KIIT Deemed to be University (KIIT-DU), Bhubaneswar, has secured the 6th rank among all universities in India — both government and private — in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2026. The university has also emerged as the top-ranked institution in Odisha and across the entire eastern region of India, climbing two spots from its 8th position in the 2025 edition.
Globally, KIIT has advanced to 169th position in Asia, continuing its consistent rise from 196th in 2024 and 184th in 2025. This steady upward trajectory reflects the university’s growing presence on the international academic stage.
The THE Asia University Rankings 2026 evaluated 929 universities from 36 countries on five key performance pillars: teaching (learning environment), research environment (volume, income and reputation), research quality (citation impact, strength, excellence and influence), international outlook (staff, students and research), and industry income (knowledge transfer and patents). KIIT’s strong performance across these indicators has allowed it to outpace many older and more established institutions in India.
The achievement is particularly notable given that KIIT is a relatively young university, yet has consistently outperformed several legacy institutions in national and global rankings. Earlier this academic year, KIIT was also placed in the 501–600 global band in THE World University Rankings 2026, ranking 5th in India. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, KIIT debuted on the global list and ranked No. 1 among private universities in Odisha.
Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder of KIIT and KISS, praised the ranking as a testament to the sustained efforts and commitment of faculty, staff, and students toward academic excellence. He emphasised that KIIT’s focus on internationalisation and innovation has helped build a world-class academic ecosystem, reinforcing its standing as a leading centre of higher education in India and beyond.
For a year-on-year comparison, KIIT had secured the 8th rank in India in the THE Asia University Rankings 2025, when it was placed 184th in Asia.
Students aspiring for admission to KIIT University can check the KIITEE 2026 application form, exam dates, and syllabus on AglaSem Admission.
Official Reference: Times Higher Education Asia University Rankings 2026
