A low CUET score can be anywhere between 400 and 600, which gives you around 80 to 84%, approximately. However, even with a low score, you can grab a seat in a top central university without breaking a sweat. Although it can be difficult to grab a seat in a highly popular course, you can go for a low popularity score in a top central university with a low score and get a seat easily. Anything below 500 is considered average to low in CUET. Some central universities that provide a comparatively lower cutoff are the Central Universities of Kerala, Haryana, Kashmir, etc.
Below are the Top Central Universities with Low CUET Cutoffs for 2026 Admissions.
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Which Central Universities accept low CUET scores for 2026?
Even a low CUET score can now help you get a seat in a Central University because of several changes in the education system. If you are willing to get into a central university and can opt for a less popular course, then you are set, since these courses usually have a lower cut-off as compared to mainstream popular courses. Even popular universities are focused on filling seats for diverse streams, which are chosen less, which makes the cut-offs drop.
Universities like HNB Garhwal University and the Central University of Kerala (also Haryana ,Kashmir etc.), will have a comparatively low cut-off in the second and third counseling rounds.
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What are the expected 2026 cutoffs for low-competition Central Universities?
The Central Universities accepting low CUET scores often have low cut-offs for less mainstream courses. You can check out the expected cutoff marks for 2026 from the table given below and make an informed decision accordingly:
University Names | Safe Courses for Low Scores | 2026 Expected Cutoff |
|---|---|---|
HNB Garhwal University | B.A. (General), B.Sc (Forestry) | 220 – 310 |
Central University of Kerala | B.A. (International Relations) | 250 – 320 |
B.A. (Hons) in Rural Management | 230 – 290 | |
Central University of Haryana | B.Voc (Industrial Waste Mgmt) | 210 – 280 |
B.Voc (Tourism & Hospitality) | 180 – 250 |
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How to find Central Universities with vacant seats after Round 1?
CUET Score is accepted by more than 200 universities across the country, where 47 are central universities. If you want to find vacant seats after round one, then you need to monitor the official websites of the Universities that you are targeting, in this case, the Central Universities of Kerala, Haryana, and Kashmir.
You can check for the recently updated notification panel and download the latest notifications with the title “Vacant Seat Matrix” to see the empty seats. If you are looking for colleges in the Delhi University, then you can check the official CSAS portal. With the rise in AI technology, the universities are also opting for AI-driven counselling bots that help you locate a vacant seat match according to your score.
Do not forget to also go through the waiting lists. If you target the colleges and courses smartly, then there are high chances of grabbing a seat in a top Central University even with a low CUET score.
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