The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the UGCET 2026-27 Fee Structure for engineering and other professional courses, offering much-needed clarity to lakhs of aspirants going through the ongoing KEA counselling process as of 14 July 2026. As per the provisional document released by the exam body, General Merit candidates securing standard engineering seats in government colleges will pay INR 47,100, while core branches such as Civil, Mechanical, and Automobile Engineering have been priced lower at INR 29,985 to encourage enrolment in these streams.
Government and Private College Fee Rates Explained
According to the UGCET 2026-27 Fee Structure, candidates allotted seats in private unaided institutions under the government quota will be charged based on a two-tier system. Type-1 unaided colleges have been fixed at INR 1,20,320, while Type-2 unaided colleges will charge INR 1,30,320. This gap reflects differences in infrastructure and facilities across the two categories of institutions recognised by KEA.
Candidates are advised to check the exact college category before making their final choice during the counselling rounds, since the fee difference between government and private-quota seats is considerable. Aided colleges under Visvesvaraya Technological University generally fall between these two ranges, making it important for applicants to verify individual institution rates before locking in their preferences.
| College / Seat Category | Annual Fee (INR) |
|---|---|
| Government Colleges – GM | 47,100 |
| Core Branches (Civil/Mechanical/Automobile) | 29,985 |
| Private Unaided – Type-1 | 1,20,320 |
| Private Unaided – Type-2 | 1,30,320 |
| SC/ST (Low Income) | Full Fee Waiver |
| SNQ Quota | Drastically Reduced Rate |
What Candidates Should Do Next
With the UGCET 2026-27 Fee Structure now published, candidates are encouraged to visit the official KEA website, cetonline.karnataka.gov.in, to download the complete fee notification and cross-check the applicable rate for their category and preferred institution type. Since fee components can vary depending on the branch, college type, and reservation category, applicants should keep the notification handy while filling their choices during counselling.
