JEE Main 2026: What rank do you need for CSE in IITs, NITs and IIITs?

Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) continues to be the most sought-after engineering discipline in India. With rapid growth in software development, artificial intelligence, data science and digital technologies, CSE is widely seen as a gateway to global career opportunities.

Each year, around 1.2–1.3 million students appear for JEE Main. Of these, roughly 2.5 lakh qualify for JEE Advanced, and only about 40,000 candidates finally secure admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs and other centrally funded technical institutions. Since the number of CSE seats is limited within this already competitive pool, the required ranks are extremely high.

Below is a realistic rank-wise picture based on recent admission trends. Actual cut-offs may vary slightly each year due to exam difficulty, seat matrix and reservation policies.

CSE Rank Requirements: IITs (JEE Advanced)

Institute Category	Approximate Closing Rank (CSE)	Remarks
IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi	100 – 300	Among the most competitive CSE programmes in India
IIT Madras, IIT Kanpur, IIT Kharagpur	300 – 800	Top-tier IITs with strong global reputation
IIT Roorkee, IIT Guwahati	1,200 – 1,500	High demand, slightly wider rank window
Newer IITs	2,000 – 5,000	Nearly 75% of IIT CSE seats lie beyond top 1,000 ranks

Total IIT CSE seats: ~3,000–3,500
Total IIT undergraduate seats: ~16,000–17,000

CSE Rank Requirements: NITs (JEE Main AIR)

NIT Category	Approximate Closing Rank (CSE)	Remarks
Top NITs (Trichy, Surathkal, Warangal)	1,000 – 3,000	Top 0.25% of JEE Main candidates
Mid-tier NITs (Calicut, Rourkela, Allahabad)	4,000 – 8,000	Strong academics and placements
Lower-ranked / Newer NITs	15,000 – 25,000	Home-state quota may extend ranks

Total NITs: 31
Total undergraduate intake: ~23,000
CSE & related seats: ~9,000–10,000

CSE Rank Requirements: IIITs (JEE Main AIR)

IIIT Category	Approximate Closing Rank (CSE)	Remarks
IIIT Hyderabad	1,000 – 2,000	Highly selective, strong research focus
IIIT Allahabad, Gwalior, Jabalpur	8,000 – 12,000	Well-established IIITs
Newer / PPP-model IIITs	15,000 – 30,000	Good exposure for motivated students

Total IIIT CSE seats: ~6,000–7,000

Why ranks vary every year

CSE closing ranks can shift due to several factors:

Difficulty level of JEE Main and Advanced
Number of available seats
Category reservations
Home-state quotas
Gender-neutral and female-only seats

In some cases, these factors can cause rank variations of 5,000–10,000 places across institutes.

Rank matters—but skills matter more

While ranks determine college entry, they do not define long-term success in computer science. Students entering CSE at ranks 5,000, 15,000 or even 25,000 can still build strong careers by focusing on:

Regular coding practice
Strong problem-solving skills
Projects and internships
Continuous learning and adaptability

In the technology industry, skills outweigh labels. A rank opens the door, but consistent effort determines how far a student goes.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

For top IITs like Bombay and Delhi, CSE usually requires a JEE Advanced rank within the top 300. In older IITs, ranks up to 800–1500 may still secure a CSE seat.

For top NITs such as Trichy, Surathkal and Warangal, CSE typically closes between AIR 1,000 and 3,000. Other NITs may offer CSE at ranks ranging from 4,000 to 25,000, depending on category and quota.

Yes. While IIIT Hyderabad usually requires a top 1,000–2,000 rank, many IIITs offer CSE seats up to ranks of 15,000–30,000.

Yes. CSE cut-offs vary each year based on exam difficulty, number of candidates, seat availability, reservation policies, and home-state quotas.

Absolutely. A rank helps with admission, but success in CSE depends on skills, projects, internships, and continuous learning — not just the institute name.