JEE Main 2026: Which Rank Can Secure a CSE Seat in IIT, NIT or IIIT?

Why CSE Tops Everyone's List

Go to any coaching center. Talk to any engineering aspirant. You'll hear the same word repeated again and again: Computer Science.

This makes perfect sense. CSE means high salaries, global job opportunities, and work that truly shapes the future. AI, software development, data science – every popular field is connected to this branch.

That's why getting a CSE seat seems almost impossible.

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The IIT Reality Check

India has more than 25 IITs, which collectively offer approximately 16,000 to 17,000 undergraduate seats. But what about seats in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE)? There are only about 3,000 to 3,500 of them. Even top-performing students find it difficult to secure a place in these programs.

IIT Bombay and IIT Delhi are at the top of everyone's wish list. But there's a catch – their Computer Science Engineering (CSE) seats are offered only to students who secure a rank between 100 and 300 in JEE Advanced. This is less than 0.15% of all the qualified candidates.

IIT Madras, Kanpur, and Kharagpur are also not easy to get into. Their closing ranks are typically between 300 and 800. Even so, it's still very difficult.

Things get a little easier at IIT Roorkee and Guwahati. The closing ranks there are around 1,200 to 1,500.

What about the new IITs? Students with ranks between 2,000 and 5,000 can get CSE seats there. It's worth knowing that approximately 75% of all IIT CSE seats actually go to students whose ranks are outside the top 1,000. So don't think you need a top-500 rank.

NITs Offer More Room

Every year, approximately 23,000 students get admission to the 31 NITs (National Institutes of Technology) in India. Of these, about 9,000 to 10,000 seats are in Computer Science Engineering (CSE) and related fields. This is a significantly larger pool compared to the IITs (Indian Institutes of Technology).

However, the competition at the top NITs is very tough. For CSE (Computer Science and Engineering) at Trichy, Surathkal, and Warangal, you need an All India Rank (AIR) between 1,000 and 3,000 in JEE Main. You are still competing with the top 0.25% of students across the country.

In mid-tier NITs like Calicut, Rourkela, and Allahabad, the closing ranks are typically between 4,000 and 8,000.

These numbers increase further with the new NITs and home state quotas. The closing rank for CSE can go up to 15,000, 20,000, or even 25,000 depending on the institute and the year.

Don't Sleep on IIITs

Many students overlook IIITs. This is a mistake.

Over 25 IIITs across India offer around 6,000 to 7,000 CSE-related seats.

IIIT Hyderabad stands in a league of its own. It's famous for academic intensity and stellar placements. Getting in requires a JEE Main rank within the top 1,000 to 2,000.

IIITs at Allahabad, Gwalior, and Jabalpur have closing ranks around 8,000 to 12,000.

The new IIITs admit students with ranks between 15,000 and 30,000. Don't overlook them. If you are willing to work hard, they provide excellent technical training.

Why Cutoffs Jump Around

You will see significant fluctuations in closing ranks – even among similar institutions. There are several reasons for this.

You will observe considerable variation in closing ranks – even among comparable institutions. This is due to several factors.

Category reservations are very important. Gender-specific seats and home state quotas also play a significant role. These factors alone can shift the effective closing rank by 5,000 to 10,000 positions.

The difficulty of the exam also matters. A more difficult paper means a lower cutoff score for that year. The availability of seats also varies from year to year. All these factors contribute to the natural fluctuations.

What Really Counts

These numbers might seem overwhelming. But take a step back and look at the bigger picture.

Whether your rank is 5, 5,000, or 25,000 – this is just the beginning. Five years from now, the tech industry won't care where you went to school. What matters is whether you can solve problems, write clean code, build projects, and keep learning.

Students from lesser-known colleges land amazing jobs every year. They code regularly. They work on real-world projects. They actively seek out internships. They remain curious.

Your rank opens a door. But what happens after you walk through that door? That's entirely up to you.

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👉  JEE Main & Advanced Study Material