CUET UG 2026 Participating Universities: Full Details

If you’ve just finished Class 12 — or are in the middle of it — one question is probably on your mind: Which universities can I get into through CUET UG 2026?

You’re not alone. Every year, millions of students across India appear for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG), hoping to secure a seat in their dream college. But with hundreds of universities on the list, the choices can feel overwhelming.

This guide cuts through the confusion. You’ll find a clear, category-wise breakdown of all CUET UG 2026 participating universities, key exam dates, what’s new this year, and practical tips to make the most of your one application.

Let’s get into it.

Table of Contents

1. What Is CUET UG 2026?
2. CUET UG 2026 — Key Dates at a Glance
3. What’s New in CUET UG 2026?
4. CUET UG 2026 Participating Universities — Category-Wise Breakdown
   • Central Universities
   • State Universities
   • Deemed Universities
   • Private Universities
   • Government Institutions
5. Top Universities You Can Target with CUET 2026
6. How to Choose the Right Universities
7. Common Mistakes Students Make
8. Tips to Maximize Your CUET Score
9. Key Takeaways
10. Conclusion
11. FAQs

 What Is CUET UG 2026?

The Common University Entrance Test (CUET UG) is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on behalf of the University Grants Commission (UGC). Introduced in 2022, it replaced the earlier system where each university held its own separate entrance test.

The core idea is simple: one exam, multiple universities. A student gives one test and can apply to hundreds of universities across India using that single score. This makes the process more transparent, merit-based, and accessible — particularly for students from smaller towns and rural backgrounds who couldn’t afford to travel for multiple entrance tests.

CUET UG covers three sections:

• Language Tests — English, Hindi, and 11 regional languages
• Domain-Specific Subjects — aligned with Class 12 NCERT curriculum
• General Test — for reasoning, general awareness, and quantitative aptitude

CUET UG 2026 — Key Dates at a Glance

All dates are based on NTA official notifications as of March 2026. Always verify at cuet.nta.nic.in.

What’s New in CUET UG 2026?

Several important changes have been introduced for the 2026 cycle. Knowing them upfront will help you plan your application better.

Reduced Subject Options: The number of available test papers has been trimmed from 63 to 37. Subjects like Entrepreneurship, Teaching Aptitude, and Legal Studies have been removed. Admissions for these discontinued subjects will now rely on General Aptitude Test scores.

No Subject Restrictions: Students can now choose any domain subject regardless of what they studied in Class 12. This opens up cross-stream opportunities — for instance, a Commerce student can now opt for a Science domain paper if a university course requires it.

CBT Mode Only: The exam will exclusively be conducted in Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode across all centres.

Standardized Duration: Each subject paper will now have a fixed 60-minute duration, removing the earlier inconsistency.

No Optional Questions: The exam eliminates optional questions entirely, making the question format uniform for all candidates.

Fewer Languages: The language section has been reduced from 33 languages to 13 — English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu.

 CUET UG 2026 Participating Universities — Category-Wise Breakdown

Over 280 universities across India will accept CUET UG 2026 scores for undergraduate admissions. Here’s how they break down by type.

Central Universities (48 Universities)

Central universities are established and funded directly by the Government of India through an Act of Parliament. All undergraduate admissions at central universities are based exclusively on CUET scores — there is no separate entrance test.

Notable central universities include:

• University of Delhi (DU) — 77 affiliated colleges across North and South Campus
• Banaras Hindu University (BHU) — Varanasi, UP
• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) — New Delhi
• Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) — Aligarh, UP
• Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) — New Delhi
• University of Hyderabad (UoH) — Hyderabad, Telangana
• University of Allahabad — Prayagraj, UP
• Pondicherry University — Puducherry
• North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) — Shillong, Meghalaya
• Central University of Rajasthan — Ajmer, Rajasthan

Pro Tip: If your goal is DU, JNU, or BHU, your CUET score is the only thing that matters. Make it count.

State Universities (39 Universities)

State universities are established by state governments through their respective legislative acts. For many state universities, only selected courses or a specific number of seats use CUET scores. Always verify this with each university directly.

Key state universities in the CUET list include:

• Delhi Technological University (DTU) — New Delhi
• Dr. B.R. Ambedkar University Delhi — New Delhi
• Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) — New Delhi
• University of Jammu — Jammu, J&K
• Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (BBAU) — Lucknow, UP

Deemed Universities (26 Universities)

Deemed-to-be-universities are institutions recognized by the UGC under Section 3 of the UGC Act on recommendation of the central government. Notable deemed universities accepting CUET UG 2026:

• Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) — Mumbai
• Jamia Hamdard — New Delhi
• Shiv Nadar University — Greater Noida, UP
• SRM Institute of Science and Technology — Chennai
• Symbiosis International University — Pune

Private Universities (113+ Universities)

The private university segment is the largest in the CUET list. These institutions are formed through state legislative acts but are managed by private trusts, societies, or corporate bodies. All must be UGC-accredited.

Top private universities on the CUET 2026 list:

• Amity University (multiple campuses)
• Bennett University — Greater Noida
• Chandigarh University — Chandigarh
• Lovely Professional University (LPU) — Phagwara, Punjab
• UPES — Dehradun, Uttarakhand
• Galgotias University — Greater Noida
• BML Munjal University — Gurgaon, Haryana

Note: Private universities often accept CUET scores for specific programs only. Check their official admission pages before applying.

Government Institutions (7 Institutions)

A small but important category. These include specialized national institutions such as:

• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
• Indian Maritime University
• Footwear Design and Development Institute (FDDI)

Top Universities You Can Target with CUET 2026

Based on NIRF Rankings 2025, the five highest-rated universities accepting CUET scores are:

1. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU)
2. Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI)
3. University of Delhi (DU)
4. Banaras Hindu University (BHU)
5. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU)

These are extremely competitive. Top scorers often need near-perfect marks — sometimes 200 out of 200 in their chosen domain subject — to secure general category seats at DU’s top colleges.

 How to Choose the Right Universities from the CUET List

With 280+ options, the list can paralyze rather than help. Here’s a step-by-step approach:

Step 1 — Identify your preferred course first. Are you targeting B.A. Economics, B.Sc. Physics, or B.Com Honours? Start with the course, not the university.

Step 2 — Match the subject requirements. Each university maps specific CUET domain subjects to their programs. A university offering B.Sc. Physics may require the Physics domain paper. Check the university’s information bulletin carefully.

Step 3 — Shortlist by category. Decide whether you want a central, state, deemed, or private university based on your priorities — fee structure, location, campus culture.

Step 4 — Review past cutoffs. Use CUET 2025 and 2024 cutoff data as a reference point. While not exact, trends are usually consistent.

Step 5 — Pick your five subjects wisely. CUET allows a maximum of five subjects total — up to two languages, up to three domain subjects, and the General Test. Choose subjects that serve the most universities on your list.

Common Mistakes Students Make

Choosing subjects without checking university requirements. A student may pick History as a domain subject, but their target university requires Political Science. Always read the course-to-subject mapping.

Not verifying CUET acceptance for specific courses. For state and private universities, CUET scores may apply only to certain programs. Don’t assume all courses in a university are CUET-based.

Ignoring the General Test. Several universities use the General Test score either as a primary or supplementary criterion. Don’t skip it.

Missing the correction window. If you make an error in subject selection during registration, the only fix is the official correction window. Miss it, and you’re stuck with what you submitted.

Applying without checking eligibility. Universities set their own course-level eligibility (e.g., minimum 50% in Class 12). A CUET score alone won’t guarantee admission if you don’t meet the university’s own criteria.

 Tips to Maximize Your CUET Score

• Cover NCERT thoroughly. The domain subject syllabus is directly based on Class 12 NCERT textbooks. If you’ve prepared for boards, you’re already halfway there.
• Practice time management. Each paper is now exactly 60 minutes. Mock tests under timed conditions are essential.
• Attempt full mock tests. NTA provides practice material on its official portal. Use it.
• Be careful with negative marking. CUET has a -1 penalty for incorrect answers. Avoid guessing blindly.
• Register early. Even if registration re-opens, early applicants get a wider choice of exam cities.

Key Takeaways

• CUET UG 2026 is scheduled from May 11 to May 31, 2026 in CBT mode.
• Over 280 universities — including 48 central, 39 state, 26 deemed, 113+ private, and 7 government institutions — accept CUET scores.
• All 48 central universities admit UG students exclusively through CUET. No separate test.
• New for 2026: Reduced to 37 subject papers, no optional questions, 13 languages only.
• Students can choose up to 5 subjects total across language, domain, and general test sections.
• The official website for all updates is cuet.nta.nic.in.

Conclusion

CUET UG 2026 represents one of the most significant opportunities in Indian undergraduate admissions. With a single well-prepared attempt, you can knock on the doors of 280+ universities — from a prestigious central university in Delhi to a state-of-the-art private institution in your home state.

The key is preparation with purpose. Know which universities you’re targeting, understand the subject requirements, and build your CUET strategy around them. Don’t just study hard — study smart.

Start at cuet.nta.nic.in, check the official participating university list, download the information bulletin, and map your plan today.

FAQs

1. How many universities participate in CUET UG 2026?
Over 280 universities are part of CUET UG 2026, spanning central, state, deemed, private, and government categories. The exact number may change slightly as NTA updates the list closer to the exam.

2. Is CUET UG 2026 compulsory for Delhi University admission?
Yes. DU has made CUET scores mandatory for all undergraduate admissions. There is no separate DU entrance test — your CUET score determines your eligibility.

3. Can I apply to multiple universities using one CUET score?
Absolutely. One CUET application and score is valid for all participating universities. Each university has its own counselling and seat allocation process, which you apply to separately using your CUET scorecard.

4. Do private universities fully rely on CUET scores for admission?
Not always. Many private universities accept CUET scores for specific programs only. Some may use it as one of several criteria. Always check the admission policy of each private university individually.

5. What is the CUET UG 2026 exam date?
The exam is tentatively scheduled from May 11 to May 31, 2026. NTA is expected to release the detailed subject-wise timetable in March 2026 on cuet.nta.nic.in.

6. Is there an age limit to appear for CUET UG 2026?
No. NTA has not prescribed any upper or lower age limit for CUET UG 2026. Any candidate who has passed (or is appearing for) Class 12 can apply. However, individual universities may have their own age-related criteria for certain programs.

7. What is the difference between CUET UG and CUET PG?
CUET UG is for undergraduate (Class 12 passouts) admissions. CUET PG is for postgraduate admissions (graduates). They are separate exams conducted by NTA, with different schedules, syllabi, and participating universities. CUET PG 2026 was held in March 2026.

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