SOA University Bhubaneswar: Overview
Siksha 'O' Anusandhan (SOA) is a deemed-to-be university in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. It has a multidisciplinary academic structure spanning engineering, computer applications, management, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, law, agriculture, veterinary sciences, hospitality, paramedical studies and research.
For a student comparing SOA with another university, the most important point is that admission, fees and career outcomes differ significantly by institute and programme. The right comparison should therefore be course-specific rather than based only on the overall university ranking.
SOA is a strong option for students who want a multidisciplinary private/deemed university in Bhubaneswar and whose target programme has a suitable fee, admission route, curriculum and outcome profile. Its NIRF 2025 positions are particularly strong in dental, law, medical, university and engineering categories.
Why Students Consider SOA
Strong NIRF presence
SOA ranked 15th in the NIRF 2025 University category and appears in multiple discipline rankings.
Multiple institutes
Students can study engineering, medicine, management, law, pharmacy, agriculture, nursing and other disciplines within the SOA ecosystem.
Bhubaneswar campus ecosystem
The university's academic and hospital infrastructure gives different programmes access to discipline-specific facilities.
SOA University Courses & Programmes
SOA offers a much wider programme portfolio than the popular pages alone suggest. The current 2026 programme list includes the following major areas.
| Area | Major programmes |
|---|---|
| Engineering | B.Tech in CSE, AI/ML, Cyber Security, Data Science, IoT, CSIT, ECE, EEE, Electrical, Mechanical, Civil; M.Tech specialisations |
| Computer Applications | BCA, MCA |
| Management | BBA, Integrated MBA, MBA, MBA Hospital Administration, MBA AI & Data Science |
| Medical | MBBS, MD/MS, DM/MCh |
| Dental | BDS, MDS |
| Pharmacy | B.Pharm, M.Pharm |
| Nursing | B.Sc Basic/Post Basic Nursing, M.Sc Nursing |
| Law | BA LLB, BBA LLB, LLB, LLM |
| Agriculture & Veterinary | B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture, M.Sc agriculture/horticulture, B.V.Sc & AH |
| Hospitality & Allied Health | BHMCT, MBA Hospitality Management and multiple paramedical programmes |
| Research | PhD, DLitt, DSc and postdoctoral pathways |
Programme availability is based on SOA's 2026 official admission/programme listings. Always check the current admission portal before applying.
B.Tech
Includes CSE and technology specialisations plus core engineering branches.
SOA B.Tech fees, admission & placements →MBBS
NEET-based medical admission through IMS & SUM Hospital.
SOA MBBS fees, seats & admission →BDS
NEET-based BDS programme at the Institute of Dental Sciences.
SOA BDS fees, seats & internship →B.Sc Nursing
Basic, Post Basic and postgraduate nursing options are listed.
SOA B.Sc Nursing details →B.Sc Agriculture
B.Sc (Hons.) Agriculture with postgraduate options.
SOA Agriculture admission details →BBA / Integrated MBA
Management programmes for students entering after Class 12.
BBA vs Integrated MBA at SOA →SOA Course-wise Eligibility
Eligibility is not uniform across SOA. Students should check the exact subject combination and aggregate before applying.
| Programme | Key 2026 eligibility |
|---|---|
| B.Tech | 10+2 with prescribed Physics/Mathematics and third-subject requirements; aggregate differs by category/programme. |
| BCA | 10+2 in any stream with 60% (50% for reserved categories as published). |
| BBA / Integrated MBA | 10+2 in any stream with 50% (45% reserved). |
| MBA / MBA specialisations | Three-year bachelor's degree with 50% overall at graduation and prescribed 10+2 threshold. |
| B.Pharm | 10+2 English plus prescribed PCM/PCB/PCMB combination, 50% (45% reserved). |
| B.Sc Nursing | 10+2 PCB + English with 50% (45% SC/ST/OBC), subject to age rules. |
| B.Sc Agriculture | 10+2 PCM/PCB/PCMB + English with published aggregate and age conditions. |
| Law | Integrated law: 45% in 10+2; LLB: 45% in graduation, with published category rules. |
SOA Admission 2026
SOA uses different admission routes depending on the programme. SAAT covers several undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, while B.Tech candidates may use the applicable JEE Main/SOA route. MBBS and BDS are outside SAAT and require NEET followed by the prescribed counselling route.
| Programme | Admission route | Student should check |
|---|---|---|
| B.Tech | JEE Main / applicable SOA route | Branch eligibility, current round and seat availability |
| BBA / Integrated MBA | SAAT | Application and test/result schedule |
| B.Pharm | SAAT | PCM/PCB/PCMB eligibility |
| B.Sc Nursing | SAAT | PCB + English and age requirement |
| B.Sc Agriculture | SAAT | Subject combination, aggregate and age |
| MBBS / BDS | NEET + DGHS counselling | NEET rank, counselling and current seat matrix |
Check the official SOA admission portal → · See SAAT 2026 → · See important dates →
SOA University Fees 2026
Fees vary considerably by programme. The published SOA fee listing gives the following academic-fee benchmarks for several popular programmes.
| Programme | Published academic fee |
|---|---|
| B.Tech CSE / CSIT | ₹3.15 lakh/year |
| B.Tech CSE-AIML / Cyber Security / Data Science / IoT | ₹3.35 lakh/year |
| B.Tech ECE / EEE | ₹2.75 lakh/year |
| B.Tech Civil / Electrical / Mechanical | ₹2.35 lakh/year |
| BCA | ₹1.90 lakh/year |
| BBA | ₹1.90 lakh/year |
| Integrated MBA | ₹2.50 lakh/year |
| MBA / MBA AI & DS | ₹3.90 lakh/year |
| MBA Hospital Administration | ₹1.90 lakh/year |
| BDS | ₹6.00 lakh/year for 2026-27 |
| MBBS | ₹22.95 lakh/year for 2026-27 |
Fees are programme-specific and may exclude hostel, mess, examination, caution and other charges. Use the relevant official fee page before making a payment.
SOA NIRF 2025 Rankings
SOA has separate NIRF positions across multiple disciplines, which is important when evaluating a specific course.
| Category | NIRF 2025 rank |
|---|---|
| University | 15 |
| Engineering | 22 |
| Medical | 15 |
| Dental | 9 |
| Law | 10 |
| Research | 49 |
| Management | 66 |
Accreditation, Status & Recognition
SOA describes itself as a deemed-to-be university and its official website lists NAAC A++ accreditation and Category-I autonomy. Its NIRF presence across several disciplines provides an additional national benchmarking reference.
Campus, Infrastructure & Student Life
SOA operates a multidisciplinary campus ecosystem with academic buildings, laboratories, libraries, sports and student facilities. Medical and health-science students also have access to the university's hospital and clinical ecosystem, while engineering students study within the Institute of Technical Education and Research.
For a course decision, focus on the facilities relevant to your programme rather than generic campus claims. Engineering applicants should inspect labs and curriculum; medical and dental applicants should assess clinical exposure; management applicants should examine curriculum, internships and placement reporting.
SOA University Placements
SOA placement outcomes differ by discipline. NIRF 2025 reported 1,802 of 1,903 engineering graduates placed in 2023-24 with a ₹6 lakh median salary. Management reported 175 of 180 graduates placed with a ₹5.20 lakh median.
| Discipline | Graduates | Placed | Median salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering UG, 2023-24 | 1,903 | 1,802 | ₹6.00 lakh |
| Management PG, 2023-24 | 180 | 175 | ₹5.20 lakh |
| Medical PG, 2023-24 | 106 | 106 | ₹12.00 lakh |
SOA Scholarships & Financial Support
Scholarship and fee-support rules vary by programme and admission category. SOA publishes scholarship information through its admission and institute-specific pages. Students should check whether the benefit is linked to entrance performance, category, academic merit or a specific programme.
Who Should Choose SOA?
SOA can make sense if you want a broad academic ecosystem in Bhubaneswar, are comfortable with its programme-specific fee, and have a clear course target whose curriculum and outcome data fit your goals.
Compare alternatives first if your decision is driven only by a university-wide ranking, a single highest-package claim, or a generic campus promise. For B.Tech, MBBS, BDS and MBA, compare the relevant discipline data, total cost and admission route separately.
SOA University FAQs
What is SOA University famous for?
SOA is known for its multidisciplinary portfolio and strong NIRF positions, particularly in dental, law, medical, university and engineering categories.
Is SOA private or government?
SOA is a deemed-to-be university in Bhubaneswar; it is not a government university.
What entrance exam is required for SOA?
It depends on the course. SAAT is used for several programmes, B.Tech has an applicable JEE Main/SOA route, and MBBS/BDS require NEET and the prescribed counselling process.
What is the SOA B.Tech fee?
Published annual fees vary by branch, from ₹2.35 lakh for Civil/Electrical/Mechanical to ₹3.35 lakh for listed CSE specialisations such as AI/ML, Cyber Security, Data Science and IoT.
What is the SOA placement salary?
There is no single university-wide salary. NIRF 2025 reports a ₹6 lakh engineering median and ₹5.20 lakh management median for the latest cohorts cited on this page.
Where is SOA University located?
SOA is located in Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
Source basis: SOA official academic/admission/fee pages and NIRF 2025 disclosures. Programme-specific years are labelled where applicable.