Every year, thousands of students from across India set their sights on Delhi University (DU), a prestigious institution known for its academic excellence, historic charm, and buzzing campus life. As the DU cut-off 2025 soars to new heights, competition is fiercer than ever. But amid the rush for top scores and coveted seats, there’s a crucial factor that often goes unnoticed — one that quietly affects the health and daily life of every student: Air Quality.
In a city like Delhi, where pollution is a major concern, air quality can play a serious role in your daily well-being and long-term health. So while you obsess over cut-offs and CUET scores, it’s time to ask a different kind of question: What’s the air like around the college you’re aiming for?
Your college campus will be your home for the next three years. Beyond the classroom, you’ll be spending time in the library, canteens, and sprawling lawns. We’ve compiled a unique, data-driven comparison of DU’s top colleges across different campuses and the historical air quality of their nearby locations. See where your dream college stands when it comes to the air you’ll breathe.
A Reddit Post Sparks Concern: Should AQI Be a Deciding Factor for DU?

A recent Reddit thread stirred an unexpected debate among aspiring DU students and parents — not about CUET scores or hostel facilities, but air quality. In the post, a father revealed that he declined admission for his son in one of DU’s top institutions, Hansraj College, due to concerns about Delhi’s alarming pollution levels. This incident quickly gained traction, raising a crucial question: Should students and parents factor in air quality when choosing a college?
While Delhi University remains a magnet for students across India — and even internationally. However, the growing pollution crisis in the capital cannot be ignored. After all, students aren’t just investing in education, but also committing to live, commute, and breathe in Delhi’s environment for several years.
To assess the actual conditions, we’ve gathered 4-year AQI data (2021–2024) for major DU campuses, sourced from nearby air quality monitoring stations. It’s important to note that Delhi has limited monitoring stations, especially near college campuses. Therefore, we selected only those locations with reliable, consistent data closest to each campus. Locations with partial or irregular data excluded to maintain accuracy, and also only five+ colleges from each campus selected to understand each campus area.
North Campus: High Cut-Offs, High Pollution?
The allure of North Campus is undeniable, boasting some of the highest-ranked colleges in the country. Competition is fierce, and the cut-offs reflect this prestige. However, the air quality data presents a sobering reality.
Top North Campus DU Cut-Off in 2025
College Name | Campus |
St. Stephen’s College | North Campus |
Hindu College | North Campus |
Miranda House (Girls) | North Campus |
Shri Ram College of Commerce | North Campus |
Hansraj College | North Campus |
Ramjas College | North Campus |
Now, let’s look at the environment. With limited air quality monitors in the dense campus area, the data from nearby Civil Lines gives us the best available insight.
North Campus Area AQI (Civil Lines)
Year | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 4-Year Average AQI (US) | Category |
AQI (US) | 154 | 160 | 151 | 160 | 156 | Unhealthy |
Note: Due to a data gap, only one nearby location is available on the air quality map of this campus.
With a 4-year average AQI of 156, the air in the North Campus vicinity consistently falls into the ‘Unhealthy’ category. This means students may experience breathing discomfort and should be mindful of outdoor activities, especially during peak pollution months.
South Campus: A Mixed Bag of Air Quality?
South Campus offers a more dispersed environment with its own set of top-tier colleges. While the cut-offs are just as competitive, the air quality picture is more varied, although it remains a significant concern.
Top South Campus DU Cut-Off in 2025
College Name | Campus |
Lady Shri Ram College (LSR) | South Campus |
Sri Venkateswara College | South Campus |
Kamala Nehru College | South Campus |
Deshbandhu College | South Campus |
Maitreyi College (Girls) | South Campus |
Shaheed Bhagat Singh College | South Campus |
The data from various South Campus localities reveals a concerning trend, with most areas rated ‘Unhealthy’. However, Sheikh Sarai shows a comparatively better, albeit still ‘Poor’, average.
South Campus Area AQI
Location and AQI Years (US) | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 4-Year Avg. AQI (US) | Category |
Govindpuri | 203 | 164 | 158 | 163 | 172 | Unhealthy |
Lajpat Nagar | 202 | 171 | 163 | 165 | 175 | Unhealthy |
Chanakyapuri | 155 | 162 | 166 | 166 | 162 | Unhealthy |
Hauz Khas | 137 | 159 | 152 | 155 | 151 | Unhealthy |
Sheikh Sarai | 87 | 161 | 153 | 155 | 139 | Poor |
Note: The listed locations may not exactly match the precise locations of each college within the campus, but they represent the nearest available air quality monitoring stations.
The data indicates that locations like Govindpuri and Lajpat Nagar have some of the highest average pollution levels. While Sheikh Sarai’s average is lower, it’s heavily skewed by an unusually low (and potentially incomplete) reading for 2021.
Off-Campus Colleges: Is the Air Any Better?
Off-campus colleges, spread across West, East, and South West Delhi, offer excellent specialized courses. But does moving away from the main campuses mean breathing cleaner air? The data suggests otherwise.
Top Off-Campus DU Cut-Off 2025
College Name | Campus |
Shaheed Sukhdev College | Off-Campus |
Maharaja Agrasen College | Off-Campus |
Rajdhani College | Off-Campus |
Aryabhatta College | Off-Campus |
Bharati College (Girls) | Off-Campus |
Bhagini Nivedita College | Off-Campus |
Unfortunately, the off-campus locations recorded some of the highest AQI levels, with areas like Ashok Vihar and Janakpuri showing consistently unhealthy air over the past four years.
Off-Campus Area AQI
Location and AQI Years (US) | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 4-Year Avg. AQI (US) | Category |
Ashok Vihar | 214 | 178 | 171 | 177 | 185 | Unhealthy |
Janakpuri | 216 | 181 | 167 | 173 | 184 | Unhealthy |
Kalkaji | 203 | 168 | 165 | 165 | 175 | Unhealthy |
Najafgarh | 215 | 179 | 146 | 158 | 174 | Unhealthy |
Dwarka | 171 | 178 | 151 | 164 | 166 | Unhealthy |
Rajinder Nagar | 135 | 162 | 156 | 164 | 154 | Unhealthy |
Note: Only a few locations have the data available from different college campuses due to monitoring scarcity and a data gap. Some 2021 data had missing months; the average AQI is calculated based on available data only. The listed locations may not exactly match the precise locations of each college within the campus, but they represent the nearest available air quality monitoring stations.
What does this data mean for your DU Journey?
Choosing a college is a life-changing decision. While academic reputation, faculty, and cut-offs should be your primary focus, this data encourages a more holistic view. The reality is that studying in Delhi means contending with challenging air quality, regardless of the campus.
So, Which DU Colleges Have the Least Worst Air Quality?
Let’s be honest — no part of Delhi offers “clean” air. Every campus, whether in the North, South, or Off-Campus zones, falls into either the “Unhealthy” or “Very Unhealthy” air quality category based on 4-year AQI averages.
But within this overall grim scenario, some college areas fare slightly better than others. These aren’t “safe zones,” but they might pose less severe health risks with proper precautions.

Top 3 Least Polluted DU College Areas (Relatively Low AQI Levels):
- Sheikh Sarai (South Campus) – Avg AQI: 139 (Poor)
- Rajinder Nagar (Off-Campus) – Avg AQI: 154 (Unhealthy)
- Civil Lines (North Campus) – Avg AQI: 156 (Unhealthy)
Top 3 Most Polluted DU College Areas:
- Ashok Vihar (Off-Campus) – Avg AQI: 185 (Unhealthy)
- Janakpuri (Off-Campus)– Avg AQI: 184 (Unhealthy)
- Lajpat Nagar (Off-Campus) – Avg AQI: 175 (Unhealthy)
It’s clear that students at any DU college in Delhi will need to factor air quality into their lifestyle choices — from choosing accommodation with air purifiers to avoiding outdoor activities on bad air days. This awareness is especially important for students with respiratory conditions, allergies, or those coming from cleaner regions who might experience a stronger reaction to Delhi’s pollution.