College Fees Hike: What Tamil Nadu Students and Parents Can Do
Published: 19 August 2026. Some private engineering colleges raise fees mid-course beyond what was agreed at joining. Here is what you can do.
Is the fee hike legal?
In Tamil Nadu, private engineering college fees are regulated by the Fees Fixation Committee. Colleges cannot arbitrarily increase fees above the fixed amount for your batch. The fee structure at the time of joining typically applies for your batch throughout the course.
How to complain
- Collect the original fee fixation order for your batch (get it from the college or Tamil Nadu Higher Education Department)
- Compare with what the college is demanding
- If the demand is above the fixed fee: write a formal complaint to the Tamil Nadu Government Fees Fixation Committee
- Also file a grievance with AICTE student grievance portal (students.aicte-india.org)
While waiting for resolution
- Do not pay the excess amount in cash — pay only what is officially documented
- Keep all receipts and written communication
- Seek guidance from a legal aid centre if the amount is large
Financial options if fees increased legitimately
- Top-up education loan from the same bank
- Apply for scholarships — see TN government scholarships
- Contact college financial aid office
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