Compare career options

Two or three career options side by side, with fees, entrance exams and pay.

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Degree

Design

B.Des (Bachelor of Design), 4 years

Architecture and planning

B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture), 5 years

Entrance

Design

UCEED, NID DAT, NIFT

Architecture and planning

NATA, JEE Main Paper 2A

Total cost

Design

About 8 to 12 lakh at an IIT (Indian Institute of Technology); 15 to 30 lakh private

Architecture and planning

About 8 to 9 lakh at an NIT (National Institute of Technology); 5 to 25 lakh private

Open to

Design

PCMPCBCommerceHumanities

Architecture and planning

PCMPCB: with mathsCommerceHumanities

Pay at start

Design

about 3 to 5 lakh (ux designer); about 2 to 3 lakh (graphic designer)

Architecture and planning

about 2 to 3 lakh (architect)

After 5 years

Design

about 9.5 to 14.5 lakh; about 4 to 6 lakh

Architecture and planning

about 5 to 7 lakh

After 10 years

Design

about 16 to 24 lakh; about 4.5 to 6.5 lakh

Architecture and planning

about 11 to 17 lakh

Key numbers

Design

About 245 B.Des seats through UCEED, 2026; 135 seats in NID Ahmedabad's new 5.5-year integrated M.Des (9 in each of 15 disciplines, 2027-28); the other NIDs are separate institutes using the same test

Architecture and planning

Not given

AI risk

Design

Medium

Architecture and planning

Medium

Good fit if

Design

you draw or sketch without being asked to; you notice badly designed things (forms, packaging, apps) and think about how to fix them; you are happy to have your work criticised in front of the class; you would rather build a portfolio than sit written exams

Architecture and planning

you like drawing and maths together; you want a licensed, respected profession

Think twice if

Design

you want only graphic design, which AI tools are already reshaping; your family can only pay for a private college on a large loan; you want a steady salary from day one (many designers start freelance)

Architecture and planning

you need good pay quickly

	Design Design and creative	Architecture and planning Design and creative
Degree	B.Des (Bachelor of Design), 4 years	B.Arch (Bachelor of Architecture), 5 years
Entrance	UCEED, NID DAT, NIFT	NATA, JEE Main Paper 2A
Total cost	About 8 to 12 lakh at an IIT (Indian Institute of Technology); 15 to 30 lakh private	About 8 to 9 lakh at an NIT (National Institute of Technology); 5 to 25 lakh private
Open to	PCMPCBCommerceHumanities	PCMPCB: with mathsCommerceHumanities
Pay at start	about 3 to 5 lakh (ux designer); about 2 to 3 lakh (graphic designer)	about 2 to 3 lakh (architect)
After 5 years	about 9.5 to 14.5 lakh; about 4 to 6 lakh	about 5 to 7 lakh
After 10 years	about 16 to 24 lakh; about 4.5 to 6.5 lakh	about 11 to 17 lakh
Key numbers	About 245 B.Des seats through UCEED, 2026; 135 seats in NID Ahmedabad's new 5.5-year integrated M.Des (9 in each of 15 disciplines, 2027-28); the other NIDs are separate institutes using the same test	Not given
AI risk	Medium	Medium
Good fit if	you draw or sketch without being asked to; you notice badly designed things (forms, packaging, apps) and think about how to fix them; you are happy to have your work criticised in front of the class; you would rather build a portfolio than sit written exams	you like drawing and maths together; you want a licensed, respected profession
Think twice if	you want only graphic design, which AI tools are already reshaping; your family can only pay for a private college on a large loan; you want a steady salary from day one (many designers start freelance)	you need good pay quickly

Figures come from the portal’s guide, rounded, with pay in rupees a year. Confirm fees in each official notice.

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