CUSAT CAT 2025 closing ranks tightened sharply compared to 2024 — CSE at SOE Thrikkakara moved from 864 to 388, signalling a more competitive admission cycle and setting a high bar for CUSAT CAT 2026.
Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) conducts the Common Admission Test (CAT) for admissions to B.Tech and other programmes across its two campuses — School of Engineering (SOE) Thrikkakara and CUCEK Kuttanad. Tracking how closing ranks shifted between 2024 and 2025 gives you a data-backed benchmark to target for CUSAT CAT 2026.
- CSE at SOE Thrikkakara: closing rank improved from 864 (2024) to 388 (2025) — competition nearly doubled in one year.
- ECE closing rank shifted from 5,957 in 2024 to 610 in 2025 at the main campus — the sharpest single-branch swing.
- IT closing rank moved from 5,957 in 2024 to 930 in 2025.
- CUCEK Kuttanad’s CSE closed at 1,748 in 2024, well above SOE Thrikkakara’s cutoff — a viable backup option for students with ranks beyond the main campus cutoff.
- Based on 2024–2025 trends, the expected CSE closing rank for CUSAT CAT 2026 is approximately 350–430 in the general category.
| Direct Link — CUSAT CAT 2026 Official Admissions Portal (Active) — admissions.cusat.ac.in |
2024 vs 2025 Branch-wise Closing Ranks — SOE Thrikkakara
The School of Engineering (SOE) Thrikkakara is CUSAT’s flagship campus and consistently records the most competitive closing ranks. The table below compares general category closing ranks across all B.Tech branches in 2024 and 2025. A lower rank means tighter competition.
| Branch | 2024 Closing Rank (General) | 2025 Closing Rank (General) |
|---|---|---|
| Naval Architecture and Ship Building | — | 316 |
| Computer Science Engineering (CSE) | 864 | 388 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) | 5,957 | 610 |
| Information Technology (IT) | 5,957 | 930 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) | — | 1,230 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 4,133 | 1,441 |
| Civil Engineering | — | 1,651 |
| Safety and Fire Engineering | — | 3,223 |
ECE and IT recorded the steepest drop in closing ranks, with both branches moving from 5,957 in 2024 to 610 and 930 respectively in 2025. CSE — already competitive at 864 in 2024 — tightened further to 388. Mechanical Engineering also saw a notable shift, improving from 4,133 to 1,441 over the same period.
Category-wise Closing Ranks for CSE (2025)
CUSAT follows Kerala’s community-based reservation system. The table below shows 2025 category-wise closing ranks for CSE at SOE Thrikkakara — the most competitive branch and campus combination at CUSAT.
| Category | 2025 Closing Rank — CSE (SOE Thrikkakara) |
|---|---|
| General (State Merit) | 388 |
| Other Backward Hindus (OBH) | 484 |
| Muslim (MSM) | 526 |
| Ezhava (ETB) | 610 |
| Latin Catholic (LCC) | 1,230 |
| Kerala Muslim (KMB) | 2,998 |
| Other Backward Christians (OBX) | 3,223 |
Students from OBH and MSM categories secured CSE at SOE Thrikkakara with ranks up to 484 and 526 respectively in 2025, compared to the general cutoff of 388. This rank buffer is meaningful for category students planning their 2026 targets. Check your category eligibility on the official admissions portal to identify your applicable closing rank band.
CUSAT CAT Closing Ranks — CUCEK Kuttanad
CUCEK (Cochin University College of Engineering Kuttanad) is CUSAT’s second campus. Its closing ranks are consistently higher than SOE Thrikkakara, offering a viable path for students whose ranks fall beyond the main campus cutoffs.
| Branch | 2024 Closing Rank (CUCEK Kuttanad) |
|---|---|
| Computer Science Engineering (CSE) | 1,748 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) | 2,276 |
| Information Technology (IT) | 17,627 |
The gap between campuses is most visible in IT — SOE Thrikkakara closed at 5,957 while CUCEK closed at 17,627 in 2024. For CSE the gap was 864 (SOE) versus 1,748 (CUCEK). Students with ranks between these values should include CUCEK preferences during allotment to maximise their chances of securing a CUSAT seat.
Why Closing Ranks Tightened in 2025
The dramatic improvement in 2025 closing ranks at SOE Thrikkakara — especially in ECE, IT, and CSE — reflects several converging factors:
- Higher applicant quality and volume: More students from top-scoring percentile bands applied to CUSAT in 2025, raising competition across all branches.
- Rising demand for tech branches: Growing placement outcomes and industry demand in CSE, ECE, and IT drove a sector-wide rise in competition at CUSAT and across engineering admissions nationally.
- NBA Tier I accreditation: CUSAT’s re-accreditation (valid till December 2028) reinforced its credibility and drew a stronger applicant pool.
- Seat matrix adjustments: Year-on-year changes in branch-wise seat allocation between campuses can shift closing ranks significantly in a single cycle.
The combined effect was a broad tightening across nearly every branch, with ECE and IT recording the most dramatic single-year compression — from roughly 5,957 to sub-1,000 in just one admission cycle.
Expected Cutoff Outlook for CUSAT CAT 2026
Based on observed 2024–2025 trends, the table below provides expected closing rank ranges for CUSAT CAT 2026 at SOE Thrikkakara (general category). These are trend-based projections only — actual cutoffs depend on the 2026 applicant pool, paper difficulty, and seat availability.
| Branch | 2025 Closing Rank | Expected 2026 Range (Trend-Based) |
|---|---|---|
| Naval Architecture and Ship Building | 316 | ~280–360 |
| Computer Science Engineering (CSE) | 388 | ~350–430 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) | 610 | ~550–700 |
| Information Technology (IT) | 930 | ~850–1,050 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) | 1,230 | ~1,100–1,400 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 1,441 | ~1,300–1,600 |
| Civil Engineering | 1,651 | ~1,500–1,850 |
| Safety and Fire Engineering | 3,223 | ~2,900–3,500 |
Official CUSAT CAT 2026 closing ranks will be published on admissions.cusat.ac.in after allotment rounds conclude. Check the last rank list on the official portal for verified branch-wise and category-wise data once the 2026 allotment process is complete.
CUSAT CAT Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What was the CUSAT CAT 2025 closing rank for CSE at SOE Thrikkakara?
Ans. The CUSAT CAT 2025 closing rank for CSE at SOE Thrikkakara was 388 in the general category, significantly tighter than the 2024 closing rank of 864.
Ques. How did ECE cutoffs change between 2024 and 2025 at CUSAT?
Ans. ECE at SOE Thrikkakara had a closing rank of 5,957 in 2024, which dropped to 610 in 2025 — the largest single-branch shift across both cycles, reflecting rising demand for the programme.
Ques. What is the expected CUSAT CAT 2026 closing rank for CSE?
Ans. Based on 2024 and 2025 trends, the expected CUSAT CAT 2026 CSE closing rank at SOE Thrikkakara is approximately 350–430 in the general category. This is a trend-based projection and not an official figure.
Ques. How do SOE Thrikkakara and CUCEK Kuttanad cutoffs compare?
Ans. SOE Thrikkakara is the main campus and records lower (more competitive) closing ranks. In 2024, CSE at SOE closed at 864 while CSE at CUCEK Kuttanad closed at 1,748. Students with ranks between those values should include CUCEK preferences during allotment.
Ques. Where can I find the official CUSAT CAT last rank data?
Ans. Official CUSAT CAT last rank lists (branch-wise and category-wise closing ranks) are published at admissions.cusat.ac.in after each allotment round completes.
Ques. Do reserved category students get relaxation in CUSAT CAT closing ranks?
Ans. Yes. CUSAT follows Kerala’s community reservation system. In 2025, OBH students could secure CSE at SOE Thrikkakara with a rank up to 484, MSM students up to 526, and Ezhava (ETB) students up to 610 — all higher than the general closing rank of 388.
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