What is CLAT Cutoff?

CLAT cutoff refers to the minimum scores or ranks required for admission to various National Law Universities (NLUs) and other participating law schools through the Common Law Admission Test (CLAT). The cutoff marks or ranks are determined based on factors such as the difficulty level of the exam, the number of applicants, and the availability of seats in each institution.

NLUs Cutoff

As the majority of the top institutes that accept admission via CLAT are NLUs; these cutoffs are associated with cutoffs for NLUs.

The NLUs cutoff is crucial for aspirants as it serves as a benchmark to assess their chances of securing admission to their preferred law schools. Since CLAT 2027 has not yet been conducted, our CL-LST experts have projected the expected cutoffs for top NLUs in the table below, based on CLAT 2026 trends.

CLAT 2027 Mark vs Rank (Expected)

The table below reflects the CLAT 2027 mark-vs-rank data based on the previous year trends. This will be replaced with live, exam-day feedback once CLAT 2027 is conducted on December 6, 2026.

Score Range

Suggestion

98 and above

You're likely to be in the top 100

96.25 – 97.75

Your AIR is likely to be in the range 101–200

94.75 – 96.00

Your AIR is likely to be in the range 201–300

93.50 – 94.50

Your AIR is likely to be in the range 301–400

92.50 – 93.25

Your AIR is likely to be in the range 401–500

91.50 – 92.00

Your AIR is likely to be in the range 501–750

90.00 – 91.25

Your AIR is likely to be in the range 751–1000

88.00 – 89.75

Your AIR is likely to be in the range 1001–1500

86.00 – 87.75

Your AIR is likely to be in the range 1500–2000

84.25 – 85.75

Your AIR is likely to be in the range 2001–2500

82.25 – 84.00

Your AIR is likely to be in the range 2501–3000

81.00 – 82.00

Your AIR is likely to be in the range 3001–4000

79.00 – 80.75

Your AIR is likely to be in the range 4001–5000

78.75 and below

Your AIR is likely to be below 5000


Expected CLAT 2027 Cutoffs for Top NLUs

CLAT 2027 Top NLUs Cutoff (Expected)

University

Location

General Cutoff

National Law School of India University (NLSIU)

Bengaluru

95.5

NALSAR University of Law (NALSAR)

Hyderabad

94

The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS)

Kolkata

92.75

National Law University (NLUJ)

Jodhpur

91.25

Gujarat National Law University (GNLU)

Gandhinagar

90

National Law Institute University (NLIU)

Bhopal

89.5

Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU)

Mumbai

88.75

National Law University Odisha (NLUO)

Cuttack

85.5

Hidayatullah National Law University (HNLU)

Raipur

87.75

Rajiv Gandhi National Law University (RGNUL)

Patiala

85.75

Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University (RMLNLU)

Lucknow

87.25

Chanakya National Law University (CNLU)

Patna

85

CLAT cutoffs are released category-wise, including General, SC, ST, OBC, and PwD, in accordance with the reservation policy followed by participating NLUs. The table above is projected based on CLAT 2026 final cutoffs and previous years' trends and analysis.


How Are The CLAT Cutoffs Determined?

After the CLAT exam concludes and the results are announced, the determination of CLAT cutoffs involves a structured and methodical process:

1. CLAT Results:

Once the CLAT exam results are declared, the scores or ranks obtained by all the candidates are compiled centrally. These scores are then used as the basis for determining the cutoff marks/ranks.

2. Release of Cutoff Lists

Subsequently, each NLU releases a list of minimum marks or ranks required for admission to their respective courses. These cutoffs are typically categorized based on various reservation criteria to ensure equitable access to seats.

3. Multiple Allotment Lists

To facilitate the filling of available seats, the Consortiums may release multiple allotment lists. As candidates accept or decline offers of admission, subsequent allotment lists are published until all seats are filled.

This is done considering seat availability and reservation criteria, and releasing multiple allotment lists to ensure a fair and transparent admission process for aspirants seeking to pursue law studies at prestigious NLUs.


Expected CLAT 2027 Cutoff Ranks for NLUs

Since CLAT 2027 results are not yet declared, the table below shows the expected cutoffs based on the previous year trends.

National Law University (NLU)

General

OBC

SC

ST

NLSIU Bengaluru

120

1177

3142

5227

NALSAR Hyderabad

168

915

3251

5716

WBNUJS Kolkata (B.A. LL.B)

343

State Domicile Only

3833

8937

WBNUJS Kolkata (B.Sc. LL.B)

550

State Domicile Only

6183

13759

NLU Jodhpur (B.A. LL.B)

364

1273

4042

5907

NLU Jodhpur (B.B.A. LL.B)

386

1427

8113

8113

GNLU Gandhinagar

398

1834

5324

7913

NLIU Bhopal (B.A. LL.B)

459

1562

4955

10159

NLIU Bhopal (B.Sc. LL.B)

666

1870

7996

10165

HNLU Raipur

806

8847

6464

11239

NLU Odisha Cuttack (B.A. LL.B)

848

State Domicile Only

7833

17359

NLU Odisha Cuttack (B.B.A. LL.B)

828

State Domicile Only

9202

20828

RMLNLU Lucknow

799

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

CNLU Patna (B.A. LL.B)

1235

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

NUALS Kochi

1158

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

NUSRL Ranchi (B.A. LL.B)

1440

2585

9826

15765

NUSRL Ranchi (B.B.A. LL.B)

1356

2653

10338

22575

NLUJA Assam

2049

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

21460

DSNLU Visakhapatnam

1400

2508

10433

15199

TNNLU Tiruchirappalli (B.A. LL.B)

1552

11222

2713

State Domicile Only

TNNLU Tiruchirappalli (B.Com. LL.B)

1517

3419

11652

State Domicile Only

MNLU Mumbai

501

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

MNLU Nagpur (B.A. LL.B)

1406

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

MNLU Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

1820

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

GNLU Silvassa

1513

2541

14278

14278

HPNLU Shimla (B.A. LL.B)

2108

State Domicile Only

10935

22118

HPNLU Shimla (B.B.A. LL.B)

1871

State Domicile Only

12188

23985

MPDNLU Jabalpur

2045

3056

11792

21749

DBRANLU Sonepat

1810

3409

11562

20080

RPNLUP Prayagraj

2268

State Domicile Only

14648

38493

NLUT Agartala

2410

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

State Domicile Only

IIULER Goa (B.A. LL.B)

2269

2875

4694

25555

IIULER Goa (B.B.A. LL.B)

2802

5170

11652

28599


Key Factors Influencing The CLAT 2027 Expected Cut-Offs

The cut-offs of any exam let alone CLAT is influenced by some basic, logical factors that are based on the concept of demand and some complex exam-specific factors. We are going to mention both below:

1. Exam Difficulty: 

It is a crucial factor affecting the cut-off score. A more difficult test tends to result in a lower cut-off score, and vice versa is applicable when the difficulty level is on the easier side.

2. Number of Applicants: 

The number of applicants taking the exam has an inverse relationship with the cut-off score. If the number of applicants drastically increases with the same number of seats in the colleges; then the cut-off tends to rise, while the opposite is true when there is a decrease in the number of applicants.

3. Number of Seats: 

If the number of seats in the colleges for which the exam is being conducted increases, then the cut-offs tend to decrease given all the above factors remain constant.

4. Reservation Policies: 

Different categories (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, etc.) have specific qualifying marks based on the number of reserved seats, affecting cut-offs for admissions.

5. Domicile Quotas: 

Certain NLUs provide domicile-based reservations, where candidates from the home state may have comparatively different cut-offs. For instance, NLSIU Bengaluru offers domicile reservation benefits to eligible candidates from Karnataka.

Expected CLAT 2027 Cut-Off (Based on Previous Year Analysis)

The following estimates are prepared based on previous years' cutoff patterns, competition level, and exam analysis. These are indicative figures and not official closing ranks released by the Consortium.

Category

Expected Cut-Off Marks (120 Total)

General

85-96

OBC and SC/ST

70-80


CLAT Cutoff For Other Private Colleges

Candidates generally miss out on non-NLUs because of their primary focus on getting into NLUs. But this should not be the case because there are other options apart from NLUs that offer great options for securing a good law degree.

One must keep a note of the following factors while considering private colleges via CLAT. Besides NLUs, there are over 60 government and private colleges accepting CLAT scores, such as Law College, Dehradun, Mody University, Asian Law College, and Xavier Law School.


Conclusion

Understanding the CLAT cutoff is essential for aspirants to make informed decisions about their choice of law schools and to strategize their preparation efforts effectively.

Keeping track of the cutoff trends and analyzing previous year cutoffs can aid aspirants in setting realistic goals and maximizing their chances of securing admission to the top law institutions in India. 

CLAT opens doors to top-notch placements in prestigious companies worldwide, and the CLAT cutoff indicates the rank needed for admission to an NLU. It is crucial for CLAT 2027 aspirants to keep track of expected cutoffs while preparing, and to revisit this page once official CLAT 2027 results and cutoffs are declared.