KCET 2026 Marks vs Rank CSE: RVCE, BMSCE, MSRIT expected cutoffs
KCET 2026 rank is based on a 50:50 composite of KCET PCM (out of 180 ) and 2nd PUC PCM (out of 300 ), so board marks can move your rank by large margins. The exam was held on April 23–24, 2026 , and KEA will publish round-wise cutoffs after counselling on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in, with expected public release in August–September 2026 .
KCET 2026 Marks vs Rank CSE — Key numbers
Candidates aiming for RVCE, BMSCE or MSRIT should target a General Merit (GM) rank between 350 and 2,200 to stay competitive for CSE. To hit that GM band, KCET marks typically range from 148 to 165+ out of 180 depending on your 2nd PUC PCM score.
KCET marks-to-rank bands for General Merit (approximate):
- 175–180 → rank 1–10
- 170–175 → rank 10–100
- 163–170 → rank 100–350
- 155–162 → rank 350–950
- 148–155 → rank 950–2,500
- 140–148 → rank 2,500–5,500
Board marks matter: a strong 2nd PUC score (90%+) can shift you 1,000–2,500 places in the competitive 130–160 marks band.
KCET 2026 Marks vs Rank CSE — College cutoffs and trends
Expected General Merit closing ranges for CSE in 2026 (based on 2023–2025 trends and increased participation):
- RVCE, Bengaluru (CSE) : 350–600 GM; RVCE needs very high scores — competitive KCET marks approx 163+ . RVCE general quota is around 120 seats, so demand exceeds supply.
- MSRIT, Bengaluru (CSE) : 900–2,200 GM; competitive zone from 148+ KCET marks with solid board scores.
- BMSCE, Bengaluru (CSE) : 1,000–3,500 GM; scores of 150–160 often work with strong PUC marks.
CSE (AI & ML) tracks stricter cutoffs — typically 200–500 ranks tighter than core CSE at these colleges. KEA releases cutoffs round-wise (Mock, Round 1, Round 2, Extended), so final closing ranks can relax compared with Round 1.
For reference, final round GM closings in 2025 were: RVCE 949 , MSRIT 2,076 , BMSCE 3,870 . Cutoffs for 2026 are expected to tighten by roughly 10–15% due to higher participation.
KEA is the authority for official merit lists and cutoffs; check cetonline.karnataka.gov.in when counselling begins. This analysis helps you set realistic score targets and understand how much your 2nd PUC PCM marks will affect final rank calculations.