ENGINEERING

ROADMAP 2025
FROM 12TH TO TOP COLLEGES
TO HIGH-PAYING JOBS.
Table of Contents

1 Why Engineering?

2 Eligibility & Requirements

3 Entrance Exams – Crack the Code

4 Top Colleges in India

5 Engineering Branches – What Fits You?

6 Skills to Build Pre & Post Engineering

7 Internships & Placements

8 Practical Steps – 10-Year Roadmap

9 FAQs
Why Choose Engineering?
Engineering isn’t just about books and exams. It’s a path to
building real-world solutions — from apps you use daily to AI that
powers self-driving cars. Whether you dream of working at Google,
joining ISRO, or starting your own tech company, engineering gives
you the tools to make it happen.

Here’s what makes it worth your time:

Great Pay from Day One: Even as a fresher, you can earn ₹4L–
₹15L/year — and this grows fast with experience.

Do What You Love: Love coding? Go software. Like machines?

Try mechanical. Interested in clean energy? Go for renewable
tech. There’s something for everyone.

Switch Tracks Easily Later: From engineer to product manager,

data scientist, or even entrepreneur — the options are endless.

Parents Worried About Cost? Top college placements cover

tuition fees in 2–3 years. Scholarships and govt colleges make
it even more affordable.

Experience Avg. Salary Common Roles

Fresher ₹4L – ₹15L SDE, Data Analyst, Junior Engineer

Mid-Level (3–5Y) ₹10L – ₹30L Senior Developer, Team Lead

Senior (10+Y) ₹30L – ₹50L+ CTO, VP Engineering, Scientist

✨ You don’t need commerce or business background to land finance or startup roles later.
✨ No interest in core? Upskill into Product Management, MBA, or Data Science easily.
✨ Want global opportunities? Engineers are always in demand in the USA, Germany, Canada.
 What Do You Need to
Pursue Engineering?
To get into engineering in India, you don’t need to be a genius —
just the right eligibility and exam prep. Whether you're from
Science stream or have taken a gap year, here's exactly what you
need to start your journey.

📌 Basic Eligibility
10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Maths (PCM)
Minimum 50–60% aggregate (varies by college)

📌 Top Entrance Exams

Exam For Colleges Like

JEE Main NITs, IIITs, GFTIs

JEE Advanced IITs

BITSAT BITS Pilani

MHT-CET Maharashtra colleges

KCET Karnataka colleges

VITEEE VIT

📌 Alternatives if Not Directly Eligible

Diploma in Engineering → Lateral entry to BTech (after 3rd semester)
AMIE → Equivalent to BTech (for working professionals)
SAT/ACT → Apply abroad (USA, Canada)

💡 No PCM in 12th? Retake +12 or go for diploma + lateral entry.

💡 Want government job later? Choose colleges recognized by
UPSC/PSUs.
💡 Confused about which exam to take? Prioritize JEE Main — it opens
doors to NITs, IIITs, and many PSUs.
Key Entrance Exams for
Engineering
Cracking engineering entrance exams is your ticket to top colleges
like IITs, NITs, and BITS. With the right strategy and resources —
both free and paid — you can ace these exams and secure a seat in
the branch and college of your choice.

📌 Top National-Level Exams

Exam Colleges Offered Difficulty Level Avg Cutoff

JEE Main NITs, IIITs, GFTIs High 90–95%ile

Top 2.5 lakh rank

JEE Advanced IITs Very High
holders

BITS Pilani
BITSAT Medium-High ~300/450
campuses

VIT Vellore & other

VITEEE Low-Medium Rank <10k
campuses

📌 Top State-Level Exams

Exam States Covered Colleges Offered

MHT-CET Maharashtra COEP, VJTI, PICT

KCET Karnataka RVCE, BMSCE

TS EAMCET Telangana Osmania, JNTUH

 📌 Prep Resources You Can Use
✅ Free Resources
📘 YouTube Channels: Physics Wallah, Mohit Tyagi, Unacademy JEE
🎧 Allen Kota Lectures (on YouTube and Telegram)
📗 Collegedunia.com / Pagalguy (Exam updates + cutoff analysis)

✅ Paid Resources
📚 Coaching Modules: Allen, Resonance, Aakash, FIITJEE
📖 Books:
Physics: HC Verma
Maths: RD Sharma, Arihant
Chemistry: NCERT, OP Tandon
🧠 Test Series: Allen, Resonance, Embibe, Gradeup

💡 Low budget? Start with free YouTube content — many

rankers cracked JEE using only this.
💡 Working professional or dropper? Use weekends for mocks
and weekday evenings for concept revision.
💡 Confused between JEE and state exam? Prioritize JEE Main
— it gives access to more colleges nationwide.
 Best Engineering
Colleges in India
Choosing the right college can shape your engineering journey —
from learning quality to job opportunities. Whether you're aiming
for IITs, NITs, or private colleges like BITS Pilani, here’s a quick
breakdown of top options in India with average salaries and what
each offers.

📌 IITs – The Gold Standard

Avg CTC: ₹15L–₹25L+
Top Picks: IIT Bombay, Delhi, Kharagpur, Madras
Known For: World-class faculty, global placements, research exposure

📌 NITs – Strong Academics + Placements

Avg CTC: ₹8L–₹15L
Top Picks: NIT Trichy, Surathkal, Warangal
Known For: Government-backed, good infrastructure, PSUs recruitment

📌 IIITs – Focused on Tech & Innovation

Avg CTC: ₹12L–₹20L
Top Picks: IIIT Hyderabad, IIIT Allahabad
Known For: CS/IT focus, strong coding culture, startup support

📌 Private Colleges – High Fees, Mixed ROI

College Average CTC Key Features

Excellent brand, active

BITS Pilani ₹18L
tech scene

Mass admissions,
VIT Vellore ₹8L
decent packages

Good labs, moderate

SRM Chennai ₹6L–₹8L
placements
📌 State Colleges – Value for Money
College State Avg CTC Placement Focus

COEP Mumbai Maharashtra ₹9L–₹12L Core + IT companies

PEC Chandigarh Punjab ₹7L–₹10L PSU recruitment

📌 Low JEE Rank? Don’t Worry!

✅ Focus on state colleges + do internships/projects to boost placement
chances.
✅ Many students from non-IIT/NIT colleges land ₹10L+ jobs through
skill-building and networking.

💡 Low budget? Go for government/state colleges – fees are much

lower than private.
💡 Dreaming big? Even if you don’t get into IITs, you can still crack
FAANG roles via self-learning and internships.
💡 Placement matters? Check past year data before choosing any
college.
 Top Engineering
Branches & Their Scope
Choosing the right engineering branch is one of the most
important decisions you’ll make. It shapes your college experience,
career options, and long-term earning potential. Here’s a quick
breakdown of top branches so you can pick what aligns best with
your interests and goals.

📌 CSE / IT – Highest Demand & Salaries

Avg Salary: ₹15L–₹50L+
Top Recruiters: Google, Microsoft, Amazon, startups
Skills: Coding (Python, Java), Data Structures, AI/ML, Cloud
Computing
📌 ECE / Electrical – Great for Hardware & Telecom
Avg Salary: ₹8L–₹20L
Top Recruiters: Intel, Qualcomm, BHEL, Power Grid
Skills: Embedded systems, VLSI, Signal Processing,
Semiconductor design
📌 Mechanical – Versatile but Slower Growth
Avg Salary: ₹6L–₹15L
Top Recruiters: Tata Motors, Mahindra, ISRO
Skills: CAD/CAM, Robotics, Thermodynamics, Manufacturing
📌 Civil – Stable in Govt & Infrastructure Jobs
Avg Salary: ₹5L–₹12L
Top Recruiters: L&T, PWD, Railways, PSUs
Skills: Structural Design, AutoCAD, Project Management

📌 Emerging Fields – High Growth & Innovation

Fees Avg Salary Key Sectors

AI/ML ₹12L–₹40L Google, startups, fintech

Data Science ₹10L–₹30L Amazon, Flipkart, analytics firms

Renewable Energy ₹6L–₹15L NTPC, government projects

 Must Have Skills for
Engineering Success
Engineering is more than just passing exams — it’s about building
real-world skills that help you land jobs and grow in your career.
Whether you're still in 12th or already in college, here's what
skills to build at every stage — and where to learn them for free
or paid.

📌 Pre-Engineering – Build a Strong Base

Math & Physics: Clear understanding of 11th–12th level concepts.
Programming Basics: Learn Python or C++ before college starts.
Logical Thinking: Practice puzzles, coding basics, and problem-solving.

📌 During Engineering – Go Beyond Syllabus

Skill Area Tools/Topics to Learn

Coding Python, Java, SQL, Data Structures

CAD Tools AutoCAD, SolidWorks, MATLAB

Teamwork Group projects, hackathons, college events

Project Management GitHub, Trello, Agile methods

📌 Post-Engineering – Level Up for Top Roles

Career Path Must-Have Skills

Software Engineer Full-stack dev, DSA, Git, cloud basics

Data Scientist Python, SQL, ML, Tableau, Power BI

AI/ML Engineer Deep Learning, TensorFlow, PyTorch

Product Manager Communication, UX, project planning

Cloud Computing AWS, Azure, DevOps

Leadership Role Communication, management, soft skills

 📌 Resources to Learn From
📚 FreeCodeCamp – Coding & web development
🎓 Harvard CS50 (edX) – World’s best intro to CS
📘 NPTEL – Video lectures from IITs & IISc
🌐 Coursera – Google IT Support Certificate – Great for beginners

✅ YouTube Channels
CodeWithHarry – Python, Django, basics to advanced
Joes2Pros – SQL, DBMS, tech fundamentals
Study With Saumya – Tech careers, placements, motivation

💡 Start early: Even before college, begin with Python or Harvard CS50.
💡 Low budget? Use free platforms like FreeCodeCamp and YouTube.
💡 Want high salary? Focus on AI/ML, Cloud, or Data fields.
💡 Don’t ignore soft skills: Communication, teamwork, and leadership
matter as much as coding.
How Internships Shape
Your Engineering
Career
Internships are your foot in the door to top tech companies, PSUs, and
even startups. Not only do they look great on your resume, but over
70% of internships convert into full-time jobs — especially at companies
like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. Whether you're aiming for a ₹30L
package or a government scientist role, internships help you build
experience and connections early.

📌 Why Do Internships Matter?

✅ Gain real-world experience before graduation
✅ Boost your resume for placements and higher studies
✅ Network with professionals and hiring managers
✅ Get PPOs (Pre-Placement Offers) without going through campus
interviews

📌 Average Internship Stipends in India

Company Type Average Monthly Stipend

Tech Giants ₹40K–₹1L

Mid-Level IT Firms ₹20K–₹40K

Startups ₹10K–₹30K

₹15K–₹30K (may include

Government/PSUs
accommodation)

📌 Top Recruiters Offering Internships

💼 Tech Giants: Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Flipkart, Adobe
🏢 IT Services: TCS, Wipro, Infosys, Cognizant
🚀 Startups: Zomato, Swiggy, PhonePe, Meesho
🏛️ Government: ISRO, DRDO, BHEL, IOCL, NTPC
 Your 10-Year
Engineering Roadmap
Engineering is a long-term journey — and the best results come from
planning early. Whether you're in 12th or already in college, here's a
clear, step-by-step roadmap that shows how to go from entrance exams
to top jobs, leadership roles, or even launching your own startup.

📌 Year 1–2: Build the Foundation

✅ Finish 12th (PCM) with strong marks
✅ Crack entrance exams: JEE Main → JEE Advanced/ BITSAT
✅ Shortlist colleges based on rank and branch preference

📌 Year 3–4: Excel in College

✅ Focus on core subjects and practical learning
✅ Build projects (GitHub, mini apps, hardware builds)
✅ Do internships (tech, startups, government labs)
✅ Prepare for placements or higher studies early

📌 Year 5–7: Launch Your Career

✅ Land a job at top companies (Google, Microsoft, ISRO, TCS, Wipro)
✅ Or pursue MS abroad (USA/EU) or MBA in India (IIMs, FMS)
✅ Start building domain expertise in AI, Cloud, Data Science, or Core
Engineering

📌 Year 8–10: Level Up or Launch Out

✅ Take on leadership roles (Team Lead, Manager, Architect)
✅ Switch domains (e.g., engineer → product manager)
✅ Or launch your own startup with co-founders and investors
💡 Not interested in core engineering? Use your 5th–7th year to switch
to Product Management, Data Science, or MBA.
💡 Want global opportunities? Focus on GRE/TOEFL + research
internships early for MS abroad.
 Frequently Asked
Questions

Ques: Can I do engineering if I didn’t take PCM in 12th?

Ans: No direct route. You can either reappear for PCM or go for a
diploma + lateral entry into BTech later.

Ques: Is it okay to take a gap year after 12th for JEE prep?
Ans: Yes! Many top rankers take a drop year. Colleges like IITs and NITs
accept justified gaps .

Ques: What if my 12th percentage is low? Can I still get into a good
college?
Ans: Yes. Focus on entrance exams like JEE Main / BITSAT , as they
carry more weight than board marks in top colleges.

Ques: I got a low JEE rank. Should I join a private college or drop a
year?
Ans: Consider your branch and future goals. If you're getting CS/IT or
AI/ML in a decent college with internships, go ahead. Otherwise, a
focused drop year may be better.

Ques: Is CSE the only branch with good salary potential?

Ans: No. Branches like ECE (VLSI), Mechanical (core roles), and even
Civil (govt jobs) offer stable careers. But yes, CSE offers the most
versatility and high packages .

Ques: Can I switch to MBA or finance after engineering?

Ans: Yes! Engineers are preferred in MBA programs. Many land roles
like Product Manager, Consultant, or Quant Analyst in top firms.

Ques: Do internships really help in placements?

Ans: Absolutely. Over 70% of internships convert to full-time roles,
especially in tech companies like Google, Amazon, and startups.