CUET is one of the most sought-after entrance exams in India, offering admission opportunities to more than 240 universities. With such a wide range of options, candidates can apply to Central, State, Deemed, and Private universities through their CUET 2026 scores.
However, shortlisting the right university for a UG course can be a challenging task. To make the process easier, we have compiled a comprehensive list of universities accepting CUET 2026.
This list is based on last year’s data of universities accepting CUET scores. The updated list for CUET 2026 will be released along with the official CUET 2026 notification, expected in the first week of March 2026 at cuet.nta.nic.in.
Candidates must carefully review this list to select the best-fit institutions for their academic and career goals. They need to prepare well to achieve a desirable CUET 2026 score and secure admission to their preferred institute.
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CUET 2026 Participating University/College Ownership
There are four types of universities participating in CUET 2026: Central, State, Deemed, and Private. Check the number of universities under each category below:
| Participating Institute Ownership | Number of Institutes |
| Central Universities/Institutions | 49 |
| State Universities | 36 |
| Deemed Universities | 25 |
| Private Universities | 126 |
| Other Universities | 5 |
CUET 2026 List of Participating Universities
More than 240 Central, State, Deemed, and Private universities in India will accept scores of CUET 2026. However, admission to a particular university will depend on a candidate’s CUET 2026 performance and the eligibility criteria prescribed by the respective university or institute.
Central Universities Accepting CUET 2026
Central Universities are educational institutions established and funded by the government of India. They were established by the Parliament Act. Check out the list of Central Universities accepting the CUET 2026 exam for admissions.
| S. No | University Name | State |
| 1 | Aligarh Muslim University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 2 | Assam University | Assam |
| 3 | Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 4 | Banaras Hindu University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 5 | Central Sanskrit University | New Delhi |
| 6 | Central Tribal University of Andhra Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh |
| 7 | Central University of Andhra Pradesh | Andhra Pradesh |
| 8 | Central University of Gujarat | Gujarat |
| 9 | Central University of Haryana | Haryana |
| 10 | Central University of Himachal Pradesh | Himachal Pradesh |
| 11 | Central University of Jammu | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 12 | Central University of Jharkhand | Jharkhand |
| 13 | Central University of Karnataka | Karnataka |
| 14 | Central University of Kashmir | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 15 | Central University of Kerala | Kerala |
| 16 | Central University of Odisha | Odisha |
| 17 | Central University of Punjab | Punjab |
| 18 | Central University of Rajasthan | Rajasthan |
| 19 | Central University of South Bihar | Bihar |
| 20 | Central University of Tamil Nadu | Tamil Nadu |
| 21 | Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya | Madhya Pradesh |
| 22 | Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya | Chhattisgarh |
| 23 | Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University | Uttarakhand |
| 24 | Indian Institute of Management, Sambalpur | Odisha |
| 25 | Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amarkantak, Madhya Pradesh | Madhya Pradesh |
| 26 | Jamia Millia Islamia | New Delhi |
| 27 | Jawaharlal Nehru University | New Delhi |
| 28 | Mahatma Gandhi Antarrashtriya Hindi Vishwavidyalaya | Maharashtra |
| 29 | Mahatma Gandhi Central University | Bihar |
| 30 | Manipur University | Manipur |
| 31 | Maulana Azad National Urdu University | Telangana |
| 32 | Mizoram University | Mizoram |
| 33 | Nagaland University | Nagaland |
| 34 | National Sanskrit University (Previously Rashtriya Sanskrit Vidyapeeth) | Andhra Pradesh |
| 35 | North-Eastern Hill University | Meghalaya |
| 36 | Pondicherry University | Puducherry (Union Territory) |
| 37 | Rajiv Gandhi National Aviation University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 38 | Rajiv Gandhi University, Arunachal Pradesh | Arunachal Pradesh |
| 39 | Sammakka Sarakka Central Tribal University | Telangana |
| 40 | Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri National Sanskrit University | New Delhi |
| 41 | Sikkim University | Sikkim |
| 42 | South Asian University | New Delhi |
| 43 | Tezpur University | Assam |
| 44 | The English And Foreign Languages University | Telangana |
| 45 | Tripura University | Tripura |
| 46 | University of Allahabad | Uttar Pradesh |
| 47 | University of Delhi | Delhi |
| 48 | University of Hyderabad | Telangana |
| 49 | Visva-Bharati University | West Bengal |
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State Universities Accepting CUET 2026
State Universities are established and funded by the respective State Governments. Each Indian state has the authority to establish a state university through an Act of its State Legislature. Check out the complete list of State Universities accepting CUET 2026 given below:
| S. No | University Name | State / UT |
| 1 | Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 2 | Barkatullah University | Madhya Pradesh |
| 3 | Bhattadev University | Assam |
| 4 | Cluster University Of Jammu | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 5 | Cluster University Of Srinagar | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 6 | Delhi Teachers University | Delhi (NCT) |
| 7 | Delhi Technological University | Delhi (NCT) |
| 8 | Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya | Madhya Pradesh |
| 9 | Dibrugarh University, Dibrugarh | Assam |
| 10 | Dr Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University, Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh |
| 11 | Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Technical University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 12 | Dr. B.R. Ambedkar School Of Economics University | Karnataka |
| 13 | Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University | Delhi (NCT) |
| 14 | Harcourt Butler Technical University, Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh |
| 15 | Indian Institute Of Teacher Education, Gandhinagar | Gujarat |
| 16 | Islamia College Of Science And Commerce | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 17 | Islamic University Of Science And Technology, Awantipora | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 18 | Jagadguru Rambhadracharya Divyang State University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 19 | Jagannath Barooah University | Assam |
| 20 | Kumar Bhaskar Varma Sanskrit And Ancient Studies University | Assam |
| 21 | Madan Mohan Malaviya University Of Technology | Uttar Pradesh |
| 22 | Madhabdev University, Narayanpur, Lakhimpur | Assam |
| 23 | Maharaja Chhatrasal Bundelkhand University | Madhya Pradesh |
| 24 | Maharaja Surajmal Brij University, Bharatpur | Rajasthan |
| 25 | Maharana Pratap Horticultural University Karnal | Haryana |
| 26 | Makhanlal Chaturvedi University | Madhya Pradesh |
| 27 | North Lakhimpur College | Assam |
| 28 | Nowgong College | Assam |
| 29 | Ratan Tata Maharashtra State Skills University | Maharashtra |
| 30 | Sardar Patel University Of Police Security And Criminal Justice | Rajasthan |
| 31 | Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 32 | Sibsagar University | Assam |
| 33 | University Of Jammu | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 34 | University Of Kashmir | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 35 | University Of Ladakh | Ladakh (UT) |
| 36 | Vikram University | Madhya Pradesh |
Deemed Universities Accepting CUET 2026
These universities have been granted the status of “Deemed to be University” under Section 3 of the UGC Act, on the recommendation of the Central Government. The list of Deemed Universities accepting CUET 2026 scores is given below:
| S. No | University Name | State |
| 1 | Aurora Higher Education And Research Academy | Telangana |
| 2 | Avinashilingam Institute For Home Science And Higher Education For Women | Tamil Nadu |
| 3 | Dayalbagh Educational Institute | Uttar Pradesh |
| 4 | GITAM (Visakhapatnam) | Andhra Pradesh |
| 5 | GITAM (Bengaluru) | Karnataka |
| 6 | GITAM (Hyderabad) | Telangana |
| 7 | Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics | Maharashtra |
| 8 | Graphic Era (Deemed To Be University) | Uttarakhand |
| 9 | Gujarat Vidyapith | Gujarat |
| 10 | Gurukula Kangri | Uttarakhand |
| 11 | ICFAI (Hyderabad) | Telangana |
| 12 | IIS (Deemed To Be University), Jaipur | Rajasthan |
| 13 | Jamia Hamdard | New Delhi |
| 14 | Jaypee Institute of Information Technology | Uttar Pradesh |
| 15 | Lakṣhmibai National Institute of Physical Education | Madhya Pradesh |
| 16 | Lingaya's Vidyapeeth | Haryana |
| 17 | Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed To Be University), Mullana - Ambala | Haryana |
| 18 | Manav Rachna International Institute Of Research And Studies | Uttar Pradesh |
| 19 | Nehru Gram Bharati (Deemed To Be University) | Uttar Pradesh |
| 20 | Shobhit Institute Of Engineering And Technology | Uttar Pradesh |
| 21 | SRM Institute Of Science And Technology (Deemed University), NCR Campus | Delhi NCR |
| 22 | Tata Institute Of Social Sciences (TISS) | Maharashtra |
| 23 | TERI School Of Advanced Studies | Delhi |
| 24 | The Gandhigram Rural Institute (DTBU) | Tamil Nadu |
| 25 | Vinayaka Mission's Research Foundation | Tamil Nadu |
Private Universities Accepting CUET 2026
A Private University is formed by a State Legislature Act but is governed by private management, trusts, or societies. Though control remains with private management, these universities are still required to be approved and accredited by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Private universities accepting CUET 2026 scores for admissions are the following:
| S. No | University Name | State |
| 1 | Abhyuday University | Madhya Pradesh |
| 2 | Adani University | Gujarat |
| 3 | Ajeenkya D Y Patil University, Pune | Maharashtra |
| 4 | Aks University | Madhya Pradesh |
| 5 | Amity University (Greater Noida Campus) | Uttar Pradesh |
| 6 | Amity University (WB) | West Bengal |
| 7 | Amity University Jharkhand | Jharkhand |
| 8 | Amity University Noida | Uttar Pradesh |
| 9 | Amity University Patna | Bihar |
| 10 | Amity University Punjab | Punjab |
| 11 | Apeejay Stya University | Delhi / West Bengal (multiple) |
| 12 | Apex University, Jaipur | Rajasthan |
| 13 | Arka Jain University | Jharkhand |
| 14 | Arunachal University of Studies | Arunachal Pradesh |
| 15 | ASBM University | Odisha |
| 16 | Assam Downtown University, Guwahati | Assam |
| 17 | Avantika University | Madhya Pradesh |
| 18 | Azim Premji University | Madhya Pradesh |
| 19 | Babu Banarasi Das University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 20 | Bareilly International University, Bareilly (U.P) | Uttar Pradesh |
| 21 | Bennett University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 22 | Bhagwant Global University, Kotdwar | Uttarakhand |
| 23 | Bhagwant University | Rajasthan |
| 24 | Birla Global University | Rajasthan |
| 25 | BML Munjal University | Haryana |
| 26 | Brainware University | West Bengal |
| 27 | Career College (Autonomous) Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh |
| 28 | Career Point University, Kota | Rajasthan |
| 29 | Centurion University of Technology and Management | Odisha |
| 30 | Chanakya University | Bihar |
| 31 | Chandigarh University | Punjab |
| 32 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj University | Maharashtra |
| 33 | Chitkara University, Punjab | Punjab |
| 34 | CMR University | Karnataka |
| 35 | COER University | Odisha |
| 36 | CT University (Ludhiana) | Punjab |
| 37 | DIT University, Dehradun | Uttarakhand |
| 38 | Eternal University | Himachal Pradesh |
| 39 | Future University, Bareilly | Uttar Pradesh |
| 40 | G D Goenka University, Gurugram, NCR | Haryana |
| 41 | Galgotias University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 42 | Geeta University | Haryana |
| 43 | GLA University (Mathura) | Uttar Pradesh |
| 44 | Gopal Narayan Singh University | Bihar |
| 45 | Graphic Era Hill University, Dehradun | Uttarakhand |
| 46 | Haridwar University | Uttarakhand |
| 47 | Himalayan University Itanagar | Arunachal Pradesh |
| 48 | HRIT University, Ghaziabad | Uttar Pradesh |
| 49 | IFTM University, Moradabad | Uttar Pradesh |
| 50 | IILM University, Greater Noida | Uttar Pradesh |
| 51 | IILM University, Gurugram | Haryana |
| 52 | IIMT University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 53 | IMS Unison University | Uttarakhand |
| 54 | Invertis University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 55 | Islamic University of Science and Technology, Kashmir | Jammu & Kashmir |
| 56 | ITM Skills University | Madhya Pradesh |
| 57 | ITM University Gwalior | Madhya Pradesh |
| 58 | Jagannath University, Delhi NCR Bahadurgarh, Haryana | Haryana |
| 59 | Jagannath University, Jaipur (Rajasthan) | Rajasthan |
| 60 | Jaipur National University | Rajasthan |
| 61 | JECRC University, Jaipur | Rajasthan |
| 62 | Jharkhand Rai University | Jharkhand |
| 63 | Joy University | Madhya Pradesh |
| 64 | K. R. Mangalam University | Haryana |
| 65 | Kalinga University, New Raipur, Chhattisgarh | Chhattisgarh |
| 66 | Karnavati University | Gujarat |
| 67 | Lovely Professional University | Punjab |
| 68 | Madhav University | Madhya Pradesh |
| 69 | Mahindra University, Hyderabad | Telangana |
| 70 | Manav Rachna University, Faridabad | Haryana |
| 71 | Mangalayatan University, Aligarh | Uttar Pradesh |
| 72 | Mangalayatan University, Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) | Madhya Pradesh |
| 73 | Manipal University Jaipur | Rajasthan |
| 74 | Maya Devi University, Dehradun | Uttarakhand |
| 75 | Mewar University | Rajasthan |
| 76 | Mind Power University | Assam |
| 77 | MNR University | Andhra Pradesh |
| 78 | Mody University | Rajasthan |
| 79 | NIIT University | Rajasthan |
| 80 | Noida International University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 81 | OM Sterling Global University | Rajasthan |
| 82 | Pearl Academy (CAES) | Delhi / multiple campuses |
| 83 | Rabindranath Tagore University | Madhya Pradesh |
| 84 | Rakshpal Bahadur Management Institute, Bareilly | Uttar Pradesh |
| 85 | Ranaiah University of Applied Sciences | Karnataka |
| 86 | Renaissance University | Madhya Pradesh |
| 87 | Reva University | Karnataka |
| 88 | Rishihood University, Sonepat | Haryana |
| 89 | RNB Global University | Rajasthan |
| 90 | RV University | Karnataka |
| 91 | SAGE University, Indore | Madhya Pradesh |
| 92 | Sanjeev Agrawal Global Educational University, Bhopal | Madhya Pradesh |
| 93 | Sanskaram University, Jhajjar | Haryana |
| 94 | Sanskriti University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 95 | Sardar Bhagwan Singh University, Balalwala, Dehradun, Uttarakhand | Uttarakhand |
| 96 | School of Management Sciences, Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh |
| 97 | SGT University | Haryana |
| 98 | Sharda University (Agra) | Uttar Pradesh |
| 99 | Sharda University (Greater Noida) | Uttar Pradesh |
| 100 | Shoolini University of Biotechnology and Management Sciences | Himachal Pradesh |
| 101 | Shri Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara University | Karnataka |
| 102 | Sikkim Manipal University | Sikkim |
| 103 | Sikkim Professional University | Sikkim |
| 104 | Sir Padampat Singhania University, Udaipur | Rajasthan |
| 105 | Sister Nivedita University, Kolkata | West Bengal |
| 106 | SR University | Telangana |
| 107 | SRM University (Andhra Pradesh) | Andhra Pradesh |
| 108 | SRM University Delhi-NCR, Sonepat | Haryana |
| 109 | Sunbeam College for Women, Bhagwanpur, Varanasi | Uttar Pradesh |
| 110 | Suresh Gyan Vihar University Jaipur | Rajasthan |
| 111 | Sushant University (Gurugram) | Haryana |
| 112 | Swami Vivekanand Subharti University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 113 | Tantia University | Rajasthan |
| 114 | Teerthanker Mahaveer University | Uttar Pradesh |
| 115 | The ICFAI University, Dehradun | Uttarakhand |
| 116 | The ICFAI University, Himachal Pradesh | Himachal Pradesh |
| 117 | The ICFAI University, Jaipur | Rajasthan |
| 118 | The ICFAI University, Jharkhand | Jharkhand |
| 119 | The ICFAI University, Raipur | Chhattisgarh |
| 120 | United University, Prayagraj | Uttar Pradesh |
| 121 | University of Engineering & Management, Jaipur | Rajasthan |
| 122 | UPES - Dehradun | Uttarakhand |
| 123 | Usha Martin University, Ranchi (Jharkhand) | Jharkhand |
| 124 | Vidya University, Meerut (U.P.) | Uttar Pradesh |
| 125 | Vivekananda Global University | Rajasthan |
| 126 | World University of Design | Haryana |
Other Institutes Accepting CUET 2026
Apart from the universities mentioned above, the following institutes also accept CUET 2026 scores:
| S. No | University/Institute Name | |
| 1 | Arya Vidyapeeth College (Autonomous) Under Govt. of Assam | Assam |
| 2 | Footwear Design And Development Institute | Tamil Nadu |
| 3 | Govt. College For Women, Parade Ground, Jammu | Jammu and Kashmir |
| 4 | Indian Council Of Agricultural Research (ICAR) | New Delhi |
| 5 | Indian Institute Of Tourism & Travel Management | Madhya Pradesh |
Top Five Universities Accepting CUET Scores 2026
To identify and list the top universities accepting CUET 2026 scores, SciAstra has used the latest NIRF Rankings. The NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) is a ranking system developed by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, to assess and evaluate universities based on parameters such as teaching and learning resources, research and professional practices, graduation outcomes, outreach and inclusivity, and perception.
Check out the list below of the five best universities participating in CUET 2026.
| University | NIRF 2024 Rank |
| Jawaharlal Nehru University | NIRF 2024 Rank – 2 |
| Jamia Millia Islamia | NIRF 2024 Rank – 3 |
| Banaras Hindu University | NIRF 2024 Rank – 5 |
| Delhi University (DU) | NIRF 2024 Rank – 6 |
| University of Hyderabad (UoH) | NIRF 2024 Rank – 17 |
| Lovely Professional University (LPU) | NIRF 2024 Rank – 27 |
Conclusion
The CUET 2026 exam will be conducted for admission to more than 240 Central, State, Deemed, and Private Universities. A candidate’s admission to any of these universities will depend on their CUET 2026 score and the specific eligibility criteria prescribed by their preferred university. According to the NIRF 2024 rankings, the top five universities accepting CUET scores are Jamia Millia Islamia, Banaras Hindu University, Delhi University (DU), University of Hyderabad (UoH), and Lovely Professional University (LPU).
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