AP EAPCET 2026 SC category students with ranks up to roughly 40,000–80,000 can expect admission to top government engineering colleges in Andhra Pradesh, based on 2024 and 2025 counselling trends.
AP EAPCET 2026 results were released on June 30, 2026 by APSCHE. With counselling set to begin shortly, SC category students can compare their ranks against expected closing ranks to identify eligible colleges and branches. SC students get 15% reservation across government and aided engineering colleges in Andhra Pradesh, and no minimum qualifying marks are prescribed for SC category participation in counselling. The expected figures in this article are drawn from 2024 and 2025 counselling data and should be used for planning purposes only.
- SC category students receive 15% reservation in government and government-aided engineering colleges under AP EAPCET 2026.
- No minimum qualifying marks are required for SC/ST students — a valid rank is sufficient to enter counselling.
- Expected SC category closing ranks for CSE at top government colleges: 18,000 to 45,000 (based on 2025 trends).
- AP EAPCET 2026 is a 160-mark exam with 160 MCQs and no negative marking; rank is computed from raw score plus normalisation.
- Counselling processing fee for SC/ST students: Rs. 600.
| Direct Link to AP EAPCET 2026 Official Counselling Portal (ACTIVE) |
| eapcet-sche.aptonline.in/EAPCET/ |
AP EAPCET 2026 SC Category Cutoff Overview
The AP EAPCET cutoff is the last rank at which a seat is allotted in a specific college, branch, and category during web counselling. For SC category students, cutoffs are maintained in a separate reservation pool and are not interchangeable with Open Competition (OC) seats. The table below summarises the key parameters SC students need to know for AP EAPCET 2026 counselling.
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | AP EAPCET 2026 (Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture and Pharmacy Common Entrance Test) |
| Conducting Body | JNTU Kakinada on behalf of APSCHE |
| Result Date | June 30, 2026 |
| SC Reservation | 15% of total seats in government and aided colleges |
| Minimum Qualifying Marks (SC/ST) | No minimum marks required |
| Local Area Quota | 85% of seats reserved for local (intra-AP) students; university regions: AU, SVU |
| Counselling Processing Fee (SC/ST) | Rs. 600 |
| Official Counselling Portal | eapcet-sche.aptonline.in/EAPCET/ |
Closing ranks published after each counselling phase on the official portal are the only authoritative cutoff figures. Expected ranks in this article are based on 2024–2025 trends.
Branch-Wise SC Category Expected Closing Ranks 2026
Branch choice is the biggest driver of cutoff rank. CSE and emerging tech branches such as AI and ML attract intense competition even in the SC category. The table below shows expected SC category closing ranks by branch at government colleges in Andhra Pradesh, based on 2024–2025 data.
| Branch | Expected SC Closing Rank — Govt. Colleges | Expected SC Closing Rank — Private Colleges |
|---|---|---|
| Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) | 18,000 – 45,000 | 50,000 – 1,10,000 |
| AI and Machine Learning (AI and ML) | 22,000 – 50,000 | 55,000 – 1,20,000 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) | 30,000 – 60,000 | 65,000 – 1,30,000 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) | 40,000 – 75,000 | 80,000 – 1,40,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 50,000 – 85,000 | 90,000 – 1,50,000 |
| Civil Engineering | 60,000 – 95,000 | 1,00,000 – 1,60,000 |
| Chemical Engineering | 65,000 – 1,00,000 | 1,05,000 – 1,65,000 |
Note: All figures above are expected closing ranks based on 2024–2025 AP EAPCET counselling trends. Actual 2026 cutoffs will vary based on seat availability, applicant count, and normalisation outcomes.
College-Wise SC Category Expected Cutoff 2026
Government university colleges attract the tightest SC category competition in AP EAPCET. The following tables show expected opening and closing ranks for four major government engineering colleges, based on 2025 counselling data. All figures are expected and subject to change in 2026.
Andhra University College of Engineering (AUCE), Visakhapatnam — Expected SC Category Closing Ranks 2026
| Branch | Expected SC Opening Rank | Expected SC Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| CSE | 5,200 | 28,000 |
| ECE | 8,500 | 42,000 |
| EEE | 12,000 | 55,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 18,000 | 68,000 |
| Civil Engineering | 22,000 | 78,000 |
JNTU Kakinada College of Engineering (JNTUK-CEK), Kakinada — Expected SC Category Closing Ranks 2026
| Branch | Expected SC Opening Rank | Expected SC Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| CSE | 8,000 | 35,000 |
| ECE | 12,000 | 50,000 |
| EEE | 18,000 | 65,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 22,000 | 75,000 |
| Civil Engineering | 28,000 | 85,000 |
Sri Venkateswara University College of Engineering (SVUCE), Tirupati — Expected SC Category Closing Ranks 2026
| Branch | Expected SC Opening Rank | Expected SC Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| CSE | 7,000 | 32,000 |
| ECE | 10,000 | 46,000 |
| EEE | 15,000 | 60,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 20,000 | 72,000 |
| Civil Engineering | 25,000 | 82,000 |
JNTU Anantapur College of Engineering (JNTUA-CEA), Anantapur — Expected SC Category Closing Ranks 2026
| Branch | Expected SC Opening Rank | Expected SC Closing Rank |
|---|---|---|
| CSE | 10,000 | 40,000 |
| ECE | 14,000 | 55,000 |
| EEE | 20,000 | 70,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 25,000 | 80,000 |
| Civil Engineering | 30,000 | 90,000 |
All rank data above is expected and based on 2024–2025 AP EAPCET counselling trends. Actual 2026 cutoffs will be published on the official counselling portal after each allotment phase.
Factors Affecting AP EAPCET SC Category Cutoff
The SC category cutoff is not fixed and shifts every counselling cycle. Knowing what moves it helps you plan realistic options across branches and colleges.
- Number of SC category applicants: A larger pool of SC students in 2026 pushes closing ranks higher, increasing competition at top colleges.
- Total seat intake per branch: An increase in sanctioned seats at a college directly raises the closing rank, making more students eligible.
- Exam difficulty level: A tougher 2026 paper compresses scores across the board, which can ease pressure on higher rank numbers.
- Branch preference trends: Heavy demand for CSE and AI/ML tightens those cutoffs across all colleges even within the SC pool.
- New college or branch approvals: APSCHE approvals of fresh institutes or additional branches before 2026 counselling can shift the seat matrix and alter closing ranks.
- Local area (university region) quota: 85% of seats in each college are reserved for local students. SC students compete within their own university region (AU or SVU zone), so competition levels vary by geography.
How to Check AP EAPCET 2026 Cutoff for SC Category
The official AP EAPCET cutoff is released on the APSCHE counselling portal after each allotment round. Follow these steps to access SC category closing ranks once counselling begins.
- Visit the official AP EAPCET counselling website at eapcet-sche.aptonline.in/EAPCET/.
- Click on the Cutoff / Closing Ranks link in the counselling section.
- Select Engineering as the stream and choose the relevant counselling phase (Phase 1, Phase 2, or Phase 3).
- Filter by SC under the Category dropdown to view SC-specific closing ranks.
- Further filter by college name, district, or branch to narrow down your shortlist.
- Download the PDF or note the opening and closing ranks for your target colleges before making web option entries.
Tip: Check cutoffs across all three counselling phases — Phase 3 (spot round) typically shows the most relaxed closing ranks and can serve as a back-up option for SC students who miss the earlier rounds.
AP EAPCET 2026 SC Category Cutoff FAQs
Ques. What is the AP EAPCET 2026 SC category cutoff?
Ans. The AP EAPCET 2026 SC category cutoff is the highest rank number at which a seat is allotted to an SC student in a specific college and branch during counselling. Based on 2025 trends, expected SC category closing ranks at top government colleges range from roughly 28,000 (CSE at AUCE) to over 90,000 (Civil at JNTUA). Official 2026 cutoffs will be published after each phase on the APSCHE counselling portal at eapcet-sche.aptonline.in/EAPCET/.
Ques. Is there a minimum qualifying score for SC category students in AP EAPCET 2026?
Ans. No. SC and ST students are not required to score a minimum qualifying mark in AP EAPCET 2026. A valid rank in the merit list is all that is needed to participate in counselling. Scoring higher, however, significantly improves your chances of securing a preferred branch at a top college.
Ques. How many seats are reserved for SC category students in AP EAPCET 2026?
Ans. As per Andhra Pradesh government reservation policy, 15% of total seats in government and government-aided engineering colleges are reserved for SC category students in AP EAPCET 2026 counselling. Private unaided colleges follow separate management quota norms.
Ques. Which government engineering colleges in AP are reachable for SC students with a rank of 50,000?
Ans. Based on 2025 trends, an SC category rank of 50,000 may secure admission to ECE, EEE, or Mechanical Engineering at government colleges such as JNTUK Kakinada, JNTUA Anantapur, or SVUCE Tirupati. CSE at AUCE or SVUCE may not be accessible at this rank. Exploring adjacent tech branches such as ECE or AI and ML at well-placed private autonomous colleges is a practical alternative.
Ques. When will the official AP EAPCET 2026 SC category cutoff be released?
Ans. The official AP EAPCET 2026 SC category cutoff will be published on the APSCHE counselling portal after each web counselling phase. AP EAPCET 2026 results were declared on June 30, 2026, and counselling is expected to begin shortly thereafter. Students should bookmark eapcet-sche.aptonline.in/EAPCET/ for the latest schedule and cutoff PDFs.
Ques. Does the local area (university region) quota apply to SC category seats in AP EAPCET?
Ans. Yes. AP EAPCET counselling reserves 85% of seats in each college for local students from the same university region — Andhra University (AU) zone or Sri Venkateswara University (SVU) zone. This quota applies within the SC category as well, so an SC student’s home district determines which seats they compete for at most colleges. The remaining 15% of seats are open to non-local AP students.
Comments