Many students who reach 98 percentile go into counseling with one thought: “NIT toh mil hi jayegi.” The good part is — that expectation is not completely unrealistic.
But the bigger question is not just getting an NIT. What type of NIT and branch can realistically become possible at this score?
Students around 98 percentile in JEE Main 2026 often have stronger chances in colleges like:
- NIT Patna
- Hamirpur
- NIT Jalandar
- NIT Srinagar
- NIT Agartala
- NIT Meghalaya other newer or mid-tier NITs.
Particularly in branches such as Mechanical, Civil, Chemical, and Electrical Engineering.
Your percentile is important, but it is not the only thing that decides your NIT. Category, home state quota, and JoSAA counselling rounds also play a big role in deciding which colleges and branches you can get.
Want to check your expected JEE Main 2026 rank?
A small change in AIR (rank) can change your NIT options. Checking your expected rank via JEE Main Rank Predictor helps you make better counselling decisions.
98 Percentile in JEE Main 2026: Expected NIT Options
These NITs become even more achievable in later JoSAA rounds or with category and home state benefits.
| College Name | Branches at 98 Percentile |
| NIT Hamirpur | Civil, Mechanical, Chemical |
| NIT Jalandhar | Civil, Chemical, Industrial & Production |
| NIT Durgapur | Civil, Metallurgical & Materials, Biotechnology |
| NIT Kurukshetra | Mechanical, Civil (Electrical in stronger rank cases) |
| NIT Jamshedpur | Metallurgical & Materials, Civil, Production |
| NIT Raipur | Mechanical, Electrical, Civil |
| NIT Patna | Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
| NIT Silchar | Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
| NIT Srinagar | Mechanical, Electrical, Civil, Computer Science & Engineering |
| NIT Agartala | Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical |
| NIT Meghalaya | Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
| NIT Nagaland | Electronics & Instrumentation, Civil, Electrical |
| NIT Mizoram | Electrical, Civil, Mechanical |
| NIT Manipur | Civil, Mechanical, Electrical |
Note: With 98 percentile, Computer Science Engineering (CSE) in top NITs is usually difficult, especially for General category students.
However, students with OBC/EWS/SC/ST category benefits, home state quota, or a stronger rank range may have better chances in selected NITs.
Confused about which NITs are actually possible at 98 percentile?
Try the JEE Main College Predictor to explore realistic college and branch options for your rank, category, and quota.
Previous Year Cutoff Trends for 98 Percentile in NITs
A 98 percentile in JEE Main 2025 typically translates to an All India Rank (CRL) between 11,000 and 21,000 (General category), depending on the session.
This score opens promising opportunities in several NITs, particularly in later JoSAA rounds, under Home State (HS) quota, or for core engineering branches.
Top-tier NITs (Trichy, Surathkal, Warangal): CSE and ECE remain highly competitive (closing ranks often under 8,000). However, Mechanical and Civil Engineering are accessible up to 13,000–27,000 ranks. For instance, NIT Trichy Mechanical closed around 9,000–13,600 in early rounds.
Mid-tier NITs (Rourkela, Calicut, Jaipur, Allahabad, Durgapur, Hamirpur): Strong chances for ECE, EEE, and Mechanical (8,000–20,000 ranks). CSE is possible in NIT Hamirpur and similar institutes around 5,000–10,000.
Lower-tier & Newer NITs (Jalandhar, Raipur, Patna, Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Uttarakhand, Puducherry, Agartala): Excellent options for CSE, IT, ECE, and almost all core branches, with closing ranks extending comfortably beyond 20,000–40,000+.
Candidates must note that the HS quota significantly improves chances. Core branches like Civil, Mechanical, and Chemical generally have higher closing ranks than CSE/ECE.
Always refer to official JoSAA 2025 Round 5/6 PDFs for category-wise, institute-wise data and strategize your choice filling accordingly.
CSE, AI, ECE or Better NIT: What Should You Choose?
This is where many students get confused after JEE Main. Should you choose CSE/AI in a newer NIT, or go for a better NIT with Mechanical, Civil, or Electrical?
If you enjoy coding, computers, or technology, CSE or AI can be a good choice. These branches are popular for software jobs, but competition and cutoffs are usually higher.
If you want a mix of tech and flexibility, ECE (Electronics & Communication Engineering) is often a smart option. Many ECE students also move into software and IT jobs by learning coding in college.
But if you are getting a better NIT with a core branch, do not ignore it too quickly. A stronger NIT can offer better exposure, seniors, internships, and campus opportunities.
Home State Quota vs Other State Quota in NIT Admissions
Many students focus only on percentile and forget an important factor — quota. In NIT admissions, Home State (HS) and Other State (OS) quota can affect your college and branch options.
In most NITs:
- 50% seats are for Home State students
- 50% seats are for Other State students
Home State (HS) Quota
You may get an HS quota if you pass Class 12 from the same state as the NIT.
Benefits:
- Better chances in your state NIT
- Easier cutoffs in many cases
- Possibility of a better branch
Example:
Passing Class 12 from Uttarakhand, You will be eligible for the (HS) quota at NIT Uttarakhand (Srinagar), which can significantly improve your chances during counselling.
Other State (OS) Quota
If you apply to an NIT outside your state, you come under OS quota.
- Competition is usually higher
- Cutoffs are often tougher
Mistakes Students Make While Choosing NITs at 98 Percentile
With 98 percentile, many students have decent NIT options, but small counselling mistakes can reduce their chances. Here are some common ones to avoid:
- Chasing only CSE and ignoring good branches like ECE, Electrical, or Mechanical
- Ignoring Home State quota advantage, which may help in getting a better branch
- Filling too few college choices in JoSAA counselling
- Choosing only dream NITs and keeping no realistic or safe options
- Ignoring later JoSAA rounds, where cutoffs may improve
- Following others blindly instead of checking realistic college chances
Simple tip: A balanced college list often works better than taking risks with only a few choices.
Sometimes your options depend on small improvements. A JEE Main Mock Test can help you understand what’s still possible with a better rank.
FAQs
Q. Which NITs are possible at 98 percentile?
A. You may get chances in mid-tier and newer NITs such as: NIT Kurukshetra, NIT Jamshedpur, NIT Raipur, NIT Patna, NIT Silchar, NIT Srinagar and NIT Agartala Etc.
Q. Which branches are available at 98 percentile?
A. Common branches include: Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Electronics & Communication Engineering (CSE in some cases).
Q. Can I get CSE in NIT at 98 percentile?
A. CSE at 98 percentile is tough for most General category students. But in some cases, it may be possible in NIT Srinagar, NIT Agartala and NIT Nagaland, depending on category and home state quota.
Q. Does Home State quota help at 98 percentile?
A. Yes. Home State quota can improve your chances at 98 percentile, especially in your state’s NIT, and can also help you get a better branch compared to Other State quota.
Q. Should I wait for later JoSAA rounds?
A. Yes, sometimes better branches or seats open in later rounds, so it is important to participate in all counselling rounds.