 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad Seats | 132 | 66 |
| NUJS Kolkata Seats | 182 | 100 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar Seats | 172 | 57 |
Read more about CLAT Colleges in India.
Fees of Top 5 National Law Universities in India
Check the fees of the top 5 national law colleges in India:
| NLU | 1st-Year Fees (₹) | 5-Year Fees (Approx.) |
| NLSIU Bangalore Fees | ₹5 lakhs | ₹25 lakhs |
| NLU Delhi Fees | ₹4.1 lakhs | ₹21 lakhs |
| NALSAR Hyderabad Fees | ₹2.97 lakhs | ₹15.35 lakhs |
| NUJS Kolkata Fees | ₹3.52 lakhs | ₹17 lakhs |
| GNLU Gandhinagar Fees | ₹2.58 lakhs | ₹14 lakhs |
Top 5 National Law Colleges: Year-Wise NIRF Ranking
| NLU ↓ / Year → | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 |
| NLSIU Bangalore Ranking | #1 | #1 | #1 | #1 | #1 |
| NLU Delhi Ranking | #2 | #2 | #2 | #2 | #2 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad Ranking | #3 | #3 | #3 | #4 | #3 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata Ranking | #4 | #4 | #4 | #5 | #4 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar Ranking | #5 | #8 | #7 | #8 | #6 |
The rankings clearly show that NLSIU Bangalore and NLU Delhi have maintained an undisputed #1 and #2 position for five consecutive years. NALSAR and WBNUJS consistently remain in the top tier, while GNLU shows a strong upward movement in 2025, entering the top 5 nationally.
NLSIU Bangalore: Number 1 Law College in India
NLSIU Bangalore, India’s oldest National Law University, offers one of the most vibrant academic environments in the country. The campus features a fully digital library, multiple research centres, moot court halls, modern hostels, sports facilities, and a diverse student community.
Its rigorous academic model, strong peer group, active student committees, and top-tier faculty make it the most preferred law school for CLAT aspirants.
NLU Delhi: Number 2 Law College in India
NLU Delhi offers a compact yet academically intensive campus located in the heart of India’s capital. Known for its strong research orientation, top-quality faculty, and specialised legal centres, the university provides excellent exposure to policymaking, litigation, and international law.
Its library, digital resources, moot culture, and proximity to Supreme Court/High Court make it a premier choice for law aspirants.
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NALSAR Hyderabad: Number 3 Law College in India
NALSAR Hyderabad has one of the most picturesque and expansive law school campuses in India. Spread across 55 acres, it offers modern hostels, amphitheatre-style classrooms, specialised research centres, and a strong mooting and debating culture.
Listed among the 5 best law colleges in India, NALSAR University of Law is known for its academic discipline, excellent placements, and a collaborative student environment that encourages both academic and co-curricular excellence.
NUJS Kolkata: Number 4 Law College in India
West Bengal NUJS Kolkata is known for its rigorous academics, strong corporate law placements, and a highly competitive student environment. The campus is centrally located in Salt Lake, with excellent access to courts, corporate offices, and legal organisations.
Listed among the top 5 national law schools in India, WBNUJS offers a focused academic curriculum, well-equipped library, active student societies, and robust industry interactions through internships and seminars.
GNLU Gandhinagar: Number 5 Law College in India
GNLU Gandhinagar has rapidly emerged as one of India’s most dynamic and globally oriented law universities. Its modern campus includes tech-enabled classrooms, a massive resource-rich library, moot court halls, sports complexes, and specialised research centres.
With strong placements, industry partnerships, and a diverse student community, GNLU offers a balanced mix of academics, co-curriculars, and professional exposure.
Why These Top 5 National Law Colleges Consistently Rank Higher?
These reasons make these NLUs the top 5 law schools in India:
1. Exceptional Faculty & Academic Rigor
These law universities attract some of the most accomplished academicians, practitioners, and researchers in the country.
Their structured curriculum, rigorous evaluations, research-driven modules, and high academic standards consistently strengthen their reputation, contributing to higher NIRF scores every year.
2. Superior Placement Outcomes & Industry Trust
Top-tier law firms, corporates, think tanks, and litigation chambers recruit heavily from these national law universities. Their consistent record of high median salaries, strong internship pipelines, and alumni performance enhances employer perception, placing them ahead of other universities in the rankings.
3. Strong Research Output & Publication Quality
These NLUs lead in legal research through dedicated centers, projects, journals, and funded studies. Their output is internationally recognized, contributing significantly to NIRF’s Research & Professional Practice (RP) metric—one of the heaviest weighted parameters in NIRF rankings.
4. Better Infrastructure & Learning Resources
Access to modern campuses, large digital libraries, moot court halls, smart classrooms, student committees, and research labs allows these universities to offer a superior learning environment.
Such infrastructure directly enhances student experience, academic outcomes, and institutional perception.
5. High National Perception & Alumni Network
NLSIU, NLU Delhi, NALSAR, WBNUJS, and GNLU have produced some of India’s top lawyers, judges, academicians, policymakers, and corporate leaders. Their alumni network and national visibility consistently boost their perception score, helping them secure top ranks year after year.
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Getting into the top NLUs requires focus, strategy, and consistent practice. At Law Prep Tutorial, we help you build all three. Our structured online and offline programs are designed by expert faculty who have mentored thousands of aspirants, including past all India CLAT toppers every year.
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Whether you are in Class 11, 12, or taking a drop year, we help you develop the accuracy, reading skills, legal reasoning ability, and time management you need to secure admission in NLSIU, NLU Delhi, NALSAR, WBNUJS, GNLU, and other top NLUs.
FAQs About Top 5 NLUs
NLSIU Bangalore is ranked #1 in India in the NIRF Law Rankings 2025. It has consistently held this position for five consecutive years.
Yes. NIRF rankings give a reliable picture of academic quality, placements, research, and overall performance. They help students compare NLUs objectively.
Both are elite institutions. NLSIU leads in overall reputation and legacy, while NLU Delhi excels in research, policy, and litigation exposure. Both offer excellent placements.
No. NLU Delhi conducts AILET for its UG and PG admissions.
Average salaries range from ₹16–20 LPA across the top 5 NLUs, based on NIRF 2025 data.
Yes. NLUs provide top-tier education, placements, peer group, and national exposure, making the effort worthwhile for serious law aspirants.
NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS, and GNLU are known for exceptional corporate law placements with top law firms.
For NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS, and GNLU, a safe score is usually 85–95+ depending on the year’s difficulty. For NLU Delhi (AILET), aim for 85–95+ out of 150.
No university can guarantee placements, but top NLUs consistently achieve over 80–95% placement rates due to strong industry demand.
Campus life is vibrant with moots, debates, research centers, legal aid cells, committees, cultural fests, and academic rigour shaping an all-round law school experience.
Several NLUs, especially NLSIU, NALSAR, and GNLU, offer collaborations with universities abroad for exchange semesters or research programs.
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