I got 541 marks in neet 2025 and also got admission in chandigarh university for cse along with a scholarship, I'm still confused on choosing one, which course will be better in terms of money and scope?

Ans: Rana Sir, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Electronics & Communication Engineering offer the broadest intake and reliable placement pipelines for a JEE Main rank around 2.8 lakh and 59% CBSE. These core branches have enduring industry demand, diverse job roles in manufacturing, infrastructure and power sectors. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: Vanshika, With an 85.2 percentile in MHT-CET and being from Uttar Pradesh (non-Maharashtra category), you have guaranteed admission opportunities at several reputable private engineering colleges offering Computer Science & Engineering in Mumbai and Pune. As a non-Maharashtra candidate, you fall under the All India quota, which typically has slightly higher cutoffs than Maharashtra State quota seats. However, multiple quality institutions maintain cutoffs well above your percentile range, ensuring confirmed admission. These colleges feature accredited curricula, experienced faculty, modern computing labs, robust placement cells achieving 70-90% placements over the past three years, and strong industry partnerships.

Mumbai CSE Colleges: Thadomal Shahani Engineering College, Bandra (cutoff ~75-80 percentile); Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, Wadala (cutoff ~78-82 percentile); Shah & Anchor Kutchhi Engineering College, Chembur (cutoff ~80-84 percentile); Thakur College of Engineering & Technology, Kandivali East (cutoff ~81-85 percentile); Fr. Conceicao Rodrigues College of Engineering, Bandra (cutoff ~82-85 percentile); Atharva College of Engineering, Malad (cutoff ~80-83 percentile); SIES Graduate School of Technology, Nerul (cutoff ~83-85 percentile); Bharati Vidyapeeth College of Engineering, Navi Mumbai (cutoff ~84-86 percentile).

Pune CSE Colleges: D.Y. Patil College of Engineering, Akurdi (cutoff ~80-84 percentile); Pune Vidyarthi Griha's College of Engineering, Pune (cutoff ~82-85 percentile); MIT Academy of Engineering, Alandi (cutoff ~81-84 percentile); Pimpri Chinchwad College of Engineering, Akurdi (cutoff ~83-86 percentile); JSPM's Rajarshi Shahu College of Engineering, Tathawade (cutoff ~82-85 percentile); All India Shri Shivaji Memorial Society's Institute of Information Technology, Pune (cutoff ~84-87 percentile); Indira College of Engineering & Management, Pune (cutoff ~83-86 percentile).

Recommendation: Prioritize Thadomal Shahani Engineering College, Bandra, Mumbai for its strong industry connections, consistent placement momentum exceeding 85%, and comprehensive CSE infrastructure with modern AI/ML labs. Alternatively, select D.Y. Patil College of Engineering, Akurdi, Pune for its excellent faculty-student ratio, robust 80% placement consistency in CSE, and active corporate partnerships. As backup options, consider Vidyalankar Institute of Technology, Wadala, Mumbai for its established tech-industry recruitment network or MIT Academy of Engineering, Alandi, Pune for its specialized computing facilities and growing placement trends in software development roles. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: Aarushi, Based on your available options, here's a comprehensive evaluation covering placements, coding culture, and internship opportunities across all institutions, considering your specific preferences as a female student seeking strong technical exposure:

IIIT Manipur CSE with specialization in Senapati (Imphal, Manipur) offers excellent technical foundations with PhD faculty from IITs and international collaborations with University of Colorado, NUS Singapore, and IIT Guwahati. The institute achieved 84% CSE placement in 2024 with the highest package reaching ?40 LPA, while maintaining strong coding culture through active participation in Smart India Hackathons and competitive programming contests organized by Coding Ninjas. BIT Mesra Patna campus in Bihar provides CSE programs with 75% placement rates and ?17.5 LPA average package for CSE, supported by 185 companies including Microsoft, Google, and Goldman Sachs. BIT Deoghar off-campus in Jharkhand achieved 63.12% placement with ?15.5 LPA highest package and strong industry connections. CSVTU CSE specialization in Bhilai (Chhattisgarh) offers 70% placement rates with ?4-20 LPA range and recruiter participation from TCS, Microsoft, and Wipro. IET Lucknow Chemical Engineering reports 50% branch-specific placement rates with ?8.2 LPA overall average, while IERT Allahabad CSE maintains 97.2% placement with ?6 LPA average across all branches. Among private colleges, KIET Ghaziabad leads with 77.39% placement, ?60 LPA highest package, and 341 companies visiting, followed by AKGEC Ghaziabad achieving 78% placement with ?55 LPA top package, while GL Bajaj Greater Noida secures 88.4% UG placement with ?58 LPA highest offer.

Recommendation: Prioritize IIIT Manipur CSE specialization for its superior coding culture through hackathons and competitive programming, excellent technical mentorship from IIT PhD faculty, strong international research collaborations, and impressive 84% placement with ?40 LPA peak offers. Alternatively, choose KIET Ghaziabad for its robust 77% placement momentum, extensive industry network of 341 companies, and comprehensive pre-placement training programs. Consider BIT Mesra Patna as third option for its established brand value, 75% CSE placement consistency, and access to prestigious recruiters like Microsoft and Google, providing strong technical exposure and career advancement opportunities. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: Nishita, Evaluating the five IIIT programs reveals distinct strengths across faculty quality, research infrastructure, placement consistency, academic standards, and industry recognition. IIIT Lucknow in Uttar Pradesh offers B.Tech CSE with specializations including AI, business, and cybersecurity, achieving a remarkable 96.17% placement rate in 2025 with the highest package at Rs.145 LPA and the average at Rs.33.71 LPA, supported by 45+ PhD faculty and specialized research labs. IIIT Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh provides B.Tech ECE with strong electronics curriculum, NIRF rank #87 in Engineering 2024, 93% placement rate with highest Rs.121 LPA and average Rs.25.78 LPA, backed by globally-recognised faculty and research publications. IIITDM Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh delivers CSE with design-manufacturing focus, over 60 PhD faculty, 71.8% placement rate with highest Rs.122 LPA international (?110 LPA domestic) and average Rs.19.27 LPA UG, featuring robust industry collaborations and 13 CSE department faculty. IIIT Gwalior (IIITM) in Madhya Pradesh offers EEE with 100% PhD faculty strength and 80–90% placement rates, with the highest at Rs. 65 LPA and an average of Rs. 20.56 LPA, supported by research-intensive programs and a diverse recruiter base. IIITDM Kancheepuram near Chennai provides CSE with design specialization, over 80 PhD faculty from IITs, 73% placement rate with highest Rs.32 LPA and average Rs.9.37 LPA, though experiencing declining trends from 97% in 2022.

Recommendation: Prioritize IIIT Lucknow CSE for its exceptional 96% placement rate, highest average packages, comprehensive specialization options, and strong industry linkages; follow with IIIT Allahabad ECE for its prestigious NIRF ranking, established reputation, and solid core electronics foundation; consider IIITDM Jabalpur CSE for its unique design-manufacturing focus and international placement opportunities; opt for IIIT Gwalior EEE for its 100% PhD faculty strength and research excellence; and rank IIITDM Kancheepuram CSE last due to declining placement trends despite strong academic credentials and faculty qualifications. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: Abhi, Sanskriti University in Chhata, Mathura offers UGC-approved engineering programmes with modern computing, AI/ML and applied sciences labs, a dedicated Training & Placement Cell securing an 85% overall placement rate over the past three years and an average package of ?6.20 LPA. The 75-acre campus features hostel facilities, high-speed Wi-Fi, 24×7 medical support and active student clubs. Lakshmi Narain College of Technology in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh is NBA- and AICTE-accredited, ranked in the NIRF 201–300 band, with a 50-acre urban campus, specialized R&D centres and a placement median of ?5.50 LPA for undergraduates and 70–90% recent placement consistency driven by top recruiters like TCS, Infosys and Amazon. Its Industry-Institute Partnership Cell and Entrepreneur Development initiatives enhance practical learning and employability.

Recommendation: Choose LNCT Bhopal for its national accreditations, broader industry collaborations, and consistent median placements, or opt for Sanskriti University if higher placement percentage, new campus amenities, and proximity to Delhi-NCR better align with your priorities. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: Sanjay, You have not mentioned the branch of either institution. As far as JSS University is concerned, are you referring to JSS of Mysuru or some other university??? Mention branches also you have got or you want to know in each of these universities. Please clarify.

Ans: Ok. Noted Madam.

Ans: Roman, No, you cannot substitute Computer Science for Chemistry when calculating the top-20-percentile cutoff for NIT admissions. JoSAA’s eligibility applies to marks in Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, one language and any other subject with highest marks. Chemistry must remain one of the five subjects for NIT?system eligibility. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.

Ans: Garena, Before answering your question, Please note that Return on Investment (ROI), regardless of the branch or college, is not determined solely by your choice of institution or program. Several other factors significantly influence it—such as consistent academic performance over the next four years, regular skill enhancement, soft skills development, awareness of job market trends, a well-built personal profile, and maintaining a professional LinkedIn presence with clear job search strategies. ANSWER to your question: By 2030, artificial intelligence and data science roles are expected to flourish as automation creates 11 million net new jobs globally and transforms 86 percent of businesses, underscoring strong long-term demand. Data scientist employment in the U.S. alone is projected to grow 36 percent from 2023 to 2033, far outpacing average occupations and signaling robust global opportunity. At Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore, the CSE-Data Science branch recorded a 92 percent placement rate in 2024, with the lowest on-campus offer around ?2 LPA and a median salary of ?7.6 LPA across all streams.

Recommendation: Embrace a Data Science pathway at Amrita Coimbatore for its consistent placement performance, industry-aligned curriculum, and accessible entry-level salaries, ensuring a strong foundation in a rapidly expanding field through 2030 and beyond. All the BEST for Admission & a Prosperous Future!

Follow RediffGURUS to Know More on 'Careers | Money | Health | Relationships'.