NAAC Ranking: Meaning, Eligibility Criteria, Top Colleges & More

If you wish to pursue higher education in India, it is essential to verify whether your chosen college is accredited by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC). This government agency evaluates institutions based on teaching quality, research performance, infrastructure, and academic outcomes. NAAC awards grades ranging from A++ to C, with A++ being the highest level of excellence. India currently has over 50 A++ accredited institutions, such as IIT Madras, Miranda House, and St. Xavier’s College, known for their robust academics and modern facilities. Studying at an NAAC A++ accredited college ensures a quality education, experienced faculty, strong research opportunities, and an environment that nurtures both knowledge and innovation.

Also Read: Top Delhi University Colleges 2025

NAAC Grading System

The NAAC grading system continues to evolve with India’s education reforms, ensuring fair, transparent, and updated evaluation standards that strengthen institutional quality and align with global accreditation benchmarks.

Higher education institutions in India are categorised into four groups, such as "A", "B", "C", and "D", based on each important factor or criterion. College performance is indicated by the NAAC ranking, which ranges from very good to good to satisfactory to unsatisfactory. Weighting is used to generate the total score of NAAC grades for all the important factors under a certain criterion, and the GPA is determined by the NAAC college ranking criterion.

The seven GPAs that correspond to the seven criteria are combined to create the Cumulative GPA (CGPA), which produces the final Assessment Outcome after each criterion has been given the appropriate weight.

Also Read: List of NAAC 'A' Grade Colleges 2024-25

Meanwhile, you can look at the list of NAAC A++ colleges in India for 2024 below.

Top 10 NAAC A++ University in India Ranking 2025

Given below is the top 10 NAAC ranking list for the A++ grade in 2025:

University Name	State	Grade	CGPA
Jawaharlal Nehru University	Delhi	A++	3.77
Lakshmibai National Institute of Physical Education	Madhya Pradesh	A++	3.79
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras	Tamil Nadu	A++	3.77
Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research	Karnataka	A++	3.76
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru	Karnataka	A++	3.67
Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation	Andhra Pradesh	A++	3.57
Indira Gandhi National Open University	Delhi	A++	3.56
Banasthali Vidyapith	Rajasthan	A++	3.63
Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research	Tamil Nadu	A++	3.53
Shivaji University	Maharashtra	A++	3.52

What is the Full Form of NAAC?

As previously mentioned, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council is the full name of the NAAC. It evaluates universities to see if they meet quality standards for learning outcomes and procedures. To rank the college among India's NAAC A++ universities, it also takes into account the faculty, research, facilities, instructional materials, amenities for students, syllabus coverage, organisation, administration, learning and instruction procedures, and more.

Why NAAC Ranking Required?

Two crucial components of Indian higher education institutions are the NAAC A++ accreditation and the NAAC 2024 college grading list. All Indian higher education establishments, including colleges and universities, are eligible to receive UGC funding only if they have NAAC accreditation. To ascertain the "Quality Status," the Council examines and certifies accredited colleges and universities, including higher education institutes (HEI). Considering they provide top-notch education, NAAC A++ universities in India are the most sought-after establishments, along with those having "A+" and "A" grades. Following the completion of the first or second batch of programs, all UGC-recognised institutions are required to apply for NBA, NAAC, or any other recognition.

Benefits of NAAC Ranking for Students

A higher education institution's NAAC accreditation or ranking list, to put it simply, will assist students in understanding all of the institution's information, including instructional learning, research outcomes, facilities, and educational quality. The NAAC A++ college list in India assists pupils in selecting the top school by considering its recognition for excellent performance and grades. Additionally, it assesses the worth of the degrees that universities give. For this reason, it is recommended for pupils to do well on their class 12 examinations to get admitted to an Indian institution that is rated NAAC A++.

Benefits of NAAC Ranking for Institutions

The following represent a few of the main advantages of both the NAAC rating list and NAAC accreditation:

• Through an informed assessment procedure, accreditation and rating assist higher education institutions in understanding their potential, shortcomings, and strengths.

• It pinpoints the internal planning and resource distribution zones.

• Financing agencies will be able to make financing decisions for higher education institutions using the objective data that accreditation will provide.

• The NAAC ranking will assist educational institutions in implementing cutting-edge or contemporary teaching strategies.

• All things considered, one of the main accrediting bodies in India is the NAAC ranking list, which is required for all institutions of higher education.

NAAC Accreditation Cycles

The NAAC accreditation process promotes ongoing quality improvement in higher education. NAAC frequently updates its assessment parameters to match evolving academic standards and global benchmarks. Institutions are encouraged to enhance their performance continuously, reflecting excellence in teaching, research, and governance. You can explore the updated details below:

Universities or institutions aiming to enhance their accredited status can opt for re-assessment, a voluntary process available after at least one but not exceeding three years from the initial accreditation. The re-assessment procedure mirrors the initial Assessment and Accreditation, with institutions providing specific responses based on the peer team recommendations from the first assessment and any quality improvements implemented. The fee structure for re-assessment aligns with that of the initial assessment.

The accreditation process is categorised as Cycle 1 for the initial accreditation and subsequent five-year periods as Cycles 2, 3, and so forth.

• For Cycle 1, refer to the Accreditation Process.
• For Cycles 2, 3, etc., the following are crucial:
  • IQAC must be operational.
  • Annual timely submission of AQARs.
  • Institutions should submit IIQA during the last 6 months of the validity period, subject to meeting conditions specified by NAAC for the purpose.
  • Other procedural steps remain consistent with the first cycle.

NAAC Eligibility Criteria for Academic Institutions Accreditation

The Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) must meet specific conditions to be eligible for the NAAC's Assessment and Accreditation (A&A) procedure. These institutions need to have been in business for a minimum of six years or have a track record of enrolling, teaching, and graduating a minimum of two batches of students. HEIs must also fulfil additional requirements or fit into the appropriate categories discussed in the following section to be considered for the NAAC evaluation and authorisation process.

Central/ State/ Private/ Deemed-to-be Universities & Institutions of National Importance

• MHRD/UGC clearance is required for universities and deemed-to-be universities, as well as their off-campus locations, to be eligible for NAAC accreditation. Without authorisation, off-campus schools cannot be considered for NAAC Accreditation and Assessment (A&A).

• Regular pupils must consistently participate in full-time academic/ research and instructional initiatives conducted on campus to be considered for participation in the NAAC ranking list. As universities or institutions of national importance, all legally certified NAAC A++ colleges in India would be considered for inclusion in the A&A procedure.

• It is important to keep in mind that NAAC standards place a strong emphasis on on-shore educational environments and therefore NAAC A++ universities in India would not certify college campuses that are located abroad.

Autonomous/ Constituent/ Affiliated Colleges Recognised by UGC

• To be considered for the NAAC ranking list or recognition, educational organisations must be affiliated with an institution of learning that has been recognised by the UGC for affiliation purposes. Private and deemed-to-be institutions' constituent facilities are not bound by A&A procedures because they are considered important aspects. In these situations, a joint evaluation of the institution itself and these component colleges is required.

• Colleges and other non-university-related companies must offer academic programs approved by Statutory Professional Regulatory Councils. Additionally, the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) or other relevant governmental groups should recognise them as being on par with university-level instruction.

Accredited HEIs Applying for Reassessment or Subsequent Cycles (Cycle 2, Cycle 3, Cycle 4) of Accreditation

• If institutions meet supplementary conditions, they may qualify to be placed in the NAAC ranking list and be qualified for reconsideration and an upgrade in their accredited status for NAAC A++ institutions in India after at least 12 months but before three years of NAAC recognition.

• A higher education institute can present an Institutional Information for Quality Assessment (IIQA) in the last six months of the accrediting cycle (Cycle 2, Cycle 3, Cycle 4) if it meets the NAAC parameters.

Note: The NAAC does not accredit HEIs' remote learning departments or overseas campuses. Institutes must submit data to the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) portal to apply for evaluation and certification. Furthermore, the AISHE code, also referred to as the reference number, is necessary for registration.

Goal and Vision for NAAC Ranking List

The main goal or vision of NAAC is to enhance performance through quality assessment, promotion, and various programs, which is crucial in higher education. To achieve this vision, NAAC has broken down its goal into several key roles based on which it ranks a college/institution as NAAC A++ university in India:

• Conducting regular evaluations and accrediting Higher Education institutions.

• Developing innovative academic programs and initiatives to enhance educational quality.

• Promoting self-assessment, transparency, creativity, and autonomy in higher education.

• Conducting research studies, providing consulting services, and offering training programs to improve educational quality.

• Collaborating with other stakeholders in higher education to establish evaluation criteria and provide encouragement.

NAAC Units of Assessment

The NAAC ranking tool was created to evaluate and grade higher education institutions to produce the most impartial results. The emphasis varies depending on the unit of accreditation, such as Affiliated / Constituent Colleges / Autonomous Colleges / Universities / Health Science, etc., even though the technique and fundamental structure of the institution are similar. The following table highlights institutional/ departmental accreditation to NAAC A++ universities in India:

NAAC Key Indicators & Weightage

NAAC has established seven criteria to form the foundation of its evaluation processes. The Higher Educational Institutions are divided into three main types: University, Autonomous College, and Affiliated/Constituent College. NAAC has assigned varying weights to these criteria across different key aspects, taking into account the operational and organisational emphasis of each type of HEI. The criterion-wise differential weights for the three types of HEIs are:

Key Indicators: Each criterion includes specific key indicators to assess performance. These Key Indicators referred to as KIs, are then broken down into Metrics, which are tools designed to gather responses from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).

NAAC Accreditation Application Procedure

The authorities typically design the NAAC Assessment and Accreditation procedure formally. The steps to apply for NAAC ranking or accreditation are as follows.

• Step 1: After uploading the Self-study Report (SSR) to the institution's website, Higher Education Colleges, Institutions, or Universities should submit their Letter of Intent (LOI) online.

• Step 2: The processing of a letter of intent takes almost fifteen days. Within ten days of the LOI submission, the institution must pay the registration fee only for the on-demand draft to reach NAAC.

• Step 3: The college has one week from the date it accepts the LOI to submit its online Institutional Eligibility for Quality Assessment (IEQA) report.

• Step 4: The college has two weeks to turn in the Self-Study Report (SSR) following acceptance of the LOI and IEQA.

• Step 5: The college will be visited by the NAAC team within three weeks of the SSR report being turned in. The NAAC will select the date of the visit.

• Step 6: The visit is usually finished in a month.

NAAC Accreditation Re-Assessment

If an educational institution is unhappy with its accrediting status, it can request a reevaluation within a year, but not after the three-year time has passed. The same application procedure that applies to evaluation and accreditation also applies to reassessment. The accreditation and assessment procedure is referred to as a cycle. For instance, the first cycle would be the evaluation of the university; the next five years would be Cycles 2, 3, 4, and 5.

Higher education institutions with NAAC accreditation that wish to improve their accreditation status can request a reevaluation to receive better rankings and grades to be among the NAAC A++ colleges in India. Nevertheless, the institutions may submit a reaccreditation application as soon as possible — at most, a year later.

Top NAAC A++ University in India in India

Here is the list of some of the top NAAC 'A++', 'A+', 'A' and 'B' grade Universities in India. For an exhaustive list of NAAC A++ university in India, students must check the official website of NAAC.

List of NAAC A++ Colleges in India	Location	NAAC Grade
SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRM Deemed University)	Tamil Nadu	A++
Gauhati University	Assam	A
National Law School of India University	Bangalore, Karnataka	A
JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research	Karnataka	A+
Manonmaniam Sundarnar University	Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu	A
Dravidian University	Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh	B
Assam Don Bosco University	Assam	A

Also Read: What is a Deemed University?

Best NAAC A++ University in India with CGPA

Here is a list of some other best NAAC A++ colleges in India along with their latest CGPA:

Top 10 NAAC A+ Accredited Colleges

Top 10 NAAC A Accredited Colleges

Top-performing colleges are those that hold A accreditation, signifying exceptional quality and achievement. These institutions have a CGPA ranging from 3.01 to 3.25. Below, you will find a list of colleges with this prestigious NAAC A accreditation:

Top 10 NAAC B++ Accredited Colleges

NAAC B++ accredited colleges are those that perform well with moderate grades. These colleges typically have a CGPA ranging from 2.76 to 3.00. Here's a list of colleges with NAAC B++ accreditation:

Top 10 NAAC B+ Accredited Colleges

NAAC B+ accredited colleges are considered to be decent performers with average grades. These colleges typically maintain a CGPA ranging from 2.51 to 2.75. Below is a list of colleges holding B+ accreditation:

Through this article, we have explained the importance of NAAC A++ university in India, NAAC full form, accreditation, NAAC ranking/ grades, and other important information. You must check all these parameters before opting for or choosing a college. Although numerous higher education institutions having excellent academic standing exist in India, the one on the NAAC ranking list has an extraordinary status with UGC recognition.

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