Which IIT Is the Hardest to Get Into? Real Stats and Why It Matters for JEE Aspirants

Every year, over 1.5 million students take JEE Advanced. Only about 12,000 get into any of the 23 IITs. But not all IITs are created equal when it comes to difficulty of entry. If you’re aiming for the top, you need to know which one pushes the limits - not just in rankings, but in real-world competition.

The Myth of the ‘Hardest’ IIT

People often say IIT Bombay or IIT Delhi is the hardest to get into. That’s partly true - but it’s not the whole story. The real answer depends on what you mean by ‘hardest.’ Is it the highest cutoff? The lowest acceptance rate? The toughest branch? Or the most competitive pool of applicants?

Let’s cut through the noise. The IIT with the highest JEE Advanced cutoffs year after year is IIT Bombay. In 2024, the closing rank for Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) was 87 for the general category. That’s lower than the rank needed to get into the top 100 in a national-level talent exam. For context, a rank of 100 means you scored better than 99.99% of the 1.5 million candidates who took JEE Main.

Why IIT Bombay Leads in Cutoffs

IIT Bombay doesn’t just have the best reputation - it has the best outcomes. Graduates from its CSE program land jobs at Google, Microsoft, and Apple with average starting salaries of ₹45-55 lakh per year. Even mid-tier companies offer ₹30 lakh+. That kind of return on investment draws the top 0.1% of JEE aspirants.

It’s not just about money. IIT Bombay has the most research publications per faculty member among all IITs. Its industry partnerships are unmatched - from Tata Motors to Adobe, companies come to campus first for IIT Bombay. That means more internships, more placements, and more pressure to get in.

Compare that to IIT Guwahati or IIT Roorkee. Their CSE cutoffs in 2024 were around rank 1,200 and 1,500 respectively. That’s still elite - but nowhere near the same level of competition.

Branch Matters More Than the IIT

Here’s the truth most coaching centers won’t tell you: Getting into CSE at IIT Roorkee is harder than getting into Electrical Engineering at IIT Bombay.

Look at the 2024 closing ranks:

• IIT Bombay CSE: 87
• IIT Bombay Electrical: 512
• IIT Roorkee CSE: 1,200
• IIT Roorkee Electrical: 2,800

So if you’re targeting the toughest admission battle, focus on CSE at IIT Bombay. If you’re okay with Electrical or Mechanical, even lower-ranked IITs become realistic options.

What About IIT Delhi?

IIT Delhi is a close second. Its CSE cutoff in 2024 was 112 - just 25 ranks above IIT Bombay’s. But here’s the twist: Delhi’s cutoffs have been rising faster than Bombay’s in the last three years. Why? Because Delhi has become the hub for startups and tech incubators. The Department of Computer Science has more industry-funded labs than any other IIT.

Plus, Delhi’s location gives it an edge. Students get access to internships at Flipkart, Ola, and Paytm without relocating. That attracts candidates who want both academic rigor and early career exposure.

So while IIT Bombay still leads, IIT Delhi is closing the gap fast. If you’re aiming for CSE, treat both as equally hard targets.

The Hidden Factor: Home State Quota

IITs reserve 50% of seats for home state candidates. That means a student from Maharashtra has a much better shot at IIT Bombay than a student from Bihar - even if their rank is 500 spots lower.

In 2024, the general category cutoff for IIT Bombay CSE was 87 for non-home state candidates. For Maharashtra residents, it was 1,100. That’s a 12x difference in difficulty.

This isn’t a loophole - it’s policy. The Indian government designed it to ensure regional representation. But for students outside Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, or Delhi, the competition becomes brutal. If you’re from a state with no IIT, you’re competing for the remaining 50% of seats against the entire country’s top performers.

Is It Worth It? The Real Cost of Chasing the Hardest IIT

Let’s be honest: chasing IIT Bombay CSE isn’t just about academics. It’s about identity. Many students spend two years in coaching centers, sacrificing sleep, hobbies, and mental health - all for a 0.005% chance of getting in.

Is it worth it? For some, yes. If you love coding, want to work abroad, or dream of founding a tech startup, then IIT Bombay gives you a launchpad few other institutions can match.

But if your goal is to become a good engineer, you don’t need IIT Bombay. IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, and even IIT Kharagpur offer world-class education. Their CSE programs are rigorous, their faculty is top-tier, and their placement records are strong.

Many successful tech founders - including the co-founder of Zomato - didn’t go to IIT Bombay. They went to IIT Delhi or even NITs. The brand matters, but your skills matter more.

What Should You Aim For?

Here’s a simple rule: Target the highest-ranked IIT where your JEE Advanced rank falls within the top 80% of the cutoff for your preferred branch.

For example:

• If your rank is 300: Aim for IIT Bombay or IIT Delhi in CSE - possible, but risky.
• If your rank is 800: Target IIT Kanpur, IIT Madras, or IIT Roorkee for CSE - strong chance.
• If your rank is 1,500: Consider IIT Guwahati or IIT Hyderabad for CSE, or IIT Bombay for a non-CSE branch.

Don’t chase prestige. Chase fit. The hardest IIT to get into isn’t the one with the lowest cutoff - it’s the one where you’re willing to sacrifice everything for a shot that might not even change your future.

Final Reality Check

The hardest IIT to get into is IIT Bombay - but only if you want CSE and you’re not from Maharashtra. For everything else, the competition is still fierce, but manageable.

Here’s what no one tells you: The students who get into IIT Bombay CSE aren’t always the smartest. They’re the most consistent. They practice 8 hours a day. They review every mistake. They don’t burn out - they pace themselves.

So if you’re preparing for JEE Advanced, stop asking which IIT is hardest. Start asking: Are you ready to outwork 1.5 million others? That’s the real question.