Students securing NATA 2026 Phase 2 rank under 1000 can target top private and state-level architecture colleges across India, from CEPT University (Ahmedabad) to BMS College of Architecture (Bangalore) and Chandigarh College of Architecture.
NATA 2026 Phase 2 is conducted by the Council of Architecture (CoA) for admission to five-year B.Arch programmes. The exam is out of 200 marks, comprising a 120-mark online aptitude test and an 80-mark offline drawing test. Based on 2025 Phase 2 trends, a rank under 1000 corresponds to an expected score of approximately 115 or above out of 200. Students may use the better of their Phase 1 and Phase 2 scores when applying to colleges.
- NATA 2026 is out of 200 marks — 120 marks (online aptitude) and 80 marks (drawing test).
- Expected score for rank under 1000: approximately 115 or above out of 200, based on 2025 Phase 2 trends.
- Around 500 private and state-level architecture colleges across India accept NATA scores for B.Arch admission.
- National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPAs) admit students through JEE Main Paper 2, not through NATA scores.
- Students can apply to multiple colleges simultaneously using a single NATA 2026 scorecard; colleges do not block parallel applications.
Score Range for NATA 2026 Phase 2 Rank Under 1000
NATA 2026 is conducted for a total of 200 marks. Based on NATA 2025 Phase 2 trends, students need a score of roughly 115 or above to finish within the top 1000 ranks. The table below shows the expected score-to-rank breakdown for NATA 2026 Phase 2.
| Expected Rank Range | Expected Score (Out of 200) | Approx. Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 1 – 100 | 145 – 200 | 99.8+ |
| 101 – 300 | 133 – 144 | 99.5 – 99.7 |
| 301 – 600 | 125 – 132 | 99.0 – 99.4 |
| 601 – 1000 | 115 – 124 | 98.5 – 98.9 |
Expected figures based on NATA 2025 Phase 2 trends. Actual score-rank correspondence for 2026 will be available with official results.
Top Private Colleges Accepting NATA 2026 Phase 2 Score for Rank Under 1000
The colleges below accept NATA scores for B.Arch admission. Students with rank under 1000 in NATA 2026 Phase 2 can target all of these institutions. The expected closing ranks are based on 2025 Phase 2 trends and are arranged from most to least competitive so you can shortlist based on your exact rank.
| College Name | Location | Expected Closing Rank (General) | B.Arch Intake |
|---|---|---|---|
| CEPT University | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | 50 – 200 | 60 |
| BMS College of Architecture | Bangalore, Karnataka | 400 – 800 | 60 |
| R.V. College of Architecture | Bangalore, Karnataka | 500 – 900 | 40 |
| MS Ramaiah School of Architecture | Bangalore, Karnataka | 600 – 1000 | 60 |
| Nirma University (Architecture and Planning) | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | 700 – 1100 | 60 |
| Symbiosis School of Architecture and Design | Pune, Maharashtra | 900 – 1400 | 60 |
| Amity School of Architecture and Planning | Noida, Uttar Pradesh | 1000 – 1500 | 60 |
| Manipal School of Architecture and Planning | Manipal, Karnataka | 1200 – 1800 | 60 |
| Chandigarh College of Architecture | Chandigarh | 1400 – 1800 | 40 |
| GITAM School of Architecture | Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh | 1000 – 1600 | 40 |
| Chitkara School of Planning and Architecture | Rajpura, Punjab | 1200 – 1800 | 60 |
| SRM School of Architecture | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 1000 – 1600 | 60 |
All expected closing ranks are based on NATA 2025 Phase 2 data and are subject to change for 2026. Students with rank under 1000 are comfortably within the cutoff for colleges with expected closing rank above 1000.
State-wise Government Colleges Accepting NATA 2026 Score
Several state governments run centralised counselling using NATA scores to fill B.Arch seats in government and government-aided architecture colleges. Students with NATA 2026 Phase 2 rank under 1000 have strong prospects across most state counselling processes.
| State | Notable Government or Aided Colleges | Counselling Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Gujarat | L.D. College of Engineering (B.Arch), Ahmedabad | ACPC (NATA-based) |
| Karnataka | Government College of Architecture, Bangalore | KEA (NATA-based) |
| Maharashtra | Government College of Architecture, Aurangabad | DTE Maharashtra CAP |
| Andhra Pradesh | JNAFAU-affiliated colleges, Hyderabad | APSCHE (NATA-based) |
| Telangana | Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University | TSCHE (NATA-based) |
| Tamil Nadu | Government College of Architecture, Chennai | TNEA (NATA-based) |
| Uttar Pradesh | Government College of Architecture, Lucknow | UP NATA Counselling |
| Rajasthan | Government Architecture College, Jodhpur | State Architecture Counselling |
| West Bengal | Heritage Institute of Technology; Bengal College of Engineering | WBJEEB (NATA-based) |
Each state builds its own merit list from NATA scores; state-level closing ranks are separate from the all-India NATA rank. Always confirm counselling schedules with the respective state authority.
Category-wise Expected Closing Ranks for NATA 2026
Reserved category students benefit from relaxed closing ranks at most architecture colleges. The table below shows expected score ranges and closing ranks across categories for NATA 2026, based on 2025 Phase 2 trends.
| Category | Expected Score Range (Out of 200) | Approx. All-India Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| General (UR) | 115 – 200 | 1 – 1000 |
| OBC-NCL | 100 – 114 | 1000 – 2500 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 80 – 99 | 1000 – 6000 |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 65 – 79 | 1000 – 9000 |
| PwD | 55 – 75 | 1000 – 12000 |
Category-wise figures are expected estimates based on NATA 2025 Phase 2 trends. Actual cutoffs for 2026 will be released by individual colleges and state counselling authorities.
How to Apply to Architecture Colleges Using Your NATA 2026 Phase 2 Score
After NATA 2026 Phase 2 results are declared, follow these steps to convert your rank under 1000 into a B.Arch seat.
- Download your NATA 2026 Phase 2 scorecard from the official website at nata.in using your registered credentials.
- Pick your best score: If you appeared in both Phase 1 and Phase 2, identify the higher of the two scores and use that for all applications.
- Shortlist colleges using the expected closing rank table above — match your rank against each college’s expected cutoff to create a dream, target and safe list.
- Register for state counselling (Karnataka KEA, Gujarat ACPC, Maharashtra DTE CAP, Andhra Pradesh APSCHE, Tamil Nadu TNEA) to target government and aided architecture colleges in your state.
- Apply directly to private colleges by submitting your NATA 2026 scorecard, Class 10 and 12 marksheets and the application fee through each college’s admission portal.
- Keep documents ready: Class 10 and 12 mark sheets, NATA 2026 Phase 2 scorecard, valid government-issued ID, category certificate (if applicable) and passport-size photographs.
- Attend any additional tests or interviews required by individual colleges as part of their B.Arch selection process.
NATA 2026 Phase 2 Colleges Rank Under 1000 FAQs
Ques. What score is needed in NATA 2026 Phase 2 to get rank under 1000?
Ans. Based on NATA 2025 Phase 2 trends, a score of approximately 115 or above out of 200 is expected to fetch a rank under 1000 in NATA 2026 Phase 2. The exact cutoff score will depend on the difficulty level of the 2026 paper and the total number of students appearing.
Ques. Can I use my NATA Phase 2 score if my Phase 1 score was lower?
Ans. Yes. The Council of Architecture allows you to use the better of your Phase 1 and Phase 2 scores for B.Arch college applications and state counselling. Most colleges and state authorities accept the highest valid NATA 2026 score across both phases.
Ques. Which is the best college I can target with NATA 2026 rank under 200?
Ans. With a NATA 2026 rank under 200, CEPT University in Ahmedabad is among the top targets, based on 2025 closing rank trends. Students in this rank range also have strong prospects at leading Karnataka colleges such as BMS College of Architecture and R.V. College of Architecture.
Ques. Do NITs and Schools of Planning and Architecture accept NATA 2026 scores?
Ans. No. National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and Schools of Planning and Architecture (SPAs) admit students to B.Arch programmes through JEE Main Paper 2, not through NATA scores. NATA is accepted by private colleges, deemed universities and most state government architecture colleges.
Ques. How many colleges accept NATA 2026 scores for B.Arch admission?
Ans. Approximately 500 private and state-level architecture colleges across India accept NATA scores for B.Arch admission. These include colleges in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and other states.
Ques. How long is the NATA 2026 Phase 2 score valid for admission?
Ans. NATA 2026 scores are valid only for B.Arch admissions in the 2026-27 academic session. You cannot carry forward a 2026 score for admissions in the 2027-28 session or any future year.
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