MHT CET Cutoff vs. Placement: Do Higher Cutoff Colleges Offer Better Jobs?

Many students believe that colleges with higher MHT CET cutoffs offer better placement opportunities. This belief is often true, but not always. The state cell of Maharashtra has not uploaded the MHT CET 2025 Cutoff data yet. So we can look at the previous year’s data to analyse the situation better.

In 2024, top colleges like COEP Pune and ICT Mumbai had very high closing ranks. For example, Robotics and AI at COEP closed at 645, and Chemical Engineering at ICT Mumbai closed at 1110. Courses like Computer Engineering at Cummins College, Pune, also had a closing rank of 2391, showing strong demand.

This year, around 9 lakh students appeared for MHT CET 2025, up from 6 lakh in 2022. The rising number of applicants has made it more competitive, and cutoffs for popular courses have increased. But a higher cutoff doesn’t always mean better placements. In this article, we will look at cutoff trends, placement records, and whether students should choose a college just based on cutoff or consider other factors like course interest and job opportunities.

MHT CET Applicant Trends and Competition (2015–2025)

Before we look at the cutoff data, it's important to consider the number of applicants as well.

The number of candidates appearing for the exam is one of the key factors that influences the cutoff every year.

MHT CET trends (2015–2025) reveal growing applicants, tougher competition, preference shifts, and increased demand for top engineering colleges.

Highlights:

• MHT CET applicant trends show a 48% rise in registrations from 2022 to 2025, with attendance rates above 90%.
• Engineering seat availability has remained almost static, intensifying competition for top colleges and branches.
• This heightened competition has pushed MHT CET cutoff scores higher at leading institutes, especially for Computer Science, IT, and ECE.

MHT CET Cutoff Trends: Top Colleges and Branches (2022–2025)

MHT CET cutoff trends (2022–2025) show rising percentiles and packages for top colleges like COEP, VJTI, SPIT, PICT, and DJ Sanghvi.

Key Observations:

• Colleges with the highest MHT CET cutoff (COEP Pune, VJTI Mumbai) consistently offer the best average and maximum CTC placement outcomes.
• Sought-after branches like Computer Science and IT have cutoffs above the 99th percentile, reflecting intense demand and employer preference for these skill sets.
• The gap between high-cutoff and mid-tier colleges in cutoff and placement statistics remains significant.

Check: MHT CET 2025 College Predictor

MHT CET Cutoff vs. Placement: Correlation Analysis (2024–2025)

Higher MHT CET cutoffs mean better placements, showing that top colleges give higher salary packages and more job opportunities.

Insights:

• There is a strong positive correlation between a high MHT CET cutoff and superior placement statistics.
• Top colleges attract major multinational recruiters and offer higher salary packages, reinforcing their status as preferred destinations for high-scoring candidates.

Check: MHT CET 2025 Result

Reasons for Fluctuations in MHT CET Applicant Numbers and Cutoff Trends

• Industry Demand: The IT sector’s expansion and high-paying job roles have made Computer Science and related branches more attractive, driving up MHT CET applicant trends and cutoffs.
• Limited Seat Growth: While applicants have surged, the number of engineering seats has remained nearly constant, raising the competition ratio and pushing cutoffs higher.
• Pandemic Recovery: Post-pandemic years saw pent-up demand and a return to regular academic cycles, resulting in a sharp increase in applications and higher cutoffs.
• Changing Preferences: New-age branches such as AI, Data Science, and Cybersecurity are now in high demand, reflected in rising cutoffs for these specialisations.
• Placement Track Record: Colleges with a history of good placements bring more high-ranking candidates, further reinforcing the cycle of high cutoffs and excellent placement results.

MHT CET Cutoff vs. Placement: Implications for Aspirants (2025)

• Strategic Preparation: Since the cutoffs are increasing, candidates should aim for a higher score and not expect to enter top colleges and branches.
• Placement Advantage: Obtaining placement at a high-cutoff college creates a lot of prospects for a better placement and higher entry salaries with the help of MHT CET.
• Competition Dynamics: The ever-growing difference between the number of candidates and the number of seats available translates into the fact that slight improvements in scores impact the likelihood of being admitted and career prospects in the profession.

Final Thoughts

The evidence of the last 10 years proves a strong correlation between increased MHT CET cutoffs and better placement records in the top 10 engineering colleges in Maharashtra. The increase in MHT CET applicant trends has led to the cut-off marks rising and difficulty in securing a place in top universities and colleges. For aspirants, targeting high scores and understanding the dynamic interplay between cutoffs and placements is crucial for maximising admission and career success.