AI (Artificial Intelligence) and Data Science are very popular today. Almost every big company needs experts in these fields. Many students now want to study AI and Data Science after 12th.
When we think about engineering, most people think about IIT. But IIT seats are very few, and not everyone gets admission. Does that mean you cannot study AI or Data Science? No! There are many good colleges in India (not IIT) that offer these courses.
Why AI and Data Science?
You may think, why should I choose AI or Data Science? Here are some simple reasons:
- Good jobs: Big companies pay high salaries for these skills.
- Future demand: AI is used in every area like health, banking, shopping, IT, and robots.
- Work anywhere: These skills are wanted in India and outside India too.
Top Government Colleges
These government colleges are very good for AI and Data Science:
- Delhi Technological University (DTU)
- Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT)
- Anna University (Tamil Nadu)
- Jadavpur University (West Bengal)
- NIT Tiruchirappalli (Trichy)
- NIT Surathkal (Karnataka)
- NIT Rourkela (Odisha)
- NIT Warangal (Telangana)
- NIT Calicut (Kerala)
- College of Engineering, Pune
Most of these colleges take students through JEE Main or state exams.
Top Private Colleges
Private universities also give good options for AI and Data Science. These have nice labs and tie-ups with big companies:
- VIT (Vellore Institute of Technology)
- SRM University (Chennai)
- PES University (Bangalore)
- Christ University (Bangalore)
- Amity University (Noida)
- Shiv Nadar University (Greater Noida)
- Chandigarh University
- MIT-WPU (Pune)
- Lovely Professional University (Punjab)
- UPES (Dehradun)
These colleges have their own entrance exams like VITEEE (VIT), SRMJEEE (SRM), and LPUNEST (LPU).
Quick Fee and Placement Table
Here is a simple table for you:
| College Name | Type | Fees (Approx.) | Avg. Salary (per year) |
| VIT, Vellore | Private | ₹7–8 Lakh | ₹8–10 Lakh |
| Jadavpur University | Govt | ₹20k–50k | ₹6–8 Lakh |
| SRM, Chennai | Private | ₹4.75 Lakh/Yr | ₹7–9 Lakh |
| Anna University | Govt | ₹50k–1 Lakh | ₹6–7 Lakh |
| NIT Surathkal | Govt | ₹2–2.5 Lakh | ₹9–11 Lakh |
| BITS Pilani | Private | ₹19–22 Lakh | ₹20–25 Lakh |
Placements
These colleges give good jobs. Students get placed in companies like:
- Microsoft
- Amazon
- Infosys
- TCS
- Accenture
- Deloitte
Some students also get internships during college. Later, these become full jobs.
How to Get Admission?
- Government colleges: Mostly need JEE Main or state exam.
- Private colleges: Own entrance exams like VITEEE, SRMJEEE, LPUNEST.
- Some colleges also take students based on 12th marks.
AI and Data Science or CSE?
Many students ask: Is AI and Data Science better than normal Computer Science?
The answer is – AI and Data Science is a special course inside Computer Science. You will learn coding plus new things like:
- Machine Learning
- Data Analysis
- Deep Learning
- Big Data
If you like coding and solving problems with data, then AI and Data Science is a great choice.
Final Words
Getting into IIT is not easy, but that does not mean your dream is over. Non-IIT colleges like VIT, SRM, Jadavpur, Anna University, and NITs are very good. They give good education, modern labs, and high-paying jobs.
