An IIT B.Tech takes 4 years, needs JEE Main and JEE Advanced, and costs about 8 to 12 lakh in total; the IIT Madras online BS costs about 4 lakh for the full degree and needs only its own qualifier test. By the author’s estimates, a software engineer starts at about 3 to 6 lakh and a data analyst at about 6 lakh, but after 10 years it is about 17.5 to 26.5 lakh against about 9 to 13 lakh. Engineering suits students who can clear JEE and want the widest range of jobs; the online BS suits those who want a low-cost degree they can study online.
Degree
Engineering
B.Tech (Bachelor of Technology), 4 years
Data and computing without a B.Tech
Online BS (bachelor's degree), level by level
Entrance
Engineering
JEE Main, JEE Advanced
Data and computing without a B.Tech
Qualifier test
Total cost
Engineering
About 8 to 12 lakh in total at an IIT; 25 lakh or more at private colleges. IITs waive all tuition for SC, ST, PwD and family income under 1 lakh, and two-thirds for family income of 1 to 5 lakh.
Data and computing without a B.Tech
About 4 lakh for the full degree
Open to
Engineering
PCMPCBCommerceHumanities
Data and computing without a B.Tech
PCMPCBCommerceHumanities
Pay at start
Engineering
3 to 6 lakh (software); about 2.5 to 3.5 lakh (core engineering)
Data and computing without a B.Tech
about 6 lakh (data analyst)
After 5 years
Engineering
about 11 to 17 lakh; about 5.5 to 8.5 lakh
Data and computing without a B.Tech
about 6.5 to 9.5 lakh
After 10 years
Engineering
about 17.5 to 26.5 lakh; about 9.5 to 14.5 lakh
Data and computing without a B.Tech
about 9 to 13 lakh
Key numbers
Engineering
Not given
Data and computing without a B.Tech
Not given
AI risk
Engineering
Not rated
Data and computing without a B.Tech
Not rated
Good fit if
Engineering
you enjoy maths and physics problems even when they are not set as homework; you like fixing or building things and finding out why they broke; you are fine with a job where you must keep learning new tools for decades; your family can afford a private seat if you miss a government one, or you will take a lower-ranked government college over an expensive private one
Data and computing without a B.Tech
you want a flexible, low-cost qualification in data; you can study alone and keep to weekly deadlines
Think twice if
Engineering
you are choosing it mainly because friends or relatives are; you dislike maths and are hoping the degree will be mostly computers; your only realistic option is a low-ranked private college on a large loan
Data and computing without a B.Tech
you expect IIT campus pay, or really want a full B.Tech
About 8 to 12 lakh in total at an IIT; 25 lakh or more at private colleges. IITs waive all tuition for SC, ST, PwD and family income under 1 lakh, and two-thirds for family income of 1 to 5 lakh.
About 4 lakh for the full degree
Open to
PCMPCBCommerceHumanities
PCMPCBCommerceHumanities
Pay at start
3 to 6 lakh (software); about 2.5 to 3.5 lakh (core engineering)
about 6 lakh (data analyst)
After 5 years
about 11 to 17 lakh; about 5.5 to 8.5 lakh
about 6.5 to 9.5 lakh
After 10 years
about 17.5 to 26.5 lakh; about 9.5 to 14.5 lakh
about 9 to 13 lakh
Key numbers
Not given
Not given
AI risk
Not rated
Not rated
Good fit if
you enjoy maths and physics problems even when they are not set as homework; you like fixing or building things and finding out why they broke; you are fine with a job where you must keep learning new tools for decades; your family can afford a private seat if you miss a government one, or you will take a lower-ranked government college over an expensive private one
you want a flexible, low-cost qualification in data; you can study alone and keep to weekly deadlines
Think twice if
you are choosing it mainly because friends or relatives are; you dislike maths and are hoping the degree will be mostly computers; your only realistic option is a low-ranked private college on a large loan
you expect IIT campus pay, or really want a full B.Tech
Figures come from the portal’s guide, rounded, with pay in rupees a year. Confirm fees in each official notice.