A low score in CLAT 2027 does not close the door on a law career — more than 50 private universities and deemed institutions accepting CLAT scores remain open for admission, with several considering scores as low as 40 out of 120.
CLAT 2027 is conducted for 120 marks. Students who did not secure a rank high enough for their preferred NLU have several strong alternatives — private universities, deemed institutions, and lower-ranked NLUs across India accept CLAT scores for BA LLB and BBA LLB programmes. Many of these colleges offer strong legal education, moot court facilities, and active placement support. Acting quickly matters: most private colleges close admissions between August and October 2026.
- CLAT 2027 total marks: 120; general-category NLU cutoffs typically range from 65 to 105+, depending on the institution.
- Private and deemed colleges accepting CLAT generally consider scores from 40 to 60 out of 120, making them accessible after a low score.
- Lower-ranked NLUs in smaller states have relatively higher closing ranks, corresponding to scores in the 65–75 range under the General category (based on 2024–2025 trends).
- Students can also appear in state law entrance exams — MH CET Law, AP LAWCET, TS LAWCET, and SLAT — that run parallel to CLAT counselling.
| Direct Link — CLAT 2027 Official Counselling Portal (Active) consortiumofnlus.ac.in |
What a Low CLAT 2027 Score Means
CLAT 2027 carries 120 marks, with each question worth 1 mark and a 0.25-mark deduction for wrong answers. Top NLUs demand high accuracy and consistency across all five sections. Students who score below 70 out of 120 are unlikely to secure a seat in most NLUs under the General category, though SC, ST, and OBC categories have lower thresholds. The table below gives a broad picture of expected outcomes based on 2024–2025 CLAT score and closing-rank trends:
| CLAT 2027 Score (out of 120) | Expected Outcome — General Category |
|---|---|
| 100 and above | Top NLUs — NLSIU Bangalore, NALSAR Hyderabad |
| 85–99 | Mid-tier NLUs — GNLU Gandhinagar, NLIU Bhopal, RGNUL Patiala |
| 70–84 | Lower-ranked NLUs; waitlist at mid-tier NLUs |
| 55–69 | Very few NLUs (SC/ST reserved categories); most private colleges open |
| Below 55 | Private colleges, deemed universities; consider parallel state exams |
All score-to-outcome ranges above are expected figures based on 2024–2025 CLAT trends and should be treated as indicative. Actual 2027 cutoffs will depend on the number of applicants and overall score distribution.
NLUs Still Accessible with a Lower CLAT 2027 Score
Not all NLUs close at elite scores. Several NLUs in smaller states have significantly higher closing ranks, meaning students with CLAT 2027 scores in the 65–78 range may still secure a seat in the General category. The table below lists NLUs with the lowest expected closing ranks for CLAT 2027, based on 2024–2025 counselling data:
| NLU | State | Expected General Closing Rank (2027) |
|---|---|---|
| HNLU Raipur | Chhattisgarh | 4,000–5,000 |
| RMLNLU Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | 3,500–4,500 |
| NLUO Cuttack | Odisha | 4,500–5,500 |
| DSNLU Visakhapatnam | Andhra Pradesh | 5,000–6,500 |
| MNLU Aurangabad | Maharashtra | 5,500–7,000 |
| DBRANLU Sonepat | Haryana | 6,000–8,000 |
| NUSRL Ranchi | Jharkhand | 7,000–9,000 |
| CNLU Patna | Bihar | 8,000–10,000 |
| HPNLU Shimla | Himachal Pradesh | 8,500–11,000 |
| NLUJA Guwahati | Assam | 9,000–12,000 |
All closing ranks listed are expected ranges based on 2024–2025 CLAT counselling. These NLUs offer solid legal education, bar council recognition, and campus placement drives. Domicile-based reservations apply at some NLUs — check the CLAT 2027 brochure for state-wise seat matrices.
Top Private Law Colleges Accepting CLAT 2027
Many well-regarded private and deemed universities accept CLAT scores for admission to BA LLB, BBA LLB, and BCom LLB programmes. These institutions run their own admission rounds — you must apply to them separately from CLAT NLU counselling. Below are notable private and deemed law schools with their approximate expected CLAT score requirements:
| College | Location | Programme Offered | Approx. CLAT Score Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIIT School of Law | Bhubaneswar, Odisha | BA LLB / BBA LLB | 50+ |
| NMIMS Kirit P. Mehta School of Law | Mumbai | BA LLB / BBA LLB | 55+ |
| Nirma University Institute of Law | Ahmedabad | BA LLB | 50+ |
| UPES School of Law | Dehradun | BA LLB / BBA LLB | 45+ |
| Alliance School of Law | Bangalore | BA LLB / BBA LLB | 45+ |
| Amity Law School | Noida / Delhi | BA LLB / BBA LLB | 40+ |
| Bennett University School of Law | Greater Noida | BA LLB | 50+ |
| BML Munjal University School of Law | Gurugram, Haryana | BA LLB | 50+ |
| Manipal Law School | Manipal, Karnataka | BA LLB / BBA LLB | 45+ |
| Chandigarh University School of Law | Chandigarh | BA LLB | 45+ |
| Lovely Professional University | Phagwara, Punjab | BA LLB | 40+ |
| Sharda University School of Law | Greater Noida | BA LLB | 40+ |
| Presidency University School of Law | Bangalore | BA LLB | 40+ |
| Manav Rachna University | Faridabad, Haryana | BA LLB | 40+ |
Note: Score thresholds above are indicative and based on general admission patterns from recent cycles. Each college sets its own CLAT 2027 admission criteria — apply directly and check the college’s official website for updated requirements and application deadlines.
Alternative Law Entrance Exams to Consider
If your CLAT 2027 score is lower than what your target colleges require, appearing in state-level and institution-specific law entrance exams is a strong parallel strategy. Many of these exams accept applications from May through August and have results and counselling by September–October 2026:
| Exam | Conducting Body | Colleges / Institutions Covered |
|---|---|---|
| AILET | NLU Delhi | NLU Delhi only (separate from CLAT consortium) |
| MH CET Law | State CET Cell, Maharashtra | Government and private law colleges in Maharashtra |
| AP LAWCET | APSCHE, Andhra Pradesh | Law colleges in Andhra Pradesh |
| TS LAWCET | Osmania University | Law colleges in Telangana |
| SLAT | Symbiosis International University | Symbiosis Law Schools — Pune, Noida, Hyderabad, Nagpur |
| CUET UG | NTA | Central universities and several participating state universities |
| PU LLB Entrance | Panjab University | Panjab University and affiliated law colleges |
| DU LLB Entrance | Delhi University | Delhi University Faculty of Law and campus colleges |
Applying to two or three of these exams alongside exploring private CLAT-accepting colleges maximises your chances of securing a strong law seat in the 2026–27 academic year even with a low CLAT 2027 score.
CLAT 2027 Low Score FAQs
Ques. What is a good score in CLAT 2027 for private law colleges?
Ans. A score of 45 to 60 out of 120 is generally sufficient for most private law colleges accepting CLAT 2027. Well-known institutions like KIIT School of Law and NMIMS may require 50–55 or above, based on past admission patterns. Colleges with open-merit processes may accept scores as low as 40.
Ques. Can I get into an NLU with a score of 70 in CLAT 2027?
Ans. Yes, based on 2024–2025 closing-rank trends. A score of around 70 out of 120 may secure admission in lower-ranked NLUs such as NUSRL Ranchi, CNLU Patna, NLUJA Guwahati, or DBRANLU Sonepat, particularly in reserved categories. These NLUs had expected general closing ranks above 7,000 in recent cycles.
Ques. Do all private law colleges require only a CLAT score for admission?
Ans. No. Some private colleges use their own entrance tests — Symbiosis Law School uses SLAT, and O.P. Jindal Global University uses JSAT. Others accept CUET UG scores. Always verify the specific admission test accepted by each college for the 2027 cycle before applying.
Ques. Is the CLAT 2027 score valid for state law entrance admissions?
Ans. Several state universities and private institutions accept CLAT scores, but many states also run their own entrance exams — Maharashtra uses MH CET Law, Andhra Pradesh uses AP LAWCET, and Telangana uses TS LAWCET. Check the official admission notification of each target institution for eligibility requirements.
Ques. Can I reappear in CLAT after a low score in 2027?
Ans. Yes. CLAT is conducted every year and there is no cap on the number of attempts, as long as you meet the age and eligibility criteria at the time of application. You can enrol in a private law college or pursue another programme while preparing to reappear in CLAT 2028.
Ques. When do private colleges close admissions for CLAT 2027 applicants?
Ans. Most private law colleges accepting CLAT 2027 scores close their admissions between August and October 2026, depending on the institution. Students should apply to shortlisted colleges as early as possible after CLAT 2027 results are declared to avoid missing deadlines.
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