NIT Surathkal vs NIT Calicut: NIRF Ranking, Placement Median Salary, and Opening and Closing rank

When evaluating India’s premier technical institutions, the debate between NIT Surathkal (National Institute of Technology Karnataka) and NIT Calicut (National Institute of Technology Calicut) remains a top focus for engineering aspirants. For students navigating the JoSAA counseling process, comparing these two powerhouses across critical benchmarks is essential for making an informed decision. This comprehensive comparison analyzes the latest NIRF ranking trajectories, highlighting their academic standing on a national level. Beyond campus life, we dive deep into crucial career outcomes, mapping the B.Tech placement rates, highest packages, and the highly indicative placement median salary that reflects the true financial return on investment (ROI). Furthermore, this guide breaks down the competitive landscape by detailing the JEE Main opening and closing ranks for highly sought-after branches like Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), Electronics, and Core Engineering, helping you understand the exact cutoffs required to secure admission into these elite institutes.

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NIT Surathkal vs NIT Calicut: NIRF Rankings 

NIT Surathkal outperforms NIT Calicut in both assessed categories, according to the NIRF 2025 rankings. NIT Surathkal is ranked 42nd in the engineering sector, while NIT Calicut is ranked 55th. This difference is also seen in the overall institutional rankings, where Calicut is ranked between 101 and 150 while Surathkal is ranked 77.

NIT Surathkal vs NIT Calicut: Placement Median Salary 

As per the data released by NIRF 2025, NIT Surathakal offers a median salary of Rs ₹11,00,000 (Eleven Lakh) lakhs per annum, and has placed 756 students in 2020-21 with a median package of Rs 14 lakhs per annum. While NIT Calicut offered ₹650000 as median salary for B.Tech graduates. Check the table below for a detailed comparison. 

NIT Surathkal vs NIT Calicut: Opening and Closing Ranks 

When selecting the college, students should cross-check the different B.Tech specializations offered at the institute. This will help determine which are the top courses offered at the institute. They should also check for opening and closing ranks for admission to these courses for a better understanding of seat options. 

Student can also take help of JEE Main College Predictor, to predict what rank is admitted to which institute. The table shared below shares top courses offered at both institutes for home state quota candidates.

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