With the first session of JEE Main 2026 scheduled for January and registrations opening soon, aspirants often focus solely on Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs).

However, several high-ranking institutions outside this duo also accept JEE Main scores and offer strong engineering programmes.

According to the latest list based on NIRF 2025 rankings, colleges such as Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (Odisha), Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham (Tamil Nadu), Jamia Millia Islamia (Delhi), Delhi Technological University (Delhi), Chandigarh University (Punjab), Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education (Tamil Nadu) and Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (Andhra Pradesh) offer compelling alternatives. These institutions bring robust academic setups, career support, and strong placement records - making them worthy options for students who may not secure a seat in IITs/NITs yet still aim for premium engineering education. Diversifying your college list now could broaden opportunities and reduce admission stress later.