How to Check a College's Placement Claims

By the StudentReview team. Updated 2026-10-31.

Placement numbers are the most advertised and least explained figures in Indian admissions. A banner with one large package says very little about what happens to a typical student. These checks help you get from the headline to the real picture.

Why the headline numbers mislead

The highest package describes one student, often from one branch, and is sometimes an international offer converted at a favourable exchange rate.
An average can be pulled up by a few very large offers. The median, the package of the student in the middle, is far more useful.
"100% placement" usually counts only students who registered for placements, and may leave out those who opted out, did not meet eligibility criteria or did not get an offer.
Counting offers instead of students inflates the numbers when one student receives several offers.
A CTC figure can include joining bonuses, relocation allowances, performance pay and stock options that are not part of the monthly salary.

Questions to ask the placement cell

How many students were in the graduating batch, how many registered for placements, and how many unique students got at least one offer?
What was the median package, for my branch or specialisation specifically?
Which companies hired, how many students did each hire, and for what roles?
How much of the quoted CTC is fixed pay?
Are internship-to-job conversions and offers from companies linked to the college included?
Can I see the full placement report rather than a brochure page?

Cross-check against NIRF data

Colleges that take part in NIRF submit placement data for their graduating batches, including the number of students placed, the number who went on to higher studies, and the median salary. This data is published with the rankings. Compare it with the college's own claims. Large gaps between the two are worth asking about.

Talk to the people who were placed (or were not)

Use the Alumni tab on the college's LinkedIn page to see where recent graduates of your branch actually work.
Ask final-year students how many of their classmates are still looking for a job.
Read student reviews for how the placement cell treats students outside the top of the batch.