Excellence Recognized: Manipal Universities Secure Top NIRF Ranks 

Students when deciding on a university are not only choosing the classrooms and degrees available to them but the credibility, quality, and recognition as well. One of the strongest indicators of that recognition in India is the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) which is a yearly rating by the Ministry of Education and has become the gold standard for comparing higher education institutions. 

The universities under the Manipal education ecosystem – Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ), and Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) – have once again been ranked among the top in the country in the 2025 NIRF rankings. 

This year, the NIRF rankings saw a record number of over 14k+ institutions signing up, which made the competition more intense than before. However, the institutions of Manipal not only kept their ground but also went up in several important categories thereby demonstrating that excellence is not an act but a habit. 

MAHE: Leading from the Front 

Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE) is now secured among the top institutions globally. The year 2025 saw the institution consolidating its role even further: 

• University Rank: 3 (Got better from 4 in 2024) 

• Overall Rank: 14 (no change from 2024) 

MAHE’s rise in the University category to the Top 3 in India signals that the university is spreading its roots across the globe, conducting frontier research, and being able to draw in the best minds from over 60 countries. Having been declared an Institution of Eminence, MAHE is not only raising the bar in India but also globally, with its offshoots in Dubai, Malaysia, Nepal, and Antigua. 

This means the students get the chance to be part of a brand that is known for quality, diversity, and innovation, whether they are located on-campus or online.. 

MUJ: Breaking into the Top 100 

Manipal University Jaipur (MUJ) is the embodiment of a successful story that went up through the ranks in a very short time. In less than 14 years, MUJ has already established itself as one of the most versatile universities in the northern part of India. The 2025 NIRF Rankings are the proof of this gradual ascent: 

• Overall Rank: 98 (Previously, the 101–150 band in 2024) 

• University Rank: 58 (Previously, 64 in 2024) 

• Management Rank: 81 (The position went down slightly from 73 in 2024, showing the competitiveness of the field) 

Getting into the Top 100 universities overall is an achievement that is not easy by any means—it puts MUJ alongside the best universities in the whole country. Such a jump says a lot about its high-quality infrastructure, robust industry collaborations, and zonal focus. 

The students who decide on MUJ are not just enrolling in a university; on the contrary, they become a part of an institution that is rapidly turning into a nationally recognized center for research, innovation, and leadership. 

SMU: Strengthening Access in the Northeast 

Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) has been known for its distinct legacy as one of the first public-private partnerships in higher education in India. Since its establishment in 1992, SMU has been central in spreading higher education to the entire Northeast region which has been less accessed historically. 

In the 2025 NIRF Rankings, SMU kept its rank in the 151–200 band (University category). Though the figures of the institution stay the same, its outreach is extensive. The university has been instrumental in providing thousands of students from the Northeast and other places with access to quality medical, engineering, management, and various other courses. 

For many, SMU is not just a university, rather, it is a gateway to the future, demonstrating that rankings are merely one aspect of a much bigger narrative of service and accessibility. 

Why These Rankings Matter 

India has more than 1000+ universities but only a few of them are consistently found at the top of the NIRF rankings. Manipal institutions getting excellent rankings from year to year demonstrate: 

• Trust: The academic quality of the institutions can be trusted by students and parents. 

• Recognition: The rankings are taken into account by employers, research partners, and universities all over the world. 

• Consistency: In spite of more competition, Manipal universities are either maintaining their positions or going up. 

Individually, MAHE, MUJ, and SMU represent a blend of tradition, creativity, and openness; three values that students can rely on. 

The Manipal Edge for Online Learners 

The degree programs of Online Manipal are also powered by the same factors that place the institution in the top NIRF rankings. Online learners enrolling benefit from: 

• Degrees from universities ranked among the best in India. 

• Curricula that have been designed to meet the standards of the industry and the world. 

• The credibility of a brand that has been trusted for over six decades. 

While students who have to juggle between their career, personal goals, or live in a remote place, Online Manipal is still there to offer them a world-class education with the same recognition and rigor as on-campus learners.