IGNOU vs JNU: which is better?

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is in New Delhi, Delhi, was set up in 1985 and holds NAAC A++. 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, 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 136 of 1,363 (10%))

JNU is ahead on

• JNU: better NIRF rank (Not Ranked vs #2)
• JNU: more teachers (290 vs 713)
• JNU: higher median salary (2-year PG) (Rs. 2.7 lakh (2024-25) vs Rs. 9 lakh (2024-25))
• JNU: more research funding (Rs. 6.8 crore (2024-25) vs Rs. 182 crore (2024-25))
• JNU: more PhDs awarded (91 (2024-25) vs 919 (2024-25))

IGNOU vs JNU: 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 136 of 1,363 (10%)), or you want to study in New Delhi.
• Choose JNU if what matters most to you is: better NIRF rank (Not Ranked vs #2); more teachers (290 vs 713); higher median salary (2-year PG) (Rs. 2.7 lakh (2024-25) vs Rs. 9 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 JNU admission pages for the courses and seats you want.

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