98 percentile in MHT CET means will translate to around 130-159 marks. A Candidate’s Rank with this percentile falls somewhere between 1500 and 7000, but the exact rank can differ every year depending on performance trends.
- With 98 percentile, there will be strong chances for Computer Engineering, IT, and Electronics at leading colleges like COEP or VJTI (excluding top 2-3).
- For getting into institutes like COEP Pune, VJTI Mumbai, and VIT Pune, 130+ marks (98+ percentile) is a great score for a candidate.
Since the Exam is conducted in multiple shifts, the difficulty level may vary from one shift to another, and as a result the marks required to achieve a specific percentile can change slightly after normalisation.
Related Links:
- MHT CET 2026 Marks Vs Percentile: Check Category Wise Percentile and Rank
- What is a Safe Score for MHT CET 2026

Key Summary
In this article, we have discussed what does 98 percentile means, a list of colleges to get with 95 percentile and a safe target score to get 98 percentile.
- Getting a 98th percentile in MHT CET means a candidate scored better than the rest of the 98% of the students who appeared for the exam.
- Factors such as chosen branch, reservation category, and seat availability can affect the admissions chances of a candidate to get in good colleges at 98 percentile.
- A Student should aim for a score of 150+ marks as a safer target to achieve 98 percentile in MHT CET.
What does 98 percentile mean in MHT CET?
In reference to the previous year's data, the Percentile range in 2025 for 130-159 marks was 98.00-99.49, and this year the expected percentile range is the same.
But, the Rank range from the previous year and this year’s expected rank range suggests a slight shift and increased competition is expected in 2026.
| Marks Range (Out of 200) | Percentile Range (2025) | Expected Percentile Range (2026) | Rank Range (2025) | Expected Rank Range (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 130-159 | 98.00-99.49 | 98.00-99.49 | 1500-7000 | 1800 - 7000 |
Check:
- MHT CET 2026 Cutoff: Expected Scores, Marks vs Percentile
- MHT CET Score Calculation: Marks vs Percentile, Normalisation, and Expected Scores
Ques: Is 98 percentile considered a very good score?
Ans- Yes, 98 percentile is a very good and excellent score in MHT CET. It allows the candidate to get a seat in top-tier engineering colleges in Maharashtra like COEP, VJIT and SPIT.
Ques: Is 98 percentile equal to 98% marks?
Ans- No, 98 percentile means that you have scored more than 98% of the candidates who appeared for the exam.
List of Colleges to get with 98 percentile
If a candidate has 98 percentile in MHT CET, then they can go for the following colleges in mentioned branches.
| College | Branch |
|---|---|
| Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJIT, Mumbai) | IT, AI-DS, ECE, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
| COEP Technological University (Pune) | CSE, IT, AI-DS, ECE, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
| PICT Pune | CSE, IT, AI-DS, ECE |
| MIT Pune | CSE, IT, AI-DS, ECE, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
| VIT Pune | CSE, IT, AI-DS, ECE, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
| PCCOE Pune | CSE, IT, AI-DS, ECE, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
| DY Patil Pune | CSE, IT, AI-DS, ECE, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
| WCE Sangli | CSE, IT, ECE, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
| SGGE Nanded | CSE, IT, ECE, Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
| SPCE Mumbai | Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
| JSPM Pune | Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
| Shivaji University Kohlapur | Mechanical, Civil, Electrical |
Check out the list of Top Colleges in India Accepting MHT CET scores
Ques: Can I get College of Engineering, Pune with 98 percentile in MHT CET?
Ans- For Top-tier branches, getting COEP technological university, with a 98 percentile is unlikely for a general category student, but possible for lower demanded branches.
Ques: What branches can I get in top Mumbai colleges at 98 percentile?
Ans- With 98 percentile, you can get branches like Computer science, Information Technology, Electronics and telecommunication & Mechanical.
98 percentile in MHT CET means How Many Marks Shift wise
- In different shifts, a 98 percentile can require different marks because the difficulty level may vary.
- You might score slightly fewer marks and still reach 98 percentile if a shift is tougher, but in an easier shift, you may need higher marks.
The percentile remains fair across all shifts, because of the normalization process.
| Shifts | Expected Marks Range (2026) | Expected Percentile (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Easy | 180-160 | 98.5+ |
| Medium | 160-140 | 98+ |
| Difficult | 160-140 | 98.5+ |

Download MHT CET Previous Year PCM & PCB Question Paper with Answer Key
Ques: Is 98 percentile easier to score in a difficult shift?
Ans- Yes, slightly. In a tough shift, students usually score lower marks, so you may reach 98 percentile with fewer marks. But because of normalization, it stays fair.
Ques: Can 2 students with same marks get different percentiles in different shifts?
Ans- Yes, if 2 students score the same marks but appear in different shifts, their percentiles can be slightly different. This happens because each shift may have a different difficulty level and competition.
98 Percentile in MHT CET Means How Many Marks Category Wise
Category does affect your admission chances at 98 percentile in MHT CET. Here’s how:
| Criteria | General Category | Reserved Categories (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) |
|---|---|---|
| Cut-off Trend | Generally higher cut-offs | Lower cut-offs compared to General category |
| Admission Chances at 98 Percentile | Strong chances, but high competition for top branches | Better advantage due to relaxed cut-offs |
| Branch Allotment | Top branches (CSE/IT) highly competitive | Higher possibility of securing better branches at same percentile |
| College Options | Good NITs/IIITs possible, but limited for premium branches | Wider options in better colleges and branches at same percentile |
| Overall Advantage | Competitive environment | Category-based advantage in seat allocation |
Read more: MHT CET College Predictor 2025: Know Your B.Tech Admission Chances using CET Percentile
Ques: Do reserved categories get advantage at 98 percentile?
Ans- Yes, reserved category students get a significant advantage at 98 percentile, as reservation allows students to secure seats in top engineering colleges of Mumbai.
Safe Target Marks for 98 percentile in MHT CET
For different categories, safe target marks can vary. The following list shows the safe target marks for all categories.
| Category | Expected Marks (2026) |
|---|---|
| General | 150+ |
| OBC | 140+ |
| EWS | 140+ |
| SC | 130+ |
| ST | 130+ |
| VJ/DT (NT-A) | 125+ |
| NT-B | 125+ |
| NT-C | 130+ |
| NT-D | 130+ |

Also Check: MHT CET 2025 Results, Toppers, Good Score, Marks vs Percentile & Cut-Off
Ques: What is the ideal score to avoid risk in normalization in MHT CET?
Ans- To ensure a Top-tier percentile and avoid risk in normalization, the ideal score to get is 150+ marks out of 200.








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