Yes, government aerospace engineering colleges in India are generally very affordable compared to private institutions. Colleges like IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, and IIST offer subsidized tuition fees because they are funded by the Government of India. This financial support allows these institutes to maintain world-class infrastructure and teaching standards without putting a heavy burden on students.
For example, the annual tuition fee at most IITs is significantly lower than that of private colleges, and additional scholarships are available for economically weaker students, SC/ST candidates, and students with excellent academic records. In some cases, students from low-income families may pay little to no tuition fees after scholarship support. IIST also provides various stipends and fellowships to deserving students, especially those involved in research and space science projects.
Moreover, the return on investment (ROI) is very high at these colleges. Graduates often secure well-paying jobs in organizations like ISRO, DRDO, HAL, and international aerospace companies, which makes the affordability even more valuable.