TNEA 2026 SC Category Cutoff: Expected Closing Ranks and Colleges Under SC Quota

TNEA 2026 SC category closing cutoffs are expected to range from 120 to 185 out of 200 based on TNEA 2025 trends, with top colleges like CEG Chennai requiring SC cutoffs above 179 for CSE and ECE branches.

The Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2026 cutoff for SC (Scheduled Caste) category decides which students under the 15% SC reservation quota secure seats in government and government-aided engineering colleges across Tamil Nadu. Anna University publishes a separate SC merit list and fills reserved seats in order of SC rank. The counselling and allotment process is expected around July 14, 2026, with official cutoffs published at tneaonline.org.

• TNEA SC category accounts for 15% of total seats in all participating government and government-aided engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu.
• The TNEA cutoff mark formula is: Maths (out of 100) + Physics/2 (out of 50) + Chemistry/2 (out of 50) = 200 marks maximum.
• Based on TNEA 2025 trends, SC closing cutoffs at CEG Chennai ranged between 180 and 184 for CSE and ECE branches.
• Students with SC cutoff marks above 160 can target reputed government colleges including GCT Coimbatore and TCE Madurai.
• SC students scoring as low as 120 have viable options at government engineering colleges in less-urban districts of Tamil Nadu.

What is TNEA SC Category Cutoff?

The TNEA SC category cutoff is the closing cutoff mark or the last SC merit rank at which a seat is allotted in a specific college and branch during TNEA counselling. Anna University generates a separate category-wise merit list for SC students and fills SC-reserved seats in descending order of cutoff mark.

The TNEA cutoff mark is calculated as follows:

SC students are ranked within the SC merit list and seats are allotted until all 15% reserved seats are filled. The closing cutoff mark is the score of the last SC student admitted in any college-branch combination. Students with a lower SC rank number (closer to 1) have the strongest chances at premium colleges and sought-after branches.

TNEA 2025 SC Category Closing Cutoffs

The table below shows TNEA 2025 SC closing cutoff marks for key colleges and popular branches. These figures serve as the primary basis for TNEA 2026 SC cutoff projections.

These figures are based on TNEA 2025 allotment data and are provided as historical reference for planning purposes. Actual TNEA 2026 closing cutoffs will be published by Anna University upon completion of all counselling rounds.

Expected TNEA 2026 SC Category Closing Cutoffs

Based on TNEA 2025 SC closing cutoff trends, the following are projected TNEA 2026 SC category closing cutoffs. These are expected figures and may vary based on the number of SC applicants and Tamil Nadu Class 12 Board results this year.

CSE branches consistently record the highest SC closing cutoffs at every college. ECE follows closely. Branches such as Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and EEE have relatively lower closing cutoffs, giving SC students with cutoff marks in the 130-160 range strong options across Tamil Nadu.

Top Colleges Under TNEA SC Quota

The following government and government-aided colleges offer seats under the TNEA SC quota and consistently attract SC students due to their infrastructure, placement records and branch diversity.

SC students with cutoff marks above 175 should aim for CEG Chennai. Students in the 150-175 range can realistically target GCT Coimbatore, PSG College of Technology and TCE Madurai. Students scoring between 120 and 150 have strong options at government engineering colleges in Salem, Tirunelveli and Bargur across multiple branches.

Factors Affecting TNEA 2026 SC Category Cutoff

Several factors influence the final TNEA 2026 SC closing cutoffs. Knowing these helps students set realistic expectations and build a sound college preference list during counselling.

• Number of SC applicants: Higher SC applicant numbers push closing cutoffs upward. A significant increase in SC-eligible students registered for TNEA 2026 will raise competition at all colleges.
• Tamil Nadu Class 12 Board results: A strong overall batch in Class 12 Board results raises the general cutoff mark distribution, pulling SC cutoffs higher across all colleges.
• Seat availability: Colleges with a larger total intake have more SC seats, which typically results in lower closing cutoffs at those institutions.
• Branch demand: CSE and ECE attract the highest demand every year, resulting in the highest SC closing cutoffs within any college. Civil and Mechanical branches offer more accessible entry points for SC students.
• Counselling rounds: Closing cutoffs frequently decline in supplementary and special rounds as unfilled seats are carried forward. SC students should participate in all available rounds.
• New institutions added to TNEA: If new government colleges are included in TNEA 2026, the total SC seat pool expands and may marginally ease competition at existing colleges.