The CUET UG 2026 safe score for top universities is expected to be above 95 percentile for premier institutions like DU, BHU, and JNU. Whereas, for mid-tier central universities, the expected percentile is estimated to be around 80 – 90 percentiles. Hence, the raw aggregate score required is expected to be 700+ out of 1000 (4 subjects) for safe admission to popular courses.
- For admission in top institutes like Delhi University (DU) colleges like SRCC, LSR, and Hindu, a student must score 98 – 99+ percentile for B.Com Hons and BA Economics Hons.
- A general category student must achieve an 85 – 95 percentile to secure admission in BHU, JMI, and AMU for mainstream programs.
- To get admitted in JNU for language and humanities programs, a student must score 75 – 85 percentile for foreign languages, and 90+ percentile for international studies.
- Reserved category candidates (OBC, SC, ST, EWS) get 5 – 15% relaxation on the general category cutoff.
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Key Summary
- The CUET 2026 safe score is the minimum percentile that historically secures admission to a target university and course based on past cutoffs.
- Safe score varies sharply by university tier, course popularity, category, and seat availability.
- For elite courses like B.Com Hons at SRCC, the safe percentile is 99+; for state central universities, 75 – 85 percentile is generally sufficient.
- Universities release course-wise cutoffs after CUET results in early July 2026; the safe scores below are based on 2024 – 2025 trends.
Understanding CUET 2026 Safe Score Concept
The CUET 2026 safe score is the minimum percentile or aggregate score that is required to secure admission to a specific university or course.
- A safe score is typically 2 – 5 percentile points higher than the previous year closing cutoffs.
- Cutoffs vary across universities, courses, and categories, hence, there is no single safe score for all.
- NTA does not declare cutoffs; each participating university publishes its own cutoff after the result is out.
- Round-wise cutoffs drop in subsequent counselling rounds, but first-round cutoffs are the most competitive.
| Score Range (Percentile) | Classification | Likely Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 99+ Percentile | Excellent | Top DU colleges (SRCC, LSR, Hindu) for any course |
| 97 – 99 Percentile | Very Safe | DU mid-tier, BHU top courses, JMI popular programs |
| 95 – 97 Percentile | Safe | BHU, JMI, AMU mainstream programs |
| 90 – 95 Percentile | Moderately Safe | JNU UG, AUD, niche DU courses |
| 80 – 90 Percentile | Average | State central universities, lower-demand courses |
| Below 80 Percentile | Low | Limited to less competitive universities |
Ques. What is a safe score in CUET 2026?
Ans. A safe score in CUET 2026 is the minimum percentile that has historically guaranteed admission to a target university and course, with a buffer above the closing cutoff. For top DU colleges, the safe score is 98+ percentile; for mid-tier central universities, 85 – 90 percentile is generally safe.
CUET 2026 Safe Score: Top Universities Comparison
The top CUET 2026 universities have widely varying safe scores. Delhi University leads with the most competitive cutoffs, followed by BHU, JMI, AMU, JNU, and other central universities.
| University | Safe Percentile (General) | Aggregate Score (Out of 1000) | Top Programs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi University (DU) | 98 – 99+ | 880 – 950+ | B.Com Hons, BA Eco, BA Eng |
| Banaras Hindu University (BHU) | 92 – 97 | 800 – 880 | B.Sc Maths, B.Com, BA Hons |
| Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) | 88 – 95 | 750 – 850 | BA Eco Hons, BBA, B.Sc |
| Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) | 85 – 92 | 720 – 820 | BA, B.Com, B.Sc Hons |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) | 80 – 92 | 680 – 820 | BA Hons Foreign Languages |
| Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University (AUD) | 85 – 92 | 720 – 820 | BA Hons, BBA |
| Allahabad University | 75 – 88 | 650 – 780 | BA, B.Com, B.Sc |
| State Central Universities | 65 – 80 | 550 – 700 | General BA, B.Sc, B.Com |
Ques. Which CUET university has the highest safe score requirement?
Ans. Delhi University (DU) has the highest safe score requirement among CUET 2026 participating universities. Top DU colleges like SRCC, LSR, Hindu, and St. Stephen's require 98 – 99+ percentile for general category candidates in popular courses.
Delhi University (DU) Safe Score for CUET 2026
Delhi University (DU) remains the most competitive CUET 2026 destination, with top colleges demanding 98+ percentile. An aggregate score above 880 out of 1000 is expected for popular B.Com, BA Economics, and BA English programs.
| Course | Top Colleges | Safe Percentile | Safe Aggregate (Out of 1000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Com Hons | SRCC, Hindu, Hansraj | 99+ | 920+ |
| BA Hons Economics | SRCC, LSR, St. Stephen's | 99+ | 920+ |
| BA Hons English | LSR, St. Stephen's, Hindu, Miranda House | 97 – 99 | 880 – 920 |
| B.Sc Hons Computer Science | Hansraj, Hindu, Kirori Mal | 97 – 98.5 | 870 – 910 |
| BA Hons Political Science | Hindu, St. Stephen's, Ramjas | 96 – 98 | 850 – 900 |
| BA Hons History | Hindu, St. Stephen's, Miranda House | 95 – 97 | 830 – 880 |
| B.Sc Hons Mathematics | Hansraj, Hindu, St. Stephen's | 95 – 97 | 830 – 880 |
| BA Programme | Mid-tier DU colleges | 88 – 93 | 760 – 830 |
Ques. What is the safe score for SRCC through CUET 2026?
Ans. The safe score for Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) through CUET 2026 is 99+ percentile with an aggregate of 920+ marks out of 1000. SRCC is among the most competitive colleges in India, and even a 0.5 percentile drop can push candidates out of the first cutoff list.
BHU, JMI, and AMU Safe Score for CUET 2026
BHU, JMI, and AMU are highly competitive but more accessible than DU, with safe percentiles ranging from 85 to 95 for most mainstream undergraduate programs.
| University | Course | Safe Percentile | Safe Aggregate (Out of 1000) |
|---|---|---|---|
| BHU | B.Com Hons | 94 – 97 | 820 – 880 |
| B.Sc Maths | 92 – 95 | 800 – 850 | |
| BA Hons English | 90 – 94 | 780 – 820 | |
| JMI | BA Hons Economics | 92 – 95 | 800 – 850 |
| BBA | 90 – 94 | 780 – 820 | |
| B.Sc Biotechnology | 88 – 92 | 750 – 800 | |
| AMU | B.Com Hons | 88 – 92 | 750 – 800 |
| BA Hons English | 85 – 90 | 720 – 770 | |
| B.Sc Hons Sciences | 85 – 88 | 720 – 760 |
JNU and Other Central Universities Safe Score
JNU offers UG programs with safe percentiles between 75 to 92. This is offered particularly for foreign language BA Hons courses, while other central universities have varied safe scores depending on demand.
| University / Course | Safe Percentile (General) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| JNU BA Hons French | 85 – 90 | Limited seats, high demand |
| JNU BA Hons Japanese | 82 – 88 | Niche language, moderate competition |
| JNU BA Hons German | 80 – 86 | Lower demand than French |
| JNU BA Hons Korean | 75 – 82 | Less competitive |
| AUD BA Hons / BBA | 85 – 92 | Delhi-based, growing reputation |
| Allahabad University B.Com | 75 – 85 | Cutoff varies by category |
| Central University Karnataka | 70 – 80 | Moderate competition |
| Central University Haryana | 65 – 78 | Lower cutoffs, more accessible |
Ques. Which CUET university accepts the lowest percentile?
Ans. Among CUET 2026 participating universities, state central universities like Central University of Haryana, Karnataka, and Mahatma Gandhi Central University accept the lowest percentiles, often in the 65 – 80 range for general category candidates. Many private universities accepting CUET also have relaxed cutoffs.
Category-wise Safe Score Variations for CUET 2026
In CUET 2026 cutoffs, there is 5 to 15 percentile points reserved for SC/ ST and other reserved category candidates.
| University | General | OBC | EWS | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DU (Top Colleges) | 98 – 99+ | 93 – 96 | 95 – 97 | 85 – 90 | 80 – 87 |
| BHU | 92 – 97 | 87 – 93 | 89 – 94 | 78 – 85 | 72 – 80 |
| JMI | 88 – 95 | 83 – 90 | 85 – 92 | 75 – 82 | 70 – 78 |
| AMU | 85 – 92 | 80 – 87 | 82 – 89 | 72 – 80 | 68 – 75 |
| JNU | 80 – 92 | 75 – 87 | 78 – 89 | 65 – 78 | 60 – 73 |
Ques. How much category relaxation is given in CUET 2026 cutoffs?
Ans. CUET 2026 category relaxation typically ranges from 5 to 15 percentile points compared to the general category cutoff. SC and ST candidates receive the highest relaxation (around 10 – 15 percentile points), while OBC and EWS candidates get 5 – 8 percentile points relaxation. Exact relaxation varies by university and course.
How to Calculate Your Expected CUET 2026 Safe Score
Candidates can estimate their CUET 2026 safe score by combining mock test performance, expected percentile, and target university cutoff data from previous years.
- Step 1: Take 3 – 5 full-length mock tests in real exam conditions.
- Step 2: Calculate the average raw score per subject.
- Step 3: Map this to the expected percentile using the marks vs percentile table.
- Step 4: Compare the projected percentile against target university cutoffs.
- Step 5: If the projected percentile is below the safe score, identify weak areas for improvement.
| Mock Test Average (per subject out of 250) | Expected Percentile | Aggregate (4 subjects out of 1000) | Target Universities |
|---|---|---|---|
| 240+ | 99.9+ | 960+ | SRCC, LSR, Stephen's, Hindu |
| 225 – 240 | 99 – 99.9 | 900 – 960 | DU top colleges, BHU top courses |
| 210 – 225 | 97 – 99 | 840 – 900 | DU mid-tier, BHU, JMI |
| 190 – 210 | 93 – 97 | 760 – 840 | JMI, AMU, AUD |
| 170 – 190 | 87 – 93 | 680 – 760 | JNU, AUD, BHU lower courses |
| 150 – 170 | 78 – 87 | 600 – 680 | State central universities |
CUET 2026 Official Participating Universities: Past 3 Years
Candidates can refer to the official CUET UG website from the National Testing Agency to know the participating universities:
| Year | Document | Download Link |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | CUET UG 2026 | View on Official Site |
| 2025 | CUET UG 2025 | View PDF |
| 2024 | CUET UG 2024 | View PDF |
Note: Notifications are published by the National Testing Agency (NTA). University-specific cutoffs are released on respective university websites after CUET results are declared.
Ques. When will CUET 2026 cutoffs be released?
Ans. CUET 2026 cutoffs will be released by individual participating universities after the CUET result declaration in early July 2026. Each university releases multiple round-wise cutoffs during counselling, with the first list typically being the most competitive.
Ques. Can a candidate get into DU with 90 percentile in CUET 2026?
Ans. Getting into top DU colleges with 90 percentile is unlikely for popular courses, but some mid-tier DU colleges and BA Programme may accept candidates in the 88 – 93 percentile range, especially in later counselling rounds. Candidates should consider mid-tier colleges and less popular courses as backup options.
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