Top 10 National Law Universities (NLUs) in India Through CLAT – Rankings, Fees & Placements

One of the few choices you'll make that could affect the next five years of your life before you even step foot in your law college doors is which law college you choose. The few ranks you gain or lose in CLAT 2027 can make all the difference between studying at a certain campus, securing certain internships, networking with certain recruiters, and ultimately, having a different career path to pursue.

Hence, students take as much time in comparing Top NLUs in India as they dedicate to preparation for the exam. Although all National Law Universities provide legal education, the academic reputation, research, placements, faculty, fees and opportunities outside of the classroom vary.

Top 10 NLU’s Accepting CLAT 2027

1. National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru

NIRF Law Rank: 1

Admission: CLAT

UG Seats: 310

LL.M. Seats: 100

Annual Fee: Approximately ₹3–4 lakh

Average Placement: ₹15–18 LPA

NLSIU Bengaluru is the highest-ranked National Law University in India according to the latest NIRF Rankings. The university is renowned for its academic excellence, legal studies, faculty and placement.

2. National Law University (NLU), Delhi

NIRF Law Rank: 2

Admission: AILET

UG Seats: 123

LL.M. Seats: 83

Annual Fee: Approximately ₹2.5–3 lakh

Average Placement: ₹12–15 LPA

In comparison to other NLUs, NLU Delhi accepts students based on AILET as well.NLU Delhi accepts AILET as well unlike most other NLUs that accept students based on CLAT. It has consistently been one of the top law schools in India.

3. NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad

NIRF Law Rank: 3

Admission: CLAT

UG Seats: 132

LL.M. Seats: 66

Annual Fee: Approximately ₹2.5–3 lakh

Average Placement: ₹10–14 LPA

NALSAR Hyderabad stands out as a leading institution in the field of academic courses and placements in corporate law and judiciary.

4. West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata

NIRF Law Rank: 4

Admission: CLAT

UG Seats: 132

LL.M. Seats: 70

Annual Fee: Approximately ₹2.5 lakh

Average Placement: ₹10–12 LPA

WBNUJS Kolkata is a very old National Law University, and it has gained a great reputation in the field of legal education and placement in corporate companies.

5. Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar

NIRF Law Rank: 5

Admission: CLAT

UG Seats: 172

LL.M. Seats: 57

Annual fee: Around ₹2 to 2.5 lakh

Average Placement: ₹8–10 LPA

GNLU Gandhinagar has been consistently improving its ranking and continues to be a leading Law University in India for legal education and placements.

6. National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack

NIRF Law Rank: 15

Admission: CLAT

UG Seats: 180

LL.M. Seats: 46

NLU Odisha is one of the prominent National Law Universities participating in CLAT and has been on the NIRF ranking list.

7. Chanakya National Law University (CNLU), Patna

NIRF Law Rank: 17

Admission: CLAT

UG Seats: 132

LL.M. Intake: No regular intake reported

CNLU Patna is one of the established National Law Universities offering undergraduate legal education through CLAT admissions.

8. Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow

NIRF Law Rank: 21

Admission: CLAT

UG Seats: 187

LL.M. Seats: 33

RMLNLU Lucknow is an institute that has become a part of CLAT in providing law undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

9. National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal

NIRF Law Rank: 27

Admission: CLAT

UG Seats: 102

LL.M. Seats: 60

NLIU, Bhopal, is one of the known National Law Universities of India and provides admission to the students by CLAT.

10. Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai

NIRF Law Rank: 28

Admission: CLAT

UG Seats: 120

LL.M. Seats: 60

MNLU Mumbai is one of the newer National Law Universities which takes admission through CLAT.

Latest NIRF India Rankings: Law

Institute ID	Name	City	State	Score	Rank
IR-L-U-0238	National Law School of India University	Bengaluru	Karnataka	82.97	1
IR-L-U-0111	National Law University	New Delhi	Delhi	80.00	2
IR-L-N-18	Nalsar University of Law	Hyderabad	Telangana	79.50	3
IR-L-U-0585	The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences	Kolkata	West Bengal	79.39	4
IR-L-U-0134	Gujarat National Law University	Gandhinagar	Gujarat	76.23	5
IR-L-U-0573	Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur	Kharagpur	West Bengal	74.09	6
IR-L-C-19328	Symbiosis Law School, Pune	Pune	Maharashtra	74.07	7
IR-L-U-0108	Jamia Millia Islamia	New Delhi	Delhi	66.39	8
IR-L-U-0496	Aligarh Muslim University	Aligarh	Uttar Pradesh	65.82	9
IR-L-U-0363	Siksha `O` Anusandhan	Bhubaneswar	Odisha	65.36	10

 

Top NLUs For Placements

While opportunities differ from institution to institution, the premier NLUs in India are consistently sought after by corporate lawyers, consulting firms, public sector recruiters and top law firms.

 

Top NLUs also produce students for positions in the following fields:

• Corporate Law
• Litigation
• Judicial Services
• Civil Services
• Legal Consultancy
• Academia
• International Organisations
• Public Policy

After completing their law degree, many students also opt for higher studies in India and overseas.

How Are National Law Universities Ranked?

The NIRF Law Rankings 2026 evaluate law institutions using multiple academic and professional parameters.

Ranking Parameter	What It Measures
Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR)	Faculty quality, student-teacher ratio, infrastructure and learning resources
Research and Professional Practice (RP)	Research publications, funded projects and professional contributions
Graduation Outcomes (GO)	Placements, higher education and student progression
Outreach and Inclusivity (OI)	Diversity and inclusion across regions and backgrounds
Perception (PR)	Reputation among employers, academics and legal professionals

 

Should Students Choose NLU as per its NIRF Ranking?

Rankings are good, but should not be the only guide when selecting a law school. Students should compare:

• Course structure
• Faculty
• Placement opportunities
• Location
• Campus facilities
• Fee structure
• Internship exposure
• Career goals

A university which matches a student's interests and career goals might be more valuable in the long run than one based on rank alone.

How Many National Law Universities Are There in India?

Currently, India has 27 National Law Universities. The majority of them accept students through CLAT 2027 and NLU Delhi accepts students through AILET.

Future Outlook

Given the changing context of the law field where, along with legal education, interdisciplinary learning, research and practical training has gained importance, it is anticipated that the National Law Universities will give more prominence to interdisciplinary learning, research and practical training. The NLU Ranking 2026, along with an analysis of the fees and placements, can aid CLAT aspirants in making an informed decision while applying to any of the Top NLUs in India.

What must students know?

Choosing top National Law Universities should not be an exercise of ranking comparisons. Before putting the names of the colleges on their CLAT 2027 preference list, students should take into account the admission process, fee, seat availability, placement record and academic environment of the college. The right decision can have a profound impact on legal education and career prospects.