Delhi emerges world’s most affordable city for students: QS Best Student Cities Rankings 2026

Mumbai is the best city for students in India followed by Delhi, Bangalore, and Chennai, as per the QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2026. Mumbai climbed 15 places up to secure 98th position, Delhi rose seven spots to 104th, while Bangalore made a high jump, 22 places up to 108th rank. Chennai also saw improvement in ranking, gaining 12 positions to 128th spot.

In terms of affordability, Delhi emerged as the world’s most affordable student city, ranking first globally in the indicator. Mumbai and Bangalore made it to the top 15. In the employer activity category, Delhi and Mumbai both reached the top 50, highlighting strong graduate employment prospects. Bangalore made the sharpest leap in this area, jumping 41 places to rank 59th, while Chennai climbed an impressive 29 spots.

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QS Best Student Cities Ranking 2026

Here’s a comparison of rankings of the best student cities in India with last year's:

Jessica Turner, CEO of QS, said: “India’s rising presence in the 2026 QS Best Student Cities Rankings is more than a statistical bump — it reflects a structural shift in the country’s higher education landscape. As we approach the fifth anniversary of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, its focus on global engagement, quality enhancement, and student- centric learning is starting to bear fruit on the international stage.”

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Seoul replaced London to grab the first position in this year's student city rankings. England's capital saw a steep decline in the affordability factor. The universities have been ranked based on various parameters including desirability, affordability, student mix, employer activity, university rankings, and student voice.