The TNEA 2026 rank list is now published on tneaonline.org as of June 29, 2026. Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) does not hold an entrance exam. It admits students to engineering colleges based on Class 12 (HSC) marks. Your cutoff mark out of 200 decides which college and branch you can target during counselling.
TNEA 2026 Round 1 counselling is expected to start in the second week of July 2026. Download your rank from tneaonline.org and start shortlisting colleges using previous-year closing marks.
Here is what you need to know about the TNEA 2026 cutoff.
- The TNEA 2026 rank list is live on tneaonline.org from June 29, 2026, in category-wise PDF format.
- The closing mark out of 200 is what TNEA calls the cutoff. It is the mark at which the last seat in any college and branch gets filled.
- For CSE at CEG Guindy, the OC closing mark has stayed above 199 for five straight years.
- The cutoff formula adds your full Maths marks to half of Physics and half of Chemistry, giving 200 total.
- SC and ST students typically need 7 to 21 fewer marks than OC at the same top college.
- TNEA 2026 Round 1 closing marks publish after Round 1 allotment in July 2026. Use 2025 data for college planning until then.
- Previous-year closing marks by college, branch, and category are free at cutoff.tneaonline.org.
| Direct Link to TNEA 2026 Rank List (Out) | TNEA Cutoff Portal — Previous Year Data (Available) |
| tneaonline.org – Rank Details | cutoff.tneaonline.org |
Key Summary
- The TNEA 2026 rank list is published on June 29, 2026; download it at tneaonline.org.
- CEG Guindy CSE has the highest cutoff in Tamil Nadu — OC closing mark above 199 out of 200.
- SC students need 7 to 10 fewer marks than OC at top colleges. ST students need 14 to 21 fewer marks.
- Round 1 counselling starts in the second week of July 2026; three rounds run through September 2026.
- The 2026 cutoff is expected to stay close to 2025 levels, as Class 12 difficulty and candidate count were similar.
- Check previous-year closing marks by college, branch, and category at cutoff.tneaonline.org.
What is TNEA Cutoff 2026?
The cutoff in TNEA is the minimum closing mark at which a seat gets filled. It is set separately for each college, branch, and category. It is not a pass mark fixed by Anna University. It is the mark scored by the last admitted student in a counselling round. The cutoff changes every year based on demand, seat count, and HSC results.
There are two terms you will see during TNEA counselling. The rank cutoff is your position in the state merit list, based on marks out of 200. The college closing mark is the lowest mark at which any seat went in that college and branch. You need to score at or above that closing mark to get a seat there.
Previous Year Official TNEA Cutoff
The table below shows category-wise closing marks at CEG Guindy, Anna University, for CSE. This is the most competitive benchmark in Tamil Nadu engineering admissions. Data covers 2021 to 2025, sourced from the official TNEA cutoff portal.
| Year | OC | BC | BCM | MBC / DNC | SC | SCA | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 199.5 | 198.5 | 197.0 | 196.0 | 192.0 | 191.0 | 185.0 |
| 2024 | 199.0 | 198.0 | 196.5 | 195.5 | 191.5 | 190.0 | 183.5 |
| 2023 | 198.5 | 197.5 | 196.0 | 195.0 | 190.5 | 189.0 | 182.0 |
| 2022 | 198.0 | 197.0 | 195.0 | 194.0 | 190.0 | 188.0 | 180.5 |
| 2021 | 197.5 | 196.5 | 194.5 | 193.5 | 189.0 | 187.0 | 179.0 |
Source: TNEA Official Cutoff Portal – cutoff.tneaonline.org
The OC closing mark at CEG CSE rose by 2 marks over five years — from 197.5 in 2021 to 199.5 in 2025. The ST closing mark rose by 6 marks in the same period. Every category shows a slow but steady upward drift. For 2026, closing marks here are expected to stay within 0 to 0.5 marks of 2025 figures.
Ques. Is the TNEA cutoff mark fixed every year?
Ans. No. The closing mark changes every year. It depends on the total applicants, available seats, and that year’s HSC result. A year with higher board marks across Tamil Nadu will push closing marks up at top colleges.
Ques. Can I get admission if my marks exceed the state rank minimum but fall below a college’s closing mark?
Ans. Yes — but not at that specific college. Your rank lets you join counselling. You can get a seat at any college whose closing mark falls at or below your own cutoff mark.
TNEA Cutoff 2026: Important Dates
The table below lists all key events in the TNEA 2026 counselling and cutoff timeline. Upcoming events appear first; past events are at the bottom.
| Event | Date (2026) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| TNEA 2026 Rank List Published | June 29, 2026 | Out |
| Round 1 Choice Filling | 2nd week of July 2026 | Upcoming |
| Round 1 Seat Allotment | July 2026 | Upcoming |
| Round 2 Choice Filling and Allotment | August 2026 | Upcoming |
| Round 3 / Spot Round | September 2026 | Upcoming |
| Registration and Application | April – May 2026 | Over |
| Certificate Verification | June 2026 (deadline June 29) | Over |
Factors Affecting TNEA Cutoff 2026
Several factors decide the closing marks at each college and branch each year. Understanding them helps you set realistic targets before counselling.
- Total applicants: More registered students mean more competition. A bigger applicant pool pushes closing marks up at popular colleges and branches.
- HSC board result difficulty: When Class 12 exams are tougher, average marks fall statewide. This can ease closing marks slightly at mid-tier colleges.
- Seat availability: Government and aided colleges with fewer CSE seats have higher closing marks. Private colleges with larger intake in the same branch see lower marks.
- Branch demand: CSE, AI and Data Science, and IT attract the most students each year. These branches always show the highest closing marks at every college.
- Category reservation: TNEA reserves seats for seven categories — OC, BC, BCM, MBC/DNC, SC, SCA, and ST. Closing marks differ for each category at every college.
- New colleges and branches approved: When Anna University adds new colleges or branches, total seats rise. This can ease pressure on similar courses nearby.
- Tie-breaking (Random Number): When two students share the same cutoff marks, TNEA gives each a system-generated random number. The student with the lower number gets a better rank.
TNEA Category-Wise Cutoff 2026
The table below shows expected 2026 closing marks for CSE across all seven TNEA categories. It covers top government and aided colleges. These are based on 2025 closing marks and 2026 demand trends. Actual 2026 figures publish at cutoff.tneaonline.org after Round 1 allotment in July 2026.
| Category | CSE – Top Govt / Aided Colleges (Expected) | CSE – Top Private Colleges (Expected) | ECE – Top Govt / Aided Colleges (Expected) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OC (Open Competition) | 198 – 200 | 190 – 198 | 190 – 198 |
| BC (Backward Class) | 197 – 199 | 188 – 197 | 188 – 196 |
| BCM (BC Muslim) | 195 – 197 | 186 – 195 | 186 – 194 |
| MBC / DNC | 194 – 197 | 185 – 194 | 185 – 193 |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 189 – 193 | 179 – 191 | 178 – 188 |
| SCA (Scheduled Caste Arunthathiyars) | 188 – 192 | 178 – 190 | 177 – 187 |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 182 – 186 | 170 – 183 | 170 – 182 |
OC students need the highest marks to compete for the same seat. ST students benefit most from reservation. Their CSE closing marks at top government colleges are typically 13 to 18 marks below OC.
TNEA Cutoff 2026: Top Colleges
The table below shows expected 2026 OC closing marks at the top engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu. All marks are for the most competitive branch at each college, based on 2025 Round 1 closing data.
| College | District | Top Branch | OC Closing Mark (Expected 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Engineering Guindy (CEG), Anna University | Chennai | CSE | 199 – 200 |
| Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), Anna University | Chennai | CSE / IT | 198 – 200 |
| PSG College of Technology | Coimbatore | CSE | 198 – 200 |
| Alagappa College of Technology (ACT), Anna University | Chennai | Information Technology | 196 – 199 |
| Government College of Technology (GCT) | Coimbatore | CSE | 195 – 199 |
| Coimbatore Institute of Technology (CIT) | Coimbatore | CSE | 194 – 198 |
| SSN College of Engineering | Chennai | CSE | 190 – 197 |
| Thiagarajar College of Engineering (TCE) | Madurai | CSE | 190 – 196 |
| National Engineering College (NEC) | Kovilpatti | CSE | 188 – 194 |
| Bannari Amman Institute of Technology (BIT) | Erode | CSE | 186 – 193 |
CEG, MIT, and PSG Tech have maintained the highest closing marks in Tamil Nadu for CSE over the last five years. A score above 198 in the OC category gives you a realistic chance at these three colleges.
TNEA Branch-Wise Cutoff 2026
Closing marks vary widely by branch. CSE and its specialisations draw the most demand each year. The table below shows expected 2026 closing marks at top government and aided colleges, across four categories.
| Branch | OC (Expected) | BC (Expected) | MBC (Expected) | SC (Expected) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Engineering (CSE) | 198 – 200 | 197 – 199 | 194 – 197 | 189 – 193 |
| AI and Data Science | 197 – 200 | 196 – 198 | 193 – 196 | 188 – 192 |
| Information Technology (IT) | 195 – 199 | 194 – 197 | 191 – 195 | 185 – 190 |
| Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE) | 190 – 198 | 188 – 196 | 185 – 193 | 178 – 188 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering (EEE) | 185 – 195 | 183 – 193 | 180 – 190 | 172 – 184 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 182 – 192 | 180 – 190 | 177 – 187 | 169 – 181 |
| Civil Engineering | 178 – 188 | 176 – 186 | 173 – 183 | 165 – 177 |
| Chemical Engineering | 175 – 185 | 173 – 183 | 170 – 180 | 162 – 174 |
AI and Data Science has seen rising demand since 2022. Its closing marks now nearly match core CSE at most top colleges. Mechanical and Civil branches continue to show lower closing marks. Students scoring 175 to 190 can access reputed government colleges in those streams.
TNEA Previous Year Cutoff Trends
The table below tracks closing marks at three leading colleges over five years. All figures are for the OC category, CSE branch, Round 1 allotment. The five-year shift column shows total movement from 2021 to 2025.
| College | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 5-Year Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEG Guindy (CSE) | 197.5 | 198.0 | 198.5 | 199.0 | 199.5 | +2.0 marks |
| PSG Tech, Coimbatore (CSE) | 197.0 | 197.5 | 198.0 | 198.5 | 199.0 | +2.0 marks |
| GCT, Coimbatore (CSE) | 193.0 | 193.5 | 194.0 | 194.5 | 195.0 | +2.0 marks |
Source: TNEA Official Cutoff Portal
All three colleges rose by 2 marks over five years. That is a gain of 0.5 marks per year on average. The gap between CEG and GCT held steady at about 4.5 marks across all five years. The competitive distance between these colleges has not changed. For 2026, expect closing marks to move up by 0 to 0.5 marks at each of these colleges.
Students scoring above 197 out of 200 should target CEG or PSG Tech for CSE. Students scoring 190 to 196 can target GCT Coimbatore or top aided colleges in less competitive branches.
Ques. Will the TNEA 2026 cutoff be higher or lower than 2025?
Ans. Five years of data show closing marks at top colleges rising by 0 to 0.5 marks each year. Expect 2026 figures to stay within 0.5 marks of 2025 at CEG, PSG Tech, and GCT. Mid-tier and lower-ranked college closing marks may vary more based on local seat availability and branch demand.
TNEA Cutoff: Round-Wise Counselling
TNEA runs three counselling rounds. Closing marks change with each round. Round 1 sees the highest closing marks. They ease in later rounds as seats remain unfilled after each allotment.
| Round | Expected Timeline (2026) | Closing Mark Pattern | Who Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 2nd week of July 2026 | Highest closing marks of all three rounds | Students with top ranks who secure their preferred college and branch |
| Round 2 | August 2026 | Closing marks ease by 1 – 5 marks vs Round 1 | Students who missed Round 1 target or want to upgrade their allotment |
| Round 3 / Spot Round | September 2026 | Lowest closing marks; only vacant seats remain | Students with lower ranks; last chance for remaining seats |
If you miss your target in Round 1, do not cancel your allotment. Keep your Round 1 seat and join Round 2 with an upgraded preference list. You only lose that seat if Round 2 gives you a better one.
How is TNEA Cutoff Calculated?
TNEA does not hold an entrance exam. Your cutoff mark comes from your Class 12 HSC board result. The formula gives the most weight to Maths.
Cutoff = Maths marks + (Physics marks ÷ 2) + (Chemistry marks ÷ 2)
The maximum cutoff mark is 200. Maths contributes up to 100 marks. Physics and Chemistry each contribute up to 50 marks.
| Subject | Maximum Marks (HSC) | Weightage in TNEA | Maximum Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 100 | Full marks (÷ 1) | 100 |
| Physics | 100 | Half marks (÷ 2) | 50 |
| Chemistry | 100 | Half marks (÷ 2) | 50 |
| Total | – | – | 200 |
Example: Maths 98, Physics 95, Chemistry 93. Your cutoff = 98 + 47.5 + 46.5 = 192 out of 200.
Vocational stream students use a different subject combination. Anna University publishes a separate rank list and cutoff for vocational students at tneaonline.org each year.
TNEA Marks vs Rank 2026
Your TNEA rank is assigned based on your cutoff marks out of 200. A higher mark gives you a better (lower-number) rank. The table below shows the expected marks-to-rank range for 2026, based on 2025 rank list patterns.
| Cutoff Marks (out of 200) | Expected Rank Range | Likely College Access (OC) |
|---|---|---|
| 199 – 200 | 1 – 500 | CEG, MIT Anna University — CSE / ECE top branches |
| 197 – 199 | 501 – 2,000 | PSG Tech, GCT Coimbatore (CSE); top government colleges |
| 195 – 197 | 2,001 – 5,000 | CIT Coimbatore; top aided colleges (CSE / IT) |
| 192 – 195 | 5,001 – 12,000 | Reputed aided colleges (CSE / ECE) |
| 188 – 192 | 12,001 – 25,000 | Good private colleges (CSE); top colleges (ECE / Mech) |
| 183 – 188 | 25,001 – 45,000 | Mid-tier private colleges (CSE / ECE) |
| 175 – 183 | 45,001 – 75,000 | Private colleges (ECE, Mechanical, Civil) |
| 165 – 175 | 75,001 – 1,10,000 | Private colleges (lower-demand branches) |
| Below 165 | Above 1,10,000 | Self-finance seats at lower-ranked colleges |
These ranges are approximate. Your exact rank depends on total registrations and score distribution in 2026. When two students share the same cutoff mark, TNEA assigns a random number to break the tie. The student with the lower number gets a better rank.
How to Check TNEA Cutoff 2026
You can check previous-year closing marks by college, branch, and category at the official cutoff portal. The 2026 Round 1 closing marks will appear there after Round 1 allotment in July 2026.
- Go to cutoff.tneaonline.org.
- Select the year you want to check (2025 for the latest available data).
- Choose your district or college name from the dropdown.
- Select your branch and category.
- The portal shows opening and closing marks for that combination.
To find your 2026 rank, visit tneaonline.org and click "Rank Details". Choose your category and download the PDF to see your rank and cutoff mark.
FAQs on TNEA Cutoff 2026
Ques. What is the minimum cutoff to join TNEA 2026 counselling?
Ans. There is no fixed minimum to join counselling. Any student who registered and appears in the TNEA 2026 rank list can take part in choice filling. The closing mark that matters is the one for the specific college and branch you choose.
Ques. What is a good score to target in TNEA 2026?
Ans. A score above 195 puts you in a strong position for top government colleges in CSE. Marks in the 188 to 194 range give access to good aided and reputed private colleges for CSE and ECE. For Civil or Chemical branches, marks above 175 are enough for decent government colleges.
Ques. How does the TNEA random number work?
Ans. When two students have the same cutoff marks, TNEA assigns a system-generated random number to each. The student with the lower number gets a better rank. This number cannot be changed or appealed. It only applies when two students have identical marks.
Ques. What is the difference between opening mark and closing mark in TNEA?
Ans. The opening mark is the highest mark at which any seat was filled in a round. It belongs to the top-ranked student who chose that college and branch. The closing mark is the lowest mark at which any seat went. You need to score at or above the closing mark to secure a seat there.
Ques. Is the closing mark the same for all colleges in Tamil Nadu?
Ans. No. Every college and branch has its own closing mark in each category. CEG Guindy CSE (OC) closes above 199. A private college in a smaller district may close CSE at 186 or lower. Check each college separately at cutoff.tneaonline.org.
Ques. What happens in Round 2 if I already have a Round 1 allotment?
Ans. In Round 2, you can submit a fresh or revised preference list. If you get a better seat, your Round 1 allotment is cancelled. If Round 2 gives you nothing better, your Round 1 seat stays active. Never cancel your Round 1 seat before confirming a better Round 2 allotment.
Ques. Do vocational stream students have a separate cutoff in TNEA 2026?
Ans. Yes. Students from the Tamil Nadu vocational stream have a separate rank list. Marks are still calculated out of 200, using their vocational subject combination. Anna University publishes a separate vocational closing-mark PDF each year at tneaonline.org.
Ques. When will the TNEA 2026 Round 1 closing marks be published?
Ans. Round 1 closing marks will appear at cutoff.tneaonline.org after Round 1 seat allotment. That allotment is expected in the second half of July 2026. Until then, use 2025 closing marks as your planning reference.
Ques. How many counselling rounds does TNEA 2026 have?
Ans. TNEA 2026 is expected to have three rounds — Round 1, Round 2, and a Spot Round (Round 3). These run from July to September 2026. The number of rounds may change based on seat availability after each allotment.
Ques. Can students from other state boards join TNEA 2026?
Ans. TNEA is primarily for students who studied Class 10 and Class 12 under the Tamil Nadu State Board. Students from CBSE or ICSE may be eligible under conditions set by Anna University. Check the official eligibility rules at tneaonline.org for your board’s specifics.
Ques. Does a higher Maths score help more than Physics or Chemistry in TNEA?
Ans. Yes. Maths contributes the full mark — 1 mark in Maths equals 1 mark toward your cutoff out of 200. Physics and Chemistry are halved — 1 mark in Physics equals 0.5 marks in your cutoff. Scoring 100 in Maths gives you 100 of the 200 marks. Scoring 100 each in Physics and Chemistry gives only 100 marks combined.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
Comments
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With a TNEA cutoff of 151 under the Ex-Servicemen quota, you may get chances in colleges like Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Easwari Engineering College, National Engineering College, and Thanthai Periyar Government Institute of Technology depending on branch and category trends. Ex-Servicemen quota has 150 reserved seats in TNEA counselling.
TNEA 2023 Cut off will be published category-wise in the form of opening and closing marks. To know about TNEA Cutoff marks 2023 check out TNEA Cutoff 2023
The TNEA 2022 Counseling process for general students will be conducted from August 25 to October 21, 2022. Paavai College of Engineering releases the TNEA cut-off for the respective subjects and categories of students. You can check the cut-off from Paavai College of Engineering Cut-off.
Some of the top TNEA participating colleges that offer Artificial Intelligence and Data Science courses are Chennai Insititute of Technology, Kumarguru College of Technology, SRM Esawari Engineering College, RMK Engineering College, Velammal Engineering College, etc.
There are several colleges that accept TNEA scores for admission to B.Tech Information Technology courses and you can check the list of these colleges from Top B.Tech IT Colleges Accepting TNEA. The cut-off varies from one college to another.