Colleges Accepting CUET in Punjab

CUET (UG) stands for Common University Entrance Test and it is an entrance examination organized at the national level by the National Testing Agency on behalf of the University Grants Commission. The test was started in 2022, and today it has emerged as the biggest undergraduate entrance examination in India being accepted in more than 280 universities across India.

The major objective behind conducting CUET examinations is to ensure uniformity in the admission procedures. Previously, students had to approach various universities separately because each of the universities had its own merit list and entrance format and students used to get admission only after fulfilling the cut-off requirements of each university individually. But now, with the emergence of CUET, all such differences have been wiped off and students can compete equally in CUET regardless of their State Board.

CUET UG test checks students' skills in language, domain-specific subjects, and overall intelligence. It consists of three parts, which give the universities an opportunity to check students for the suitability of specific courses of study. Students choose subjects in accordance with the degree they wish to get by taking CUET, which means that this test is a unified way of admission to undergraduate studies.
Section 1: Language Test (Section IA & IB)
It checks students' language abilities. Each student must select one or more languages from the list offered. This section measures students' knowledge of language, vocabulary, grammar, and reading ability. Most universities take into account students' results in languages for admission to undergraduate studies.
Section 2: Domain-Specific Subjects
In the Domain-Specific section, there are those subjects that students have studied during Class 12. These are Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Economics, History, Political Science, Business Studies, Accountancy, Geography, and many other subjects. Candidates should select those subjects that suit the requirements of their desired course.

Section 3: General Test

General test is designed to assess the general intelligence and logical reasoning skills of the candidate. The questions in this section include GK, Current Affairs, Quantitative Aptitude, Numerical Ability, Logical Reasoning, and Analytical Reasoning. This section is usually included for admission in Management, Commerce, Humanities, and interdisciplinary courses.
Marking Scheme for CUET UG Exam
The CUET subject papers comprise 50 questions out of which students need to attempt 40 questions. 5 marks will be awarded for each correct answer whereas 1 mark will be deducted for each wrong answer. The highest marks one can secure in any subject paper will be 200 marks.

CUET has great importance for students of Punjab for a number of reasons. To begin with, it removes all sorts of discrepancies in grades for students from CBSE, PSEB, or any other state board that might be present among students taking their tests separately. Then, it enables a Punjab-based student to take admission into various prestigious universities such as Delhi University, Banaras Hindu University, or Jawaharlal Nehru University using the same score card. Finally, for those students who intend to pursue education within Punjab only, CUET has become compulsory in a few private central universities there.

Students can use their CUET UG scores to apply to different types of universities in Punjab. These institutions are broadly classified into four categories based on their ownership, funding, and governance structure.

Central Universities

Central Universities are established and funded by the Government of India. Admission to undergraduate programmes in these universities is conducted through CUET UG. In Punjab, the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda is the primary central university that accepts CUET scores for admission.

State Universities

State Universities are public institutions funded and managed by the Government of Punjab. Many state universities have adopted CUET for undergraduate admissions or consider CUET scores during the admission process. Popular examples include:

• Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), Amritsar
• Punjabi University, Patiala
• Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda

Private Universities

Private Universities are established by private educational trusts or societies and operate under state legislation. Several leading private universities in Punjab participate in the CUET admission process and accept CUET scores for various undergraduate programmes. Some well-known examples are:

• Lovely Professional University (LPU), Phagwara
• Chandigarh University (CU), Mohali
• Rayat Bahra University, Mohali

Deemed-to-be Universities

Deemed-to-be Universities are institutions that have been granted university status by the Government of India based on their academic excellence and research contributions. These institutions enjoy academic autonomy and may accept CUET scores for admission to selected programmes. Admission policies can vary depending on the university and course.

Below is the table listing down all major universities/colleges of Punjab accepting the CUET UG score for admissions into undergraduate courses. This includes Central Universities, State Universities, Private Universities, and Deemed-to-be Universities having different courses including arts, science, commerce, management, engineering, law, and others. Using the CUET UG score, candidates can apply to various universities using one entrance test. Before applying to any of the universities, applicants must review the eligibility conditions of the concerned university for that particular course.

Central University of Punjab (CUPB) is the only centrally run university that also operates out of a campus based in the state of Punjab. Founded in 2009 by a law passed in the parliament, it is situated in the city of Bathinda. It is accredited by NAAC with an 'A' grade, and it was ranked within the top 100 in 2019 on the NIRF scale. For any undergraduate programme, the mode of admission at CUPB is CUET UG.

Students who want to gain admission into such a prestigious institution should be excited about its status as a central university since that means fees are heavily subsidised when compared to privately run universities, thereby offering them cheaper access to a quality education. The B.Pharm course offered at CUPB has the highest CUET closing mark of 482, followed by BA LLB and B.Tech CSE.

Chandigarh University in Mohali, Punjab is one of the rapidly expanding and best known private universities in India. It was founded in 2012 and has received an NAAC A++ rating. Besides, Chandigarh University has been consistently ranked within the top private universities in NIRF rankings. It is officially designated as a CUET participating university on NTA's website and accepts CUET UG marks in a diverse set of undergraduate programmes in almost all streams.

The unique highlights about Chandigarh University is the number of courses available under CUET. On the official CUET website of Chandigarh University, one can find a total of over 60 programmes which offer admission based on CUET scores, covering Engineering, Science, Commerce, Arts, Law, Design, Allied Health Sciences, Hospitality, Media, and many other specializations. This makes the university one of the most flexible CUET offering universities in the region. Chandigarh University boasts the most outstanding placement record amongst private universities in Punjab, with recruiters like IBM, TCS, Amazon, Infosys, and many others frequently visiting the campus.

Lovely Professional University, which is situated in Phagwara close to Jalandhar, is among the largest privately-owned universities in Asia in terms of enrolment. Lovely Professional University, founded in 2005 under the LPU Act, has obtained accreditation with NAAC A++ and possesses UGC Category 1 status with Graded Autonomy. According to the NIRF 2025 rankings, LPU ranked 31st in the University category and 49th Overall while LPU was ranked 5th in India according to THE World University Rankings 2026 in the list of universities of both public and private categories.

LPU officially joins CUET UG and accepts CUET results for admissions into more than 100 programmes offered in the university. Other than CUET, LPU conducts LPUNEST test for admissions, and the applicants can gain admission to the programmes along with scholarships via either of these two routes. CUET results are also considered for granting scholarships. The university has a remarkably varied list of courses ranging from Engineering, Science, Commerce, Arts, Law, Design, Pharmacy, Agriculture, Education, Hotel Management and Media studies.

Guru Nanak Dev University was founded in 1969 in Amritsar. It is among the most reputable public universities in Punjab. GNDU is accredited as NAAC A++, and has been ranked 48th among universities and 87th overall on NIRF. The total size of the GNDU campus is 500 acres in Amritsar. Also, the university affilates many colleges across Punjab.

GNDU has chosen CUET UG as its official and only entrance route for entry into undergraduate courses like BA, BSc, BCA, BBA, BCom, and BJMC. The JEE Main exam is accepted for admission to B.Tech program at the university. The GNDU admission process for undergraduate courses based on CUET comprises various disciplines such as Arts, Science, Commerce, and Computer Applications. This makes GNDU a great choice for those who are looking for admission to a reputed government university.

Punjabi University, Patiala is a public state university that was founded in 1962. It has a NAAC B++ rating and ranks 59th on NIRF 2025 for the Pharmacy category. Punjabi University, Patiala is regarded as one of the leading universities for the Punjabi language and culture.

Concerning CUET, Punjabi University Patiala has adopted the CUET scores as a preferred criterion and sometimes even made it a must to apply for Other State Quota (15%) seats for undergraduate programs. The university also appears on the list of CUET participating universities on the NTA website. CUET is mandatory for applications from outside the state of Punjab. As far as regular applications by Punjab domiciles are concerned, admissions at Punjabi University will depend on merit and CUET score is a preferred qualification.

Rayat Bahra University is a private university which was founded in 2014 in the cities of Hoshiarpur and Mohali. The institution is listed as an authorized CUET university by NTA. This indicates that students who have secured valid CUET scores may apply for admission to UG programs via the CUET mode of admission.

DAV University, situated in the city of Jalandhar, is a private university which was founded in the year 2012. The University has been created keeping in view the long standing tradition of education at DA V institutes that have been shaping the schooling scene in Punjab since more than one hundred years.

CT University is a private university based out of Ludhiana and it is associated with the CT Group of Institutions, which is one of the biggest groups of educational institutes in Punjab. CUET scores can be used to seek admission to various undergraduate programs offered at CT University. Programs like Engineering, Science, Commerce, Arts, Education, and Computer Application are some of the programs available here.

It is a private university situated in the city of Rajpura, near Patiala. This university is famous for its expertise in engineering, pharmacy, business management, and design. Chitkara University admits students into their UG programs in Science, Pharmacy, Business Management, and Design based on their CUET results. The university has earned an NAAC A+ rating due to its industry-oriented courses and placements.