IIRF Ranking 2026: Adichunchanagiri University tops New-Age Emerging University category

Adichunchanagiri University secured the top position in the IIRF Ranking 2026 for the New-Age Emerging University category, while KREA University ranked second, and Dnyaan Prasad Global University and Pimpri Chinchwad University jointly secured third place.

Pimpri Chinchwad University improved from Rank 6 in 2025 to Rank 3 in 2026, while World University of Design advanced from Rank 11 to Rank 8.

Adichunchanagiri University Leads Emerging University Rankings

Adichunchanagiri University, Mandya, Karnataka, was ranked No. 1 in the IIRF Ranking 2026 New-Age Emerging University category. In the 2025 rankings, the university was placed at Rank 2, making it the new leader in this year's rankings.

Established in 2018 and approved by PCI, NMC, and AICTE, Adichunchanagiri University offers 92 undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral programs across 45 specializations.

The university provides courses in engineering, medicine and health sciences, management, commerce, science, pharmacy, education, and allied health sciences.

Its academic portfolio includes MBBS, MD, MS, B.Sc. Nursing, M.Sc. Nursing, B.Tech., M.Tech., MBA, BBA, B.Pharm, M.Pharm, Pharm.D, B.Com, BCA, B.Ed, and Ph.D. programs.

Engineering specializations include Computer Science and Engineering, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Electronics and Communication Engineering, Civil Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.

The university has a student intake of 1,441 and offers programs through multiple constituent colleges. The median placement package stands at ₹7,77,931.

KREA University Retains Strong Position

KREA University, Sri City, Andhra Pradesh, secured Rank 2 in the IIRF Ranking 2026. In 2025, KREA University held Rank 3, improving its position by one place this year.

Established in 2018 and recognized by the UGC, KREA University operates through the School of Interwoven Arts and Sciences and the IFMR Graduate School of Business. The university is known for its interdisciplinary liberal arts and management education model.

Academic offerings include B.A., B.Sc., BBA, MBA, Executive MBA, and Ph.D. programs. Major disciplines include Economics, Data Science, Computer Science, Psychology, Physics, Mathematics, Environmental Studies, Literature, History, Politics, Philosophy, and Business Studies.

The university's flagship MBA program accepts scores from CAT, XAT, NMAT, CMAT, GMAT, GRE, GATE, and IIT-JAM. Through its scholarship initiatives, undergraduate students can receive tuition waivers ranging from 20% to 100%.

The Lakshmi Scholarship Programme also supports selected students pursuing a fully funded master's degree at the University of Cambridge.

Dnyaan Prasad Global University and Pimpri Chinchwad University Share Third Rank

Dnyaan Prasad Global University, Pune, Maharashtra, and Pimpri Chinchwad University, Pune, Maharashtra, jointly secured Rank 3 in the New-Age Emerging University category.

Dnyaan Prasad Global University, established under the Dr. D.Y. Patil Unitech Society, offers programs through five schools covering technology, management, pharmacy, hospitality, tourism, and liberal arts.

The university provides B.Tech., M.Tech., BBA, MBA, BCA, MCA, B.Pharm, Pharm.D, M.Pharm, Psychology, and hospitality programs. The institution has collaborations with more than 200 national and 50 international organizations and reports placement offers reaching ₹70 lakh per annum.

Pimpri Chinchwad University recorded one of the most notable improvements in the rankings, rising from Rank 6 in 2025 to Rank 3 in 2026.

Established under the Government of Maharashtra Act No. V of 2023 and recognized by the UGC, the university offers programs in engineering, management, design, pharmacy, law, science, humanities, and liberal arts.

Its flagship programs include B.Tech. in Computer Science Engineering with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and MBA in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence.

The university offers undergraduate, postgraduate, doctoral, and certificate programs and attracts recruiters including Amazon, HSBC, and Adobe.

Top 10 New-Age Emerging Universities in India: IIRF Ranking 2026

About IIRF Ranking

The Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) is a ranking system that evaluates more than 5,000 academic institutions across India.

It ranks universities, colleges, and business schools based on research performance, placements, faculty quality, industry collaboration, and other institutional indicators. IIRF is registered under India's Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) through the Companies Act, 2013.

The IIRF India Ranking conducts a comprehensive assessment of more than 2,500 institutions, including over 500 universities, 300 engineering colleges, 300 business schools, 300 undergraduate colleges, and more than 100 institutions each in law, design, architecture, medicine, dental sciences, nursing, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and public health.

IIRF Ranking Parameters

The rankings are based on nine key parameters:

• Academic Reputation: The Pedagogy of Practice (25%)
• Graduate Outcome & Employability: The Return on Investment (23%)
• Research Outcome: Volume, Income & Reputation (22%)
• Demand Ratio & Student Profile (6%)
• Employer Reputation & International Outlook (6%)
• Wellbeing & Institutional Development (5%)
• Peer Perception and Alumni Feedback (4%)
• Public Perception & Data Verification (4%)
• Impact and Value Addition (5%)

The ranking framework provides insights to students, parents, educators, and policymakers seeking information on higher education institutions in India. More details are available at www.iirfranking.com.