85 Marks in CLAT 2026 Might Surprise You - Check Which NLUs Are Still Possible

Tier-wise Segregation of NLUs by Category

The section below provides a tier-wise list of NLUs for each category, where admission is possible with an 85 mark score in CLAT 2026.

General Category

• Tier 1 National Law Universities:

Among the top NLUs in the general category, admission chances for candidates ranked between 601 and 1,700 are almost null. Top NLUs include NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata (BA LLB), NLIU Bhopal (BA LLB), GNLU Gandhinagar, and NLU Jodhpur.

• Tier 2 National Law Universities:
  NLIU Bhopal (BSc LLB), WBNUJS Kolkata (BSc LLB), HNLU Raipur, RMLNLU Lucknow, NLU Odisha (BA LLB), NUSRL Ranchi (BA LLB), DSNLU Visakhapatnam, MNLU Mumbai (BA LLB), MNLU Nagpur (BA LLB & BBA LLB), CNLU Patna (BA & BBA LLB), NUALS Kochi.

• Tier 3 National Law Universities:
  GNLU Silvassa Campus, RGNUL Patiala, NLUJA Assam, TNNLU Tiruchirappalli (BA LLB and BCom LLB), MNLU Aurangabad, HPNLU Shimla, MPDNLU Jabalpur, DBRANLU Sonepat, NLUT Agartala, RPNLU Prayagraj, IIULER Goa (BA LLB).

EWS Category:

• Tier 1 NLUs:

NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad

• Tier 2 NLUs:

NLIU Bhopal (BA LLB), NLU Jodhpur, RMLNLU Lucknow, CNLU Patna (BA & BBA LLB), NUALS Kochi, NUSRL Ranchi (BA LLB), DSNLU Visakhapatnam

• Tier 3 NLUs:

NLUJA Assam, TNNLU Tiruchirappalli (BA LLB), TNNLU Tiruchirappalli (BCom LLB), MNLU Aurangabad (BA LLB), MNLU Aurangabad (BBA LLB), HPNLU Shimla (BA LLB), HPNLU Shimla (BBA LLB), MPDNLU Jabalpur, DBRANLU Sonepat, NLUT Agartala, RPNLU Prayagraj, IIULER Goa (BA LLB)

OBC Category

• Tier 1 NLUs:
  In top NLUs such as NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, GNLU Gandhinagar, NLIU Bhopal (BA LLB), and WBNUJS Kolkata (BA LLB), admission is generally possible for OBC students within this range.

• Tier 2 NLUs:
  NLIU Bhopal (BSc LLB), NLU Jodhpur, RMLNLU Lucknow, CNLU Patna (BA & BBA LLB), HNLU Raipur, DSNLU Visakhapatnam, etc.

• Tier 3 NLUs:
  NUALS Kochi, NLUJA Assam, TNNLU Tiruchirappalli (BA LLB), TNNLU Tiruchirappalli (BCom LLB), MNLU Aurangabad (BA LLB), MNLU Aurangabad (BBA LLB), HPNLU Shimla (BA LLB), HPNLU Shimla (BBA LLB), MPDNLU Jabalpur, DBRANLU Sonepat.

SC Category

SC students scoring around 85 marks in CLAT 2026 have a good chance of securing admission at many top NLUs. These include NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar, HNLU Raipur, CNLU Patna (BA & BBA LLB), MNLU Aurangabad (BA & BBA LLB), and others and several other NLUs that have historically admitted SC candidates at higher closing ranks.

ST Category

Candidates in the ST category who score around 85 marks in CLAT 2026 can expect admission at top NLUs. Top NLUs like NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, NLU Jodhpur, GNLU Gandhinagar, HNLU Raipur, CNLU Patna, MNLU Aurangabad, NUALS Kochi, and many others admit ST candidates at very high closing ranks, often well beyond 3000.

CLAT UG 2025 Cut-offs Closing Ranks

*state reservation

Rank and Seat Expectations

A score of 85-90 marks in CLAT typically places candidates within ranks 601 to 1,700. This rank bracket provides access to many reputed national law universities that maintain moderate cut-offs. The advantage for candidates in this range is the availability of multiple options, covering various geographic locations and program types. This allows aspirants to select institutions aligning with their career goals and personal NLU preferences, keeping a wide array of opportunities open.

Preparation Tips for Candidates Scoring Around 85 Marks in CLAT Mocks

It is important to understand how structured study habits can impact the CLAT scores, especially if the candidate is aiming to score around 85 marks. The following preparation tips are designed to help students strengthen their skills and boost the chances of securing admission in reputable NLUs.

• Focus on strengthening logical and legal reasoning skills, as these sections significantly impact your overall rank. Understanding the reasoning behind legal principles can help answer questions more accurately and quickly.

• Give priority to current affairs and legal knowledge. These topics often have straightforward questions and carry higher weightage, making them ideal areas to secure easy marks. Stay updated with recent news, government schemes, and important legal developments.

• Regularly practice CLAT mock tests and clat previous year question papers. This helps improve the speed and accuracy while familiarising the candidates with the exam format and question types. Analysing your mock test performance also helps identify weaker areas for improvement.

• Be aware of category-wise cut-offs and reservation policies during seat allocation. Understanding these nuances can influence the counselling choices and increase the chances of getting a preferred NLU seat.

• Keep a consistent study schedule and use the remaining time to refine exam strategies, focusing on your strengths and shoring up weaknesses.