Selecting the appropriate college is just as crucial for all CLAT candidates as studying for the test. Knowing which institutions stand out among the many that accept CLAT results can be crucial to determining your future.
Top-notch CLAT colleges lay the groundwork for a successful legal profession. CLAT exam is conducted by the Consortium of NLUs for admission to law courses. NLUs are among the best (Cream of the Crop) public law colleges in India, widely regarded as the pinnacle of academic excellence for UG, PG, and Integrated Law courses.
Among the 28 NLUs are NLSIU Bengaluru, NLIU Bhopal, NALSAR Hyderabad, HNLU Raipur, WBNUJS Kolkata, NLU Jodhpur, TNNLU Tiruchirapalli, GNLU Gandhinagar, and more. The majority of candidates associate CLAT with National Law Universities, but it should be noted that other universities that accept CLAT results have also gained popularity recently.
Therefore, we'll walk you through the top NLUs accepting CLAT scores, along with other options, including reputable private law universities, National Law Universities (NLUs), and CLAT-affiliated institutions, and their NIRF rankings, fee structure, seat availability, and admission process.
What are NLUs?
National Law Universities (NLUs) are the most prominent public law colleges in India, often ranked among the top CLAT colleges in the country by NIRF. As of 2026, CLAT scores are accepted for UG and PG admissions at 27 NLUs (not including NLU Delhi), established with the goal of advancing legal education and research.
Why do students prefer NLUs?
Top NLUs accepting CLAT scores in India are well-known for their demanding curricula, highly qualified professors, and concentration on the theoretical and practical facets of law.
CLAT toppers graduated from NLUs frequently secure prestigious jobs in academia, business, law firms, and the courts. Students gain the abilities necessary to succeed in the legal field through exposure to moot courts, legal research, internships, and national and international competitions.
How are CLAT scores used for admission at NLUs?
The Consortium of National Law Universities analyses your CLAT score to calculate your All India Rank (AIR), which is used for centralized counseling and seat distribution among the CLAT 2027 NLU list for undergraduate and graduate legal programs.
NLUs release the opening and closing AIR ranks for admission to narrow down the list of applicants for admission in various courses. Applicants’ scores out of 120 translate into the AIR Ranking. Your rank, reservation type, and seat availability are taken into consideration while allocating seats.
While mid-tier and more recent NLUs accept broader rank ranges, top-tier NLUs (such as NLSIU Bengaluru or NALSAR Hyderabad) demand high ranks (often within the top 350 to 800).
Number of Participating NLUs
One of the most crucial choices for CLAT Exam 2027 candidates is selecting the best CLAT colleges. The NIRF Law Rankings offer a helpful benchmark for assessing academic quality, research output, faculty strength, infrastructure, placements, and overall reputation.
NLSIU Bengaluru, NALSAR Hyderabad, and WBNUJS Kolkata are often ranked in the CLAT 2027 NLU list, and they continue to dominate the nation's top law colleges, according to the most recent NIRF Law Rankings 2025.
Why does NLU Delhi not accept the CLAT Score?
Because it works outside of the centralized Common Law Admission Test system, National Law University Delhi (NLU Delhi) does not accept the results of the CLAT. Instead, it administers the All India Law Entrance Test (AILET), an independent entrance exam.
Top NLUs Accepting CLAT Score in India
|
NLU Name
|
Location
|
NIRF 2025
|
Total Fees Approx. (INR)
|
Entrance Exam
|
Courses
|
UG Seat Intake
|
|
NLSIU Bengaluru
|
Karnataka
|
1
|
3.2 - 15.91 Lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLB, LLM
|
310
|
|
NALSAR Hyderabad
|
Telangana
|
3
|
65K - 7.8 Lakh
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLB
|
132
|
|
WBNUJS Kolkata
|
West Bengal
|
4
|
1.6 – 80 lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLM, BSc LLB
|
316
|
|
GNLU Gandhinagar
|
Gujarat
|
5
|
1.2 – 6.6 Lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, BBA LLB, B.Com LLB, BSc LLB, LLB, LLM
|
1414
|
|
NLU Odisha (NLUO)
|
Odisha
|
15
|
70K – 6.6 Lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, BBA LLB, LLM
|
230
|
|
CNLU Patna
|
Patna
|
17
|
1.1 – 5.7 Lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, BBA LLB, LLM
|
198
|
|
RMLNLU Lucknow
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
21
|
45K – 6.3 lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLM
|
218
|
|
NLIU Bhopal
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
27
|
55.3K – 7.5 Lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, BSc LLB, LLM
|
308
|
|
MNLU Nagpur
|
Maharashtra
|
28
|
1.4 – 11.3 lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, BBA LLB, LLM
|
310
|
|
NUSRL Ranchi
|
Jharkhand
|
30
|
66K – 5.5 lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLM
|
142
|
|
HPNLU Shimla
|
Himachal Pradesh
|
34
|
1.2 – 8.1 Lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, BBA LLB, LLM
|
348
|
|
NLUJA Assam
|
Assam
|
35
|
55K – 4 lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLM
|
300
|
|
NLU Jodhpur
|
Rajasthan
|
-
|
1.1 – 9.8 Lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, BBA LLB, LLM
|
|
|
HNLU Raipur
|
Chhattisgarh
|
-
|
75K – 6.3 lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLM
|
260
|
|
RGNUL Patiala
|
Punjab
|
-
|
1 – 7.3 Lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLM
|
214
|
|
NUALS Kochi
|
Kerala
|
-
|
1.3 – 8.3 lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLM
|
176
|
|
DSNLU Visakhapatnam
|
Andhra Pradesh
|
-
|
97K – 5.2 lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLM
|
138
|
|
TNNLU Tiruchirapalli
|
Tamil Nadu
|
-
|
55K – 5 lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, B.Com LLB, LLM
|
183
|
|
MNLU Mumbai
|
Maharashtra
|
-
|
1.8 – 7.7 lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLM
|
430
|
|
MNLU Aurangabad
|
Maharashtra
|
-
|
75K – 7 Lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, BBA LLB, LLM
|
180
|
|
DNLU Jabalpur
|
Madhya Pradesh
|
-
|
1.1 – 5.5 Lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLM
|
248
|
|
DBRANLU Sonipat
|
Haryana
|
-
|
2 – 4.3 Lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, PG Diploma
|
150
|
|
NLUT Agartala
|
Tripura
|
-
|
1.3 – 9.05 Lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLM
|
110
|
|
GNLU Silvassa Campus
|
Dadra & Nagar Haveli
|
-
|
1.3 – 6.6 lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLM
|
271
|
|
RPNLU Prayagraj
|
Uttar Pradesh
|
-
|
2.29 – 12.5 lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, LLM
|
70
|
|
IIULER Goa
|
Goa
|
-
|
2.5 – 49.8 lakhs
|
CLAT
|
BA LLB, BBA LLB, LLM
|
220
|
NLU UG/PG Admission Process through CLAT 2027
The admission process to the top NLUs accepting CLAT scores includes applying for CLAT 2027, taking the NLU entrance exam, and taking part in a centralized counseling process run by the Consortium of LNUs. Your preferences and category reservation are taken into consideration when allocating seats based on your CLAT results.
To increase their chances of being admitted, students are encouraged to complete all NLU choices during counselling. Admissions are done in both UG and PG courses through CLAT scores.
Why NLU Selection Matters?
Choosing a particular National Law University (NLU) is important since peer group strength, corporate salary packages, alumni networks, and campus recruitment access are all significantly influenced by institutional ranking. While top-tier NLUs guarantee day-zero placements at prestigious law firms, lower-tier or more recent NLUs could provide less brand recognition, requiring students to put in more effort on their own.
Fundamental Reasons Why Selection is Important
-
Placement Access : Top global organizations and corporate law firms are drawn to Tier-1 colleges like National Law School of India University in Bangalore and National Law University in Delhi.
-
The "NLU Tag" : A prestigious NLU brand makes first CV shortlisting in the legal market easier, much like an IIT or IIM badge.
-
Peer Group Quality: Studying with top scorers from competitive tests, such as the CLAT, fosters a demanding academic environment.
-
Internship and Mentorship Culture : It is easier to obtain internships at older NLUs because of their established networks with corporate legal teams, judges, and senior advocates.
CLAT 2027 Important Dates
All applicants need to comprehend the NLU admission dates before applying. The important dates for CLAT 2027 are as follows:
|
CLAT Events
|
Key Dates
|
|
Notification
|
July 22, 2026
|
|
CLAT 2027 Application form release date
|
August 03, 2026
|
|
CLAT 2027 Registration Last date
|
October 31, 2026
|
|
Application Correction Window Last Date
|
TBA
|
|
CLAT 2027 Admit Card Release date
|
Mid-November
|
|
|
December 06, 2026
|
|
Provisional Answer Key for CLAT 2027
|
December 07, 2026 tentative
|
|
Release of CLAT 2027 final answer key
|
December 11, 2026
|
|
Declaration of CLAT 2027 results
|
Early January 2027
|
CLAT Exam Pattern and Syllabus
|
Duration of the test
|
120 minutes (2 hours)
|
|
Mode
|
Offline mode
|
|
Type of Questions
|
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
|
|
Number of Questions
|
120
|
|
Test Sections
|
English Language
Current Affairs, including General Knowledge
Legal Reasoning
Logical Reasoning
Quantitative Techniques
|
|
Marking scheme
|
Total marks: 120 marks
Objective questions will each carry 1 mark. 0.25 marks to be deducted for an incorrect answer.
|
|
Language
|
English
|
Subject-Wise Weightage
|
Subject/Section
|
Number of questions (weightage)
|
CLAT 2027 (No. of Questions)
|
|
English Language
|
22-26 (20% of the paper)
|
24
|
|
Quantitative Techniques
|
10-14 (10% of the paper)
|
12
|
|
Logical Reasoning
|
22-26 (20% of the paper)
|
24
|
|
Current Affairs, including General Knowledge
|
28-32 (25 % of the paper)
|
28
|
|
Legal Reasoning
|
28-32 (25 % of the paper)
|
32
|
|
Total Questions
|
120 questions of one mark each
|
120
|
|
Total Marks
|
120
|
120
|
|
Total Time (min)
|
120
|
120
|
|
Marks for the correct answer
|
1 marks
|
1
|
|
Negative Marking
|
0.25 marks for each wrong answer
|
0.25 marks for each wrong answer
|
Also read :
Top CLAT-Accepting Colleges in Delhi NCR
Here is a comprehensive, data-driven summary of the fee structure and placement salary for the top CLAT Colleges in Delhi NCR that accept CLAT 2027 scores:
|
CLAT Colleges
|
Total Fees (INR)
|
Average Salary
|
|
KCC Institute of Legal and Higher Education
|
4.75 Lakhs
|
INR 6 – 8 LPA
|
|
GGSIPU, Delhi
|
98K – 19.9
|
INR 5 – 8 LPA
|
|
Asian Law College, Noida
|
4.3 – 11.9 Lakhs
|
INR 4 – 6 LPA
|
|
BML Munjal University, Gurugram
|
7.5 – 19.5 Lakhs
|
INR 8 – 10 LPA
|
|
Fairfield Institute of Management and Technology, Delhi
|
4.1 Lakhs
|
INR 2.6 – 3.9 LPA
|
|
Galgotias University, Greater Noida
|
78K – 6 Lakhs
|
INR 5 – 6 LPA
|
|
GD Goenka University, Gurugram
|
13.9 Lakhs
|
INR 3 – 5 LPA
|
|
Indian Institute of Management Rohtak
|
32.5 lakhs
|
INR 10 – 18 LPA
|
|
Lloyd Law College, Greater Noida
|
9 lakhs
|
INR 4 – 6 LPA
|
|
NIMT College of Law
|
5.8 lakhs
|
INR 3 – 4 LPA
|
NLU UG and PG courses through CLAT
UG courses offered through CLAT
-
LLB
-
BA LLB
-
BBA LLB
-
B.Com LLB
-
BSc. LLB
PG courses offered through CLAT
-
LLM
-
Other specialised postgraduate programmes, where applicable
CLAT Cut-Off for Top NLUs
The majority of CLAT cut-offs for top NLUs are included in the table below in round-by-round dumps. The actual General-category closing rank for each NLU in CLAT 2026 and CLAT 2025, the approximate score that obtained it, and the tier—arranged from most to least competitive—are all shown below. Utilize it to translate a target NLU into a target score and rank.
|
National Law University
|
2026 closing
|
2025 closing
|
Approx. marks
|
Tier
|
|
NLSIU Bangalore
|
108
|
112
|
105+
|
Top
|
|
NALSAR Hyderabad
|
168
|
159
|
102+
|
Top
|
|
WBNUJS Kolkata
|
343
|
327
|
98+
|
Top
|
|
NLU Jodhpur
|
364
|
367
|
97+
|
Top
|
|
GNLU Gandhinagar
|
398
|
444
|
96+
|
Top
|
|
NLIU Bhopal
|
459
|
480
|
95+
|
Mid
|
|
MNLU Mumbai
|
500
|
536
|
94+
|
Mid
|
|
RMLNLU Lucknow
|
798
|
721
|
90+
|
Mid
|
|
HNLU Raipur
|
806
|
765
|
90+
|
Mid
|
|
NLU Odisha (NLUO)
|
848
|
943
|
89+
|
Mid
|
|
RGNUL Patiala
|
1,141
|
1,146
|
87+
|
Mid
|
|
CNLU Patna
|
1,235
|
1,278
|
86+
|
Mid
|
|
NUALS Kochi
|
1,154
|
1,175
|
86+
|
Mid
|
|
GNLU Silvassa
|
1,500
|
1,252
|
83+
|
Emerging
|
|
DSNLU Visakhapatnam
|
1,400
|
1,489
|
84+
|
Emerging
|
|
MNLU Nagpur
|
1,404
|
1,353
|
84+
|
Emerging
|
|
NUSRL Ranchi
|
1,440
|
1,476
|
84+
|
Emerging
|
|
TNNLU Tiruchirappalli
|
1,528
|
1,516
|
83+
|
Emerging
|
|
MNLU Aurangabad
|
1,784
|
1,580
|
81+
|
Emerging
|
|
DBRANLU Sonepat
|
1,810
|
1,621
|
81+
|
Emerging
|
|
MPDNLU Jabalpur
|
2,045
|
1,762
|
80+
|
Emerging
|
|
NLUJA Assam
|
2,049
|
1,643
|
80+
|
Emerging
|
|
HPNLU Shimla
|
2,108
|
1,951
|
79+
|
Emerging
|
|
RPNLU Prayagraj
|
2,268
|
1,987
|
78+
|
Emerging
|
|
NLUT Agartala
|
2,410
|
2,098
|
77+
|
Emerging
|
How to choose the best NLU through CLAT?
Here are some essential pointers for choosing the best college for CLAT 2027:
Recognize your CLAT rank and score
Your options are largely determined by your CLAT score and rank. While lower ranks could grant entrance to other reputable law colleges, higher ranks provide access to prestigious NLUs. Make reasonable decisions based on the score.
Give National Law Universities (NLUs) top priority
NLUs are prominent, government-run universities with stellar academic reputations, outstanding faculty, and excellent placements, so if your rank is high, you should give them some thought. To determine your prospects, look at the NLU cut-offs from prior years.
Examine Colleges Associated with CLAT
Many top-notch private and public CLAT colleges also accept CLAT results if you are unable to get a spot at an NLU. Think about things like placement records, infrastructure, teachers, and curriculum.
Take into Account Course Offerings and Specializations
Specializations in cutting-edge legal fields like corporate law, intellectual property, and international law are available at some CLAT colleges in India. Based on the areas of law you are interested in, pick a college.
Examine Placement Documents
Future employment opportunities depend on having a solid placement record. Examine past placement data, the top legal companies that come to campus, and the positions available.
Conclusion
One of the most important career decisions is choosing the appropriate law colleges. The top NLUs accepting CLAT scores in India, their rankings, admissions procedures, and application deadlines are all covered in this guide, that offer both undergraduate and graduate programs. A strong CLAT 2027 score opens up fascinating options for a dynamic legal profession, whether one is going for reputable private universities or the top NLUs.
FAQs
Q1. Which NLUs accept CLAT 2027 scores?
Almost all 26 NLUs accept CLAT scores except NLU Delhi, which conducts its own entrance exam – AILET 2027.
Q2. Which is the best NLU through CLAT?
NLU Bangalore is ranked 1st in the law category by the NIRF Ranking 2025 list.
Q3. What is the CLAT cut-off for top NLUs?
The CLAT cut-offs for top NLUs range from 75 to 80 Marks out of 120. Students must also acquire an All India Rank between 2500 and 3000.
Q4. What is the average NLU fee?
The average total fee for NLUs in India ranges from INR 12 to 22 Lakhs.
Q5. Can I get an NLU with a low CLAT rank?
Depending on your category reservations, state domicile quotas, and following counseling waitlist rounds, you can still be admitted to a more recent or lower-tiered National Law University (NLU) with a low CLAT score.
Q6. Does NLU Delhi accept CLAT?
No, NLU Delhi does not accept the CLAT score, since it conducts its own exam – AILET 2027.
Q7. How does NLU counselling work?
The Consortium of National Law Universities oversees the consolidated, online admissions process for National Law Universities (NLUs), which is based on Common Law Admission Test (CLAT) scores. Through several online rounds, it distributes seats across participating NLUs based on college choices, category reservations, and candidate merit.