Campus placements 2026-27 look steady rather than spectacular, and the biggest demand is for CA/CS graduates and interns. Aon’s 15th Campus Study Report, based on 220+ organisations and reported on October 1-2, 2026, says 56% of employers plan to hire more Chartered Accountant and Company Secretary graduates and 51% plan to take more interns. Only 36% plan to hire more engineers. Campus pay is projected to rise just 2% to 7%. Here is what that means for your final year.
Key Facts Box
- Aon’s Campus Study Report 2026-27 is its 15th edition and covers 220+ organisations.
- 56% of organisations plan to hire more CA/CS graduates.
- 51% plan to hire more interns, and 40% more diploma holders.
- 36% plan to hire more engineers.
- Campus pay is expected to rise 2% to 7% year-on-year across major streams.
- About 90% of organisations hire interns, and 80-85% use pre-placement offers to convert them into full-time staff.
- Tier-1 engineering colleges: median package projected to rise from Rs 13.85 lakh to Rs 14.75 lakh.
- Seven IITs: median stays at roughly Rs 16.5 lakh. Top IIMs stay at Rs 26 lakh; Tier-1 management institutes rise from Rs 20.89 lakh to Rs 21.50 lakh.
Which Graduates Will Campus Placements 2026-27 Favour?
CA and CS graduates lead, with 56% of employers planning to hire more of them. Interns follow at 51%, then diploma holders at 40% and engineers at 36%. Median intake sizes across most cohorts are largely unchanged, so “hire more” means modest growth, not a hiring boom.
The surprise for many families is the engineering number. Engineers are still hired in large numbers, but fewer employers are raising intake than for finance and compliance talent or for diploma holders. Aon notes that employers are becoming more selective about skills and roles.
How Much Will Campus Salaries Rise?
Campus pay is projected to rise between 2% and 7% year-on-year. That is a small bump, and for some top institutes it is nothing at all.
Engineering (B.Tech)
The median package at the seven older IITs is expected to stay broadly flat at about Rs 16.5 lakh for the 2027 batch. Tier-1 engineering colleges are projected to move from Rs 13.85 lakh to Rs 14.75 lakh, a rise of about 6.5%.
MBA
Top IIMs are expected to hold the median at Rs 26 lakh. Tier-1 management institutes rise from Rs 20.89 lakh to Rs 21.50 lakh, about 3%.
These are medians of total cost to company (TCC), which includes fixed pay and variable components. Your own offer can sit well above or below the median.
Why Internships Matter More Than Ever
Internships are now the main door to a campus job. About 90% of organisations hire interns, and 80-85% of them use pre-placement interviews or offers to turn strong interns into full-time employees. If you are in your pre-final year, a good internship may be worth more than another certificate.
- Apply for summer and winter internships early, not after placement season starts.
- Treat the internship as a long interview: finish tasks, ask for feedback, and document your work.
- Ask your mentor directly whether a pre-placement offer is possible.
What Employers Check Besides Marks
Over 90% of organisations assess culture alignment during campus hiring, mostly in HR-led interviews. Around 32% link cultural fit directly to individual performance. More than half have gender representation goals, and about 30% look beyond their usual list of campuses.
Employers also track what happens after you join. About 66% monitor the offer-to-joining ratio, and 82% monitor early attrition, usually defined as leaving within the first year. Slow career growth and a gap between role expectations and reality are the leading reasons people quit. Ask sharp questions about your role before accepting.
How to Prepare for Campus Placements 2026-27
Focus on one skill employers can verify, one strong internship and one clear story about why you want the role.
- Commerce and professional courses: CA/CS demand is strongest. Plan articleship and interview preparation early.
- Engineering: build practical projects and strong fundamentals. Expect competition, especially outside top colleges.
- Diploma holders: 40% of employers plan to hire more of you. Target technical and operations roles.
- MBA: prepare for case, finance and analytics rounds, and compare joining bonuses carefully.
FAQs
Q. Which graduates are most in demand in campus placements 2026-27?
Ans. CA and CS graduates lead, with 56% of employers in Aon’s study planning to hire more of them. Interns (51%), diploma holders (40%) and engineers (36%) follow.
Q. Will campus salaries increase in 2026-27?
Ans. Aon projects campus pay to rise 2% to 7% year-on-year. Top IITs and IIMs are expected to stay roughly flat, while Tier-1 engineering and management colleges see small increases.
Q. What is the expected median package for Tier-1 engineering colleges?
Ans. Aon projects the median to rise from Rs 13.85 lakh to Rs 14.75 lakh for the 2027 cohort. This is total cost to company and includes variable pay.
Q. Do internships lead to jobs on campus?
Ans. Yes. About 90% of organisations hire interns, and 80-85% use pre-placement interviews or offers to convert them. A strong internship is one of the surest routes to a full-time offer.
Q. How many companies took part in the Aon campus study?
Ans. The 15th edition of Aon’s Campus Study Report covers more than 220 organisations across 10 sectors, according to People Matters and Business Today.
Conclusion / Next Steps
Campus placements 2026-27 reward early preparation: secure an internship, build one verifiable skill and research each employer’s culture and role. Do not expect big salary jumps. Check back here for updates as placement season progresses.
Sources: Business Today, “Is culture and inclusion the new campus hiring test?” (October 1, 2026); People Matters, “Campus hiring remains resilient as employers prioritise skills, critical roles” (October 2, 2026); Aon Campus Study Report 2026-27 as reported by The Economic Times.