What After JEE Main?

What After JEE Main?

Team Careers360Updated on 21 Oct 2025, 02:58 PM IST

What After JEE Main?- The National Testing Agency will conduct the JEE Main 2026 exam for sessions 1 & 2 in online mode. After the exam, many aspirants naturally wonder, "What after JEE Mains?"—especially those concerned about low marks or curious about college and course options. Whether you’ve scored well or need alternatives, there are plenty of career paths and admission possibilities. From top engineering colleges to backup plans, Careers360 has compiled a detailed guide to help answer questions like “What to do after JEE Main 2026 exam?” and explore the best options ahead. The JEE Main 2026 session 1 will be held from January 21 to 30, 2026, and the session 2 exam will be conducted from April 1 to 10, 2026. The JEE Main 2026 registration is scheduled to start in October 2025. Check out the article to get an idea about "What after JEE Main 2026?
Also check- JEE Main rank predictor 2026 | JEE Main college predictor 2026

LiveJEE Main Admit Card 2026 LIVE: Exam hall ticket for BTech admission today? Marking scheme, test timingsJan 13, 2026 | 9:32 PM IST

The last three years’ closing ranks of all NITs for CSE courses are given below.

NIT JEE Mains cut-off

2025

2024

2023

Institute

Opening Rank

Closing Rank

Opening Rank

Closing Rank

Opening Rank

Closing Rank

NIT Tiruchirappalli

659

1449

299

1224

176

1509

NIT Karnataka, Surathkal

1191

1827

14

1615

966

1984

NIT Warangal

1521

2409

1043

2186

889

2413

NIT Rourkela

2442

3431

591

2940

2529

3786

Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology Allahabad

2730

4594

2417

4191

2758

4777

NIT Calicut

3651

5222

2614

4482

2483

5256

Malaviya National Institute of Technology Jaipur

3027

5601

1501

4711

2684

4909

Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur

4442

6359

4555

5795

4920

7087

NIT Kurukshetra

5180

7037

4472

6000

NIT Delhi

2363

7651

2438

8018

4278

9930

Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat

6343

8130

5587

7113

5052

7741

NIT Jamshedpur

6378

8902

4935

7944

3260

9204

Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology Bhopal

5942

9249

6217

8830

6409

9370

NIT Durgapur

6565

9836

5973

8765

6848

10070

Dr. B R Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar

7991

11262

6330

10957

9028

11017

NIT Hamirpur

9637

12586

8376

12236

9929

12426

NIT Silchar

8010

12665

5736

11930

8606

12818

NIT Raipur

8140

13559

10323

13177

10110

12773

NIT Goa

10279

13640

7914

12511

8584

12604

NIT Patna

10529

14996

9288

14442

8125

13964

Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology, Shibpur

13917

16765

6068

14635

8043

13711

NIT Andhra Pradesh

11739

18183

10309

18548

11839

17272

NIT Uttarakhand

16359

18491

14598

18039

14432

18447

NIT Puducherry

11429

19758

6318

18515

12546

17305

NIT Agartala

13104

22013

8121

20298

14010

20102

NIT Meghalaya

20712

24074

14656

20039

15911

19175

NIT Srinagar

15080

26171

12751

21839

12931

22814

NIT Sikkim

15389

26616

23245

28284

19566

24093

NIT Arunachal Pradesh

27500

30607

22046

28514

25273

29087

NIT Manipur

26617

33098

15616

30611

17658

29644

NIT Mizoram

35504

37751

31598

33181

28938

31336

NIT Nagaland

32717

39594

22429

31391

24324


JEE Main 2026: NIT Tiruchirappalli, Surathkal, Warangal retain highest BTech cut-offs among NITs

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What After JEE Main?
What After JEE Main

The result of a year-long preparation, in some cases more than 2 years of preparation says whether admission to the NITs, IIITs and GFTIs is possible; whether qualifying for JEE Advanced is in luck or not. The options may vary for students who have done well and students who may not have done well but the fact remains that there are good options. Take a look at the different possibilities that come as an answer to the question of what to do after JEE Mains. Candidates can use the JEE Main Rank Predictor to know the probable rank based on the JEE score. By knowing about the ranks, you will be informed about whether you have qualified IIT JEE Main or not. This will also help you in making decisions regarding applications for admission into engineering institutes.

JEE Advanced 2026

Candidates who qualify the JEE Main exam and are among the top 2,50,000 candidates can appear for the JEE Advanced. However, candidates need to fulfil the other eligibility criteria too. Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) conduct the JEE Advanced exam. Registration for JEE Advanced 2026 will commence online. The exam is conducted for two papers. JEE Advanced qualifying candidates will be offered admission to the IITs. The qualifying candidates need to participate in the JoSAA counselling. Other institutes which will consider JEE Advanced merit are the Indian Institutes of Science Education & Research (IISERs), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore and Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology (IIST), Thiruvananthapuram. Around 10,988 seats are available for admission in the participating IITs.

Amity University-Noida B.Tech Admissions 2026

Among top 100 Universities Globally in the Times Higher Education (THE) Interdisciplinary Science Rankings 2026

UPES B.Tech Admissions 2026

Ranked #43 among Engineering colleges in India by NIRF | Highest Package 1.3 CR , 100% Placements

JoSAA Counselling

If you missed the chance for JEE Advanced 2026, then do not despair. Based on your JEE Main 2026 performance, you will be eligible for admission into good engineering colleges. Through the JoSAA counselling, you will be allotted seats offered by NITs, IIITs and GFTIs. The counselling is conducted online. The allotment process will be conducted by Joint Seat Allocation Authority and admissions will be done based on JEE Main rank and choice of college or courses.

JEE Main Previous 10 Year Questions & Solutions
Ace JEE Main with our ultimate ebook featuring previous 10-year question papers (2016–2025), detailed solutions, and clear insights into the latest exam pattern.
Download EBook

Other Top Engineering Entrance Examination

Other than NITs, IIITs, CFTIs and IITs, there are other top engineering entrance options present for you. Private and state-level engineering entrance exams will also be able to win you a seat in prestigious institutes. By attempting other top engineering entrance exams, you will be able to provide yourself with a wider range of options to select. These exams will also let you be closer to home and ensure a good all-round education.

State Engineering Entrance Examinations

If you wish to study near home, then you can always apply for the state engineering entrance exam as an option for "What after JEE Main 2026?". These exams provide admissions into the best government institutes and give preference to those students who meet the domicile requirements. Some states also provide admissions through the JEE Main rank. These states use the All India ranks to allot seats and simply conduct the counselling based on specified eligibility criteria as announced by the state authorities.

JEE Main Syllabus: Subjects & Chapters
Select your preferred subject to view the chapters

States offering partial admissions through JEE Main 2026

  • Maharashtra – Maharashtra state offers 15% of the total seats at private/self-financed engineering institutes through JEE Main 2026.

  • West Bengal – The state offers 10% of the total seats at private engineering institutes through JEE Main.

  • Himachal Pradesh – Himachal Pradesh offers the first 50% of the total seats across all institutes based on JEE Main merit/rank.

  • Rajasthan – The state offers 15% of the total seats at private-unaided engineering institutes and 15% of the total seats across self-financed courses offered by government-aided institutions to candidates from other states based on JEE Main score or class 12th marks.

Amrita University B.Tech 2026

Recognized as Institute of Eminence by Govt. of India | NAAC ‘A++’ Grade | Upto 75% Scholarships | Application Deadline: 15th Jan

Jain University B.Tech Admissions 2026

100% Placement Record | Highest CTC 54 LPA | NAAC A++ Accredited | Ranked #62 in India by NIRF Ranking 2025 | JEE & JET Scores Accepted

Top Engineering Colleges other than IITs & NITs

Engineering Entrance Exams Other Than JEE Main

Engineering entrance exams in India are held at the national, state and college levels. State-level engineering exams are conducted by individual states for admission to engineering colleges within that state, providing an alternative route to engineering education. Candidates need to fulfil the eligibility conditions to appear for the entrance examinations conducted at the state level. The same is the case with the entrance test held at university level.

Engineering Entrance Exam

Conducting Body

VITEEE

VIT University

SRMJEEE

SRM Institute of Science and Technology (Earlier known as SRM University)

BITSAT

BITS Pilani

MET

Manipal Academy of Higher Education

COMEDK UGET

Consortium of Medical Engineering and Dental Colleges of Karnataka (COMEDK).

AP EAMCET

JNTU Anantapur

KIITEE

Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology

MHTCET

State Common Entrance Test Cell, Mumbai

WBJEE

West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What if your JEE Main Results did not meet the cut-off?
A:

If your JEE Main result didn't meet the cut-off, you can consider other colleges that accept JEE Main scores, explore alternative courses, or prepare to improve your score for the next attempt.

Q: What if your JEE Mains score is low?
A:

If your JEE Main score is low, you can explore other engineering entrance exams, consider state-level colleges, retake JEE Main, or opt for courses aligned with your interests.

Q: What if you have qualified for JEE Advanced?
A:

If you've qualified for JEE Advanced, focus on rigorous preparation, take mock tests, seek guidance from mentors, and utilize study materials to increase your chances of securing a good rank for admission to top IITs.

Q: How can I prepare for JEE Advanced after clearing JEE Main?
A:

To prepare for JEE Advanced, focus on advanced and deeper concepts, practice solving complex problems, and take mock tests. Follow the JEE Advanced syllabus for the preparation for the exam. Moreover, refer to advanced study materials and previous years' question papers.

Q: What is the eligibility criteria for JEE Advanced?
A:

To be eligible for JEE Advanced, you must be among the top 2,50,000 candidates in JEE Main. You should also fulfill other eligibility conditions, such as age limits and previous attempts.

Q: Can I get admission to IITs based on my JEE Main scores?
A:

No, admission to IITs is based on JEE Advanced rank. However, JEE Main scores can be used to get admission to other engineering colleges and NITs.

Q: Can I appear for both JEE Main and JEE Advanced in the same year?
A:

Yes, if you meet the eligibility criteria for JEE Advanced, you can appear for both exams in the same year.

Q: What if I didn't clear JEE Main? What are my options?
A:

If you didn't clear JEE Main, you can consider other engineering entrance exams like state-level exams, BITSAT, VITEEE, or private university entrance exams. You can also explore diploma courses, and lateral entry options, or take a year gap to prepare again.

Q: Can I opt for non-engineering courses after JEE Main?
A:

Yes, some colleges and universities offer courses like B.Sc., B.Arch., and other non-engineering programs based on JEE Main scores. Check the admission criteria of individual institutions.

Q: Is the JEE Main score valid for other courses besides engineering?
A:

Yes, some institutions may accept JEE Main scores for admission to courses like B.Sc. (Hons.), B. Planning, etc. However, the eligibility criteria and cutoffs can vary.

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Questions related to JEE Main

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to JEE Main ?

Hello,

Yes, attendance is compulsory in Class XI and XII.

As per school and board rules, students must maintain minimum attendance, usually around 75%. Schools can stop students from appearing in board exams if attendance is short.

Even if a student is preparing for JEE or any other competitive exam

Hello,

You can find here the direct links to download the JEE Main last 10 years PYQ PDFs from the Official Careers360 website.

Kindly visit this link to access the question papers : Last 10 Years JEE Main Question Papers with Solutions PDF

Hope it helps !

Hello Harika,

Firstly, you cannot prepare for JEE in 8 days if you havent studied before. But still, You can try solving the previous year question papers. Here's a Link for the same

Previous Year Questions

HELLO,

If you are from General category with 57 percent in 12th then to appear for JEE Advanced you need to be in top percentile of your board as the eligibility for JEE advanced you need at least 75 percent in 12th or in the top 20 percentile of your

Hello aspirant,

The JEE Main 2026 admission card will include information about the exam location. On the other hand, students can use the JEE Main 2026 city notification slip, which was made available on January 8, 2026, to check the exam city beforehand. The second week of January 2026 is