CLAT 2027 cutoff ranks and scores released: what changes for NLU admissions

The Consortium of NLUs today, 30 October 2026, released the CLAT 2027 cutoff ranks and scores, which will determine admissions to National Law Universities (NLUs) for the upcoming academic year. These cutoffs represent the minimum rank or score required for admission into specific NLU programs, including the 5-Year Integrated BA LLB (UG) and 1-Year LLM (PG) courses.

The CLAT cutoff is a decisive factor for NLU admission, with thousands of aspirants competing annually. Understanding these cutoff trends is crucial for candidates to set realistic college expectations, fill NLU preference lists smartly, and strategize effectively for the multi-round counselling process.

Factors Influencing CLAT 2027 Cutoffs

The CLAT 2027 cutoff is influenced by several factors, including the difficulty level of the examination, the total number of applicants, the available seat matrix across the 24 participating NLUs, the reservation system, and candidate preference trends. Rank plays a more important role than marks in NLU allocation, as the cutoff is primarily rank-based.

Historically, top NLUs such as NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, and NUJS Kolkata maintain high cutoffs. Small score differences can significantly impact NLU allocation. Some NLUs also provide domicile advantages, leading to lower cutoff ranks under state domicile quotas. NLU Delhi is not part of the CLAT process, as it conducts its own AILET examination.

Expected Cutoff Trends for UG and PG Programs

For the 5-Year Integrated BA LLB (UG) program, the CLAT general category cutoff 2027 is expected to range between 85–100+ marks. Reserved categories, including SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD, will likely have lower cutoffs. The CLAT PG 2027 cut off ranks for the top five NLUs are anticipated to remain below 500, with expected marks between 70–85 for top NLUs, assuming a moderate exam difficulty. Mid-tier universities for CLAT PG may see closing ranks between 700–1000.

The Consortium of NLUs releases cutoffs during counselling rounds, which typically occur in multiple stages, usually five. As counselling rounds progress, closing ranks generally increase, indicating some flexibility in admissions as seats become available or candidates upgrade their preferences. The following tables provide an overview of expected cutoffs and a detailed breakdown for the general category.

Previous Year Trends and NLU Preferences

Analysis of previous years’ data, such as CLAT PG 2025 and 2024, shows consistent trends in top NLU preferences and rank movements across rounds and categories. For instance, NLSIU Bengaluru and NALSAR Hyderabad remained the top two choices, with ranks under 150 for the General category in CLAT PG 2025 Round 1. The Round 2 CLAT PG cut off for 2025 saw rank relaxation across all categories, with many aspirants upgrading to higher NLUs, leading to a drop of 100–200 ranks in most institutions. Top five NLUs still closed under 700 ranks in Round 2 of CLAT PG 2025.

The CLAT PG 2024 cut off data included opening and closing ranks for General, EWS, OBC, SC, and ST categories, revealing the competitive nature of LL.M. admissions across NLUs. The following tables provide a snapshot of general category closing ranks for UG programs in 2024 and expected PG cutoffs for 2026, along with detailed round-wise and category-wise cutoffs from CLAT PG 2025.

Further reading

• CLAT 2027 expected cutoffs projected by experts today: check NLU ranks and marks
• CLAT 2025 round 1 cut-offs released: NLSIU Bengaluru general category closes at rank 100
• Common Law Admission Test counselling: rounds, dates and seat allotment Next step
• AILET 2027 registration closes November 10 for NLU Delhi UG, PG law programmes
• NTA revised exam calendar 2026-27 out: check new JEE Main, UGC NET, CUET PG dates
• Pune Law: Apply for direct admission to LLB courses now Applications open

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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