JNU vs SAU: which is better?

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is in New Delhi, Delhi, was set up in 1969, is ranked #2 in NIRF 2025 and holds NAAC A++. South Asian University (SAU) is in New Delhi, Delhi and was set up in 2010. Both admit students through NET/JRF, so one score works for both.

Quick verdict

JNU is ahead on

• JNU: better NIRF rank (#2 vs Not Ranked)

SAU is ahead on

No clear lead on the compared figures.

JNU vs SAU: 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 JNU if what matters most to you is: better NIRF rank (#2 vs Not Ranked), or you want to study in New Delhi.
• Choose SAU if its location, courses or admission route suit you better, or you want to study in New Delhi.

Admission at both is mostly through the national entrance tests, so check each one's JNU admission and SAU 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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