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CUK vs JNU: which is better?

NIRF rank, NAAC grade, students, teachers, placements and research side by side, from each university's own NIRF data and the published rankings.

Updated 01 Nov 2026

Central University of Kashmir (CUK) is in Ganderbal, Jammu and Kashmir, was set up in 2009 and holds NAAC B++. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is in New Delhi, Delhi, was set up in 1969, is ranked #2 in NIRF 2025 and holds NAAC A++. Both admit students through CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRF, so one set of scores works for both.

Quick verdict

CUK is ahead on

No clear lead on the compared figures.

JNU is ahead on
  • JNU: better NIRF rank (Not Ranked vs #2)
  • JNU: higher NAAC grade (B++ vs A++)

CUK vs JNU: full comparison

ParameterCUKJNU
LocationGanderbal, Jammu and KashmirNew Delhi, Delhi
Established20091969
NIRF rankNot Ranked#2
NAAC gradeB++A++
Students (UG, PG, PhD)-7,807 (2024-25)
Women students-44%
From other states-95%
Teachers-713
Students per teacher-11
Median salary, 2-year PG-Rs. 9 lakh (2024-25)
Placed, 2-year PG-136 of 1,363 (10%)
Higher studies, 2-year PG-89% of the batch
Research grants-Rs. 182 crore (2024-25)
PhDs awarded-919 (2024-25)
Admission routesCUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFCUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRF, JEE Main, CAT, GATE, GAT-B
Vice-Chancellor-Prof. Santishree Dhulipudi Pandit
CUK profile →JNU 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 CUK if its location, courses or admission route suit you better, or you want to study in Ganderbal.
  • Choose JNU if what matters most to you is: better NIRF rank (Not Ranked vs #2); higher NAAC grade (B++ vs A++), or you want to study in New Delhi.

Admission at both is mostly through the national entrance tests, so check each one's CUK admission and JNU admission pages for the courses and seats you want.

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