KCET Cutoff 2027: Category Wise Closing Ranks and Top College Wise Allotment

The KCET 2027 cutoff will be released by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) following the Karnataka Common Entrance Test, expected in April/May 2027. The cutoff is expressed as closing ranks — the last KCET rank allotted a seat at each college, branch, and category combination during KEA-UGCET counselling. KCET 2027 cutoff will govern admission to Engineering, Pharmacy, and Pharm.D courses across government and private colleges in Karnataka.

  • KCET 2027 is expected in April/May 2027; the official cutoff will be released during KEA counselling rounds in July–August 2027.
  • The KCET cutoff is a closing rank, not a minimum qualifying score — you need a rank equal to or better than the closing rank to secure a seat.
  • Based on KCET 2026 data, CSE at RVCE (RV College of Engineering) closed at rank 498 (General Merit, Round 1) — expect similar or marginally higher competition in 2027.
  • Over 3.09 lakh students registered for KCET 2026 — a growing applicant pool that continues to push closing ranks higher each year.
  • Karnataka domicile students (Horanadu and Gadinadu Kannadigas) are eligible for the majority of government-quota seats under KCET.
  • KCET uses 8 separate category rank lists — GM, Cat-1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B, SC, ST — each with distinct closing ranks per college and branch.
  • Round 1 counselling has the most competitive closing ranks; later rounds become progressively more relaxed as vacancies open up.
KCET 2027 Cutoff Status
Direct Link to KCET Cutoff 2027 (Official KEA Portal) (Soon)

Also Check: KCET Result 2027 | KCET Counselling 2027 | KCET College Predictor

[Image: KCET Cutoff 2027 Banner]

Key Highlights: KCET Cutoff 2027

  • KCET 2027 cutoff will be published on the official KEA portals: kea.kar.nic.in and cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.
  • Based on KCET 2026, CSE at RVCE closed at rank 498 (GM, Round 1); MSRIT CSE closed at rank 3,280; BMSCE CSE closed at rank 3,890.
  • KCET 2026 saw 1,22,512 seats allotted in Round 1 out of 1,41,872 total available Engineering seats.
  • Karnataka’s OBC categories — Cat-1, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B — each have reserved seats with relaxed closing ranks compared to GM.
  • The Hyderabad Karnataka Region (HKR / Kalyana Karnataka) has a special 8% reservation in government college seats.
  • KCET 2027 closing ranks for top-college CSE seats are tentatively expected in the 520–560 range (GM, Round 1) based on the continuing upward trend.

Table of Contents

  1. KCET Cutoff 2027
  2. KCET Cutoff 2027: Important Dates
  3. Factors Affecting KCET Cutoff
  4. KCET Cutoff 2027: Category Wise Closing Ranks
  5. KCET Cutoff 2027: Top College Wise
  6. KCET Cutoff 2027: Home State vs All India Quota
  7. KCET Marks vs Rank 2027
  8. KCET Previous Year Cutoff Trends
  9. KCET State Counselling and Cutoff Linkage
  10. KCET Cutoff 2027: FAQs

KCET Cutoff 2027

The KCET 2027 cutoff refers to the closing rank published by KEA after each seat allotment round in the KEA-UGCET counselling process. It is the rank of the last student allotted a seat in a specific college, branch, and category combination. As of September 2026, KCET 2027 has not yet been conducted — the exam is expected in April/May 2027, with counselling and cutoff announcement in July–August 2027.

You can use KCET 2026 closing ranks — with Round 3 final allotment released September 7, 2026 — as the most reliable predictor for KCET 2027 expected cutoffs. The trend over five years shows closing ranks at top colleges rising consistently due to a growing applicant pool, from approximately 1.9 lakh in 2022 to over 3.09 lakh in 2026.

Previous Year Official KCET Cutoff

The table below shows KCET closing ranks for the General Merit (GM) category at the most competitive private engineering colleges for the CSE branch across five years. Use this to gauge the competition level for KCET 2027.

Year Registered Candidates (Engg. Stream) RVCE CSE Closing Rank (GM) MSRIT CSE Closing Rank (GM) BMSCE CSE Closing Rank (GM)
2022 ~1.90 lakh 310 ~2,100 ~2,400
2023 ~2.00 lakh 352 ~2,420 ~2,750
2024 ~2.78 lakh 419 ~2,860 ~3,200
2025 ~2.95 lakh 499 3,478 3,870
2026 (Round 1) 3.09 lakh 498 3,280 3,890

Closing ranks at top colleges have tightened year on year as more students compete for the same seats. The KCET 2026 closing rank at RVCE CSE (498 in Round 1) is marginally similar to 2025 (499), which may reflect a slight increase in CSE seats or preference redistribution toward CSE-AI/ML specialisations. For KCET 2027, target a rank within the top 520–560 (GM) to secure CSE at RVCE based on the continuing upward trend.

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KCET Cutoff 2027: Important Dates

The table below shows the expected schedule for KCET 2027 cutoff-related events. All dates are tentative and based on the KCET 2026 cycle. Check kea.kar.nic.in for the official schedule once KEA releases the KCET 2027 notification.

Event Expected Date (2027)
KCET 2027 Official Notification January–February 2027 (Tentative)
KCET 2027 Application Form February–March 2027 (Tentative)
KCET 2027 Exam Date April/May 2027 (Tentative)
KCET 2027 Result Declaration June 2027 (Tentative)
KEA-UGCET Counselling Registration Opens June 2027 (Tentative)
Document Verification June–July 2027 (Tentative)
Mock Allotment July 2027 (Tentative)
Round 1 Option Entry and Seat Allotment July 2027 (Tentative)
Round 2 Option Entry and Seat Allotment August 2027 (Tentative)
Round 3 / Extended Round Seat Allotment August–September 2027 (Tentative)
Final Cutoff Published (all rounds) September 2027 (Tentative)

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Factors Affecting KCET Cutoff

Several factors determine how competitive KCET closing ranks will be in 2027. Understanding these helps you set a realistic score target and evaluate your chances at specific colleges.

Factor Effect on Closing Rank
Number of candidates who appeared More students → closing rank number rises (harder to secure a top seat)
Difficulty level of the KCET paper Tougher paper → lower marks → closing rank eases slightly
Total seats available in each college and branch More seats → higher closing rank number (more students can be admitted)
Demand for specific branches (CSE, AI/ML) High-demand branches close first; CSE and AI/ML are the most competitive
Category-wise reservations SC/ST/OBC categories always have more relaxed (higher) closing ranks than GM
Previous year cutoff trends Consistently the strongest predictor — 5-year rising trend at top colleges
College accreditation and placement record Higher-reputation colleges (RVCE, MSRIT, BMSCE) attract more preference entries; tighter closing ranks result
HKR (Hyderabad Karnataka Region) Reservation 8% reservation at government colleges for students from Kalyana Karnataka districts — separate cutoff applies

The single biggest driver of tightening KCET closing ranks is the surge in applicant numbers. KCET registered candidates grew from approximately 1.9 lakh in 2022 to over 3.09 lakh in 2026 — an increase of over 60% in four years. CSE and AI/ML branches absorbed most of this increased competition. Introduction of new specialisation variants — CSE-AI, CSE-Data Science, CSE-Cybersecurity — at various colleges has slightly redistributed preferences but has not meaningfully reduced competition for core CSE seats at premier colleges.

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KCET Cutoff 2027: Category Wise Closing Ranks

KCET uses separate rank lists for each category. The closing rank for each category is the last rank in that list to receive a seat allotment during counselling. KCET 2027 category-wise closing ranks will be announced after each counselling round — expected July–August 2027. The table below uses KCET 2026 category-wise closing ranks for the CSE branch at RVCE (Round 1) as a planning reference for 2027.

Category KCET 2027 Expected Closing Rank (CSE – RVCE) KCET 2026 Closing Rank (CSE – RVCE, Round 1)
General Merit (GM) To be announced 498
Category 1 To be announced ~580–650 (estimated)
Category 2A To be announced 815
Category 2B To be announced ~1,200–1,400 (estimated)
Category 3A To be announced 778
Category 3B To be announced ~900–1,000 (estimated)
SC (Scheduled Caste) To be announced 7,250
ST (Scheduled Tribe) To be announced 12,480

Note: The 2026 figures for Cat-1, 2B, and 3B are estimated based on the proportional pattern observed from GM, 2A, 3A, SC, and ST official data. Always verify with the official KEA allotment order PDF once released at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.

Karnataka’s OBC structure is unique to the state. Category 2A (15% reservation) has the largest OBC reserved pool and typically closes at a moderately relaxed rank. Categories 3A and 3B represent Vokkaliga and Lingayat communities and their closing ranks are tighter than 2A due to higher demand relative to the reserved quota. SC students can access CSE seats at RVCE up to a rank of approximately 7,250–8,000 (2026 data), thanks to the 15% SC reservation. For KCET 2027, expect all category closing ranks to worsen by approximately 5–10% compared to 2026, in line with the historical trend.

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KCET Cutoff 2027: Top College Wise

The table below shows KCET closing ranks for top engineering colleges in Karnataka across key branches for the GM category. Figures for 2026 are from official Round 1 allotment data; 2027 values are tentative estimates based on recent trends and will be updated once KEA publishes the official 2027 allotment.

College Branch 2026 Closing Rank (GM, Round 1) 2025 Closing Rank (GM) 2027 Expected Rank (GM)
RV College of Engineering (RVCE), Bangalore CSE 498 499 ~520–560
RV College of Engineering (RVCE), Bangalore CSE (AI & ML) 620 ~580 ~640–680
RV College of Engineering (RVCE), Bangalore ISE (Information Science) ~1,250 ~1,200 ~1,300–1,400
RV College of Engineering (RVCE), Bangalore ECE ~2,480 ~2,400 ~2,600–2,800
BMS College of Engineering (BMSCE), Bangalore CSE 3,890 3,870 ~4,000–4,200
BMS College of Engineering (BMSCE), Bangalore ECE 1,049 ~980 ~1,100–1,250
M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT), Bangalore CSE 3,280 3,478 ~3,400–3,700
M.S. Ramaiah Institute of Technology (MSRIT), Bangalore Artificial Intelligence 1,612 ~1,480 ~1,700–1,900
University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE), Bangalore CSE ~2,952 ~3,150 ~3,000–3,300
University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE), Bangalore ECE ~4,386 ~4,500 ~4,500–5,000
Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering (DSCE), Bangalore CSE 3,572 ~3,350 ~3,700–4,000
Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumkur CSE 6,526 ~6,100 ~6,800–7,500

Note: 2026 figures are primarily from Round 1; final round closing ranks may be higher (more relaxed). BMSCE ECE closing at rank 1,049 — tighter than BMSCE CSE at 3,890 — reflects the strong ECE placement reputation at BMSCE relative to its CSE intake size. RVCE consistently holds the most competitive KCET closing rank for CSE in Karnataka. For KCET 2027, aim for rank 520 or better (GM) to secure CSE at RVCE.

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KCET Cutoff 2027: Home State vs All India Quota

KCET is primarily a Karnataka state entrance test. Unlike NEET, KCET does not operate under a national All India Quota framework. Seat eligibility under KCET is governed by domicile and study background in Karnataka.

Quota / Seat Type Approx. % of Seats Eligibility Condition Cutoff Nature
Horanadu Kannadiga (HK) ~70% Karnataka domicile; studied in Karnataka for 7+ consecutive years KCET rank-based closing rank; most competitive
Gadinadu / BGK Kannadiga ~5% Kannadigas in border regions or neighbouring states with Karnataka roots KCET rank-based; slightly relaxed separate quota
HKR (Hyderabad Karnataka / Kalyana Karnataka) 8% (of government seats) Students from Bidar, Kalburgi, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal, Ballari districts Separate HKR rank list; relaxed closing rank within qualifying districts
SNQ (Special Non-Karnataka Quota) 5% (government seats) Students from outside Karnataka; no Karnataka domicile requirement KCET rank-based; separate list; closing rank more relaxed than HK
Government of India Nominees (GOI Quota) ~1% Central government nominees; separate nomination process Not part of standard KEA counselling
NRI / NRI-Sponsored Quota 3–5% (private colleges) Students sponsored by NRI relatives; managed by the institution No KCET rank required; institution-specific fees and process
Management Quota (Private Unaided) ~30% (private colleges) No KCET rank required; institutions fill directly Institution-specific; significantly higher fee structure

KCET does not have a central All India Quota the way NEET does for medical admissions. The SNQ (5% in government seats) is the primary pathway for non-Karnataka students wanting to use KCET for admission. If you have not studied in Karnataka for at least 7 years, your KCET quota access is limited to SNQ (government seats) or management quota (private unaided seats). For most non-Karnataka students targeting Karnataka engineering colleges, COMEDK UGET is the more accessible route as it is open to all students irrespective of domicile.

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KCET Marks vs Rank 2027

KCET assigns rank based on the total marks scored in the CET papers — Physics (60), Chemistry (60), and Mathematics (60) for Engineering, totalling 180 marks. Rank is based purely on CET raw marks; no normalisation is applied. In case of a tie, KEA applies an inter-se merit rule, comparing individual subject scores in order: Mathematics first, then Physics, then Chemistry.

The table below shows the approximate relationship between KCET marks and expected rank, derived from 2024–2026 data. Use this to estimate your KCET 2027 rank and identify which colleges are within reach.

KCET Marks (out of 180) Expected Rank in 2026 Expected Rank in 2027 (Tentative) College Options (GM)
170–180 1–100 1–110 RVCE CSE / ISE; top government engineering branches
160–169 100–500 110–560 RVCE CSE AI/ML; BMSCE ECE; PESIT CSE
150–159 500–1,500 560–1,700 MSRIT AI; BMSCE CSE; JSS Science & Technology University CSE
140–149 1,500–3,500 1,700–3,900 MSRIT CSE; UVCE CSE; DSCE CSE; BMSCE ECE
130–139 3,500–7,000 3,900–7,700 Siddaganga IT CSE; mid-tier Bangalore private colleges
120–129 7,000–18,000 7,700–20,000 Tier-2 colleges; ECE/ISE branches at Tier-1 colleges
110–119 18,000–45,000 20,000–50,000 Tier-2 and Tier-3 colleges in Bangalore and outskirt cities
95–109 45,000–75,000 50,000–82,000 Government and aided colleges in smaller cities; non-CSE branches
80–94 75,000–1,10,000 82,000–1,20,000 Government colleges in Tier-3 cities; Civil / Mechanical / Electrical branches

Scoring 160+ out of 180 gives you a realistic shot at top-5 colleges in CSE or equivalent competitive branches (GM category). If you are targeting MSRIT or DSCE for CSE, scoring around 140–150 is typically sufficient. The 2027 rank ranges will shift slightly upward (higher rank numbers for the same marks) compared to 2026, due to the growing candidate pool — plan accordingly.

Source: Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) — kea.kar.nic.in

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The table below shows a five-year trend of KCET closing ranks for the GM and SC categories at top colleges for the CSE branch. This trend analysis helps you understand whether competition is increasing and how to calibrate your KCET 2027 score target.

Year RVCE CSE (GM) RVCE CSE (SC) MSRIT CSE (GM) MSRIT CSE (SC) BMSCE CSE (GM)
2022 310 ~3,500 ~2,100 ~18,000 ~2,400
2023 352 ~4,100 ~2,420 ~20,000 ~2,750
2024 419 4,706 2,860 14,053 ~3,200
2025 499 ~5,500 3,478 ~16,000 3,870
2026 (Round 1) 498 7,250 3,280 ~15,000 3,890

Trend analysis: RVCE CSE GM closing rank worsened from 310 in 2022 to 498–499 in 2025–2026 — a rise of over 60% in the rank number over four years, reflecting sharply increased competition. MSRIT CSE followed a similar trajectory from approximately 2,100 (2022) to 3,280–3,478 (2025–2026). RVCE CSE SC closing rank grew from approximately 3,500 (2022) to 7,250 (2026), with competition intensifying uniformly across all categories. For KCET 2027, expect RVCE CSE GM to close at approximately 520–560, MSRIT CSE at 3,400–3,700, and BMSCE CSE at 4,000–4,200 in Round 1, assuming a similar growth rate in the applicant pool.

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KCET State Counselling and Cutoff Linkage

The KCET cutoff is not a pre-announced threshold — it is determined by the counselling process itself. Understanding how KEA-UGCET counselling works helps you interpret closing ranks and plan your option entry strategically for KCET 2027.

Step 1 — KCET Rank Declaration. After the KCET result is declared (expected June 2027), KEA assigns a state-merit rank to each student based on total CET marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (Engineering stream).

Step 2 — Counselling Registration. Eligible students register on the KEA portal (cetonline.karnataka.gov.in), upload supporting documents, and pay the registration fee. Document verification — proof of domicile, category certificate, and qualifying marks — is completed at this stage.

Step 3 — Mock Allotment. Before Round 1 option entry locks, KEA releases a non-binding mock allotment showing tentative seat assignments based on your preferences and rank. Review it carefully to decide whether to add more options or reorder your preference list.

Step 4 — Option Entry (College-Branch Selection). You fill preferred college-branch-category combinations in order of preference. Enter as many combinations as possible — there is no penalty for more entries, and more options increase your chances of getting a suitable seat.

Step 5 — Round 1 Allotment. KEA processes all preferences against available seats and publishes Round 1 allotment. The closing rank for each category at each college-branch combination is the Round 1 cutoff. In KCET 2026, 1,22,512 seats were allotted in Round 1 out of 1,41,872 total seats.

Step 6 — Round 2 and Round 3. Vacated seats (from students who rejected or upgraded) re-enter the pool. Closing ranks become more relaxed in later rounds. In KCET 2026, Round 2 allotment was released August 19, 2026, and Round 3 final allotment was released September 7, 2026.

Counselling Round Cutoff Character Key Notes
Mock Allotment Non-binding; reflects likely Round 1 outcome Use to revise your option entry before Round 1 locks
Round 1 Most competitive — lowest closing ranks at top colleges RVCE, MSRIT, BMSCE CSE seats typically fill here
Round 2 Slightly relaxed — upgrade seats become available Students allotted in Round 1 can upgrade to a higher-preference seat
Round 3 (Final) Further relaxed — remaining vacancies across less-preferred colleges/branches Final official cutoff is published after Round 3 concludes
Extended / Spot Round Very relaxed — typically non-CSE seats; Tier-3 or outstation colleges Students visit colleges directly; limited and specific seats only

The official KCET cutoff is published as allotment-order PDFs on the KEA portal after each round. Always download and check the allotment-order PDF from cetonline.karnataka.gov.in — it contains the opening and closing rank for every college, branch, and category combination across all rounds. This is the only authoritative source for KCET closing ranks.

Source: KEA Official Counselling Portal — cetonline.karnataka.gov.in

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KCET Cutoff 2027: FAQs

Q: What is the KCET cutoff 2027?

Ans. The KCET 2027 cutoff is the closing rank — the last KCET rank allotted a seat — for each college, branch, and category combination during KEA-UGCET counselling. It is not a minimum qualifying score; every student who appears gets a rank, and the cutoff tells you how competitive each seat is. The KCET 2027 cutoff will be released after KEA counselling rounds in July–September 2027.

Q: When will the KCET 2027 cutoff be released?

Ans. The KCET 2027 cutoff will be released round-by-round during KEA-UGCET counselling, tentatively in July–September 2027. Round 1 cutoff is expected in July 2027, Round 2 in August 2027, and Round 3 (final) in September 2027. It will be published at cetonline.karnataka.gov.in.

Q: How is the KCET 2027 cutoff calculated?

Ans. The KCET closing rank is determined by the counselling process — it is the rank of the last student allotted a seat in a specific category at a specific college and branch. KCET rank is based purely on raw marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (total 180). No normalisation formula is applied to KCET marks.

Q: What is the minimum rank needed to get CSE at RVCE in KCET 2027?

Ans. Based on KCET 2026 Round 1 data (closing rank: 498, GM), you will likely need a KCET rank of approximately 520–560 or better (GM category) to secure CSE at RVCE in 2027. This estimate follows the consistent year-on-year trend of rising closing ranks at RVCE due to growing applicant numbers.

Q: Is the KCET cutoff the same every year?

Ans. No. KCET cutoffs change every year based on applicant numbers, exam difficulty, and seat availability. Over 2022–2026, closing ranks at top colleges became significantly more competitive (higher rank numbers needed) due to a 60%+ growth in registered candidates. Use previous year data only as an estimate — the actual 2027 cutoff will depend on that year’s competition.

Q: What happens if my KCET rank is above (worse than) the closing rank?

Ans. If your rank is worse than a college’s closing rank in your category, you will not be allotted that combination in that round. You may still get a seat at a college with a more relaxed closing rank, or in a less popular branch at your preferred college. Check options in Round 2 and Round 3 as well — closing ranks ease in later rounds.

Q: What is the KCET cutoff for SC category students?

Ans. SC category students have significantly relaxed closing ranks compared to GM. Based on KCET 2026 data, SC students with a rank up to approximately 7,250 can get CSE at RVCE in Round 1. SC category holds a 15% seat reservation in Karnataka, creating a separate, more accessible rank list for SC students across all colleges.

Q: How many marks do I need to clear the KCET cutoff for a top college?

Ans. To secure a rank within the top 520–560 (GM) — needed for RVCE CSE in 2027 — you need to score approximately 160 or more out of 180 in KCET, based on 2026 marks-vs-rank data. For mid-tier colleges like MSRIT CSE (rank ~3,400–3,700 GM), scoring around 140–148 marks is typically sufficient.

Q: Can I get Karnataka engineering admission without the KCET cutoff?

Ans. Yes. Around 30% of seats in private unaided engineering colleges in Karnataka are filled through the management quota, which does not require a KCET rank. You can also appear for COMEDK UGET, which offers admission to private Karnataka colleges through a separate entrance test open to all students irrespective of domicile. NRI-sponsored seats are another option at private institutions.

Q: Where is the official KCET 2027 cutoff published?

Ans. The official KCET cutoff (seat allotment order) is published as downloadable PDF files on the KEA official counselling portal: cetonline.karnataka.gov.in. After each counselling round, KEA releases the allotment list containing opening and closing ranks for every college, branch, and category.

Q: Does the KCET cutoff change from round to round?

Ans. Yes. The KCET cutoff becomes more relaxed (higher rank numbers get seats) in later rounds because vacated seats re-enter the pool. Round 1 has the most competitive closing ranks. If you miss a preferred seat in Round 1, check Round 2 — especially at mid-tier colleges where vacancies are common after Round 1 refusals.

Q: What is the difference between opening rank and closing rank in KCET?

Ans. The opening rank is the best (lowest) rank allotted a seat in a specific college-branch-category combination in a given round. The closing rank is the worst (highest) rank that still received a seat. For admission planning, compare your KCET rank to the closing rank — if your rank is equal to or better than the closing rank in your category, you qualify for that combination.

Source: Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) — kea.kar.nic.in

*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.