MHT-CET 2026 - Maharashtra’s primary engineering CET. Below: cutoff by percentile band, CAP round structure, top Pune/Mumbai colleges (COEP, PICT, VJTI, MIT-WPU, SPIT, K J Somaiya).
400+
Maharashtra colleges
99+ to 75
CSE percentile band
📅Published:|✍️Written by:Krishna Pandey, Founder & Lead Counsellor|✔️Audited by:Tushar Singh, Engineering Admissions Lead
← Blog — Engineering
Quick AnswerMHT-CET cut off 2026 for engineering (CSE, top Maharashtra colleges): the sharpest government cut-offs sit near 99.9 percentile — VJTI Mumbai 99.94 and COEP Pune 99.90 for the Open seat — while sought-after private colleges close between roughly 98 and 99.7 percentile. Full MHT-CET 2026 CSE closing percentiles (Open seat — official 2025 CAP Round-I, State CET Cell): COEP Pune 99.90; VJTI Mumbai 99.94; PICT Pune 99.71; SPIT Mumbai 99.70; PCCOE Pune 98.46; DJ Sanghvi 99.42. MIT-WPU CSE ~92-96 and K J Somaiya Eng ~90-95 are indicative (not State-CET CAP). CAP (Centralised Admission Process) has 3 rounds + CAP-IV (institutional). The MHT-CET 2026 exam was held in April-May 2026; CAP 2026 is now live — registration closed on 16 July 2026, the final merit list is expected on 20 July 2026, and option filling opens after the merit list.
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What is MHT-CET 2026?
MHT-CET (Maharashtra Health, Technical) is the state Common Entrance Test for engineering and pharmacy admissions in Maharashtra. Conducted by State CET Cell. MHT-CET 2026 PCM: gateway to 400+ Maharashtra engineering colleges including COEP, VJTI, PICT, MIT-WPU, SPIT, etc.
✅ Sourcing: cutoffs per official CET Cell CAP records; fees per FRA/institute circulars — verify the current round on mahacet.org before decisions.
Key dates: Application Jan-Feb 2026 | Exam April-May 2026 (computer-based) | Result June 2026 | CAP registration closed 16 July 2026 — final merit list expected 20 July 2026, option filling follows | Final admission August-September 2026.
MHT-CET 2026 exam pattern
Mode: Online computer-based test
Duration: 3 hours total (Physics + Chemistry paper 90 min, Mathematics paper 90 min)
Physics + Chemistry combined: 100 questions (50 each), 100 marks (+1 per correct)
Mathematics: 50 questions, 100 marks (+2 per correct)
Total: 150 questions, 200 marks
Marking: +1/+2 per correct (varies by subject), no negative marking
Eligibility: 12th HSC PCM with 45%+ aggregate (40% reserved)
MHT-CET Cutoff 2026 - Top Maharashtra Colleges (CSE, closing percentile)
📌 In one line: official closing data — year/category labeled; verify the current round on the official portal.
Figures in this engineering college cutoff list are the official 2025 MHT-CET CAP Round-I closing percentiles for the General-Open (GOPEN) seat in the Computer branch, sourced from the State CET Cell (cetcell.mahacet.org); the final cutoff of MHT-CET 2026 (PCM) will be published round-by-round during CAP 2026 and is expected to be similar. MIT-WPU (admits via MIT-WPU-CET), K J Somaiya and SIT Pune (SITEEE) are not part of the State CET CAP, so their percentile bands are indicative equivalents, not CAP figures. Cutoffs vary by category (SC/ST/OBC reduce by 8-15 percentile points), branch (CSE highest, ECE 2-5 points lower, Mech 5-10 points lower) and tighten across later CAP rounds. If your score sits below the top band, see which colleges open up at MHT-CET 95 percentile and MHT-CET 90 percentile, or map your exact percentile to colleges with the free MHT-CET College Predictor.
CAP rounds explained: CAP-I, II, III, IV
MHT-CET 2026 CAP round dates (as of 16 July 2026): CAP registration closed on 16 July 2026; the final merit list is expected on 20 July 2026, and option filling for CAP Round-I opens once the merit list is published. Round-wise allotment dates follow on the official schedule at cetcell.mahacet.org.
CAP-I: First round of choice filling + allotment. Candidates with high MHT-CET ranks get first preference. Most Tier-1 (COEP/VJTI/PICT/SPIT) seats filled here. Float/Lock decision.
CAP-II: Second allotment. Upgrades from CAP-I floats. New choices possible.
CAP-III: Final allotment round. Remaining vacancies + upgrades. Exact CAP-II/III 2026 dates: see the official CAP schedule on cetcell.mahacet.org.
CAP-IV / Institutional Round (after CAP-III): College-level admission for remaining seats. Institutional-quota seats and management seats finalised.
Strategy: Fill 100+ college-branch choices in CAP-I to maximise top-college access. Don't lock prematurely - float if you got a backup college, hope for upgrade in CAP-II/III.
CAP vs JEE Main + JoSAA for Maharashtra students
Maharashtra students typically pursue both: MHT-CET for state-quota seats (cheap, ROI-strong, Maharashtra-domicile bonus), and JEE Main + JoSAA for NIT/IIIT/all-India private quota.
For Maharashtra residents wanting top Pune/Mumbai colleges, MHT-CET 99+ %ile is the primary route to COEP/VJTI - cheaper than JEE Main route to similar-tier colleges. JEE Main route is better for NITs (NIT Surathkal, Calicut etc.) which are out-of-state but lower fees.
For non-Maharashtra students, MHT-CET is also useful: ~25% seats at Maharashtra private colleges (non-government) are open to all-India candidates via MHT-CET.
Direct admission / management quota for MHT-CET-shortfall candidates
If MHT-CET %ile doesn’t qualify for desired college, management quota is the backup. Top Pune colleges (PICT, MIT-WPU, SIT, PCCOE) offer 15% mgmt-quota seats at higher fees (₹12-22L total). Read: Direct Admission B.Tech CSE Pune, Management Quota Engineering Fees.
For CSE — the most competitive engineering branch — the top Maharashtra colleges close near 99.9 percentile on the Open seat: VJTI Mumbai 99.94 and COEP Pune 99.90 (official 2025 CAP Round-I, State CET Cell). Sought-after private colleges close between roughly 98 and 99.7 percentile — PICT Pune 99.71, SPIT Mumbai 99.70, DJ Sanghvi 99.42, VIT Pune 98.95 and PCCOE Pune 98.46. Cut-offs are lower for other branches (ECE 2-5 percentile points lower, Mechanical 5-10 lower) and reduce a further 8-15 points for SC/ST/OBC categories. 2026 figures are expected to be similar to these 2025 CAP Round-I closing percentiles.
What's the MHT-CET 2026 cutoff for COEP Pune CSE?
COEP Pune CSE state-quota requires MHT-CET 99+ percentile (Maharashtra domicile). All-India quota: JEE Main 96-98+ %ile. SC/ST/OBC candidates have 8-15 percentile reduction. VJTI Mumbai CSE has similar cutoffs.
Is MHT-CET easier than JEE Main 2026?
MHT-CET difficulty is slightly easier than JEE Main, with state-board syllabus alignment. JEE Main has broader/deeper question types. For top scores, both require focused preparation - candidates often clear MHT-CET 95+ %ile while JEE Main 85-90 %ile.
What's the CAP round structure for MHT-CET 2026?
CAP-I (first allotment), CAP-II (early-July, second allotment + upgrades), CAP-III (mid-July, final allotment), CAP-IV / Institutional Round (August, college-level admission for remaining seats + management quota).
Can non-Maharashtra students apply via MHT-CET?
Yes - 25% seats at private Maharashtra engineering colleges are open to non-Maharashtra candidates via MHT-CET. State-government colleges (COEP, VJTI) have 25% all-India quota. Apply early and mention all-India category in CAP.
Should I take MHT-CET + JEE Main both for Maharashtra colleges?
Yes - taking both maximises options. MHT-CET gives state-quota access (cheaper, Pune/Mumbai focus). JEE Main + JoSAA gives all-India options + NIT/IIIT access. Best strategy is take both, prepare for MHT-CET as state-CET, and use JEE Main rank for broader counselling.
How does FindUrCollege help with MHT-CET CAP counselling?
FindUrCollege offers free guidance for MHT-CET merit and CAP counselling, including eligibility and domicile checks, percentile-based college shortlisting, CAP option-form (choice) filling strategy, and document-verification support. Counselling is based only on your MHT-CET percentile and the official CAP process, so be cautious of any agent who promises a guaranteed government seat for a fee.
MHT-CET 2026: Maharashtra Common Entrance Test
The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET) is the state-level entrance examination conducted by the State Common Entrance Test Cell (CET Cell), Government of Maharashtra. MHT-CET is the gateway to undergraduate admission in Engineering, Pharmacy, Agriculture, and other allied programmes across all government, aided, and private colleges in the state of Maharashtra. MHT-CET 2026 was conducted in April and May 2026 across two separate examination tracks — MHT-CET PCM (for Engineering) and MHT-CET PCB (for Pharmacy and Agriculture).
The MHT-CET PCM (Engineering) examination pattern includes 150 multiple-choice questions across Physics (50 questions), Chemistry (50 questions), and Mathematics (50 questions). Duration is 3 hours (180 minutes). Marking is +1 per correct answer in Physics and Chemistry and +2 per correct answer in Mathematics, no negative marking. The examination follows the Maharashtra State Board syllabus (along with NCERT alignment), with 20% of the syllabus weightage based on Class 11 topics and 80% based on Class 12 topics.
MHT-CET CAP (Centralised Admission Process) Rounds
Post MHT-CET result declaration (typically in June), the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) is conducted online by the State CET Cell. The CAP process involves 3 main rounds (CAP-1, CAP-2, CAP-3) with each round following the same procedural sequence: online registration on the official CAP portal, document verification (Class 10 and 12 marksheets, MHT-CET scorecard, domicile certificate, category certificate for reserved category candidates, EWS certificate where applicable, income certificate, transfer certificate), option-form filling (candidates list preferences for college + branch combinations across multiple options), allotment release, and seat acceptance with fee payment.
For candidates not securing satisfactory seats through the 3 main CAP rounds, an Institutional Quota round is conducted by individual colleges for the remaining vacant seats. This round operates outside the central CAP system and is directly managed by the participating colleges.
Top Engineering Colleges in Maharashtra via MHT-CET (CSE closing-rank ranges)
College of Engineering Pune (COEP): NIRF Engineering band 51-100. CSE closing rank within MHT-CET top 200-500 (OC general).
Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI) Mumbai: CSE closing rank within top 100-400.
Sardar Patel Institute of Technology (SPIT) Mumbai: CSE closing rank within top 800-2,500.
Walchand College of Engineering Sangli: CSE closing rank within top 1,000-3,000.
Government College of Engineering Pune (GCOEP): CSE closing rank within top 500-1,500.
Pune Institute of Computer Technology (PICT) Pune: One of the top private engineering colleges in Maharashtra. CSE closing rank within top 1,500-4,000.
K J Somaiya College of Engineering Mumbai: Strong private engineering college. CSE closing rank within top 2,500-6,000.
Dwarkadas J Sanghvi College of Engineering Mumbai: CSE closing rank within top 3,500-7,500.
Vishwakarma Institute of Information Technology (VIIT) Pune: CSE closing rank within top 4,500-9,500.
MIT World Peace University, MIT-WPU Pune: Strong private engineering and management university.
Disclaimer: Cutoffs, fees and counselling dates are sourced from official authority notifications and college disclosures. Figures are subject to annual change. Verify with the relevant counselling authority before action. FindUrCollege is an independent counselling platform.
PICT Pune Admission Cluster
Use these PICT-specific guides for exact cutoff, fee, package, college code and quota intent.
Data Sources: Fees, cutoffs, rankings, and placement data are sourced from official institutional records and educational portals.
Verification: Figures are subject to change; always verify details on the official university website before making admission or payment decisions.
Platform Status:FindUrCollege is an independent platform. We are affiliated with many, but not all, listed institutions.
The 2026 process for MHT-CET, explained
Engineering admission in India runs on a merit-and-counselling model, and MHT-CET fits into that system through a mix of routes. Qualify JEE Main and you can enter JoSAA/CSAB for NITs, IIITs and GFTIs; most states run their own CET and centralised CAP-style counselling; and many private colleges offer transparent institutional or management seats for candidates just below the merit line. The smart approach is to treat these as parallel tracks rather than a single queue.
National route: JEE Main score → JoSAA/CSAB choice-filling → seat allotment → reporting.
State route: the relevant state CET and its CAP rounds for domicile candidates.
Institutional / management route: fee-based seats for near-merit candidates — see our management-quota guide (government and aided colleges admit purely on merit).
Cut-offs and percentiles — without the confusion
The most common mistake is treating a percentile or a previous-year cut-off as a fixed promise. A JEE Main percentile reflects how you did relative to all test-takers and converts to an All-India Rank that shifts every year with difficulty and the number of candidates; closing ranks at any college therefore move season to season. Use last year's figures only as a directional guide, build a list with ambitious, realistic and safe options, and confirm the current cut-off on the official counselling portal before locking choices.
Building a smart college and branch shortlist
Within MHT-CET, the branch you secure shapes outcomes as much as the college name. Computer Science, AI and Data Science draw the strongest, most consistent software placements but the toughest cut-offs; ECE/EEE bridge software and core; mechanical, civil and other core branches align better with GATE, PSU and higher-studies tracks. If a strong-CSE seat at a slightly lower-ranked college is on the table versus a core seat at a bigger name, the CSE seat is often the better career bet. Explore our city guides such as B.Tech Bangalore and B.Tech Pune to map options.
Documents, deadlines and a plan B
Keep your 10th and 12th marksheets, entrance scorecard/rank card, category and domicile certificates, transfer/migration certificates, ID and photographs scanned and counselling-ready — our documents checklist has the full list. Run the national, state and institutional tracks in parallel from results day so a single weak round never costs you the year, and never miss a reporting deadline once a seat is allotted.
The money: fees, scholarships and loans
Cost it out across all four years, not just year one. Merit scholarships can materially cut tuition for top rank-holders; government and category scholarships help eligible students (see our scholarships guide); and nationalised-bank education loans fund tuition plus living costs against your admission letter, with loans up to ₹7.5L typically collateral-free — the education-loan guide covers timelines.
Where we come in for MHT-CET
Our counsellors convert your rank or score into a realistic, parallel admission plan across merit and institutional routes, verify the latest official fees and cut-offs, and keep your paperwork ready. Talk to us free on WhatsApp at +91 91126 50438 for a shortlist built around your profile.
The engineering admission year, at a glance
For a 12th-passing aspirant, the year for MHT-CET usually runs: Jan–Apr — JEE Main sessions, state CETs and board exams; Apr–May — results and rank cards, shortlist building; May–Jul — JoSAA/CSAB and state CAP rounds with choice-filling, allotment and reporting; Jun–Aug — institutional/management and spot rounds for remaining seats. Treat these as parallel, not sequential.
How students quietly lose seats in counselling
The avoidable errors are always the same:
Filling choices by "name" instead of a careful preference order that reflects branch + outcomes.
Skipping or mis-timing document upload and reporting deadlines.
Depending on a single round with no state/management back-up.
Ignoring fees, bonds and hostel costs until after allotment.
Trusting last year's cut-off as a guarantee rather than a guide.
How to weigh two engineering offers
When you hold two offers, decide on evidence, not vibes: compare branch-wise placement medians (not blended averages), the recruiter list for your target track, four-year total cost after any scholarship, location and ecosystem, and accreditation of your branch. A strong-CSE seat at a slightly smaller name often beats a core seat at a bigger one.
The questions students keep asking
Is my rank enough? Map it to current closing ranks, not last year's. Direct admission — is it legitimate? Transparent institutional/management seats are legal at private colleges; "guaranteed seat, pay cash" pitches are not. How do I keep a back-up? Run merit, state and institutional tracks together so one weak round never costs the year.
Getting eligible and ready for MHT-CET
Before anything else, make sure you meet the basics for MHT-CET: in essence, a valid JEE Main or state-CET score and 10+2 with Physics and Mathematics. Eligibility details — minimum percentages, subject combinations, age limits and category relaxations — vary slightly by institution and change from year to year, so always confirm them against the official notification for the current admission cycle. On the preparation side, the strongest applicants start early, build a realistic target list well before results, and prepare for every stage of selection — not just the written test — so they are ready when timelines compress.
Your step-by-step guide to MHT-CET
The journey is more predictable than it looks once you break it down:
Confirm eligibility and register for JEE Main / state CET within the official window.
Obtain your scorecard/rank and build an ambitious–realistic–safe shortlist.
Complete counselling or institutional applications — choice-filling, interviews or portfolio rounds where applicable.
Secure the allotment or offer, verify documents and pay fees only through official channels.
Report on time, complete admission formalities and arrange any education loan against the offer letter.
Keep a single, well-organised folder of scanned documents throughout — it is the difference between a smooth admission and a missed round.
MHT-CET: your questions answered
How early should I start preparing?
As early as you realistically can — the candidates who place or admit best almost always began their shortlisting and preparation months ahead of the deadlines.
Are the figures on this page final?
No. Fees, cut-offs, seat counts and eligibility are revised every season, so treat every figure here as indicative and reconfirm it on the official source for the current year.
What if my score or rank is on the margin?
Run parallel routes — merit, state and institutional — so a single weak round never costs you the year, and keep realistic safety options on your list.
Is "direct admission" legitimate?
Transparent institutional or management seats at private institutions are legal and fee-based; any "guaranteed seat" sold for cash outside official channels is not — treat it as a warning sign.
How do I fund it?
Check for merit and need-based scholarships first, then use an education loan against the admission letter; the salary or career uplift usually services the cost over time.
Can FindUrCollege help for free?
Yes — our initial counselling and shortlisting is free; you can reach us on WhatsApp at +91 91126 50438.
The money side of MHT-CET, done smart
Think in total cost, not year-one tuition. Add hostel, mess, materials and one-time charges, then subtract any merit or need-based scholarship you can realistically expect to reach your true net cost. For engineering programmes, nationalised banks lend against the admission letter — loans up to a threshold are often collateral-free — and our education-loan guide and scholarships guide walk through the details. Compare options on net cost versus realistic outcome and payback, not on the headline number alone.
Staying safe from admission touts
The admissions space attracts touts. Protect yourself with a few rules: deal only with official portals and the institution's own admissions office; get every promise — fees, seat, scholarship, recognition — in writing on official letterhead; never pay cash into a private account for a "confirmed" seat; and verify accreditation and recognition independently on government sources. A genuine pathway to MHT-CET is transparent and documented at every step.
Where FindUrCollege comes in
You do not have to navigate MHT-CET alone. Our counsellors map your profile to a realistic, well-balanced shortlist, explain every route honestly, verify the latest official fees and cut-offs, and keep your documents and deadlines on track. Explore the main admission guide for this stream, or message us free on WhatsApp at +91 91126 50438 for a plan built around your rank, score and budget.
