MHT CET Vs JEE for Maharashtra Colleges: Difficulty Level, Which one to prioritise?

MHT CET Vs JEE for Maharashtra Colleges: Difficulty Level, Which one to prioritise?

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UPASANA PRADHAN
Assistant Manager- Editorial
Updated on May 21, 2026 20:43 IST
MHT CET Vs JEE for Mahrashtra Colleges: Over 540 government and private engineering colleges accept MHT CET scores for admission. Candidates can go through the list of BTech colleges that offer admission through MHT CET exam. JEE qualified candidates can also participate in MHT CET counselling, using their JEE scores.

MHT CET Vs JEE for Maharashtra Colleges: For an engineering student who is planning to pursue studies in Maharashtra, looking for colleges can be a confusing route to take. Especially, when they have attempted and qualified for both prestigious engineering entrance exams. Hence, to make it easier let’s get through the list and understand how and which college to select to make the most out of it. Read below to learn more about MHT CET Vs JEE for Maharashtra colleges.

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MHT CET Vs JEE for Maharashtra Colleges

For engineering students who want to study BTech in Maharashtra, looking for colleges can be tiring, especially for students dealing with two main important exams: JEE Mains and MHT CET. While both entrance tests provide top-tier colleges, the seat allocation rules, quota, and colleges can vary in different ways. However, the main game lies during the Centralised Admission Process (CAP) and JoSAA (Joint Seat Allocation Authority) rounds, where the seats are divided between MHT CET and JEE Main scores. Read below to know more. 

Table of contents
  • MHT CET Vs JEE for Maharashtra Colleges: Who Should Give What?
  • MHT CET Vs JEE Main: Difficulty Level Comparison
  • Things to Check Before Choosing Engineering Colleges in Maharashtra
  • Top Institutes in Maharastra (State & Autnomous) Accepting MHT CET
  • National Institutes (Through Centralised Counselling- JoSAA & CSAB)
  • Top Private Universities in Maharashtra Accepting JEE Main Scores
  • How to apply for Maharashtra BTech colleges during counselling?
  • Counselling Tips While Appying to Maharashtra BTech Colleges
View More

MHT CET Vs JEE for Maharashtra Colleges: Who Should Give What?

If you are planning to study in Maharashtra, then it is better to attempt both exams. MHT CET is mandatory for state-quota seats and JEE for NITs, and is an alternative career path for BTech colleges in Maharashtra

  • Focus on MHT CET, if you want top local colleges or government BTech colleges with low fees. 

  • Focus on JEE Main, if you want to take admission to premier institutions, such as NITs, IIITs, and IIT with an exposure to learning and wish to relocate anywhere in India. 

Benefits on Attempting Both Exams

While both the exams test Physics, Chemistry, and Maths (PCM), nearly 70 to 75% of the syllabus overlap between JEE Main and MHT CET. Also, there are many private engineering colleges in Maharashtra that accept both JEE Main and MHT CET scores for admission. Thus, applying for both entrance exams can help you get the dream college or branch. 

Note: JEE Mains qualified candidates can participate in MHT CET counselling to get admission 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Is MIT-WPU good for placements?
A: 

Yes,  MIT WPU offers decent placements annually to its BTech, MBA, BBA, BCA and BDes students. As per the latest report, the the highest package offered during MIT WPU placements 2024 stood at INR 51.36  LPA. More than 600 companies visited the MIT WPU Pune for 2024 placements and placed 1,903 students. Check out the key highlights of MIT WPU placement for the Class of 2024 in the table below:

Particulars

Placement Statistics (2024)

the highest package

INR 51.36  LPA

Students registered

2,544

Students placed

1,903

Total recruiters

600+

Median placement ratio

75%

Top recruiters

Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Intel, Goldman Sachs

Q:   Is VNIT Nagpur a good NIT?
A: 

VNIT Nagpur is one of the oldest NITs in the country. VNIT Nagpur is an institute of national importance and has been ranked 41 and 82 by NIRF 2023 under the Engineering and Overall categories, respectively. Talking about the placements, the overall average package offered during the VNIT Nagpur placements 2023 stood at INR 10.17 LPA. Also, a total of 1,235 offers were released, and 1,000 students were placed during VNIT Nagpur placements 2023. Apart from this, 238 companies visited the campus during VNIT Nagpur placements 2023. The top recuiters during the VNIT placements 2023 are Accenture, Ernst & Young - Global Delivery Services, American Express, EXL Services, BlackRock Solutions, Gail Limited, Comviva, Godrej Industries Limited, Deloitte, Goldman Sachs, etc.

Q:   Is there passing marks in MHT CET 2026?
A: 

No. There is no minimum mark required to pass the MHT CET exam. The only requirement to get the scorecard is to appear in all subjects of MHT CET and obtain a non-zero score.

Q:   Is it hard to score 130 in MHT CET?
A: 

130 is a good score in the MHT CET exam. To obtain 130 marks in MHT CET, students have to cover all the topics from the MHT CET syllabus and practice the MHT CET PYQs and sample papers.

MHT CET Vs JEE Main: Difficulty Level Comparison

Candidates can check essential differences between two exams based on their question paper difficulty level-

Parameter

MHT CET

JEE Mains

Exam Level

State level

National Level

Syllabus

Maharashtra HSC Board (20% class 11th and 80% Class 12)

NCERT/CBSE

50% each from class 11th and 12th)

Question paper difficulty 

Mostly moderate to slightly tough

Conceptual and moderate to difficult

Shifts

Held in multiple shifts both

Held in multiple shifts

Negative marking

No negative marking

-1 mark for incorrect answer

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Things to Check Before Choosing Engineering Colleges in Maharashtra

If you have appeared for both exams, and building your college preference list for Maharashtra only, then here are some important pointers that every engineering candidate must know -

  • Over 540 government and private engineering colleges accept MHT CET scores for admission. Candidates can go through the list of BTech colleges that offer admission through MHT CET exam. 

  • JEE qualified candidates can also participate in MHT CET counselling, using their JEE scores

Besides that engineering colleges in Maharashtra itself has a whole different quota and eligibility. Candidates who want to study BTech in Maharashtra colleges must note the following -

Home Universities (HU) Vs Other than Home University (OHU) Status

Maharashtra divides engineering seats based on where you passed your class 12th exam. Cutoffs are generally low for colleges located within HU. 

Quota Eligibility (MHT CET Vs JEE Main)

Top government colleges take 100% of their students via MHT CET. If you are applying via JEE Mains, you are only eligible for 15% of All India Quota Seats in private and unaided colleges.

  • Home Quota Reservation - 80 to 85% via MHT CET

  • All India Quota - 15 to 20% via JEE Main

Category and Tuition Fee Waiver Scheme

Check cutoff specific to your reservation category. If your family income is under 8 lakhs, then look for colleges offering high tuition fee waiver scheme seat matrices to save significantly on tuition fee. 

Branch-Specific Cutoff Analysis

Look at the past three to five year’s of cutoff trends for the branch you are targeting. CSE, AI/ML has more demand in Maharashtra and cutoff usually spikes. While core branches like Mechanical or Electrical have moderate level competition. 

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Is the MHT CET syllabus tough?
A: 

The MHT CET syllabus is of medium difficulty level. The topics covered in MHT CET syllabus is that of the Maharashtra state board for classes 11 and 12. Students can prepare for MHT CET exam using their NCERT textbooks and score a good score. Candidates are however advised to refer some additional books in order to score good marks in MHT CET. Also, not all topics of class 11 are covered in MHT CET exam whereas all class 12 topics are part of MHT CET syllabus.

Q:   Who are the top recruiters visited during College of Engineering, Pune placements?
A: 

Various companies visit College of Engineering, Pune for placements some of them are given below:

College of Engineering, Pune Placement: Top Recruiters

Barclays

Whirlpool

Bajaj

NVIDIA

Master Card

IBM

Wells Fargo

Goldman Sachs 

Q:   Is there any mock seat allotment in MHT CET counselling?
A: 

No, there is no mock seat rounds in MHT CET counselling. The CET Cell conducts MHT CET counselling in three or four rounds. Candidates after registering for the counselling have to enter their preferred choice of college and branch in the order of preference. The allotment of seats will be made on the basis of All India Rank and choices filled by the candidate.

Q:   Where can I check MHT CET counselling dates?
A: 

MHT CET counselling 2025 is over. The schedule of MHT CET counselling registration was announced on the official website and the same can be checked on Shiksha. The MHT CET counselling registration started on June 28 and the last date to register for the counselling was July 11. The last date for documents verification was July 12, 2025.

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Top Institutes in Maharastra (State & Autnomous) Accepting MHT CET

The following list of colleges are state-level based that primarily accept MHT CET scores. However, they have 15% seat reservation for JEE qualified as well.

National Institutes (Through Centralised Counselling- JoSAA & CSAB)

These institutes accept JEE Main scores for admission for National Seats, through JoSAA or CSAB counselling -

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   How to crack JEE Mains in first attempt?
A: 

Clearing the JEE Main exam in first attempt is not a difficult task. Several students clear JEE Main while in class 12. One thing that makes it easy to clear JEE Main with class 12 is that students are in regular touch of most JEE syllabus. To score good marks in JEE Main in the first attempt, it is advised that you study class 11 and 12 topics thoroughly, clear all the concepts and solve mock test papers. Also, NCERT books which you study in class 11 and 12 are the best books for JEE Main preparation. Students must study NCERT properly and solve all the questions in the book and do not memorize the concepts as some students do rather understand the concepts.

Q:   Is 70 a good score in JEE Mains?
A: 

A score of 70 marks in JEE Mains is considered average to below-average for General category students. This corresponds to a percentile around 88 to 91.

Q:   How to prepare for JEE Main from Class 11th and 12th?
A: 
Starting the JEE Main preparation from class 11 or 12 is the best time. As JEE Main syllabus consists of topics from class 11 and 12, students can easily cover all the topics along with school. Students can begin by checking the topics that is covered in both school and JEE Main and give special attention to them. For all three subjects, study NCERT and also take help from reference books. Understand the concepts thoroughly and solve numerical problems. To crack JEE Main along with class 12, students should devote at least 2-3 hours for JEE beside class 12 studies. Regularly solve JEE Main mock test and solve previous year question papers to evaluate the performance.
Q:   How many months are required to prepare for JEE Mains exam?
A: 

The time period required to complete the JEE Main preparation depends mainly on the students. Every student has their own pace of study. Ideally, 6-month time is good enough to complete the JEE Main preparation. Students who have started preparing from class 11 or 12 can easily prepare for JEE Main in 6 months considering the topics of JEE syllabus have already been studied in classes 11 and 12.

JEE Main preparation is most effective with classes 11 and 12 as almost 90-95 percent of topics are similar in both exams. This way students can easily complete the entire JEE Main syllabus as well as the syllabus of classes 11 and 12. After the board exams, students get 1-2 months' time where they can focus entirely on JEE Main. Students who have started late for the JEE Main exam can make a 6-month plan where in the first three months they have to focus on revising the syllabus studied in classes 11 and 12. In the next two months focus on solving questions of JEE Main and analyzing the mistakes being made, if any. The last month should be focused on solving mock tests and JEE Main previous year question papers.

Top Private Universities in Maharashtra Accepting JEE Main Scores

Candidates can check the list of best private universities that accept JEE scores-

How to apply for Maharashtra BTech colleges during counselling?

For NITs, IITs, and IIITs, candidates have to apply through JoSAA. On the other hand, for state-govenement colleges, candidates have to register for state counselling on MHT CET Cell official website. Students can use their JEE Main scorecard/rank under All India Quota.

Q&A Icon
Commonly asked questions
Q:   Is the MHT CET exam MCQ type?
A: 

Yes, the MHT CET 2026 exam is MCQ type for both the PCM and PCB groups. For each question, students will be given 4 alternatives and candidates have to mark the correct answer.

Q:   How can I prepare for MHT CET without coaching?
A: 

Taking help of coaching is not necessarily required for clearing the MHT CET exam. Many students score good marks in MHT CET by self-studying, without help from coaching. To crack MHT CET without coaching, students need to make a study plan considering the time they have before exam.

Students can take help of online tutorials and videos from previous year toppers who have cleared the exam without coaching to understand their strategy. One thing that is required when students are not taking coaching is regular study.

Make a daily time table of study and devote at least 5-6 hours for MHT CET preparation. Students who are in class 11 or 12 can give 3-4 hours specifically for CET beside school studies. Students who have passed class 12 should also study at least 6 hours daily.

Q:   What is the overall difficulty level of MHT CET exam?
A: 

As per the information brochure, the MHT CET exam will be similar to the JEE Main exam in terms of difficulty level. However, those who appear for both tests often report that MHT CET is easier as compared to JEE Mains.

Q:   How to prepare for MHT CET from Class 11 and 12?
A: 

Starting the MHT CET preparation from class 11 or 12 is the best time as MHT CET syllabus consists of topics from class 11 and 12 and students can easily cover all the topics along with school. Students can begin by checking the topics that is covered in both school and MHT CET and give special attention to them. For all three subjects, study NCERT and also take help from reference books. Understand the concepts thoroughly and solve numerical problems. To crack MHT CET along with class 12, students should devote at least 2-3 hours for CET beside class 12 studies. Regularly solve MHT CET mock test and solve previous year question papers to evaluate the performance.

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Counselling Tips While Appying to Maharashtra BTech Colleges

When registering for Maharashtra CAP counselling rounds, students can enter both their MHT CET and JEE scores. The portal evaluates automatically and checks merit on both to get the best seat allocation. 

Scenarios

What to do?

95+ percentile in JEE Mains but average marks in MHT CET

Focus on All-India Quota seats in top private colleges, such as SIT, PICT, etc. 

If you want VJTI or COEP

Prepare well for MHT CET exam to obtain good score.

Low score in JEE Main and average marks in MHT CET

In that case, you might get a seat in tier 1 college, but geting a high-demanding branch can be impossible. MHT scorecard can be useful and help you get into a good college and branch. 

If you are good at conceptual knowledge and want to get admission to national-level colleges then JEE Main can be a good option. However, if you want to improve your chances of staying in Maharashtra with an advantage of state-domicile quota/seat reservation, then getting good rank in MHT CET and applying can be a smart move. 

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About the Author
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UPASANA PRADHAN
Assistant Manager- Editorial

Upasana Pradhan is an Mtech graduate in Electronics and Communication Engineering from DTU who specialises in curating postgraduate and undergraduate engineering entrance exam content, such as GATE, TS PGECET, KCET,

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