Top 10 CLAT Colleges in India: Govt, Private, 2026 Cutoff & More
Securing admission to one of the top 10 CLAT colleges in India is a dream for aspiring law students, offering unparalleled academic excellence and career opportunities. Top 10 CLAT colleges in India include NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR University of Law Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, Gujarat National Law University Gandhinagar and others. Top private CLAT colleges in India include Nirma University Ahmedabad, UPES School of Law Dehradun, GITAM School of Law Visakhapatnam and others.
Three types of colleges accept CLAT 2026 scores: National Law Universities (NLUs) except NLU New Delhi, CLAT-affiliated colleges, and private law universities. This guide provides comprehensive rankings, expected cutoffs, and detailed lists of colleges accepting CLAT 2026 scores, including private options and NLU specifics.
Top 10 CLAT Colleges in India for 2026 Admissions
For students aiming for CLAT 2026 admissions, understanding the top institutions is crucial. This section highlights the top 10 CLAT colleges in India based on NIRF 2025 rankings, along with details on participating National Law Universities and their seat intake.
| Rank | Institution / College | City | NIRF 2025 Rank* |
| 1 | National Law School of India University | Bengaluru | 1 |
| 2 | NALSAR University of Law | Hyderabad | 3 |
| 3 | The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences | Kolkata | 4 |
| 4 | National Law University | Jodhpur | Top CLAT NLU |
| 5 | Gujarat National Law University | Gandhinagar | 5 |
| 6 | National Law Institute University | Bhopal | 27 |
| 7 | Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai | Mumbai | Top CLAT NLU |
| 8 | Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University | Lucknow | 21 |
| 9 | Hidayatullah National Law University | Raipur | Top CLAT NLU |
| 10 | Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law | Patiala | Top CLAT NLU |
Seat-wise Share of CLAT Participating Law Colleges in India
Around 26 National Law Universities participate in CLAT 2026, collectively offering 3163 UG seats and 1378 PG seats, as detailed in the table above.
| Name of the CLAT Participating Colleges (2026) | UG Seat Intake | PG Seat Intake |
| National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru | 300 | 120 |
| National Academy of Legal Study & Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad | 132 | 66 |
| National Law Institute University (NLIU), Bhopal | BA LLB 134, BSc LLB 68 | 60 |
| The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata | BA LLB 108, BSc LLB 50 | 100 |
| National Law University (NLUJ), Jodhpur | 120 | 50 |
| Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU), Raipur | 170 | 90 |
| Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar | 172 | 57 |
| Dr Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University (RMLNLU), Lucknow | 169 | 48 |
| Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala | 180 | 60 |
| National University of Advanced Legal Studies (NUALS), Kochi | 60 | 60 |
| National Law University Odisha (NLUO), Cuttack | BA LLB 120, BBA LLB 60 | 44 |
| National University of Study & Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi | 134 | 60 |
| National Law University & Judicial Academy (NLUJA), Assam | 60 | 60 |
| Damodaram Sanjivayya National Law University (DSNLU), Visakhapatnam | 120 | 60 |
| The Tamil Nadu National Law University (TNNLU), Tiruchirapalli | BA LLB 60, BCom LLB 60 | 60 |
| Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Mumbai | 100 | 50 |
| Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur | BA LLB 120, BBA LLB 60 | 60 |
| Maharashtra National Law University, (MNLU) Aurangabad | BA LLB 60, BBA LLB 60 | 60 |
| Himachal Pradesh National Law University, (HPNLU), Shimla | BA LLB 60, BBA LLB 60 | 80 |
| Dharmashastra National Law University (DNLU), Jabalpur | 120 | 50 |
| Dr B R Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU), Sonipat, Haryana | 120 | – |
| National Law University Tripura (NLUT), Agartala | 60 | 50 |
| Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Silvasa | 66 | 33 |
| Dr. Rajendra Prasad National Law University Prayagraj | 60 | 10 |
| Total (not including supernumerary, NRI, extra, and FN seats) | 3163 | 1378 |
Complete List of National Law Universities (NLUs) Accepting CLAT 2026
A total of 26 National Law Universities (NLUs) are participating in CLAT 2026, offering numerous opportunities for aspiring law students. This section provides key statistics regarding the total undergraduate and postgraduate seats available across these institutions, including those often considered among the top 10 CLAT colleges in India.
| Metric | Value |
| Total Number of NLUs in India | 26 |
| Number of NLUs participating in CLAT | 25
NLU New Delhi conducts its own exam – AILET |
| Total UG seats offered by CLAT 2026 participating NLUs (excluding supernumerary, NRI, extra, and FN seats) | 3163 |
| Total PG seats offered by CLAT 2026 participating NLUs (excluding supernumerary, NRI, extra, and FN seats) | 1378 |
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Top 10 Private Law Colleges Accepting CLAT 2026 Scores
This section highlights some of the top private law colleges in India that accept CLAT scores, guiding aspirants towards excellent legal education opportunities.
| College Name | Location | Approx. Law Fees | Programs Through CLAT |
| Institute of Law, Nirma University | Ahmedabad | ₹12–15 lakh total (Integrated Law) | BA LLB (Hons.), B.Com LLB (Hons.) |
| UPES School of Law | Dehradun | ₹18–22 lakh total | BA LLB (Hons.), BBA LLB (Hons.), B.Com LLB (Hons.) |
| GITAM School of Law | Visakhapatnam | ₹8–12 lakh total | BA LLB (Hons.), BBA LLB (Hons.) |
| VIT School of Law | Chennai | ₹7–10 lakh total | BA LLB (Hons.), BBA LLB (Hons.) |
| ICFAI Law School | Hyderabad | ₹8–10 lakh total | BA LLB (Hons.), BBA LLB (Hons.) |
| Presidency University School of Law | Bangalore | ₹8–12 lakh total | BA LLB, BBA LLB |
| Jagdish Sheth School of Law | Bangalore | ₹10–15 lakh total | BA LLB, BBA LLB |
| Sushant University School of Law | Gurugram | ₹10–13 lakh total | BA LLB (Hons.), BBA LLB (Hons.) |
| Lloyd Law College | Greater Noida | ₹8–12 lakh total | BA LLB, BBA LLB |
| Indore Institute of Law | Indore | ₹7–10 lakh total | BA LLB (Hons.), BBA LLB (Hons.) |
CLAT vs AILET: Top Law Colleges Accepting Both Scores 2026
While both CLAT and AILET are national-level law entrance exams, they serve different sets of institutions. CLAT is accepted by 25 participating NLUs and several private law schools, whereas AILET is accepted exclusively by NLU Delhi.
| Feature | CLAT 2026 | AILET 2026 |
| Full Form | Common Law Admission Test | All India Law Entrance Test |
| Conducting Body | Consortium of National Law Universities | National Law University Delhi |
| Colleges Accepting Score | 25 NLUs + several private law colleges | Only National Law University Delhi |
| Number of Participating NLUs | 25 | 1 |
| Top Colleges Accepting the Score | National Law School of India University, NALSAR University of Law, The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, National Law University | National Law University Delhi |
| Private Law Colleges Accepting Score | Nirma University, UPES, ICFAI Law School, GITAM School of Law, Lloyd Law College, etc. | None officially |
| Undergraduate Seats (Approx.) | 3,800+ seats across participating NLUs | 123 BA LLB (Hons.) seats |
| Postgraduate Seats (Approx.) | 1,000+ LLM seats across NLUs | Around 81 LLM seats |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year | Once a year |
| Courses Offered Through Exam | 5-year Integrated LLB, LLM | BA LLB (Hons.), LLM, PhD |
| Competition Level | Very High due to admissions across 25 NLUs | Extremely High due to a single institution and limited seats |
| Score Validity | Accepted by participating NLUs and many private law colleges | Accepted only by NLU Delhi |
CLAT 2026 Expected Category-wise Ranks for Top Colleges
For CLAT 2026, understanding expected cutoffs is crucial for aspiring law students. The table below details the CLAT 2026 cut off ranks for various colleges:
Expected Ranks
| NLU | City | General Category | OBC Category | SC Category | ST Category |
| National Law School of India University | Bengaluru | AIR 1–120 | AIR 200–1,400 | AIR 200–3,200 | AIR 250–3,500 |
| NALSAR University of Law | Hyderabad | AIR 20–180 | AIR 300–1,300 | AIR 800–3,500 | AIR 1,200–3,800 |
| The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences | Kolkata | AIR 50–350 | State quota applicable | AIR 3,000–4,500 | AIR 4,500–7,000 |
| National Law Institute University | Bhopal | AIR 250–550 | AIR 1,000–2,000 | AIR 4,500–6,000 | AIR 5,500–9,000 |
| National Law University | Jodhpur | AIR 150–450 | AIR 600–1,800 | AIR 3,000–5,000 | AIR 3,000–6,000 |
| Hidayatullah National Law University | Raipur | AIR 450–850 | AIR 2,000–2,500 | AIR 6,000–8,000 | AIR 8,000–11,000 |
| Gujarat National Law University | Gandhinagar | AIR 150–500 | AIR 700–2,200 | AIR 1,000–6,000 | AIR 4,500–8,000 |
| Dr. Ram Manohar Lohiya National Law University | Lucknow | AIR 450–850 | UP domicile reservation applies | UP domicile reservation applies | UP domicile reservation applies |
| Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law | Patiala | AIR 100–1,300 | Not separately reported | AIR 2,000–8,500 | AIR 7,000–12,000 |
| National University of Advanced Legal Studies | Kochi | AIR 350–1,300 | Not separately reported | Kerala domicile reservation applies | Kerala domicile reservation applies |
Expected Marks
| Category | Expected CLAT 2026 Score Range |
| General | 90–100+ |
| OBC | 80–90 |
| SC | 70–80 |
| ST | 65–75 |
What is the Minimum CLAT Score Required for Admission into Top Law College?
Based on recent counselling trends and the expected CLAT 2026 rank ranges, candidates targeting the top NLUs should aim for a score that aligns with the admission thresholds of their preferred category and institution.
- 95–100+ marks: Ideal for securing a rank within the top 200 and maximizing admission chances at premier NLUs such as NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, and GNLU Gandhinagar.
- 90–95 marks: Generally sufficient for admission to most Tier-1 NLUs, including NLU Jodhpur, NLIU Bhopal, and several other top-ranked law schools.
- 85–90 marks: Competitive for upper-mid-tier NLUs such as HNLU Raipur, RMLNLU Lucknow, NUALS Kochi, and RGNUL Patiala.
- 80–90 marks (OBC Category): Can be sufficient for admission to several top and mid-tier NLUs, depending on counselling trends and seat availability.
- 70–80 marks (SC Category): Often places candidates within a competitive range for admission to many NLUs through reserved-category seats.
- 65–75 marks (ST Category): May provide admission opportunities across multiple NLUs under the ST reservation category.
- Top 5 NLU Target: Candidates aspiring for NLSIU, NALSAR, WBNUJS, GNLU, or NLU Jodhpur should ideally aim for 90+ marks and a rank within the top 500.
- Safe Score for Most NLUs: A score of 85+ marks generally keeps candidates competitive for a wide range of NLUs across counselling rounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a CLAT college considered among the top 10 in India?
Top CLAT colleges, like NLSIU Bangalore, are recognized for high rankings (e.g., HNLU 5th in India Today 2022) and excellent placement opportunities with firms such as Trilegal.
What are the minimum CLAT scores required for admission to these top 10 colleges?
For CLAT 2026, a score of 95 to 100+ is considered good for admission to top NLUs. This score is generally required to participate in the counselling process.
How can I improve my chances of getting into a top 10 CLAT college?
Ace CLAT by targeting high scores. Research past cut-offs (2026, 2025) and strategically list dream NLUs like NUJS, NLUJ, prioritizing them for Round 1.
How do the top 10 CLAT colleges differ in specializations and campus culture?
Top CLAT colleges differ; IIT Kgp’s Rajiv Gandhi School specializes in IPR, while the NLU in Lucknow (NIRF 2023 rank 21) fosters a strong UPSC/Judiciary exam culture alongside corporate placements.
What career opportunities are available after graduating from a top 10 CLAT college?
Graduates from top CLAT colleges have ample career options. Becoming a judge via State Level Judiciary Exams is considered a finest profession, alongside other fascinating job opportunities.
When do applications open for the top 10 CLAT colleges each year?
Applications for the top CLAT colleges typically open in July or August each year, with registration for CLAT 2026 closing by November 7.
