IIT ISM Dhanbad vs IIT Kanpur: Courses, Seats, Cutoffs, Fees, Placements and Research (2026)
IIT Kanpur leads on sponsored research by 419% (₹363.43 crore vs ₹70.05 crore, FY 2024-25). IIT Kanpur earned 10.6 times as much from consultancy (₹113.61 crore vs ₹10.71 crore, FY 2024-25). IIT Kanpur has 25% more faculty (636 vs 508, NIRF 2026).
Last updated: 14 Oct 2026.
Who should pick which (our analysis)
IIT ISM Dhanbad
Our analysis: IIT (ISM) suits you if you are interested in earth resources and energy. Mining Engineering, Mining Machinery, Petroleum Engineering, Mineral and Metallurgical Engineering, Geological Engineering and Geophysical Technology are rare at other IITs. It also has big CSE (145 seats), Electrical (130), ECE (130) and Mechanical (130) intakes, plus a B.Tech Mining + MBA (IIM Mumbai) dual degree.At a glance
Swipe sideways. The first column stays put.
| Point | IIT ISM Dhanbad | IIT Kanpur | Source (year) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Established (year) | 1926 | 1959 | JoSAA 2026 institute profile |
| Location (city, state) | Dhanbad, Jharkhand | Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh | JoSAA 2026 institute profile josaa.admissions.nic.in |
| Campus area | 393 acres (218 existing, 175 under acquisition) | 1,055 acres | JoSAA 2026 institute profile |
| Official website | iitism.ac.in | iitk.ac.in | iitism.ac.in |
| NIRF Overall rank | 35 | 5 | NIRF 2025 |
| NIRF Engineering rank | 15 | 4 | NIRF 2025 |
| B.Tech tuition per semester | ₹1,00,000 | ₹1,00,000 | 2026-27 |
| First-semester academic fees | ₹1,41,400 | ₹1,58,415 | 2026-27 |
| Fee waiver notes | SC, ST and PwD: no tuition. Family income below ₹1 lakh: no tuition; ₹1–5 lakh: ₹33,333. JEE (Advanced) CRL rank up to 1000: full tuition waiver for the whole UG programme (conditions apply). | SC, ST, PwD and family income below ₹1 lakh: no tuition. Family income ₹1–5 lakh: one-third tuition (₹33,333). | 2026-27 |
| Hostel / mess fee | Mess fee about ₹19,500 per semester, charged on top of the admission amount | Mess establishment charges ₹13,360 (first semester); seat rent and hall charges are inside the ₹13,855 semester fee | 2026-27 |
| Total JoSAA seats | 1,210 | 1,240 | JoSAA 2026 |
| UG 4-year median salary | ₹15 lakh | ₹21.7 lakh | 2024-25 |
| UG 4-year placed / graduated | 715 placed of 910 graduates | 855 placed of 1,205 graduates | 2024-25 |
| PG 2-year median salary | ₹8.39 lakh | ₹15.7 lakh | 2024-25 |
| PG 2-year placed | 367 | 674 | 2024-25 |
| UG 4-year went for higher studies | 160 | 257 | 2024-25 |
| Total UG 4-year students | Not published | 4,932 | 2024-25 |
| Faculty count | 508 | 636 | NIRF 2026 |
| Full-time PhD students | 1,169 | 2,172 | 2024-25 |
| Full-time PhDs graduated | Not published | 294 | 2024-25 |
| Sponsored research received | ₹70.05 crore | ₹363.43 crore | FY 2024-25 |
| Consultancy received | ₹10.71 crore | ₹113.61 crore | FY 2024-25 |
How IIT ISM Dhanbad and IIT Kanpur differ
- IIT Kanpur leads on sponsored research by 419% (₹363.43 crore vs ₹70.05 crore, FY 2024-25).
- IIT Kanpur earned 10.6 times as much from consultancy (₹113.61 crore vs ₹10.71 crore, FY 2024-25).
- IIT Kanpur has 25% more faculty (636 vs 508, NIRF 2026).
- IIT Kanpur enrols 86% more PhD scholars (2,172 vs 1,169, 2024-25).
- IIT ISM Dhanbad and IIT Kanpur are close on total josaa seats (1,210 vs 1,240).
- IIT Kanpur reported a ₹6.70 lakh higher 4-year UG median salary (₹21.7 lakh vs ₹15 lakh).
- Tuition is identical at ₹1,00,000 a semester.
- IIT Kanpur ranks higher in NIRF 2025 Overall (5 vs 35).
- IIT Kanpur ranks higher in NIRF 2025 Engineering (4 vs 15).
- IIT ISM Dhanbad has more 4-year B.Tech CSE seats (145 vs 129).
- Only IIT ISM Dhanbad offers Electronics and Communication Engineering, Engineering Physics, Environmental Engineering, Mathematics and Computing among these two.
- Only IIT Kanpur offers Aerospace Engineering, Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Materials Science and Engineering, Intelligent Systems among these two.
Worked out from the official numbers above.
Courses and seats
IIT ISM Dhanbad
- B.Tech (4 years)
- Bachelor of Technology and MBA (5 years, dual degree)
- Integrated Bachelor of Science-Master of Science (5 years)
IIT Kanpur
- B.Tech (4 years)
- B.S. (4 years)
- BT-MT and BS-MS dual degrees
- B.Cyber
Seats per branch
| Branch | IIT ISM Dhanbad | IIT Kanpur |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical Engineering | 55 | 104 |
| Civil Engineering | 70 | 148 |
| Computer Science and Engineering | 145 | 129 |
| Electrical Engineering | 130 | 192 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering | 130 | Not offered |
| Engineering Physics | 32 | Not offered |
| Environmental Engineering | 50 | Not offered |
| Mathematics and Computing | 75 | Not offered |
| Mechanical Engineering | 130 | 149 |
| Geological Engineering | 21 | Not offered |
| Geophysical Technology | 21 | Not offered |
| Mining Engineering | 60 | Not offered |
| Mining Machinery Engineering | 56 | Not offered |
| Petroleum Engineering | 90 | Not offered |
| Mineral and Metallurgical Engineering | 45 | Not offered |
| B.Tech Mining Engineering and MBA in Logistic and Supply Chain Management (IIM Mumbai) (5-year Bachelor of Technology and MBA dual degree) | 60 | Not offered |
| Physical Science (5-year Integrated Bachelor of Science-Master of Science) | 20 | Not offered |
| Chemical Science (5-year Integrated Bachelor of Science-Master of Science) | 20 | Not offered |
| Aerospace Engineering | Not offered | 69 |
| Biological Sciences and Bioengineering | Not offered | 53 |
| Materials Science and Engineering | Not offered | 85 |
| Intelligent Systems | Not offered | 30 |
| B.S. Chemistry | Not offered | 49 |
| B.S. Economics | Not offered | 52 |
| B.S. Mathematics and Scientific Computing | Not offered | 64 |
| B.S. Physics | Not offered | 45 |
| B.S. Earth Sciences | Not offered | 43 |
| B.S. Statistics and Data Science | Not offered | 28 |
Source: JoSAA 2026 · JoSAA 2026
5 branches appear at both IIT ISM Dhanbad and IIT Kanpur. What seat counts tell you →
JoSAA cutoffs: opening and closing ranks
OPEN closing ranks, 2024–2026. Lower is harder.
| Branch | IIT ISM Dhanbad | IIT Kanpur | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
| Aerospace Engineering | – | – | – | 3638 | 3805 | 4015 |
| Applied Geology (5-yr) | 16011 | 17892 | – | – | – | – |
| Applied Geophysics (5-yr) | 15591 | 17507 | – | – | – | – |
| B.Tech Mining Engineering and MBA in Logistic and Supply Chain Management (IIM Mumbai) (5-yr) | – | 16770 | 15372 | – | – | – |
| Biological Sciences and Bioengineering | – | – | – | 6952 | 7105 | 7837 |
| Chemical Engineering | 11398 | 11980 | 13029 | 4015 | 4280 | 4436 |
| Chemical Science (5-yr) | – | 18334 | 18977 | – | – | – |
| Chemistry | – | – | – | 10498 | 10482 | 11668 |
| Civil Engineering | 12996 | 13778 | 15329 | 5948 | 6161 | 7177 |
| Computer Science and Engineering | 3846 | 3585 | 4167 | 252 | 271 | 283 |
| Earth Sciences | – | – | – | 10058 | 10108 | 10774 |
| Economics | – | – | – | 3106 | 3310 | 3650 |
| Electrical Engineering | 7567 | 7603 | 8319 | 1290 | 1146 | 1171 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering | 5982 | 5839 | 5925 | – | – | – |
| Engineering Physics | 10778 | 11711 | 11713 | – | – | – |
| Environmental Engineering | 15291 | 16752 | 17683 | – | – | – |
| Geological Engineering | – | – | 17791 | – | – | – |
| Geophysical Technology | – | – | 17147 | – | – | – |
| Intelligent Systems | – | – | – | – | – | 1134 |
| Materials Science and Engineering | – | – | – | 6008 | 6337 | 6533 |
| Mathematics and Computing | 4956 | 4335 | 4938 | – | – | – |
| Mathematics and Scientific Computing | – | – | – | 990 | 1179 | 1270 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 9875 | 10273 | 11303 | 2776 | 2771 | 3178 |
| Mineral and Metallurgical Engineering | 13599 | 14875 | 15480 | – | – | – |
| Mining Engineering | 14762 | 15455 | 16037 | – | – | – |
| Mining Machinery Engineering | 15321 | 16579 | 16855 | – | – | – |
| Petroleum Engineering | 12310 | 12709 | 13921 | – | – | – |
| Physical Science (5-yr) | – | 18368 | 17355 | – | – | – |
| Physics | – | – | – | 5508 | 5691 | 5723 |
| Statistics and Data Science | – | – | – | 1030 | 1270 | 1409 |
All categories and seat pools
| Institute | Branch | Category | Seats | Year | Round | Opening | Closing |
|---|
Source: josaa.nic.in, final rounds.
M.Tech (GATE) cutoffs
No verified GATE cutoffs yet. How M.Tech admission works →
CSE OPEN closing ranks: IIT ISM Dhanbad 4,167 (2026), IIT Kanpur 283 (2026). What a closing rank means →
Fees
Fee waiver notes: IIT ISM Dhanbad: SC, ST and PwD: no tuition. Family income below ₹1 lakh: no tuition; ₹1–5 lakh: ₹33,333. JEE (Advanced) CRL rank up to 1000: full tuition waiver for the whole UG programme (conditions apply).. IIT Kanpur: SC, ST, PwD and family income below ₹1 lakh: no tuition. Family income ₹1–5 lakh: one-third tuition (₹33,333)..
Hostel / mess fee: IIT ISM Dhanbad: Mess fee about ₹19,500 per semester, charged on top of the admission amount. IIT Kanpur: Mess establishment charges ₹13,360 (first semester); seat rent and hall charges are inside the ₹13,855 semester fee.
The first-semester bill is higher at IIT Kanpur than at IIT ISM Dhanbad by ₹17,015. Understanding the fee bill →
Research, labs and projects
Notable labs / facilities
IIT ISM Dhanbad
- Central Research Facility (CRF)
josaa.admissions.nic.in (JoSAA 2026 institute profile)
IIT Kanpur
- Airstrip on campus (used by the Aerospace Engineering department and the Gliding Club)
josaa.admissions.nic.in (JoSAA 2026 institute profile)
For industry consultancy, IIT Kanpur earns the most of the two. Why research funding matters →
IIT ISM Dhanbad: what these numbers mean
Tuition is ₹1,00,000 a semester. The admission total is ₹1,41,400, and a mess fee of about ₹19,500 is added on top. SC, ST and PwD students pay no tuition. So do families earning under ₹1 lakh, while those earning ₹1–5 lakh pay ₹33,333. A useful extra: students with a JEE (Advanced) CRL rank up to 1000 get full tuition waiver for the whole UG programme, subject to conditions. NIRF 2026 data shows 715 of 910 four-year graduates placed in 2024-25, at a median of ₹15 lakh. Another 160 went for higher studies. Sponsored research was ₹70.05 crore in FY 2024-25. The NIRF list names 508 faculty, and there is a Central Research Facility for instruments. The campus is 393 acres, of which 218 acres are in use.How to choose
- Check your rank against the cutoff table first. CSE OPEN closing ranks: IIT ISM Dhanbad 4,167 (2026), IIT Kanpur 283 (2026).
- 5 branches appear at both IIT ISM Dhanbad and IIT Kanpur. Compare the branch you want, not just the name.
- The first-semester bill is higher at IIT Kanpur than at IIT ISM Dhanbad by ₹17,015. Understanding the fee bill →
- IIT ISM Dhanbad is in Dhanbad, Jharkhand; IIT Kanpur is in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Think about distance from home.
FAQ
Which is better, IIT ISM Dhanbad or IIT Kanpur?
Neither is clearly better on paper: IIT ISM Dhanbad ranks 35 and IIT Kanpur ranks 5 overall (NIRF 2025). Compare the branch you can get.
Is the B.Tech fee the same at IIT ISM Dhanbad and IIT Kanpur?
Yes: ₹1,00,000 tuition per semester at both.
Which has better placements, IIT ISM Dhanbad or IIT Kanpur?
By median pay, IIT Kanpur leads (₹21.7 lakh against ₹15 lakh).
How many CSE seats do IIT ISM Dhanbad and IIT Kanpur have?
IIT ISM Dhanbad: 145. IIT Kanpur: 129.
Which does more research, IIT ISM Dhanbad or IIT Kanpur?
IIT Kanpur, by sponsored research money: ₹363.43 crore vs ₹70.05 crore.
Sources
- josaa.admissions.nic.in › InstProfile
- iitism.ac.in
- nirfindia.org › OverallRanking
- nirfindia.org › EngineeringRanking
- iitism.ac.in › submitted-data-overall-nirf-2026.pdf
- josaa.admissions.nic.in › InstProfile
- iitk.ac.in
- iitk.ac.in › Fee-Structure-for-New-UG-for-2026-2027-1st…
- iitk.ac.in › Overall-2026.pdf
- josaa.admissions.nic.in › openingclosingrankarchieve
- josaa.admissions.nic.in › CurrentORCR
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