MHT CET Round-Wise Seat Allotment: How Many Get Their First Choice?

MHT CET seat allotment is a highly competitive process, reflecting the record participation in the 2025 exam cycle.This year, the highest number of 7,65,335 candidates registered and 7,05,600 took the exam, the total attendance was nearly 92.19%. Similarly, there were 4,64,263 registered candidates among the PCM group, in which 4,22,863 appeared in MHT CET 2025 Exam with 91.04% attendance, while the PCB group recorded 3,01,072 registrations and 2,82,734 appearances with 93.91% attendance.

Following the exam, the State CET Cell will initiate the CAP for seat allotment, expected to begin in August 2025. The counseling will incorporate more than 1.3 to 1.5 lakh seats in government-aided, private, and minority colleges in Maharashtra and this is by far one of the largest admission exercises in the country. Each step of the procedure, such as registration, verification of documents, and allocation of the seat will all be done online to ensure transparency and efficiency.

MHT CET First-Choice Seat Allotment Rates (2022–2025)

Round-wise seat allotment data shows varying first-choice success rates, with top ranks securing desired colleges early and rates declining in later rounds.

First-Choice Allotment Data

Only about one-third of candidates secure their first-choice seat in the first round of MHT CET seat allotment. Due to limited seat expansion, the percentage of first-choice allotments has remained relatively stable despite rising applicant numbers. Subsequent rounds see incremental gains as higher-ranked candidates upgrade, but most aspirants must compromise on either college or branch.

Also Check: MHT CET 2025 Results

What to Expect in MHT CET Round 2 and Later Allotments

Whereas the top-ranked candidates may get their first or second choice in Round 1, in Round 2, they may be upgraded if others withdraw or change their options. Through Round 3, the majority of candidates have to settle for choices lower down their list, especially in government and top-rate privately owned institutions.

Factors Behind Fluctuations in MHT CET Applicant Numbers

• Employment Trends: Professional courses have become popular as more people are hired in IT, core engineering, and healthcare cadres, leading to more MHT CET 2025 Registrations.
• New-Age Programmes: With the start-up of courses like AI, Data Science, and so on, engineering has become a more attractive profession with even more aspirants.
• Accessibility: Increased availability of exam set-up and online form-filling systems has made it easier for students in small towns and rural locations.
• Demographic changes: The increase in the youth population and urbanisation in Maharashtra state have resulted in an increased number of applicants.
• Pandemic Recovery: There has been a dip in 2021, but pent-up demand, as well as the resumption of standard academic cycles, has started to drive a dramatic jump in applications.

MHT CET Seat Allotment 2025: Competition and Admission Dynamics

The drastic increase in the number of candidates in MHT CET, coupled with a relatively minor increase in seats available at colleges and branches, has increased the competition, especially at leading colleges and branches. The following table illustrates the seat matrix and competition ratio:

The competition ratio has increased by over 50% in three years, making first-choice allotments harder to secure. Top colleges and branches (e.g., Computer Science, Electronics) see even higher ratios, with first-choice allotment rates below 20% in some cases.

Also Check:MHT CET 2025 College Predictor

MHT CET Round-Wise Allotment: Trends and Candidate Choices

• Round 1: Highest demand for top colleges/branches; only about 35–36% secure their first choice.
• Round 2: Upgrades are possible as some seats are vacated; an additional 10–12% secure their preferred option.
• Round 3 (and spot rounds): Marginal gains, with most remaining candidates accepting alternate choices or lower-preference colleges.

MHT CET seat allotment trends show that the ability to choose a branch and college with flexibility is becoming a very important consideration as far as the candidates are concerned.

Final Thoughts

The MHT CET Seat Allotment has become more competitive than before, with a similar increase in applications and a slight increase in seats offered in the top engineering colleges in Maharashtra. It is estimated that only 35-36% of candidates can get their first preference seat in the first round, with slight improvements in subsequent rounds as higher-ranked students upgrade or vacate seats. The stable seat matrix, approximately 1.3 lakh engineering seats, as compared to the increasing number of seekers, would further increase the race for the popular courses and colleges.