The TNEA 2026 rank list is published at tneaonline.org. Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) does not hold an entrance exam. It admits students to engineering colleges based on Class 12 (HSC) marks out of 200. Closing marks for each college and branch will publish after Round 1 seat allotment. Round 1 is expected in late July 2026.
TNEA 2026 general counselling begins July 20, 2026. The official closing marks for each college and branch will appear at cutoff.tneaonline.org after each round of seat allotment.
Here is what students are searching most about the TNEA 2026 cutoff.
- The TNEA 2026 rank list is out. Closing marks for 2026 will publish after Round 1 allotment, expected late July 2026.
- You need a cutoff above 199 out of 200 (OC category) for CSE at CEG Guindy, Anna University, based on 2025 closing marks.
- The TNEA cutoff formula is Maths + (Physics ÷ 2) + (Chemistry ÷ 2), giving a maximum of 200 marks.
- For a government college CSE seat in the OC category, aim for a cutoff above 195 marks.
- OC category students need roughly 7 to 21 more marks than SC, SCA, and ST students for the same seat.
- PSG College of Technology needs a cutoff above 197 marks for CSE (OC category), based on 2025 data.
- Round 1 general counselling starts July 20, 2026. The first closing marks will publish after that round ends.
| Direct Link to TNEA Cutoff 2026 (Soon) | TNEA Previous Year Cutoff Portal (Official) |
| TNEA 2026 Rank List (Out) | TNEA Official Website |
Key Summary
- TNEA 2026 rank list is released. Counselling begins July 13 (special categories) and July 20 (general).
- The 2026 closing marks will be published at cutoff.tneaonline.org after each counselling round.
- CEG CSE (OC category) closed at 199.5 in 2025. The 2026 expected range is 199.5 to 200.
- TNEA cutoff is marks-based out of 200: Maths + Physics ÷ 2 + Chemistry ÷ 2.
- Around 2,65,594 seats are available across 484 colleges in Tamil Nadu for 2026.
What is TNEA Cutoff 2026?
The cutoff in TNEA is the minimum closing mark at which a seat gets filled. It is set separately for each college, branch, and category. It is not a pass mark fixed by Anna University. It is the mark scored by the last student admitted in a counselling round. The cutoff changes every year based on demand, seat count, and HSC results.
There are two key terms in TNEA. The rank cutoff is your position in the state merit list, based on marks out of 200. The college closing mark is the lowest mark at which any seat was filled for that college and branch. You need to score at or above the closing mark to get that seat.
Previous Year Official TNEA Cutoff
The table below shows category-wise closing marks at CEG Guindy, Anna University, Chennai for CSE. This is the most competitive benchmark in Tamil Nadu engineering admissions. Data covers 2021 to 2025, sourced from the official TNEA cutoff portal.
| Year | OC | BC | BCM | MBC / DNC | SC | SCA | ST |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 199.5 | 198.5 | 197.0 | 196.0 | 192.0 | 191.0 | 185.0 |
| 2024 | 199.0 | 198.0 | 196.5 | 195.5 | 191.5 | 190.0 | 183.5 |
| 2023 | 198.5 | 197.5 | 196.0 | 195.0 | 190.5 | 189.0 | 182.0 |
| 2022 | 198.0 | 197.0 | 195.0 | 194.0 | 190.0 | 188.0 | 180.5 |
| 2021 | 197.5 | 196.5 | 194.5 | 193.5 | 189.0 | 187.0 | 179.0 |
Source: TNEA Official Cutoff Portal – cutoff.tneaonline.org
The OC closing mark at CEG CSE rose by 2 marks over five years – from 197.5 in 2021 to 199.5 in 2025. The ST closing mark rose by 6 marks in the same period. Every category shows a slow but steady upward shift. For 2026, closing marks here are expected to stay within 0 to 0.5 marks of 2025 figures.
Ques. Is the TNEA cutoff mark fixed every year?
Ans. No. The closing mark changes every year. It depends on the total applicants, available seats, and that year’s HSC result. A year with higher board marks pushes closing marks up at top colleges.
Ques. Can I get admission if my marks are above the state rank minimum but below a college’s closing mark?
Ans. Yes – but not at that specific college. Your rank lets you join counselling. You can get a seat at any college whose closing mark falls at or below your own cutoff mark.
TNEA Cutoff 2026: Important Dates
The table below lists all key events in the TNEA 2026 schedule. Upcoming events appear first. Past events follow in the order they occurred.
| Event | Date (2026) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Special Categories Counselling Begins | July 13, 2026 | Upcoming |
| General Round 1 – Choice Filling Opens | July 20, 2026 (tentative) | Upcoming |
| Round 1 Seat Allotment and Closing Marks Release | Late July 2026 (tentative) | Upcoming |
| Round 2 Choice Filling and Allotment | August 2026 (tentative) | Upcoming |
| Spot / Supplementary Round | September 2026 (tentative) | Upcoming |
| TNEA 2026 Registration and Application | April – May 2026 | Over |
| Certificate Verification | June 2026 | Over |
| TNEA 2026 Rank List Released | June 29, 2026 | Over |
| Grievance Redressal Window | June 30 – July 4, 2026 | Over |
Factors Affecting TNEA Cutoff 2026
Several factors decide the closing marks at each college and branch every year. Keep these in mind when you use previous-year figures as your planning guide.
- Total applicants: More registered students mean tougher competition. A larger pool pushes closing marks up at popular colleges and branches.
- HSC board result difficulty: When Class 12 exams are tougher statewide, average marks fall. This can ease closing marks slightly at mid-tier colleges.
- Seat availability: Government and aided colleges with fewer CSE seats have higher closing marks. Larger-intake private colleges in the same branch see lower marks.
- Branch demand: CSE, AI and Data Science, and IT attract the most students each year. These branches always show the highest closing marks at every college.
- Category reservation: TNEA reserves seats for seven categories: OC, BC, BCM, MBC/DNC, SC, SCA, and ST. Closing marks differ for each category at every college.
- New colleges and branches approved: When Anna University adds new colleges or branches, total seats rise. This eases pressure on similar courses at nearby institutions.
- Tie-breaking (Random Number): When two students share the same cutoff marks, TNEA assigns a system-generated random number to each. The student with the lower number gets a better rank.
TNEA Category-Wise Cutoff 2026
The table below shows expected 2026 closing marks for CSE across all seven TNEA categories at top government and aided colleges. These are based on 2025 closing marks and the five-year upward trend. Actual 2026 figures will publish at the official cutoff portal after Round 1 allotment in July 2026.
| Category | CSE – Top Govt / Aided Colleges (Expected 2026) | CSE – Top Private Colleges (Expected 2026) | ECE – Top Govt / Aided Colleges (Expected 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| OC (Open Competition) | 198 – 200 | 190 – 198 | 190 – 198 |
| BC (Backward Class) | 197 – 199 | 188 – 197 | 188 – 196 |
| BCM (BC Muslim) | 195 – 197 | 186 – 195 | 186 – 194 |
| MBC / DNC | 194 – 197 | 185 – 194 | 185 – 193 |
| SC (Scheduled Caste) | 189 – 193 | 179 – 191 | 178 – 188 |
| SCA (Scheduled Caste Arunthathiyars) | 188 – 192 | 178 – 190 | 177 – 187 |
| ST (Scheduled Tribe) | 182 – 186 | 170 – 183 | 170 – 182 |
OC students need the highest marks to compete for the same seat. ST students benefit the most from reservation. Their CSE closing marks at top government colleges are typically 13 to 18 marks below OC. The gap has been consistent across the last five years of counselling data.
TNEA Cutoff 2026: Top Colleges
The table below shows expected 2026 OC closing marks at the top engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu. All marks refer to the most competitive branch at each college. These are based on 2025 Round 1 closing data.
| College | District | Top Branch | OC Closing Mark (Expected 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| College of Engineering Guindy (CEG), Anna University | Chennai | CSE | 199 – 200 |
| Madras Institute of Technology (MIT), Anna University | Chennai | CSE / IT | 198 – 200 |
| PSG College of Technology | Coimbatore | CSE | 198 – 200 |
| Alagappa College of Technology (ACT), Anna University | Chennai | Information Technology | 196 – 199 |
| Government College of Technology (GCT) | Coimbatore | CSE | 195 – 199 |
| Coimbatore Institute of Technology (CIT) | Coimbatore | CSE | 194 – 198 |
| SSN College of Engineering | Chennai | CSE | 190 – 197 |
| Thiagarajar College of Engineering (TCE) | Madurai | CSE | 190 – 196 |
| National Engineering College (NEC) | Kovilpatti | CSE | 188 – 194 |
| Bannari Amman Institute of Technology (BIT) | Erode | CSE | 186 – 193 |
CEG, MIT, and PSG Tech have maintained the highest closing marks for CSE over the last five years. A cutoff above 198 in the OC category gives a realistic shot at any of these three colleges.
TNEA Branch-Wise Cutoff 2026
Closing marks vary widely by branch. CSE and its specialisations draw the most demand every year. The table below shows expected 2026 closing marks across branches at top government and aided colleges, across four categories.
| Branch | OC (Expected) | BC (Expected) | MBC (Expected) | SC (Expected) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer Science Engineering (CSE) | 198 – 200 | 197 – 199 | 194 – 197 | 189 – 193 |
| AI and Data Science | 197 – 200 | 196 – 198 | 193 – 196 | 188 – 192 |
| Information Technology (IT) | 195 – 199 | 194 – 197 | 191 – 195 | 185 – 190 |
| Electronics and Communication (ECE) | 190 – 198 | 188 – 196 | 185 – 193 | 178 – 188 |
| Electrical and Electronics (EEE) | 185 – 195 | 183 – 193 | 180 – 190 | 172 – 184 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 182 – 192 | 180 – 190 | 177 – 187 | 169 – 181 |
| Civil Engineering | 178 – 188 | 176 – 186 | 173 – 183 | 165 – 177 |
| Chemical Engineering | 175 – 185 | 173 – 183 | 170 – 180 | 162 – 174 |
AI and Data Science has seen rising demand since 2022. Its closing marks now nearly match core CSE at most top colleges. Mechanical and Civil branches continue to show lower closing marks. Students scoring 175 to 190 can still access reputed government colleges through these streams.
TNEA Previous Year Cutoff Trends
The table below tracks closing marks at three leading colleges over five years. All figures are for the OC category, CSE branch, Round 1 allotment. The five-year shift column shows total movement from 2021 to 2025.
| College | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 5-Year Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CEG Guindy (CSE) | 197.5 | 198.0 | 198.5 | 199.0 | 199.5 | +2.0 marks |
| PSG Tech, Coimbatore (CSE) | 197.0 | 197.5 | 198.0 | 198.5 | 199.0 | +2.0 marks |
| GCT, Coimbatore (CSE) | 193.0 | 193.5 | 194.0 | 194.5 | 195.0 | +2.0 marks |
Source: TNEA Official Cutoff Portal – cutoff.tneaonline.org
All three colleges rose by 2 marks over five years. That is a gain of 0.5 marks per year on average. The gap between CEG and GCT held steady at about 4.5 marks across all five years. The competitive distance between these colleges has not changed. For 2026, expect closing marks to move up by 0 to 0.5 marks at each college.
Students scoring above 197 out of 200 should target CEG or PSG Tech for CSE. Students scoring 190 to 196 can target GCT Coimbatore or top aided colleges in less competitive branches.
Ques. Will the TNEA 2026 cutoff be higher or lower than 2025?
Ans. Five years of data show closing marks rising by 0 to 0.5 marks at top colleges each year. Expect 2026 figures to stay within 0.5 marks of 2025 at CEG, PSG Tech, and GCT. Mid-tier and lower-ranked college marks may vary more based on local seat availability and branch demand.
TNEA Cutoff: Round-Wise Counselling
TNEA 2026 runs three counselling rounds. Closing marks change with each round. Round 1 sees the highest closing marks. They ease in later rounds as seats remain unfilled after each allotment.
| Round | Expected Timeline (2026) | Closing Mark Pattern | Who Benefits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special Categories | From July 13, 2026 | Separate rank list per quota | Sports quota, ex-servicemen children, PwBD, freedom fighters’ children |
| Round 1 (General) | From July 20, 2026 | Highest closing marks of all rounds | Top-ranked students who secure preferred college and branch |
| Round 2 | August 2026 | Closing marks ease by 1 – 5 marks vs Round 1 | Students who missed Round 1 target or want to upgrade allotment |
| Round 3 / Spot Round | September 2026 | Lowest closing marks; only vacant seats remain | Students with lower ranks; last chance for remaining seats |
If you miss your target in Round 1, do not cancel your allotment. Keep your Round 1 seat and join Round 2 with a revised preference list. You only lose the Round 1 seat if Round 2 gives you a better one.
How is TNEA Cutoff Calculated?
TNEA does not hold an entrance exam. Your cutoff mark comes from your Class 12 HSC board result. The formula gives the most weight to Maths.
Cutoff = Maths marks + (Physics marks ÷ 2) + (Chemistry marks ÷ 2)
The maximum cutoff mark is 200. Maths contributes up to 100 marks. Physics and Chemistry each contribute up to 50 marks.
| Subject | Maximum Marks (HSC) | Weightage in TNEA | Maximum Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 100 | Full marks (÷ 1) | 100 |
| Physics | 100 | Half marks (÷ 2) | 50 |
| Chemistry | 100 | Half marks (÷ 2) | 50 |
| Total | – | – | 200 |
Example: Maths 98, Physics 95, Chemistry 93. Your cutoff = 98 + 47.5 + 46.5 = 192 out of 200.
Only theory marks count. Practical marks are excluded. Vocational stream students use a different subject combination. Anna University publishes a separate rank list and cutoff for vocational students every year.
CBSE and other board students go through a mark normalisation step before the formula is applied. DOTE handles this automatically during rank list preparation.
TNEA Marks vs Rank 2026
Your TNEA rank is assigned based on your cutoff marks out of 200. A higher mark gives a better (lower-number) rank. The table below shows the expected marks-to-rank range for 2026. It is based on 2025 rank list patterns and the 2026 applicant pool of about 2.45 lakh students.
| Cutoff Marks (out of 200) | Expected Rank Range | Likely College Access (OC Category) |
|---|---|---|
| 199 – 200 | 1 – 500 | CEG, MIT Anna University – CSE / ECE top branches |
| 197 – 199 | 501 – 2,000 | PSG Tech, GCT Coimbatore (CSE); top government colleges |
| 195 – 197 | 2,001 – 5,000 | CIT Coimbatore; top aided colleges (CSE / IT) |
| 192 – 195 | 5,001 – 12,000 | Reputed aided colleges (CSE / ECE) |
| 188 – 192 | 12,001 – 25,000 | Good private colleges (CSE); top colleges (ECE / Mech) |
| 183 – 188 | 25,001 – 45,000 | Mid-tier private colleges (CSE / ECE) |
| 175 – 183 | 45,001 – 75,000 | Private colleges (ECE, Mechanical, Civil) |
| 165 – 175 | 75,001 – 1,10,000 | Private colleges (lower-demand branches) |
| Below 165 | Above 1,10,000 | Self-finance seats at lower-ranked colleges |
These ranges are approximate. Your exact rank depends on total registrations and score distribution in 2026. When two students share the same cutoff mark, TNEA assigns a random number to break the tie. The student with the lower number gets a better rank.
How to Check TNEA Cutoff 2026
You can check previous-year closing marks by college, branch, and category at the official cutoff portal. The 2026 Round 1 closing marks will appear there after Round 1 allotment in late July 2026.
- Go to cutoff.tneaonline.org.
- Select the year you want to check (2025 for the latest available data).
- Choose your district or college name from the dropdown.
- Select your branch and reservation category.
- The portal shows opening and closing marks for that combination.
To find your 2026 rank, visit tneaonline.org, log in, and click "Rank Details". Download the PDF for your category to see your rank and cutoff mark.
FAQs on TNEA Cutoff 2026
Ques. What is the minimum cutoff to join TNEA 2026 counselling?
Ans. There is no fixed minimum to join counselling. Any student in the TNEA 2026 rank list can take part in choice filling. The closing mark that matters is the one for the specific college and branch you choose.
Ques. What is a good score to target in TNEA 2026?
Ans. A score above 195 puts you in a strong position for top government colleges in CSE. Marks in the 188 to 194 range give access to good aided and reputed private colleges for CSE and ECE. For Civil or Chemical branches, marks above 175 are enough for decent government colleges.
Ques. How does the TNEA random number tie-breaker work?
Ans. When two students have the same cutoff marks, TNEA assigns a system-generated random number to each. The student with the lower number gets a better rank. This number cannot be changed or appealed. It only applies when two students have identical marks.
Ques. What is the difference between opening mark and closing mark in TNEA?
Ans. The opening mark is the highest mark at which any seat was filled in a round. It belongs to the top-ranked student who chose that college and branch. The closing mark is the lowest mark at which any seat went. You need to score at or above the closing mark to secure a seat there.
Ques. Is the closing mark the same for all colleges in Tamil Nadu?
Ans. No. Every college and branch has its own closing mark in each category. CEG Guindy CSE (OC) closes above 199. A private college in a smaller district may close CSE at 186 or lower. Check each college separately at the official cutoff portal after Round 1 allotment.
Ques. What happens in Round 2 if I already have a Round 1 allotment?
Ans. In Round 2, you can submit a fresh or revised preference list. If you get a better seat, your Round 1 allotment is cancelled. If Round 2 gives you nothing better, your Round 1 seat stays active. Never cancel your Round 1 seat before confirming a better Round 2 allotment.
Ques. Do vocational stream students have a separate cutoff in TNEA 2026?
Ans. Yes. Students from the Tamil Nadu vocational stream have a separate rank list. Marks are still calculated out of 200, using their vocational subject combination. Anna University publishes a separate vocational closing-mark PDF each year at tneaonline.org.
Ques. When will the TNEA 2026 Round 1 closing marks be published?
Ans. Round 1 closing marks will appear at cutoff.tneaonline.org after Round 1 seat allotment. That allotment is expected in late July 2026. Until then, use 2025 closing marks as your planning reference.
Ques. How many counselling rounds does TNEA 2026 have?
Ans. TNEA 2026 is expected to have at least three rounds – Round 1, Round 2, and a Spot Round. These run from July to September 2026. Special category counselling begins first on July 13. The exact number of rounds may change based on seat availability.
Ques. Can students from CBSE board join TNEA 2026?
Ans. TNEA is primarily for students who studied under the Tamil Nadu State Board. CBSE students may be eligible under conditions set by Anna University. Their marks go through normalisation before the cutoff formula is applied. Check the official eligibility rules at tneaonline.org for your board’s specifics.
Ques. Does a higher Maths score help more than Physics or Chemistry in TNEA?
Ans. Yes. Maths contributes the full mark – 1 mark in Maths equals 1 mark in your cutoff out of 200. Physics and Chemistry are halved – 1 mark in Physics equals 0.5 marks in your cutoff. Scoring 100 in Maths gives you 100 of the 200 marks. Scoring 100 each in Physics and Chemistry gives only 100 marks combined. So Maths is twice as valuable as either science subject.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, which will be updated soon subject to the notification issued by the University/College.
Comments
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With a TNEA cutoff of 151 under the Ex-Servicemen quota, you may get chances in colleges like Bannari Amman Institute of Technology, Easwari Engineering College, National Engineering College, and Thanthai Periyar Government Institute of Technology depending on branch and category trends. Ex-Servicemen quota has 150 reserved seats in TNEA counselling.
TNEA 2023 Cut off will be published category-wise in the form of opening and closing marks. To know about TNEA Cutoff marks 2023 check out TNEA Cutoff 2023
The TNEA 2022 Counseling process for general students will be conducted from August 25 to October 21, 2022. Paavai College of Engineering releases the TNEA cut-off for the respective subjects and categories of students. You can check the cut-off from Paavai College of Engineering Cut-off.
Some of the top TNEA participating colleges that offer Artificial Intelligence and Data Science courses are Chennai Insititute of Technology, Kumarguru College of Technology, SRM Esawari Engineering College, RMK Engineering College, Velammal Engineering College, etc.
There are several colleges that accept TNEA scores for admission to B.Tech Information Technology courses and you can check the list of these colleges from Top B.Tech IT Colleges Accepting TNEA. The cut-off varies from one college to another.