Filling the CLAT 2026 NLU preference list is one of the most decisive steps in the entire admission process. Your rank alone does not guarantee a seat at a preferred National Law University. What finally decides your allocation is the order in which you list colleges during CLAT counselling.
Every year, students with similar ranks end up in very different NLUs simply because one filled the preference list strategically while the other did not. This blog provides a well-researched CLAT 2026 preference list, along with clear reasoning on how aspirants should interpret and use it during counselling.
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CLAT counselling works on a rank + preference matching system. The counselling portal does not suggest colleges. It only checks:
1. Your All India Rank
2. Your category eligibility
3. Your submitted preference order
If a college is placed lower on your list, you cannot be allotted that college before the ones listed above it, even if your rank allows it.
Once preferences are locked:
They cannot be edited
They apply to all counselling rounds
Sliding and floating work only within your list
This makes it essential to get the preference order right the first time.
The following list represents a prioritised CLAT 2026 NLU preference order, curated after evaluating academic reputation, consistency, alumni outcomes, course value, and long-term growth.
CLAT 2026 College Preference Order
1. NLSIU, Bangalore
2. NALSAR, Hyderabad
3. WBNUJS, Kolkata
4. NLU, Jodhpur
5. GNLU, Gandhinagar
6. NLIU, Bhopal – BA LLB (Honours)
7. RMLNLU, Lucknow
8. MNLU, Mumbai
9. HNLU, Raipur
10. NLU, Odisha
11. NLIU, Bhopal – BSc LLB (Honours)
12. WBNUJS, Kolkata – BSc LLB (Honours)
13. RGNUL, Patiala
14. NUALS, Kochi
15. CNLU, Patna – BA LLB
16. CNLU, Patna – BBA LLB
17. MNLU, Nagpur – BA LLB (Honours)
18. MNLU, Nagpur – BBA LLB (Honours)
19. GNLU, Silvassa
20. DBRANLU, Sonipat
21. DSNLU, Visakhapatnam
22. NUSRL, Ranchi – BA LLB
23. NUSRL, Ranchi – BBA LLB
24. TNNLS, Tiruchirapalli – BA LLB (Honours)
25. TNNLS, Tiruchirapalli – BBA LLB (Honours)
26. NLUJAA, Guwahati
27. DNLU, Jabalpur
28. MNLU, Aurangabad – BA LLB (Honours)
29. MNLU, Aurangabad – BBA LLB (Honours)
30. HPNLU, Shimla – BA LLB (Honours)
31. HPNLU, Shimla – BBA LLB (Honours)
32. NLU, Prayagraj
33. NLU, Agartala
34. IULER, Goa
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This list is meant to be used as a framework, not blindly copied without thought. Before final submission, aspirants should evaluate:
Whether they prefer BA LLB, BBA LLB, or BSc LLB
Comfort with location and campus size
Long-term goals such as litigation, corporate law, academia, or policy
A common misconception is that course choice is secondary. In reality, for some students, choosing a specialised course at a stronger institution can offer better academic and career value than opting for a general course at a lower-ranked college.
Read More: CLAT 2026 Cutoff: What to Expect vs Last Year
Do not rearrange colleges based on panic or online speculation
Avoid chasing last year’s cut-offs
Keep enough options to allow floating and sliding
Do not skip colleges assuming “I won’t get this anyway”
Always place colleges in true order of preference, not perceived chances
CLAT counselling rewards clarity, not fear.
Locking preferences too early without review
Copying another student’s list without personal evaluation
Placing newer colleges too high without understanding outcomes
Ignoring alternative courses within the same university
Leaving out backup options entirely
These errors often result in students settling for colleges they never intended to join.
CLAT 2026 showed high rank volatility due to pattern disruption. As a result:
Cut-offs may shift across rounds
Seat movement is expected
Preferences will play a larger role than usual
A well-structured preference list allows you to benefit from these movements instead of being locked out of better options.
Ranks decide eligibility. Preferences decide outcomes. Students who approach counselling with clarity, realistic expectations, and structured guidance are able to capitalise on rank movement across rounds. At NLTI, counselling support is built around rank-based preference modelling, realistic seat-movement analysis, and past round data, helping aspirants avoid panic edits and irreversible mistakes during preference locking.
A calm, informed preference list often matters more than a few marks difference in rank.
FAQs
1. Can I change my CLAT 2026 preference list after Round 1 counselling?
No. Once preferences are locked before Round 1, they cannot be edited in any subsequent counselling round.
2. How many colleges should I ideally fill in the CLAT 2026 preference list?
Students are advised to fill as many relevant NLUs as possible to maximise sliding and floating opportunities across rounds.
3. Does higher rank guarantee admission to my top preference?
No. Seat allotment depends on rank + category + availability + your preference order, not rank alone.
4. What happens if I skip a college in my preference list?
If a college is not listed, you will never be allotted that college, even if your rank qualifies.
5. Is floating or sliding automatic in CLAT 2026 counselling?
Yes, but only within the colleges listed in your preference order. The system will not move you outside your chosen list.
6. Should I prioritise course (BA/BBA/BSc LLB) or college in CLAT counselling?
Course choice matters, but institutional exposure and long-term academic environment should be evaluated together before finalising preferences.
7. Will CLAT 2026 cut-offs remain the same across counselling rounds?
No. Cut-offs usually shift downward in later rounds depending on withdrawals and seat acceptance behaviour.
8. Where can I get accurate counselling guidance for CLAT 2026?
Reliable guidance comes from analysing past counselling data, seat movement patterns, and rank-band behaviour, rather than relying on social media estimates or unofficial lists.
