IGNOU vs JMI: which is better?

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is in New Delhi, Delhi, was set up in 1985 and holds NAAC A++. Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) is in New Delhi, Delhi, was set up in 1920, is ranked #4 in NIRF 2025 and holds NAAC A++. Both admit students through CUET UG, CUET PG, so one set of scores works for both.

Quick verdict

IGNOU is ahead on

• IGNOU: more of the PG batch placed (73,841 of 93,469 (79%) vs 1,048 of 1,453 (72%))

JMI is ahead on

• JMI: better NIRF rank (Not Ranked vs #4)
• JMI: more teachers (290 vs 715)
• JMI: higher median salary (2-year PG) (Rs. 2.7 lakh (2024-25) vs Rs. 16.8 lakh (2024-25))
• JMI: more research funding (Rs. 6.8 crore (2024-25) vs Rs. 90.9 crore (2024-25))
• JMI: more PhDs awarded (91 (2024-25) vs 618 (2024-25))

IGNOU vs JMI: full comparison

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 IGNOU if what matters most to you is: more of the PG batch placed (73,841 of 93,469 (79%) vs 1,048 of 1,453 (72%)), or you want to study in New Delhi.
• Choose JMI if what matters most to you is: better NIRF rank (Not Ranked vs #4); more teachers (290 vs 715); higher median salary (2-year PG) (Rs. 2.7 lakh (2024-25) vs Rs. 16.8 lakh (2024-25)), or you want to study in New Delhi.

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

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AMU - Aligarh Muslim UniversityAU - Allahabad UniversityAUS - Assam UniversityBBAU - Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar UniversityBHU - Banaras Hindu UniversityCAU - Central Agricultural UniversityCSU - Central Sanskrit UniversityCTUAP - Central Tribal University of Andhra PradeshCUAP - Central University of Andhra PradeshCUG - Central University of GujaratCUH - Central University of HaryanaCUHP - Central University of Himachal PradeshCUJ - Central University of JammuCUJh - Central University of JharkhandCUKa - Central University of KarnatakaCUK - Central University of KashmirCUKe - Central University of KeralaCUO - Central University of OdishaCUP - Central University of PunjabCURAJ - Central University of RajasthanCUSB - Central University of South BiharCUTN - Central University of Tamil NaduDHSGU - Dr. Hari Singh Gour UniversityRPCAU - Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agriculture UniversityEFLU - English and Foreign Languages UniversityGSV - Gati Shakti VishwavidyalayaGGV - Guru Ghasidas VishwavidyalayaHNBGU - Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal UniversityIMU - Indian Maritime UniversityIGNOU - Indira Gandhi National Open UniversityIGNTU - Indira Gandhi National Tribal UniversityJMI - Jamia Millia IslamiaJNU - Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityMGAHV - Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi VishwavidyalayaMGCU - Mahatma Gandhi Central UniversityMU - Manipur UniversityMANUU - Maulana Azad National Urdu UniversityMZU - Mizoram UniversityNagU - Nagaland UniversityNU - Nalanda UniversityNSU - National Sanskrit UniversityNSU_M - National Sports UniversityNEHU - North Eastern Hill UniversityPU - Pondicherry UniversityRGNAU - Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation UniversityRGU - Rajiv Gandhi UniversityRLBCAU - Rani Lakshmi Bai Central Agricultural UniversitySSCTU - Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal UniversitySLBSNSU - Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit UniversitySU - Sikkim UniversitySCU - Sindhu Central UniversitySAU - South Asian UniversityTU - Tezpur UniversityTrU - Tripura UniversityDU - University of DelhiUoH - University of HyderabadVBU - Visva-Bharati University

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