Among India’s 23 IITs, the first-generation top five IITs remain the most preferred by JEE Advanced toppers. Check their median salary trends over three years.

Securing a good rank in JEE Advanced is a major achievement, but the journey doesn’t end there. One of the most crucial decisions that follows is selecting the right IIT for admission. With several IITs offering a wide range of courses, choosing the best fit can be overwhelming. Many aspirants base their choice on factors such as placement statistics, faculty expertise, infrastructure, and campus life.
Among these, the placement record often plays the most influential role, as students aim for strong career prospects after graduation. However, aligning personal interests, preferred branches, and long-term goals with the strengths of a particular IIT is equally important. Analyzing previous year’s opening and closing ranks can also help candidates understand the scores they need to target for their desired institute and course.

Over the years, the first-generation IITs have maintained their reputation as the most sought-after institutes among JEE Advanced toppers. These prestigious institutions IIT Kharagpur (1951), IIT Bombay (1958), IIT Madras (1959), IIT Kanpur (1959), and IIT Delhi (1961) have set high benchmarks in academics, research, and placements.
Among them, IIT Bombay, particularly its Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) branch, continues to be the top preference for top-ranked candidates. In JEE Advanced 2025 session, an impressive 73 out of top 100 rankers opted for IIT Bombay, reaffirming its dominance in both popularity and performance. This strong preference reflects the institute's consistent excellence, dynamic campus environment, and unmatched placement opportunities.
What Are the Median Salary Figures of First-Generation IITs as per NIRF 2025?
Choosing the right IIT involves looking beyond rankings and reputation. One of the most important aspects students consider is the median salary of placed graduates, which reflects the real-world value of a degree from a particular institute. According to NIRF 2025 report, which covers data for undergraduate 4-year programs, the median salary trends over the past three academic years are shown below for the first-generation IITs:
| Median Salary of Placed Graduates (UG 4-Year Programs) | |||
| IIT Name | 2023–24 | 2022–23 | 2021–22 |
| IIT Kharagpur | INR 19,76,000 | INR 24,00,000 | INR 18,75,000 |
| IIT Bombay | INR 19,61,000 | INR 19,63,000 | INR 18,80,000 |
| IIT Madras | INR 17,50,000 | INR 16,63,440 | INR 17,00,000 |
| IIT Kanpur | INR 19,40,000 | INR 23,00,000 | INR 22,07,000 |
| IIT Delhi | INR 19,08,000 | INR 20,00,000 | INR 20,50,000 |
IIT Placement Outcomes
In terms of placement outcomes, IIT Delhi and IIT Kanpur have emerged as the strongest performers, offering the highest median salaries over the past three years. IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur have shown consistent results as well, with median salary figures that closely match each other. Surprisingly, IIT Madras, which holds top position in both the overall and engineering categories as per NIRF rankings has recorded the lowest median salary among the first-generation IITs during the same period. This observation highlights a key distinction between academic reputation and placement performance, reminding aspirants to evaluate multiple factors before making a final decision.
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UP NEET PG 2025 counselling will be conducted in four rounds, allocating 85% state quota seats based on choices, NEET scores, and reservations. The remaining 15% All India Quota seats will be managed by MCC.
UP NEET PG 2025 counselling dates have been officially released on the state’s exam portal, upneet.gov.in. You can begin round 1 registration process from November 06, 2025. To participate in the seat allocation, you must register online and submit your preferred choices of colleges and courses. The deadline for application submission is October 10, 2025. If you have qualified NEET PG 2025 exam and meet the minimum cutoff criteria, you are eligible to take part in Uttar Pradesh NEET PG counselling process.
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