JEE Main 2026: Best Colleges & Branch Options at 98–97 Percentile

98-97 Percentile: Colleges & Branches Between (29537 – 30554)

This table shows that students falling in the closing rank range around 29,537 to 30,554 can enter NITs and several IIITs. Maulana Azad NIT Bhopal, with an NIRF rank of 81, is offering admission in core engineering programs like Mechanical Engineering, specifically through the Outside Home State quota rank 29613. While various IIITs within this rank range are offering seats in CSE Cyber Security, AI, Computer Science Engineering, Data Science and Analytics, ECE, AI, and Data Engineering.

98-97 Percentile: Colleges & Branches Between (30607 – 31476)

This table highlights that students within the rank range of 30,607 to 31,476, corresponding to 98–97 percentile, can get admission opportunities in both NITs and GFTIs. Within this closing rank range, GFTIs such as JNU Delhi offer engineering programs in Computer Science, while Dr. Shyama Prasad Mukherjee IIIT, Naya Raipur, offers ECE.

Students can also access branches such as CSE, Electrical Engineering, Integrated Electrical Engineering with specialization, and ECE in several NITs through the Outside Home State (OHS) quota.

98-97 Percentile: Colleges & Branches Between (31569 – 32780)

Within the closing range between 31,569 and 32,780 rank, candidates can secure seats in diverse branches across IIITs, NITs, and GFTIs. In this rank band, IIITs offer admission opportunities in Computer Science Engineering along with specialised programs.

GFTIs such as Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh offer Aerospace Engineering within this percentile range. Meanwhile, NITs provide options in Mechanical Engineering and integrated programs like Computational Mathematics, particularly through the Outside Home State (OHS) quota.

98-97 Percentile: Colleges & Branches Between (32890 – 33596)

The doors of many IIITs and NITs are open for aspirants securing ranks between 32,890 and 33,596 within the 98–97 percentile range. Within this rank bracket, NITs offer admission opportunities in branches such as Mechanical Engineering, CSE, and IT, primarily through the Outside Home State (OHS) quota. Meanwhile, aspirants can also secure seats in ECE and CSE at various IIITs.

98-97 Percentile: Colleges & Branches Between (33738 – 34130)

Aspirants with ranks between 33,738 and 34,130 can secure admission to core as well as specialised engineering programs across various IIITs, NITs, and GFTIs. Within this rank bracket, the CSE program is available at GFTIs such as IIIT Bhubaneswar. Meanwhile, specialised programs like CSE (Human Computer Interaction and Gaming Technology) at IIIT Nagpur and Mathematics and Computing at IIIT Bhopal are also available.

In this rank range, students can also gain admission to Electrical and Electronics Engineering at several NITs through the Outside Home State quota.

98-97 Percentile: Colleges & Branches Between (34448 – 35580)

Candidates scoring in the range between 34,448 and 35,580 are eligible to pursue core engineering courses and specialised courses in a variety of IIITs, NITs, and GFTIs. Within this rank segment, CSE with specialisations such as Data Science and Cyber Security is available at IIIT Una.

Meanwhile, NITs offer core engineering opportunities primarily through the Outside Home State (OHS) quota. GFTIs such as Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra are also accessible for Electrical and Electronics Engineering within this rank band.

98-97 Percentile: Colleges & Branches Between (35838 – 36589)

This table lists the branch opportunities across IIITs, NITs, and GFTIs within the closing rank range of 35,838 to 36,589. Within the 98–97 percentile, students can secure admission to both core and specialised CSE streams at several IIITs. GFTIs like the University of Hyderabad are accessible for admission in CSE dual-degree programs. NIT Hamirpur and NIT Agartala are providing opportunities for Mechanical Engineering and Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering, respectively.

98-97 Percentile: Colleges & Branches Between (36760 – 38063)

This table indicates the admission probability for various branches and colleges within the closing rank range of 36,760 to 38,063. Several IIITs and NITs offer options within this rank band. Students in this range are eligible for admission to CSE, AI, and Data Science, along with other CSE-related specialisations across many IIITs.

Additionally, NITs such as NIT Mizoram provide CSE opportunities through the Outside Home State quota within this rank range.

98-97 Percentile: Colleges & Branches Between (38708 – 41121)

Students with a rank range between 38,708 and 41,121 can still get admission in Computer Science Engineering and its specialisation streams in many IIITs. The opportunity of dual-programs like Mechanical Engineering with AI and Robotics is also available in IIITs like IIIT Design and Manufacturing, Kancheepuram. Students can also get a CSE branch in NITs like NIT Nagaland, particularly through the Outside Home State quota, with a closing rank around 39594.

98-97 Percentile: Colleges & Branches Between (41188 – 44154)

Several IIIT options are still available for aspirants within the closing rank range of around 41,188 to 44,154. Within this 98–97 percentile rank band, candidates can access branches mainly related to emerging technologies and Computer Science Engineering. IIITs such as IIIT Design and Manufacturing, Kurnool, also offer the option of CSE dual-degree programs.

General category aspirants within 98–97 percentile range in JEE Main 2026 can have diverse choices in core engineering streams as well as emerging technology programs across IIITs, NITs, and GFTIs. Based on this JoSAA Counselling 2025 data, aspirants can get an idea of what to expect.