CLAT 2025: Are Low-Ranked NLUs Better Than Private Law Colleges?

CLAT 2025: Are Low-Ranked NLUs Better Than Private Law Colleges?

Ongoing Event

CLAT Application Date:01 Aug' 25 - 31 Oct' 25

Sumeet SudarshanUpdated on 25 Feb 2025, 10:56 AM IST

Candidates with a low score in CLAT 2025 might be faced with a dilemma of whether to opt for a low-ranked NLU or look for admissions into private law colleges. The good news is that there are plenty of college options to choose from. Candidates can also appear for other law entrance exams accepted by private law colleges to maximise their chances of admission. The quality of education offered by top private law colleges in India is on par with premier NLUs and as per global industry standards. Many of the private law colleges also feature in the NIRF law rankings 2024 alongside top NLUs in the country. In this article find out which are the top private law colleges to look at instead of low-ranked NLUs.

CLAT 2025: Are Low-Ranked NLUs Better Than Private Law Colleges?
CLAT 2025: Are Low-Ranked NLUs Better Than Private Law Colleges?

Other than the National Law Universities (NLUs), over 60+ private law colleges are participating in CLAT 2025. Besides, some other entrance exams such as the Symbiosis Law Admission Test, JGLS LNAT UK, and the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Law offer good alternatives for admission into private law colleges.

When Should You Look at Private Law Colleges?

Candidates with a good score in CLAT will sail through the CLAT 2025 admissions process and secure a seat in the premier NLUs such as NLSIU Bengaluru and NALSAR Hyderabad. A score of 90+ for reserved category candidates and a score of 100+ for general candidates is enough to achieve this.

However, candidates who do not have a high score in the Common Law Admission Test should widen their college options and start looking at private law colleges instead of low-ranked NLUs.

CLAT 2025 Score Range to Look at Private Colleges Instead of Low-Ranked NLUs

Category

Expected Score range

General

Below 90

EWS

Below 85

OBC

Below 80

SC

Below 70

ST

Below 70

Top Private Law Colleges Instead of Low-Ranked NLUs

Given below is a list of private law colleges that candidates can consider for admission instead of opting for a low-ranked NLU. The table also includes the entrance exams accepted by these colleges, courses offered, and their place in the NIRF rankings.

Top Private Law Colleges in India

Sl. no

College Name

Exams Accepted

Courses Offered

NIRF Rank 2024

1

Jindal Global Law School, Sonepat

JGLS LNAT

BA LLB Hons, BCom LLB Hons, BBA LLB Hons

-

2

Symbiosis Law School, Pune

SLAT

BA LLB Hons., BBA LLB Hons.

5

3

Nirma University, Ahmedabad

CLAT

BA LLB, BCom LLB, BBA LLB

-

4

ILS Law College, Pune

MH CET Law

BA LLB, BBA LLB

-

5

Christ University, Bengaluru

CULEE

BA LLB Hons., BBA LLB Hons.

15

6

NMIMS School of Law, Mumbai

NMIMS LAT, CLAT

BA LLB Hons, BBA LLB Hons.

-

7

Alliance University, Bengaluru

CLAT, CUET law

BA LLB Hons, BBA LLB Hons.

18

8

BITS Law School, Mumbai

CLAT, AILET, LNAT, SLAT, MH CET Law

BA LLB Hons, BBA LLB Hons.

-

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Questions related to CLAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CLAT ?

Hello,

No, you are not elligible to appear for the CLAT exam while in Class 11, as the elligiblity criteria require you to be in or have completed Class 12 . However, you can start preparing for the exam now.

  • Understand the CLAT Exam pattern.
  • Analyze your performance by taking practice tests.
  • Develop a study schedule that balances your schoolwork and CLAT preparation.

You can get the CLAT Exam practice tests by following this link:

https://law.careers360.com/articles/free-clat-practice-test

Hello,

Yes, if a student is from Telangana, they can apply for a reserved seat in CLAT only if they belong to a reserved category such as SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or PwD, as per the rules of CLAT and the participating National Law Universities (NLUs).

However, please note:

  • CLAT does not have a separate “Telangana state quota.”

  • Reservation is given based on category , not on the state, except in some NLUs that offer domicile (state) reservation for their own state students.

So, if you are from Telangana, you can:

  • Apply under your category reservation (like SC/ST/OBC/EWS) .

  • And you may get Telangana domicile reservation only in those NLUs that are located in Telangana (for example, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad ).

Hope it helps !

Hello,

For CLAT PG 2026 application :

Photograph: JPEG/JPG, 200x230 pixels, 20–50 KB, white/light background, recent passport-size photo.

Signature: JPEG/JPG, 140x60 pixels, 10–20 KB, sign on white paper with black ink, must match exam documents.

Hope it helps !

Hi dear candidate,

On our official website, you can find various study material EBooks and Sample Papers that can help you prepare better that you can download for free.

Kindly refer to the link attached below:

CLAT E-books and Sample Papers

CLAT Study Material 2026 PDF - Books, Mock Test, Question Papers

BEST REGARDS


Hello,

While NLUs are costly, you can still pursue government-funded law education through state-funded universities and their affiliated colleges that accept CLAT scores, such as institutes like Banaras Hindu University and Aligarh Muslim University.

I hope it will clear your query!!