
Mid-tier National Law Universities (NLUs) offer a strong legal education, providing a more accessible option for CLAT aspirants compared to top-tier institutions. While competitive, these NLUs provide excellent opportunities for students seeking quality legal education. As CLAT 2026 approaches, understanding the expected rank-wise trends for mid-tier NLUs is essential for an effective application strategy.
These universities typically admit students with ranks ranging from the 3000s to the 6000s, depending on factors like the number of seats and competition. Familiarizing oneself with this rank-wise list will help aspirants target the right institutions based on their projected CLAT 2026 performance.
Here are detailed insights into mid-tier NLUs based on available data for CLAT 2026 admissions.
This table summarizes key details for mid-tier NLUs, including their NIRF 2025 Rankings, total undergraduate seats, and general closing ranks.
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Overview of Mid Tier NLUs |
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|
NLU |
NIRF Rankings 2025 |
Law Courses Offered |
Total UG Seats |
Closing Rank
|
|
RGNUL Patiala |
- |
BA LLB (Hons) |
214 |
1279 |
|
RMLNLU Lucknow |
21 |
BA LLB (Hons) |
191 |
780 |
|
NUALS Kochi |
- |
BA LLB (Hons) |
60 |
1346 |
|
HNLU Raipur |
- |
BA LLB (Hons) |
187 |
827 |
|
MNLU Mumbai |
31 |
BA LLB (Hons) |
122 |
558 |
|
CNLU Patna |
17 |
3-year LLB, BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB |
60 (3-yr), 79 (BA/BBA) |
1398 |
|
NLU Odisha |
15 |
BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons) |
120 (BA), 60 (BBA) |
1013 |
|
NUSRL Ranchi |
30 |
BA LLB (Hons) |
140 |
1667 |
|
MNLU Nagpur |
28 |
BA LLB (Hons), BBA LLB (Hons) |
120 (BA), 60 (BBA) |
1529 |
|
DSNLU Visakhapatnam |
- |
BA LLB (Hons) |
132 |
1682 |
This section provides CLAT Expected Closing Ranks for various categories in mid-tier NLUs. This data is crucial for reserved category applicants.
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CLAT Expected Closing Ranks for NLUs (Category-wise) |
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|---|---|---|---|
|
NLUs |
OBC Closing Rank |
SC Closing Rank |
ST Closing Rank
|
|
RGNUL Patiala |
- |
8625 |
12742 |
|
RMLNLU Lucknow |
3769* |
11228* |
- |
|
NUALS Kochi |
- |
15029* |
- |
|
HNLU Raipur |
2408 |
7660 |
10507 |
|
MNLU Mumbai |
8067* |
15622* |
13124* |
|
CNLU Patna (BA LLB) |
7359* |
12662* |
- |
|
NLU Odisha (BA LLB) |
- |
7247 |
12967 |
|
NUSRL Ranchi (BA LLB) |
3597 |
9902 |
15023 |
|
MNLU Nagpur (BA LLB) |
15059* |
27496* |
16868* |
|
DSNLU Visakhapatnam |
3813 |
9330 |
15632 |
*State category reservation is applicable.
Several factors determine the CLAT cutoff for 2026. Understanding these elements helps assess admission possibilities. These factors dictate the final CLAT Expected Closing Ranks.
Total Applicants: The number of students appearing for CLAT 2026.
Exam Difficulty: The overall difficulty level of the CLAT 2026 examination.
Available Seats: The total number of seats in each NLU for specific programs.
NLU Preference: Candidates' chosen preference order during the counselling process.
Reservation Policy: Each NLU's reservation policy for General, EWS, OBC, SC, and ST categories.
These rules outline the important steps and deadlines for CLAT 2026 admission and counselling.
The CLAT 2026 counselling process follows a strict schedule. Candidates must adhere to these dates for registration and seat acceptance.
Counselling registration started on December 17, 2025.
The last date for registration and fee payment is December 27, 2025.
The first allotment list will release on January 07, 2026.
Subsequent allotment lists and confirmation dates continue through May 2026.
Candidates must accurately fill and lock their NLU preferences. This is a critical step for CLAT seat allocation. Failing to meet the deadline makes candidates ineligible. It is advised to select many NLUs to increase admission chances.