Students with a CLAT 2027 rank under 500 can target at least 5–7 top National Law Universities, including NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata and NLIU Bhopal — requiring a score of approximately 95 or above out of 120.
CLAT 2027 will be conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities for admission to five-year integrated BA LLB and LLM programmes across 24 NLUs. A rank under 500 places you in the top cohort of aspirants and unlocks some of the most respected law schools in India. Based on CLAT 2023–2025 closing rank trends, here is a complete look at which NLUs fall within reach for students ranked below 500.
- CLAT 2027 is expected in December 2026, following the pattern of recent cycles.
- CLAT UG is a 120-mark exam — 120 questions, 1 mark each, with −0.25 negative marking.
- A rank under 500 in the general category typically requires a score of 95 or above out of 120, based on 2024–25 trends.
- At least 5–7 NLUs historically close within rank 500 for general category students each year.
- SC and ST students with a rank under 500 can access most of the 24 NLUs with significant margin.
| Direct Link — CLAT 2027 Official Website (Consortium of NLUs) | consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
Score Required to Achieve Rank Under 500 in CLAT 2027
CLAT UG is a 120-mark paper. Based on 2023–2025 CLAT data, a score of 95–100 out of 120 is expected to fetch a rank in the 300–500 range in the general category. The table below shows the approximate score-to-rank mapping for CLAT 2027:
| Expected Score Range (out of 120) | Expected Rank Range (General Category) |
|---|---|
| 105–112 | 1–50 |
| 101–105 | 50–150 |
| 99–101 | 150–300 |
| 97–99 | 300–400 |
| 95–97 | 400–500 |
| 92–95 | 500–800 |
| 88–92 | 800–1,500 |
All figures are expected estimates based on 2023–2025 CLAT trends. Actual score-to-rank mapping for CLAT 2027 depends on paper difficulty and total applicants.
Full List of NLUs Under Rank 500 in CLAT 2027
Of the 24 NLUs participating in CLAT, around 5–7 colleges consistently close within rank 500 for general category students. The table below lists every NLU with expected closing ranks for CLAT 2027, based on historical data:
| NLU | Location | Expected Closing Rank – General (CLAT 2027) | Accessible for Rank Under 500? |
|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bangalore | Bengaluru, Karnataka | 65–100 | Yes — needs rank under 100 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | Hyderabad, Telangana | 200–310 | Yes — easily accessible |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | Kolkata, West Bengal | 290–410 | Yes — safe with rank under 430 |
| NLIU Bhopal | Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | 350–490 | Yes — aim for rank under 450 for safety |
| NLU Jodhpur (NLURAJ) | Jodhpur, Rajasthan | 410–540 | Borderline — safer with rank under 430 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | Gandhinagar, Gujarat | 440–590 | Borderline — may close above 500 in some years |
| MNLU Mumbai | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 460–670 | Borderline — rank under 480 recommended |
| HNLU Raipur | Raipur, Chhattisgarh | 540–780 | No — usually opens after rank 500 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | 570–820 | No — opens after rank 500 |
| MNLU Nagpur | Nagpur, Maharashtra | 640–920 | No |
| CNLU Patna | Patna, Bihar | 700–1,000 | No |
| NLUO Cuttack | Cuttack, Odisha | 720–1,050 | No |
All expected closing ranks are based on 2023–2025 CLAT counselling data and are indicative for CLAT 2027. Note: NLU Delhi (NLU-D) conducts its own exam (AILET) and does not participate in CLAT.
Category-wise Expected Closing Ranks for Top NLUs in CLAT 2027
CLAT reservations follow central government norms: 15% seats for SC, 7.5% for ST and 27% for OBC. Reserved category students have notably lower closing ranks. With a rank under 500 in the OBC category, most of the top 10 NLUs are accessible. Here is the expected category-wise breakdown:
| NLU | General | OBC | SC | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NLSIU Bangalore | 65–100 | 130–230 | 600–950 | 1,400–2,500 |
| NALSAR Hyderabad | 200–310 | 360–560 | 1,100–1,900 | 2,500–4,500 |
| WBNUJS Kolkata | 290–410 | 460–700 | 1,300–2,200 | 3,000–5,500 |
| NLIU Bhopal | 350–490 | 560–840 | 1,600–2,800 | 3,500–6,000 |
| NLU Jodhpur | 410–540 | 650–970 | 1,900–3,300 | 4,200–7,200 |
| GNLU Gandhinagar | 440–590 | 700–1,050 | 2,100–3,700 | 4,800–8,000 |
| MNLU Mumbai | 460–670 | 740–1,100 | 2,200–4,000 | 5,000–8,500 |
All category-wise closing ranks are expected estimates based on 2023–2025 data and may vary in CLAT 2027.
How to Target Rank Under 500 in CLAT 2027
CLAT 2027 is expected in December 2026, giving you well over a year to prepare. Students who achieve rank under 500 consistently follow a structured strategy across all five sections:
- Legal Reasoning carries the highest weight — dedicate at least 30% of study time to it. Focus on principle-fact application, not memorisation.
- Read a quality national daily — it builds both Current Affairs knowledge and English comprehension speed simultaneously, covering two CLAT sections at once.
- Attempt 10–15 full-length mock tests in the final three months. Post-mock analysis matters more than the number of tests taken.
- Accuracy over speed — with −0.25 negative marking, maintaining over 80% accuracy on attempted questions is critical in the 95–100 score range.
- Target 95 or above out of 120 to stay within the rank 500 bracket for general category, based on previous years’ data.
- Monitor the official Consortium of NLUs website for CLAT 2027 notification and any changes to the paper pattern before finalising your preparation plan.
CLAT 2027 Colleges Under Rank 500 FAQs
Ques. Which NLUs can I get with a rank under 500 in CLAT 2027?
Ans. Based on 2023–2025 CLAT trends, students with a general category rank under 500 can comfortably target NLSIU Bangalore (rank under 100), NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata and NLIU Bhopal. NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar and MNLU Mumbai are borderline and safer for students ranked under 450.
Ques. What score do I need to get a rank under 500 in CLAT 2027?
Ans. A score of approximately 95–97 out of 120 is expected to correspond to a rank in the 400–500 range in the general category for CLAT 2027, based on 2024–25 data. Scoring 97 or above gives a safer buffer for a rank under 400.
Ques. Does NLU Delhi accept CLAT scores?
Ans. No. NLU Delhi does not participate in CLAT. It conducts its own entrance exam called AILET (All India Law Entrance Test). Students targeting NLU Delhi must separately appear for AILET.
Ques. Can OBC students get NLSIU or NALSAR with a rank under 500?
Ans. Yes. For OBC students, NLSIU Bangalore is expected to close around rank 130–230 and NALSAR Hyderabad around rank 360–560, based on 2023–2025 trends. A rank under 500 in the OBC category is expected to be sufficient for both NLUs.
Ques. What is the total marks for CLAT 2027?
Ans. CLAT UG has a total of 120 marks. The paper has 120 multiple-choice questions of 1 mark each, with a −0.25 penalty for every wrong answer. The exam duration is 120 minutes.
Ques. How many NLUs participate in CLAT 2027 counselling?
Ans. As of 2025, 24 NLUs participate in CLAT counselling through the Consortium of National Law Universities. Seat allotment is centralised and based on CLAT rank and the choices submitted during the choice filling round.
Comments