Some of the available NITs for 97 percentile in JEE Main 2026 for core branches like CSE, IT and ECE are NIT Srinagar, NIT Nagaland, and NIT Jalandhar. A 97 percentile in JEE Main 2026 is likely to place you in the 117 to 151.8 marks range and around the 45,000 rank range. While securing the core branches at the top 5 NITs is likely impossible with a 97 percentile, you can still get into the mid-tier and newer NITs for core branches with this score. For admission into NIT Trichy, NIT Surathkal and NIT Warangal, you will need at least 99.5+ percentile in the JEE Main entrance exam. The best branch options for you at 97 percentile are Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, and AI and Machine Learning, among others.
Also Read:
| NITs for 99 Percentile in JEE Main 2026 | Is 95 Percentile Good in JEE Mains 2026? |
|---|
Rank vs Marks for 97 Percentile in JEE Main 2026
A breakdown of the 97 percentile score as per the JEE Main Marks vs Percentile vs Rank 2026 has been mentioned here for easy reference:
JEE Mains 2026 Percentile Range | JEE Mains 2026 Marks Range | JEE Mains 2026 Rank Range |
|---|---|---|
98 percentile | 131 to 165.3 | 30,000 |
97.5 percentile | 123 to 157.8 | 37,500 |
97 percentile | 117 to 151.8 | 45,000 |
96.5 percentile | 112 to 146 | 52,500 |
96 percentile | 107.5 to 141 | 60,000 |
Check Also: JEE Main 2026 Rank Predictor
List of NITs for 97 Percentile in JEE Main 2026
The NITs that you can get with a 97 percentile score are provided here along with the available branches. The following data has been curated as per the past year’s closing rank and for the HS category applicants.
Name of NIT Institutes | 2025 Closing Rank for CSE | Expected Opening Rank for 2026 | Most Suited Branches for 97 Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
NIT Srinagar | 31,866 | 21,000+ | CSE, ECE, IT, etc. |
NIT Jalandhar | 25,700 | 13,700+ | ECE, Mechanical, Civil, etc. |
NIT Nagaland | 35,000 | 21,000+ | CSE, ECE, IT, etc. |
NIT Raipur | 21,540 | 15,000+ | ECE, Mechanical, Civil, etc. |
NIT Silchar | 21,987 | 15,000+ | Civil, ECE, Mechanical, etc. |
NIT Mizoram | 37,751 | 25,000+ | CSE, ECE, IT, etc. |
NIT Agartala | 35,008 | 20,000+ | ECE, Mechanical, Civil, etc. |
NIT Arunachal Pradesh | 34,500 | 22,000+ | CSE, ECE, IT, etc. |
Check Also: IIITs for 95 Percentile in JEE Main 2026
Is JEE Main 2026 NIT Cutoff Higher This Year?
The overall difficulty level of JEE Main 2026 was tougher in comparison to the previous years. Therefore, the JEE Main NIT cutoff for the core branches is lower this year when compared to the last few years’ trends. Therefore, you may have a better chance of securing a core branch with 97 percentile at the mid-tier NITs this year as compared to last year’s statistics. If you apply through the ‘Home State’ quota, your chances will increase further than those applying under the ‘Other State’ quota.
Tips for NIT Admission With 97 Percentile in JEE Main 2026
Here is some expert advice from CLD’s Sakunth Kumar to utilise a 97 percentile score to your benefit in NIT admissions:
- Prioritise the CSAB Rounds in Counselling: “You should wait and participate in the CSAB special rounds to get a seat at your desired institute even with a borderline percentile score. The vacant seats after the 5 rounds of JoSAA counselling are filled up during this process and that is why you might stand a chance of admission into the top NITs during the CSAB counselling.”
- Do not focus on the top 5 NITs only: “Your focus should be divided among the top NITs as well as the newer ones. This will ensure you either get a core branch at a top NIT or a core branch at the mid-tier or newer NIT. Basically your chances of admission will increase and you will be able to seek admission into your desired course, if not your desired college.”
To sum it up, the NITs that you can get with 97 percentile in JEE Main 2026 are NIT Srinagar, NIT Nagaland, NIT Agartala, NIT Raipur, and NIT Jalandhar. It is considered a decent score for NIT admission and can help you seek admission into the core branches like CSE and IT at the newer NITs. We hope the article has benefited you and cleared your doubts about the admission chances. All the best for your admission to NITs! Stay tuned to CollegeDekho for the latest updates related to JEE Advanced 2026, JEE Main 2026, JoSAA Counselling, and more.
Related Articles:
FAQs
As of 2026, the total number of seats for undergraduate programs is 24,229 and the total number of seats for postgraduate programs is 11,428 at the NITs.
If you belong to the SC category and reside in Tamil Nadu, then you have to score at least 96th percentile for the CSE stream in NIT Trichy. However, if you are not a residential citizen of Tamil Nadu, then you need to up your game and score in the 99.5th percentile in the JEE Mains exam to get CSE in NIT Trichy.
Both IIIT and NIT are excellent education providers. However, they differ on various aspects, such as courses, admission criteria, and placement opportunities. IIITs are highly focused on IT and computer science-related disciplines whereas NITs offer a broader range of engineering courses.
MNIT Jaipur provides 100% placement to the engineering graduates with an average CTC of Rs. 14.15 lakh and the highest CTC is Rs. 39 lakh. The top recruiting companies coming for NIT Jaipur Placement are from finance, technology, and manufacturing domains.
General Category candidates are required to score a minimum of 95+ percentile in the JEE Main 2025 exam to get admission into NITs. For the reserved category candidates, 80+ percentile score in JEE Main is enough to get admission into NITs.
The most sought-after undergraduate courses available at the NITs are, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Civil Engineering.
NITs admission process is conducted through the counselling process of JEE Main carried out by the Joint Seat Allocation Authority (JoSAA). Candidates are selected for the counselling based on their merit in the JEE Main exam.
The placement statistics of each NITs vary depending upon factors such as the branch of engineering, the academic performance of the students, and the demand for skills in the job market. However, on average, most NITs have a placement rate of around 80-90%, with some institutes reporting a placement rate of almost 100%.
Similar Articles
BITSAT 2026 Iteration-Wise Cutoff Drop Analysis: Which Branches Usually Fall the Most?
What Happens If You Don’t Get Any Seat in JoSAA 2026? Complete Backup Plan
What Happens If Your Category Certificate is Rejected in JoSAA 2026?
JoSAA 2026 Document Verification: Hidden Traps and How to Prevent Seat Cancellation
Should You Freeze, Float, or Slide in JoSAA 2026?
RGUKT AP 2026 Seat Not Allotted? Best Backup Options Explained