Martha Divakar · September 11, 2025 
Introduction
Indian Institute of Information Technology, Dharwad (IIIT Dharwad), located in Karnataka, is one of the newer IIITs established under the PPP model. Despite being young, it is quickly building a name with a strong focus on CSE, IT, and ECE, rising placement records, and its permanent campus that is steadily expanding.
For students aiming to secure a seat here through JEE Main → JoSAA counselling, understanding branch-wise and category-wise cutoffs is the key to smart decision-making.
What is a “cutoff” and why does it matter?
A cutoff (or closing rank) is the last JEE Main rank at which a seat is allotted in a particular branch during JoSAA. Since ranks fluctuate every round, the final round cutoff gives the most reliable benchmark.
Why it matters:
- Estimate admission chances → If your rank is within/above the cutoff, chances are high.
- Plan smartly → Separate branches into Dream, Realistic, and Safe.
- Understand demand → CSE usually closes earliest, followed by ECE and IT.
- Avoid shocks → Balanced option-filling keeps you from ending seatless.
How to read IIIT Dharwad cutoffs?
- Use final-round data → Early rounds often mislead.
- Check category + quota → GEN, OBC, SC, ST, and EWS have separate closing ranks.
- Look at trends across 2–3 years → Helps in spotting stability or shifts.
- Factor seat matrix changes → Intake increase/decrease impacts ranks.
- Keep a safety margin → If close to cutoff, add safer branches too.
Branch-Wise Competitiveness at IIIT Dharwad
| Quota | Seat Type | Gender | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
| All India | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 10788 | 41121 |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 17805 | 46133 | ||
| OPEN (PwD) | Gender-Neutral | 818 | 1314 | |
| EWS | Gender-Neutral | 5822 | 6562 | |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 6586 | 7151 | ||
| EWS (PwD) | Gender-Neutral | 272 | 272 | |
| OBC-NCL | Gender-Neutral | 12460 | 16414 | |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 13393 | 20078 | ||
| OBC-NCL (PwD) | Gender-Neutral | 677 | 1094 | |
| SC | Gender-Neutral | 4018 | 9683 | |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 3724 | 9751 | ||
| ST | Gender-Neutral | 2145 | 4591 | |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 2106 | 2794 |
Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology)
| Quota | Seat Type | Gender | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
| All India | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 27360 | 43328 |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 42133 | 48888 | ||
| OPEN (PwD) | Gender-Neutral | 1432 | 2128 | |
| EWS | Gender-Neutral | 6190 | 6676 | |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 7431 | 7575 | ||
| OBC-NCL | Gender-Neutral | 13929 | 16967 | |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 18233 | 20568 | ||
| OBC-NCL (PwD) | Gender-Neutral | 1375 | 1555 | |
| SC | Gender-Neutral | 5828 | 10134 | |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 2400 | 10504 | ||
| ST | Gender-Neutral | 3402 | 4762 | |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 3683 | 4275 |
Electronics and Communication Engineering (4 Years, Bachelor of Technology)
| Quota | Seat Type | Gender | Opening Rank | Closing Rank |
| All India | OPEN | Gender-Neutral | 20015 | 45440 |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 49050 | 50505 | ||
| OPEN (PwD) | Gender-Neutral | 1506 | 2369 | |
| EWS | Gender-Neutral | 6467 | 6881 | |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 7733 | 8253 | ||
| EWS (PwD) | Gender-Neutral | 356 | 356 | |
| OBC-NCL | Gender-Neutral | 13803 | 17311 | |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 19582 | 20916 | ||
| OBC-NCL (PwD) | Gender-Neutral | 1092 | 1092 | |
| SC | Gender-Neutral | 8772 | 10374 | |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 10317 | 10603 | ||
| ST | Gender-Neutral | 3238 | 4767 | |
| Female-only (including Supernumerary) | 5038 | 5038 |
(Note: Ranks are approximate based on JoSAA 2025 final round. Always refer to the official JoSAA portal for confirmation. For click here )
How to estimate your admission chances?
- Download JoSAA final round cutoffs (2023–2025).
- Match your rank vs closing rank:
- Better rank → Strong chances
- Slightly worse rank → Borderline (depends on floaters and seat movement)
- Much worse → Low chance
- Consider yearly movements → If cutoffs rise, your chances improve.
- Remember floaters → Students upgrading to IITs/NITs free up seats in later rounds.
Smart Option-Filling Strategy
- Dream choices: CSE, IT (if your rank is close).
- Realistic: ECE.
- Safe: Lower-demand IIITs or state-level colleges.
- Always include at least 2–3 safe choices.
- Prioritize interest over just popularity.
- Decide float/slide vs lock → based on whether you want upgrades or stability.
Comparing Branches at IIIT Dharwad
- Placements → CSE & IT lead with higher average packages.
- Flexibility → CSE/IT allows shifts to multiple domains (AI, Data, ML).
- Personal interest → Hardware vs coding should guide your choice.
- Future scope → Core (ECE) opens research/PSU opportunities, while CSE leans toward IT/tech jobs.
Avoiding Last-Minute Counselling Shocks
- Keep all documents (scorecard, marksheets, ID, category certificate) read
- Prepare funds for initial fee payment.
- Do mock option-filling before the final submission.
- Track round deadlines carefully.
- Always prepare a Plan B (other IIITs, NITs, state colleges).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Filling only dream branches like CSE.
- Ignoring category-wise differences.
- Forgetting HS vs OS quotas.
- Waiting till the last day to lock choices.
- Skipping safe options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the closing rank for CSE at IIIT Dharwad?
CSE is the most in-demand branch here, so its cutoff is naturally the highest. In recent years, the closing rank has usually been in the 20k–30k range for the General category. It shifts every year depending on how many people prefer Dharwad compared to other IIITs.
Q2. Is IIIT Dharwad worth it for IT and ECE if I miss out on CSE?
Yes, definitely. IT also gets almost the same kind of software job opportunities as CSE, while ECE students get a mix of core and IT companies during placements. Many ECE students also shift towards coding, so opportunities aren’t limited.
Q3. Does IIIT Dharwad have a home state quota?
No, it doesn’t. All IIITs (except a few PPP-mode ones) follow an All India quota, so whether you’re from Karnataka or outside, the cutoffs are the same for everyone.
Q4. How much lower are the category cutoffs compared to General?
Category cutoffs are quite relaxed. For example, OBC-NCL students usually get in with a few thousand ranks lower than General, and SC/ST candidates often have a much wider safety margin. So your category really matters here.
Q5. How can I know if I’ll get admission in IIIT Dharwad?
The best way is to check last year’s closing ranks for your branch and category. If your rank is a little better than that, you stand a good chance. Still, keep a backup because cutoffs move slightly every year.
Q6. Is choosing IIIT Dharwad better than going for a newer NIT or state college?
For CSE and IT, IIIT Dharwad is actually a solid choice. The coding culture is strong, and placements are growing year by year. But if you’re aiming for ECE, you may want to compare it with NITs since they have older alumni networks and more core opportunities.
How Career Plan B Supports You
At Career Plan B, we guide students through every step of JEE counselling:
- Cutoff interpretation — Simplifying final-round ranks into practical insights.
- Personalised option filling — Balanced Dream–Realistic–Safe lists.
- Counselling strategy — When to float/slide/lock for maximum advantage.
- Document & reporting support — Timely reminders so nothing goes wrong.
- Career roadmapping — Aligning branch choices with long-term placements or higher studies.
With our support, students make confident, rank-based choices without last-minute stress. Book your free counseling session with Career Plan B today and secure your path to success.
Conclusion
IIIT Dharwad is emerging as a strong choice for JEE Main aspirants, especially in CSE and IT, with placements improving year by year. While its cutoffs are more accessible than top NITs and IIITs, you still need to plan carefully.
By analysing past cutoffs, tiering your options, and preparing documents in advance, you can maximise your chances of admission and avoid last-minute stress during JoSAA.
