Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) is in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, was set up in 1920, is ranked #10 in NIRF 2025 and holds NAAC A+. Banaras Hindu University (BHU) is in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, was set up in 1916, is ranked #6 in NIRF 2025 and holds NAAC A. Both admit students through CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRF, NEET UG, NCET/ITEP, so one set of scores works for both.
Quick verdict
- AMU: higher NAAC grade (A+ vs A)
- BHU: better NIRF rank (#10 vs #6)
AMU vs BHU: full comparison
| Parameter | AMU | BHU |
|---|---|---|
| Location | Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
| Established | 1920 | 1916 |
| NIRF rank | #10 | #6 |
| NAAC grade | A+ | A |
| Students (UG, PG, PhD) | - | 32,334 (2024-25) |
| Women students | - | 49% |
| From other states | - | 49% |
| Teachers | - | 1,891 |
| Students per teacher | - | 17 |
| Median salary, 2-year PG | - | Rs. 9 lakh (2024-25) |
| Placed, 2-year PG | - | 1,372 of 4,472 (31%) |
| Higher studies, 2-year PG | - | 67% of the batch |
| Research grants | - | Rs. 206 crore (2024-25) |
| PhDs awarded | - | 738 (2024-25) |
| Admission routes | CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRF, NEET UG, AMU-AT, NCET/ITEP | CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRF, JEE Main, NEET UG, CAT, GATE, CLAT, NCET/ITEP |
| AMU profile → | BHU profile → |
Sources: NIRF 2025 (Ministry of Education) and NAAC. Students, teachers, median salaries, placements and research grants are from the data each university filed with NIRF and published on its own website (open a university's profile for the PDF). Fees are compared only where they have been checked against the university's own prospectus. A tick marks the better value in a row.
Which one should you choose?
- Choose AMU if what matters most to you is: higher NAAC grade (A+ vs A), or you want to study in Aligarh.
- Choose BHU if what matters most to you is: better NIRF rank (#10 vs #6), or you want to study in Varanasi.
Admission at both is mostly through the national entrance tests, so check each one's AMU admission and BHU admission pages for the courses and seats you want.
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