Top Engineering Colleges Admission Through JEE Main 2026

Overview Institutes Accepting JEE Main Scores Top 10 NITs by NIRF Ranking Top IIITs Worth Considering JoSAA Counselling Process for NITs and IIITs Home State vs Other State Quota in NITs Fees Comparison Tips for JoSAA Choice Filling Sources and Verification FAQs

Overview

JEE Main is not just the gateway to IITs; it also opens doors to 31 NITs, 26 IIITs, and 33 GFTIs through centralised JoSAA and CSAB counselling. With over 60,000 seats available, these institutes offer excellent education at affordable fees.

If seats remain vacant after JoSAA rounds, CSAB conducts special rounds for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.

NITs reserve 50% of seats for the home state and 50% for other states. This means the cut-off for home state is generally higher than for other state quota. Strategically, if your NIT is in your home state, you have access to both quotas.

Institutes Accepting JEE Main Scores

Category	Number of Institutes	Approx Total Seats
NITs	31	23,000+
IIITs	26	7,000+
GFTIs	33	8,000+
IITs (via JEE Advanced)	23	17,000+

Top 10 NITs by NIRF Ranking

Rank	Institute	Location	CSE Closing Rank (Gen)
1	NIT Trichy	Tamil Nadu	4,500-5,500
2	NIT Surathkal	Karnataka	5,000-6,000
3	NIT Warangal	Telangana	5,500-7,000
4	NIT Calicut	Kerala	8,000-10,000
5	MNIT Jaipur	Rajasthan	8,500-11,000
6	NIT Rourkela	Odisha	9,000-12,000
7	MNNIT Allahabad	Uttar Pradesh	9,500-12,500
8	VNIT Nagpur	Maharashtra	10,000-13,000
9	NIT Durgapur	West Bengal	12,000-15,000
10	NIT Silchar	Assam	14,000-18,000

Top IIITs Worth Considering

IIIT Hyderabad: Separate entrance (UGEE), one of the best for CS in India
IIIT Allahabad: CSE closing rank around 6,000-8,000 (JEE Main)
IIIT Delhi: State-level admission plus JAC Delhi counselling
IIIT Bangalore: Separate entrance; strong placement record
ABV-IIITM Gwalior: Closing rank around 12,000-16,000

JoSAA Counselling Process for NITs and IIITs

If seats remain vacant after JoSAA rounds, CSAB conducts special rounds for NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs.

Registration: Register on the JoSAA portal after JEE Main results
Choice Filling: Fill up to 100+ choices of institute-programme combinations
Document Upload: Upload required certificates and category proofs
Seat Allotment: Multiple rounds of allotment based on JEE Main rank and preferences
Reporting: Accept seat online and report to allotted institute with original documents

Home State vs Other State Quota in NITs

Fees Comparison

Institute Type	Annual Tuition (Approx)	Total 4-Year Cost
NITs	INR 1.5 - 2.5 lakh	INR 6 - 10 lakh
IIITs (Government)	INR 1 - 2 lakh	INR 4 - 8 lakh
IIITs (PPP Model)	INR 2.5 - 4 lakh	INR 10 - 16 lakh
GFTIs	INR 1 - 2 lakh	INR 4 - 8 lakh

Tips for JoSAA Choice Filling

Prioritise branch over college if you are keen on a specific field like CS or AI
Fill all possible choices, even if you think you will not get them
Use the Float option if you are satisfied with your allotment but open to upgrades
Research placement data, location, and campus facilities before finalising

Sources and Verification

Information last reviewed on 24 Jun 2026.

Fees, cutoffs, admission steps, placements, and programme details can change. Always cross-check the latest institutional or authority notice before acting.

FAQs

For General category Other State quota, you typically need a rank under 5,500. Home State closing rank is generally around 2,000-3,000.

Yes. With a rank around 50,000, you can secure admission in several NITs in branches like Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, and Electrical Engineering.

CSAB conducts special rounds after JoSAA for vacant seats in NITs, IIITs, and GFTIs. It is a separate registration and choice filling process.