KCET Colleges Cutoff: Branch-Wise Ranks, Top Institutes & Counselling Process
KCET Colleges Cutoff: CSE in top colleges like RVCE and PES University closed within the top few thousand ranks in 2025, while ECE and ISE typically settled in the 2,000 to 20,000 range across various institutes — with 2026 figures awaited. The KCET colleges cutoff is the last rank at which a seat was allotted in a specific college and branch during the Karnataka Common Entrance Test counselling process. This year’s 2026 cutoff will be updated post-release, but 2025 data provides a strong baseline, indicating that core branches often extend beyond 50,000 ranks.
KCET 2026 Important Application & Exam Dates
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the schedule for the KCET 2026 examination and application process, with results anticipated in early June.
| Event | Date (2026) |
|---|---|
| Online Application Starts | January 17 |
| Last Date to Register | February 27 |
| Last Date to Pay Application Fee | March 3 |
| Admit Card Release | April 10 |
| Kannada Language Test | April 22 |
| KCET Exam Dates | April 23 & 24 |
| Answer Key Release | April 26 |
| Result Expected | First week of June (tentative) |
KCET 2025 Branch-wise Closing Ranks (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The following table provides an overview of typical closing ranks for various engineering branches in KCET 2025, reflecting the competition levels for different courses.
| Branch | Typical Closing Rank (General Merit) |
|---|---|
| Computer Science Engineering (CSE) | 500 – 5,000 |
| Artificial Intelligence (AI) / Machine Learning (ML) / Data Science | 1,000 – 8,000 |
| Information Science Engineering (ISE) | 6,000 – 35,000 |
| Electronics & Communication Engineering (ECE) | 8,000 – 50,000 |
| Electrical & Electronics Engineering (EEE) | 20,000 – 80,000 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 50,000 – 2,00,000+ |
| Civil Engineering | 50,000 – 2,00,000+ |
KCET 2025 Category-wise Cutoff Trends (Latest — 2026 awaited)
KCET cutoffs vary significantly based on the candidate’s reservation category, with reserved categories generally having more relaxed closing ranks compared to the General Merit category.
| Category | Indicative Closing Rank for Top Colleges (CSE) |
|---|---|
| General Merit (GM) | Under 1,000 |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | Approximately 3,000 |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | Up to 15,000+ |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | Up to 15,000+ |
KCET 2025 Counselling Schedule (Latest — 2026 awaited)
The KCET counselling process involves several stages, from document verification to seat allotment across multiple rounds, as outlined by the KEA for 2025 admissions.
| Event | Date (2025) |
|---|---|
| KCET Result Declaration | May 24 |
| Document Verification | June 27 to July 15 |
| Option Entry (Choice Filling) Begins | July 8 |
| Round 1 Option Entry Closes | July 15 |
| Mock Allotment Release | July 25 |
| Round 2 Option Entry Opens | September 11 |
| Round 2 Option Entry Closes | September 14 |
| Provisional Round 2 Seat Allotment | September 18 |
| Final Round 2 Allotment | September 21 |
| Round 3 Provisional Allotment | September 10 |
| Last Date to Report to College (Round 3) | September 13 |
FAQs
Q: What is considered a good KCET rank for admission to top colleges?
A: A KCET rank below 3,000 is generally considered very good for securing admission to high-demand branches like CSE in top-tier colleges such as RVCE, PES University, and BMSCE. Ranks up to 20,000 can still secure decent options in mid-tier colleges.
Q: How is the KCET cutoff determined each year?
A: The KCET cutoff is influenced by several factors, including the difficulty level of the exam, the total number of candidates who appeared, the number of seats available in various courses and colleges, and the preferences filled by candidates during counselling.
Q: Do non-Karnataka students have different KCET cutoffs or eligibility?
A: Yes, non-Karnataka students can apply for KCET, but government and reserved seats are limited for them. They typically compete under a separate category, and their admission criteria might differ from Karnataka domicile students.
Q: What is the difference between KCET qualifying cutoff and admission cutoff?
A: The KCET qualifying cutoff is the minimum percentage of marks required to be eligible for counselling (e.g., 50% for General, 40-45% for Reserved categories). The admission cutoff, on the other hand, is the actual closing rank needed to secure a seat in a specific course and college, which varies by institution, branch, category, and counselling round.
Q: Which engineering branches typically have the highest KCET cutoffs?
A: Computer Science Engineering (CSE), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Data Science specializations consistently have the highest KCET cutoffs due to high demand. These branches tend to fill quickly in top colleges across all counselling rounds.
Q: How do KCET cutoffs typically change across different counselling rounds?
A: KCET cutoffs generally become more relaxed in later counselling rounds (Round 2, Round 3, and special rounds). This is often due to withdrawals, upgrades, and vacant seats from previous rounds, offering more opportunities for candidates with higher ranks.
