KCET 2026 expected cutoff ranks

KEA will publish the KCET 2026 expected cutoff ranks in the first week of August 2026 on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in, immediately after counseling rounds conclude. Students should check the KEA portal for official round-wise closing ranks as soon as counseling begins.

KCET 2026 expected cutoff ranks: key college snapshots

RV College of Engineering (RVCE) remains the toughest to enter. In 2025 RVCE's CSE final closing rank was 499 (round 1 closed at 234 ), and AI/ML closed at 742 in the final round after a 429 round-1 cutoff.

BMS College of Engineering (BMSCE) typically fills core CSE and AI/Data Science seats in a wider range. In 2025 BMSCE's CSE final closing rank was 3,870 and AI & Data Science closed at 4,646 , with round-1 figures notably lower than final rounds.

PES University (Ring Road campus) also stays competitive for CSE. PES RR's CSE final closing rank in 2025 was 1,654 after a round-1 close at 934 . The Electronic City campus generally posts cutoffs roughly twice those at Ring Road for the same branches.

Where KEA will publish KCET 2026 expected cutoff ranks and how students see them

KEA posts official cutoffs and round-wise closing ranks on its counseling portal (cetonline.karnataka.gov.in) after each counseling round. The site carries merit lists and final closing ranks; students must use their KCET credentials to view personalized allotment details.

Reserved-category candidates can expect significant rank relaxations. In previous cycles cutoffs for OBC/SC/ST and other reserved seats extended across a wide band — often into the 10,000–50,000+ range depending on branch and college.

What last year’s numbers mean for 2026 contenders

Historic closing ranks show where pressure will be highest. RVCE CSE remains a sub-500 target for general merit. BMSCE and PES open opportunities for students in the low thousands. Branches such as ECE and newer specialisations like AI/Data Science tightened their ranges in 2024–25, with AI/ML often closing earlier than many core ECE or EEE seats.

Student discussion on public forums in May 2026 reflected expectations that cutoffs could tighten again this year; a Reddit thread from May 2026 had many users saying they expect closing ranks to move lower (i.e., better ranks required).

Official confirmation will come with KEA’s round-wise lists on cetonline.karnataka.gov.in in the first week of August 2026 . Candidates should rely on those published closing ranks to plan counseling choices and backup options.