Many students taking part in JoSAA 2026 counselling usually focus only on top IITs and NITs and often miss some good colleges that offer quality education, decent placements, and strong career opportunities. Several lesser-known institutes in JoSAA can be a smart option for students with mid-range JEE Main scores, as they often have lower cutoff requirements while still providing good campus life and placement support.
This article highlights 5 most underrated colleges in JoSAA 2026, such as IIEST Shibpur, NIT Agartala, IIIT Una, BIT Mesra, and Assam University Silchar. Students can also check the minimum JEE Main percentile needed for admission, which may range from around 85 percentile to 98 percentile, depending on the college and branch. This can help candidates make better choices during JoSAA counselling and improve their chances of getting into a good college.
IIEST Shibpur
IIEST Shibpur is one of the oldest engineering institutes in India and is often missed by students during JoSAA Counselling. The college offers good placement support, strong core engineering branches, and is located near Kolkata, making it a good option for students looking for quality education at a lower cutoff than top NITs.
Students interested in branches like Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or Electrical Engineering can consider this institute. The required cutoff is usually lower than that of many top engineering colleges, making it a smart choice for aspirants with mid-range JEE Main scores.
| Details | Information |
| Location | Howrah, West Bengal |
| Institute Type | Government Institute |
| NIRF Ranking 2025 | 54 (Engineering) |
| Minimum Percentile Required | Around 96–98 Percentile |
| Approximate JEE Main Rank | 25,000–40,000 |
| Placement Opportunities | Good placements in core and IT sectors |
| Highest Package | INR 50+ LPA (varies yearly) |
| Flagship Courses Offered | Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, CSE, Electrical Engineering |
| Why Consider This College | Strong academics with lower cutoff than top NITs |
NIT Agartala
NIT Agartala is a good option for students who want an NIT tag but may not secure admission to the top NITs. The college offers decent placements, especially in Computer Science and Electronics, and has improved a lot in terms of campus facilities and academics over the years. Students with average to good JEE Main scores can keep in their list for College Admission. It can be a useful option for candidates looking for good placements without very high cutoff marks.
| Details | Information |
| Location | Agartala, Tripura |
| Institute Type | National Institute of Technology |
| NIRF Ranking 2025 | Not Ranked |
| Minimum Percentile Required | Around 93–97 Percentile |
| Approximate JEE Main Rank | 30,000–60,000 |
| Placement Opportunities | Good placement record in CSE, ECE, and core branches |
| Highest Package | INR 40+ LPA (varies yearly) |
| Flagship Courses Offered | Computer Science, Electronics, Mechanical Engineering |
| Why Consider This College | Good NIT option at a lower cutoff |
IIIT Una
IIIT Una is slowly becoming popular among students interested in Computer Science and IT-related branches. Even though it is not discussed much during counselling, the institute offers a good coding culture and decent placement support for tech students. Students aiming for software jobs can consider this institute if they are unable to secure a seat in the top IIITs. The cutoff is moderate compared to highly demanded institutes.
| Details | Information |
| Location | Una, Himachal Pradesh |
| Institute Type | IIIT |
| NIRF Ranking | Not Ranked Separately |
| Minimum Percentile Required | Around 95–97 Percentile |
| Approximate JEE Main Rank | 25,000–45,000 |
| Placement Opportunities | Good placements in IT and software roles |
| Highest Package | INR 45+ LPA (varies yearly) |
| Flagship Courses Offered | Computer Science and IT |
| Why Consider This College | Good coding culture and placement support |
BIT Mesra
BIT Mesra is one of the Underrated Colleges in JoSAA 2026, even though it has a strong reputation in engineering education. The college offers good placements and industry exposure, especially for Computer Science and Electronics students. Students looking for a balanced college with good academics and placement opportunities can add BIT Mesra to their list. The cutoff is lower than that of many popular institutes, making admission possible for more candidates.
| Details | Information |
| Location | Ranchi, Jharkhand |
| Institute Type | Deemed University (through JoSAA) |
| NIRF Ranking 2025 | 51 (Engineering) |
| Minimum Percentile Required | Around 92–96 Percentile |
| Approximate JEE Main Rank | 35,000–70,000 |
| Placement Opportunities | Strong placements in IT and core sectors |
| Highest Package | INR 50+ LPA (varies yearly) |
| Flagship Courses Offered | CSE, ECE, Mechanical Engineering |
| Why Consider This College | Good placement support and strong reputation |
Assam University Silchar
Assam University Silchar can be a good option for students with slightly lower JEE Main scores who still want admission through JoSAA. The institute is less popular but offers decent academics and placement opportunities for engineering students.
Students who are unable to get admission to top colleges can keep this one of the Underrated Colleges in JoSAA 2026, i.e., Assam University, as a backup option. The lower cutoff requirement makes it easier for aspirants to secure a seat through counselling.
| Details | Information |
| Location | Silchar, Assam |
| Institute Type | Central University |
| NIRF Ranking | 97 (University) |
| Minimum Percentile Required | Around 85–92 Percentile |
| Approximate JEE Main Rank | 70,000+ |
| Placement Opportunities | Average placements with improving opportunities |
| Highest Package | INR 10–15 LPA (varies yearly) |
| Flagship Courses Offered | Agricultural Engineering, CSE, ECE |
| Why Consider This College | Lower cutoff and decent education option |
In the end, students should not focus only on the most popular IITs and NITs during JoSAA 2026 counselling. Several less-talked-about colleges also offer good education, decent placements, strong faculty support, and better learning opportunities at a lower cutoff. Colleges such as IIEST Shibpur, NIT Agartala, IIIT Una, BIT Mesra, and Assam University Silchar can be good choices for candidates with different JEE Main scores.
Before finalising choices, candidates should carefully check the cutoff trends, courses offered, placement records, and college location. A smart choice during counselling can help students get into a good college and build a strong career, even if the institute is not among the most popular names.
