25 February 2026
Top 10 CLAT Colleges in India: Rankings, Courses & Admission Details
Have dreams of being one of the best lawyers in India? Your dream may start with just one exam: CLAT. Every year, thousands of students apply for a limited number of seats in the top law colleges in India.
Getting admission into the best CLAT colleges in India can be the key to your successful legal career and can provide you with top internships and placement opportunities. But with so many options available, it can be confusing to choose the right one.
Factors such as rankings, faculty, campus life, and placements are important. This blog will help you understand what CLAT is and provide you with the list of the top 10 CLAT colleges in India. Let’s dive deeper into it.
What is CLAT and Why Does It Matter?
CLAT is an acronym for Common Law Admission Test. It is a national-level entrance exam for those students who are interested in pursuing law from top National Law Universities and other participating colleges in India.
It tests one’s abilities in English, current events, legal reasoning, logical reasoning, and basic math. It assesses one’s capacity to comprehend passages, evaluate situations, and make informed decisions. A good performance in CLAT gives entrance into the top CLAT colleges in India.
But why is CLAT so important? It is because the CLAT colleges you get into define your whole career in law. The best colleges provide you with experienced faculty, better exposure to actual legal work, and proper campus placements. Most top law firms and corporate houses actively recruit students from top CLAT colleges. That is why serious preparation and proper college selection can make all the difference in your law career.
List of Top 10 CLAT Colleges in India
Here is the CLAT university list that consistently ranks among the best for law education in India. Let’s have a closer look at it.
➢ National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru
National Law School of India University is widely regarded as the best NLU in India. It consistently holds the top NIRF position among law institutions and sets a very high academic benchmark.
- The university runs BA LLB (Hons), LLM, and doctoral law programs.
- Admission to undergraduate and postgraduate courses happens through CLAT and CLAT PG.
- General category students typically need a rank within the top 100.
- Average placement packages are around ₹17 LPA in recent years.
- Moot courts, research papers, and internships are taken seriously from the first year.
➢ National Law University (NLU), New Delhi
National Law University (NLU), Delhi, stands apart because it does not participate in CLAT. Instead, it conducts AILET, which makes it slightly different from other NLUs.
- Students can pursue BA LLB (Hons), LLM, and PhD programs here.
- Admission to all courses is through the AILET entrance exam.
- Cutoffs remain high due to limited seats and strong demand.
- Being in Delhi gives regular exposure to courts and corporate firms.
- Academic focus leans strongly toward research and analytical training.
➢ NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
The National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) regularly features among the top 10 CLAT colleges in India because of its academic discipline and structured internship system.
- The university provides BA LLB (Hons), LLM, MBA in Law, and PhD options.
- Entry into undergraduate and postgraduate programs is through CLAT.
- A general category rank within roughly 120 is usually required.
- Placement packages often reach around ₹17 LPA.
- Practical exposure through research and internships is strongly encouraged.
➢ WB National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata
WB National University of Juridical Sciences has built a strong reputation, especially in eastern India. It combines rigorous academics with an active campus environment.
- Students can enroll in BA LLB, BSc LLB, LLM, and PhD programs.
- Admission to UG and PG law programs takes place via CLAT counseling.
- General category ranks usually close between 130 and 260.
- Average placement packages range between ₹15–18 LPA.
- A portion of the seats is reserved for West Bengal domicile students.
➢ Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar
Gujarat National Law University is often included in discussions about the top 10 NLU in India because of its multiple course combinations and modern subjects.
- Undergraduate choices include BA LLB, BCom LLB, BBA LLB, and BSc LLB.
- Admission to most programs is conducted through CLAT.
- General category ranks typically fall between 150 and 450.
- Placement averages stand close to ₹11 LPA.
- Students are encouraged to participate in moots and interdisciplinary learning.
➢ IIT Kharagpur – Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law
The Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law, the first of its kind in the IIT system, was set up in 2006.
- The institute provides LLB (Hons) in IP Law and LLM programs.
- Admission involves a separate entrance process conducted by IIT.
- Ranked among the leading law institutions in recent NIRF listings.
- Particularly suitable for students from science or technical backgrounds.
- The IIT ecosystem supports innovation-focused legal education.
➢ Symbiosis Law School, Pune
Symbiosis Law School is one of the strongest private law schools and is often compared with leading NLUs among the CLAT best colleges.
- Programs include BA LLB, BBA LLB, LLM, and short-term diplomas.
- Admission to undergraduate courses is through the SLAT examination.
- The Pune campus generally records higher cutoffs than other branches.
- Corporate law placements are considered one of its strengths.
- Campus life includes active legal societies and modern infrastructure.
➢ Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi
Jamia Millia Islamia is particularly respected for its criminal law and litigation training. It holds a strong public university reputation.
- The law faculty runs BA LLB, LLM, and PhD programs.
- Admission takes place through the JMI entrance test and interview.
- Ranked among the respected public law universities in India.
- Students benefit from regular exposure to Delhi courts.
- Academic training combines theory with practical legal work.
➢ Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has a long academic legacy and remains one of the notable CLAT universities in India, even though it has its own entrance route.
- Students can pursue BA LLB, LLM, and doctoral programs.
- Admission to law programs is through AMU’s separate entrance exam.
- The university holds NAAC A+ accreditation.
- Established in 1920 with strong institutional traditions.
- Campus culture emphasizes discipline and structured learning.
➢ Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA), Bhubaneswar
Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan is a recognized private university that accepts multiple law entrance scores.
- The law school offers BA LLB, BBA LLB, LLM, and PhD programs.
- Admission can be secured through CLAT or LSAT scores.
- Ranked among notable private law institutions in NIRF reports.
- Focus remains on corporate, criminal, and emerging law areas.
- Placement opportunities are steadily expanding through industry tie-ups.
Conclusion
Knowing the CLAT colleges ranking is important for any student who wants to become a lawyer. A good score in CLAT can get you into some of the top 10 CLAT colleges in India. These colleges provide good education, exposure, and career opportunities.
But that's not all you need to consider. You need to consider the location of the college, the course structure, and what you are comfortable with.
Take your time before deciding. The law is not an easy field, but it is worth the effort. You can have a solid career in the law with the right preparation and admission to the CLAT top colleges. It all begins with making the smart choice.