The KCET cutoff 2026 will be released by the KEA after each round of counselling for admissions to Engineering, Technology, Farm Science, Veterinary, Animal Husbandry, Pharmacy, and other professional courses.
The KCET 2026 counselling process is expected to begin on or after 13 June 2026, and the cutoff will be published along with the seat allotment results for each round.
- The KCET ranks are determined by combining both KCET marks and 2nd PUC marks with a 50:50 weightage.
- For RVSC College of Engineering, CSE closing rank for General Merit has increased by ~30% from 2023 to 2025.
- For PES University, Bangalore, the CSE cutoff dropped ~ 52% in the year 2025, as compared to 2024.
- Veterinary has only around 200-300 total statewide seats compared to 65,000+ in Engineering, making it more competitive per seat.
In top CSE seats such as in RVCE or BMSCE, SC/ST closing ranks reach around 5,000 to 10,000 while General Merit stays under ~1000, showing a 5-10 times difference, one of the largest category gaps in any state entrance exam.
In 2025, cutoffs were released round-wise by KEA after the counselling began in July. The final round cutoffs showed maximum relaxation due to withdrawals, upgrades, and vacant seats.
KCET Cutoff 2025 PDF
| Round | KCET 2025 Cutoff | KCET 2025 Cutoff Hyderabad-Karnataka Region |
|---|---|---|
| KCET Cutoff Round 1 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| KCET Cutoff Round 2 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
| KCET Cutoff Round 3 | Download PDF | Download PDF |
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Key Summary
- Overall, the cutoffs have remained stable to slightly higher due to increased competition and high demand for branches like CSE/AI/ML.
- Last Year, RVCE Bangalore CSE general merit closed at ~234-500 which was one of the lowest in KCET history.
- Pharmacy and allied streams have seen final overall closing ranks around ~70k for Government College of Pharmacy Bangalore.
- Private mid-tier colleges such as Vydehi and Acharya & B.M. Reddy college saw massive late round jumps of around 150-250%, indicating vacant seats even after extended counselling to multiple rounds.
What is the KCET cut-off for?
The KEA will determine the KCET cutoffs for various courses depending on certain factors such as the number of students, the difficulty level of the exam etc. The KCET cutoff is the last rank at which admission is offered to a particular college and course during the KCET counselling process.
Cutoffs are the closing ranks for a particular branch or course. For example, BMS College of Engineering will get students for CSE upto rank 500, so the cutoff rank for CSE in BMSCE will be 500.
KCET cutoffs can be divided into two categories: qualifying and admission.
- Qualifying cutoffs are the minimum percentage required to become eligible for the KCET Counselling process.
- However, the admission cutoffs are based on ranks derived from a 50:50 weightage of both KCET marks and 2nd PUC marks.
Will KCET 2026 Cutoff Increase or Decrease?
KCET 2026 cutoffs are expected to increase in competitiveness, meaning closing ranks are likely to decrease (close at lower rank numbers) for top colleges and popular branches like CSE, AI, ISE, and ECE.
- Eligible candidates have increased by 18,000–20,000, making counselling more competitive despite nearly unchanged application numbers.
- Reserved categories such as SC (+5,000), 2A (+5,000), 2B (+6,000), and 3B (+5,000) have grown substantially, indicating tougher category-wise cutoffs.
- Kannada Medium candidate numbers remain stable at around 43,000, while rural candidates have increased by about 4,000.
KCET Cutoff for Engineering PDFs
| KCET Cutoff Year Wise | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| KCET Cutoff 2024 | Download PDF |
| KCET Cutoff 2023 | Download PDF |
| KCET Cutoff 2022 | Download PDF |
KCET 2026: Qualifying Cutoff
Qualifying cutoff refers to the minimum aggregate percentage required by students in their 2nd PUC or Class 12th to be eligible for the KCET exam and counselling.
| Category | Percentage |
|---|---|
| General Category | Minimum 45% aggregate in PCM/PCB |
| Reserved Categories | Minimum 40% aggregate in PCM/PCB |
Kannada Language Test: It is a mandatory qualifying test only for certain candidates (Horanadu & Gadinadu Kannadigas), which requires 12 marks out of 50 to qualify.
Around 456 candidates out of 1520 failed, and 12 candidates scored 0/50 in the Language test.
Also Check:
| 70 Marks in KCET Rank 2026 | 60 Marks in KCET Rank 2026 |
| 90 Marks in KCET Rank 2026 | 80 Marks in KCET Rank 2026 |
Ques. Is 48000 a good rank in KCET?
Ans. A 48,000 rank in KCET is considered average and can typically be achieved with 70–80 KCET marks, depending on Class 12 PCM scores.
It can offer admission to several Tier-2 and Tier-3 engineering colleges, particularly in Civil, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering.
Ques. Is 17000 a good rank in KCET?
Ans. A 17,000 KCET rank is considered good and typically requires around 95–110 KCET marks along with strong board marks.
With this rank, candidates can target reputed engineering colleges and branches such as ECE, Information Science, Electrical Engineering, and some CSE-related programs in later counselling rounds.
Ques. Is 70 good marks in KCET?
Ans. A score of 70 out of 180 is generally considered below average to average in KCET, which will place you in the rank range between 30,000 - 55,000.
However, because rank calculation includes both KCET and board marks, students with strong PCM scores in Class 12 can still achieve a reasonable rank.
KCET 2026: Expected Cutoff Course and College-Wise
As per the 2025 exam trend, the CSE / AI will remain highly competitive with high cutoffs, especially at highly demanded colleges such as RVCE. Emerging branches such as AI/ML, Data Science often have ~500-1000 ranks higher than CSE in the same college.
KCET Cutoff for Engineering
| College Name | CSE (Computer Science) | AI/ML or AI & Data Science | ISE / CS (AI&ML) / Related | ECE (Electronics & Comm.) | Mechanical / EEE | Civil / Other Core Branches |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RV College of Engineering (RVCE), Bangalore | 150–500 | 400–900 | 300–700 | 700–1,400 | 5,000–9,000 | 12,000–20,000+ |
| BMS College of Engineering (BMSCE), Bangalore | 300–900 | 600–1,300 | 700–1,500 | 1,200–2,800 | 8,000–18,000 | 15,000–30,000+ |
| PES University (Ring Road Campus), Bangalore | 800–2,000 | 1,500–3,500 | 1,200–2,800 | 2,000–4,500 | 12,000–25,000 | 20,000–35,000+ |
| MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT) | 800–2,200 | 2,000–4,500 | 1,800–3,500 | 2,500–5,000 | 12,000–25,000 | 20,000–40,000+ |
| Bangalore Institute of Technology (BIT) | 4,000–9,000 | 6,000–11,000 | 5,000–10,000 | 5,000–9,000 | 18,000–35,000 | 30,000–50,000+ |
| New Horizon College of Engineering (NHCE) | 12,000–20,000 | 15,000–25,000 | 14,000–22,000 | 12,000–20,000 | 30,000+ | 40,000+ |
| Sir M. Visvesvaraya Institute of Technology | 7,000–15,000 | 9,000–18,000 | 8,000–16,000 | 7,000–13,000 | 20,000–40,000 | 35,000+ |
For Farm Sciences Courses
| Course / Branch | UAS Bangalore (Top Preference) | UAS Dharwad / UAHS Bagalkot | UAS Raichur / UAHS Shivamogga |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture | 2,000–8,000 | 5,000–15,000 | 8,000–20,000 |
| B.Sc (Hons) Horticulture | 4,000–12,000 | 8,000–18,000 | 10,000–22,000 |
| B.Sc (Hons) Forestry | 6,000–15,000 | 10,000–20,000 | 12,000–25,000 |
| B.Sc (Hons) Sericulture | 8,000–18,000 | 12,000–22,000 | 15,000–30,000 |
| B.Tech (Food Technology / Agri Engineering) | 10,000–22,000 | 15,000–28,000 | 20,000–35,000 |
| B.Sc (Hons) Agri Business Management | 5,000–15,000 | 10,000–20,000 | 15,000–28,000 |
For Pharmacy courses
| College / Institute | B.Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy) | Pharm.D (Doctor of Pharmacy) |
|---|---|---|
| Government College of Pharmacy, Bangalore (Top Govt) | 10,000–25,000 | 8,000–20,000 |
| Government College of Pharmacy, Gulbarga / Other Govt | 20,000–50,000 | 15,000–40,000 |
| Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bangalore | 25,000–60,000 | 20,000–50,000 |
| Acharya & BM Reddy College of Pharmacy, Bangalore | 30,000–80,000 | 25,000–70,000 |
| MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore | 40,000–90,000 | 30,000–80,000 |
| Dayananda Sagar College of Pharmacy, Bangalore | 50,000–1,00,000 | 40,000–90,000 |
| PES College of Pharmacy / Other Bangalore Privates | 60,000–1,20,000 | 50,000–1,00,000 |
| Vydehi Institute of Pharmacy / Other Mid-Tier | 80,000–1,80,000+ | 70,000–1,50,000+ |
For Veterinary and Animal Husbandry courses
| Veterinary College / Institute | Expected Closing Rank (GM) |
|---|---|
| Veterinary College, Bangalore (Top Preference) | 800–2,000 |
| Veterinary College, Bidar | 1,900–3,600 |
| Veterinary College, Shimoga | 3,000–6,000 |
| Veterinary College, Hassan | 4,000–8,000 |
| Other Affiliated / Constituent Colleges | 6,000–12,000+ |
Top Engineering colleges in Karnataka through KCET cutoff
The expected KCET 2026 cutoffs show that RV College of Engineering is likely to remain the most competitive institution, with ECE closing between 1,000 and 1,300 ranks.
Other leading colleges like PES University, BMS College of Engineering, and M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology are expected to have ECE closing ranks between 3,500 and 5,500.
| College | Branch | Expected KCET 2026 Closing Rank (GM) |
|---|---|---|
| RV College of Engineering | ECE | 1,000 – 1,300 |
| RV College of Engineering | Electronics & Telecommunication | 1,400 – 1,800 |
| RV College of Engineering | EEE | 2,500 – 3,000 |
| PES University | ECE | 3,500 – 4,200 |
| BMS College of Engineering | ECE | 4,500 – 5,500 |
| M. S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology | ECE | 4,500 – 5,500 |
| PES University | ECE | 7,000 – 8,000 |
| JSS Science and Technology University | ECE | 7,500 – 8,500 |
| PES University | EEE | 8,000 – 9,000 |
| University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering | ECE | 9,000 – 10,500 |
| BMS College of Engineering | EEE | 10,000 – 12,000 |
| Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering | ECE | 10,000 – 12,000 |
KCET 2026: Expected Cutoff Category-Wise
The category-wise cutoff highlight the relaxation given to reserved categories to ensure social justice and equality. The categories such as SC/ST/OBC/EWS etc come under reserved categories and they get significant relaxation which means 2-5 times higher ranks (closing ranks) than unreserved category students.
For Engineering Courses
| College / Institute | Branch (CSE) Closing Ranks | Branch (AI/ML or Related) Closing Ranks | Branch (ECE) Closing Ranks | Branch (Mechanical / Core) Closing Ranks |
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| RV College of Engineering (RVCE), Bangalore (Top) |
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| BMS College of Engineering (BMSCE), Bangalore |
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| PES University (Ring Road Campus), Bangalore |
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| MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT), Bangalore |
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| Bangalore Institute of Technology (BIT), Bangalore |
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For Farm Sciences Courses
| Course / Branch | UAS Bangalore (Top Preference) | UAS Dharwad / UAHS Bagalkot | UAS Raichur / UAHS Shivamogga |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture |
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| B.Sc (Hons) Horticulture |
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| B.Sc (Hons) Forestry |
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| B.Sc (Hons) Sericulture |
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| B.Tech (Food Technology / Agri Engineering) |
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| B.Sc (Hons) Agri Business Management |
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For Pharmacy courses
| College / Institute | B.Pharm (Bachelor of Pharmacy) Closing Ranks | Pharm.D (Doctor of Pharmacy) Closing Ranks |
|---|---|---|
| Government College of Pharmacy, Bangalore (Top Govt) |
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| Government College of Pharmacy, Gulbarga / Other Govt |
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| Al-Ameen College of Pharmacy, Bangalore |
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| Acharya & BM Reddy College of Pharmacy, Bangalore |
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| MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore |
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| Dayananda Sagar College of Pharmacy, Bangalore |
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| PES College of Pharmacy / Other Bangalore Privates |
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| Vydehi Institute of Pharmacy / Other Mid-Tier |
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For Veterinary and Animal Husbandry courses
| Veterinary College / Institute | OBC Closing Ranks | SC Closing Ranks | ST Closing Ranks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veterinary College, Bangalore (Top Preference) | 2,000–6,000 | 6,000–16,000 | 8,000–22,000+ |
| Veterinary College, Bidar | 3,000–8,000 | 8,000–20,000 | 10,000–28,000+ |
| Veterinary College, Shimoga | 5,000–12,000 | 12,000–30,000 | 15,000–35,000+ |
| Veterinary College, Hassan | 6,000–15,000 | 15,000–35,000 | 18,000–45,000+ |
| Other Affiliated / Constituent Colleges | 10,000–20,000+ | 20,000–50,000+ | 22,000–55,000+ |
KCET 2026: Cutoff Shifts
Cutoffs in KCET will be relaxed in later rounds due to withdrawal, upgrades and vacant seats. However, top branches such as CSE in RVCE will see minimal shifts due to high competition and demand. In 2025, for pharmacy courses closing ranks were around ~70k.
| Course / Branch / College Example | Mock Allotment (Tightest) | Round 1 (Initial) | Round 2 (Moderate Relaxation) | Round 3 / Final (Maximum Relaxation) | Typical % Shift from Round 1 to Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering – CSE (Top Colleges), e.g., RVCE Bangalore | 150–400 | 200–500 | 300–800 | 400–1,000 | 50–100% |
| Engineering – CSE (Mid-Tier), e.g., BIT Bangalore | 3,000–5,000 | 4,000–6,000 | 5,000–9,000 | 6,000–12,000 | 80–150% |
| Engineering – ECE / AI/ML, e.g., BMSCE Bangalore | 800–2,000 | 1,200–2,800 | 2,000–4,500 | 2,500–6,500 | 80–140% |
| Engineering – Mechanical / Civil e.g., MSRIT Bangalore | 5,000–12,000 | 8,000–15,000 | 12,000–22,000 | 18,000–35,000+ | 120–200% |
| B.Pharm / Pharm.D (Govt Bangalore) | 8,000–20,000 | 15,000–40,000 | 30,000–70,000 | 50,000–90,000+ | 150–200% |
| B.Pharm / Pharm.D (Private Mid-Tier) e.g., Vydehi | 40,000–80,000 | 60,000–1,20,000 | 1,00,000–1,80,000 | 1,50,000–2,20,000+ | 150–250% |
| B.Sc (Hons) Agriculture (UAS Bangalore) | 2,000–5,000 | 4,000–8,000 | 6,000–12,000 | 8,000–18,000 | 100–150% |
| B.Sc Horticulture / Forestry | 4,000–10,000 | 6,000–15,000 | 10,000–20,000 | 15,000–30,000 | 130–180% |
| B.V.Sc & A.H (Veterinary – Bangalore) | 800–1,500 | 1,000–2,500 | 2,000–4,000 | 3,000–6,500 | 100–150% |
| B.V.Sc & A.H (Other Colleges), e.g., Bidar / Shimoga | 2,000–4,000 | 3,000–6,000 | 5,000–10,000 | 8,000–15,000 | 150–200% |
KCET 2026: Marks Vs Ranks
Students will get marks in KCET out of 180 with 3 papers of 60 marks each. However, only the KCET marks will not determine the ranks acquired by students as the ranks will be determined on the basis of 50:50 weightage to both KCET marks and 2nd PUC normalized marks.
For Engineering / PCM Streams
| Marks Range (out of 180) | Expected Rank Range |
|---|---|
| 175 – 180 | 1 – 50 |
| 170 – 174 | 51 – 200 |
| 165 – 169 | 201 – 500 |
| 160 – 164 | 501 – 1,000 |
| 155 – 159 | 1,001 – 2,000 |
| 150 – 154 | 2,001 – 3,000 |
| 140 – 149 | 3,001 – 5,000 |
| 130 – 139 | 5,001 – 10,000 |
| 120 – 129 | 10,001 – 20,000 |
| 110 – 119 | 20,001 – 30,000 |
| 100 – 109 | 30,001 – 40,000 |
| 90 – 99 | 40,001 – 50,000 |
| 80 – 89 | 50,001 – 60,000 |
| 70 – 79 | 60,001 – 80,000 |
| Below 70 | 80,001+ |
For Pharmacy / PCB and Agri/Vet Streams
| Marks Range (out of 180) | Expected Rank Range |
|---|---|
| 170 – 180 | 1 – 200 |
| 160 – 169 | 201 – 1,000 |
| 150 – 159 | 1,001 – 3,000 |
| 140 – 149 | 3,001 – 6,000 |
| 130 – 139 | 6,001 – 10,000 |
| 120 – 129 | 10,001 – 20,000 |
| Below 120 | 20,001+ |
KCET 2026: Safe Score
Safe score which are above the closing marks for that rank, increase the probability for students to get their desired college / branch despite the yearly fluctuations in cutoffs.
Based on 2025 data under 500 ranks will require a score of around 170+ as seen in previous years toppers.
| Target Rank Range (GM) | Safe KCET Score (out of 180) |
|---|---|
| Under 100–500 | 165–175+ |
| Under 500–1,000 | 160–168 |
| Under 1,000–2,000 | 150–160 |
| Under 2,000–5,000 | 140–150 |
| Under 5,000–10,000 | 130–140 |
| Under 10,000–20,000 | 115–130 |
| Under 20,000–50,000 | 95–115 |
| Above 50,000 | Below 95 |
KCET 2026: Factors Influencing Cutoffs
Cutoffs are determined by the KEA on the basis of several factors such as number of candidates, difficulty of the exam, seats or vacancies etc. Given below are various factors taht influence the KCET cutoffs:
- Number of Registered / Appearing / Qualified Candidates
- Difficulty level of the exam
- Total number of available seats or seat matrix
- Performance of candidates in 2nd PUC as well as in KCET 2026
- Reservation Policies and Quota’s
- Popularity of Branch / College / Course
- Counselling Rounds
KCET 2026: Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. What is the difference between qualifying and admission cutoff in KCET 2026?
Ans. Qualifying cutoff is the minimum eligibility to appear for the exam and counselling process whereas admission cutoff is based on rank acquired by students on the basis of merit and marks obtained.
Ques. Do cutoffs differ for different categories such as SC, ST and OBC in KCET 2026?
Ans. Yes, the categories get relaxation due to fixed quota of seats reserved for them. For example a general category student should require around a rank of 500 for CSE but SC/ST candidate can get CSE at around 10,000 rank.
Ques. Can I predict my college/branch before the release of official cutoffs?
Ans. Yes, you can easily predict your college/branch using your expected marks or rank through college predictors available online. Given below is a college predictor of Collegedunia which you can use.
Ques. Is there any change in cutoff policy for KCET 2026?
Ans. As of now there are no changes in the cutoff policy. However, students are advised to check the official website for any changes in the near future.
Ques. If my rank is on borderline, should I wait for later rounds in KCET 2026?
Ans. Yes, as many seats will open in 2nd or 3rd rounds due to vacant seats. You should fill multiple options in choice filing or option entry to get a seat.
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