Bhubaneswar, June 22: The Odisha Higher Education Department on Monday published the first selection merit list for Phase-I admissions into Undergraduate (UG Degree/+3) courses for the 2026-27 academic session. A total of 1,78,782 students have secured seats in higher educational institutions across the state.

According to official data, admissions are being conducted against a total sanctioned seat strength of 2,87,327, while 2,37,200 students applied for admission this year.

Among the candidates selected in the first round, 69,182 are male students, 1,09,591 are female students, and nine are transgender applicants. The figures indicate that female students continue to outnumber their male counterparts in undergraduate admissions across Odisha.

Ravenshaw University leads cut-off rankings

Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, emerged as the top-performing institution across multiple academic streams, recording the highest cut-off marks in Arts, Science, and Commerce disciplines.

The highest cut-offs in different streams are:

• Arts: Political Science at Ravenshaw University, Cuttack – 94.50%
• Physical Science: Physics at Ravenshaw University, Cuttack – 96.50%
• Biological Science: Zoology at Ravenshaw University, Cuttack – 94.83%
• Commerce: Commerce at Ravenshaw University, Cuttack – 89.17%
• Shastri: Brajakishore Sanskrit Degree College – 67.57%
• Self-Financing Course: Computer Science at BJB (Buxi Jagabandhu Bidyadhar) Autonomous College – 92.00%
• Law: Five-year integrated B.A. LL.B programme at Madhusudan Law University – 89.40%

The results reaffirm Ravenshaw University's position as one of the most sought-after institutions for higher education in Odisha.

Stream-wise selection figures

The distribution of selected students across various streams is as follows:

Arts remained the most preferred stream, accounting for more than one lakh selections in the first round.

Admission process and new ‘Alter’ option

Students who choose the “Freeze” option must report to their allotted Higher Educational Institution (HEI) between June 23 and June 25, from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, to complete admission formalities.

Candidates opting for the “Slide” or “Float” options are required to pay the admission fee for the allotted seat and wait for the second-round selection process. They are not required to visit their allotted institution at this stage.

In a significant move, the Higher Education Department has introduced a new “Alter” option. This feature allows students who have been allotted their first preference but do not wish to take admission there to modify their choices through an OTP-based verification process.

Officials stated that the initiative is aimed at providing greater flexibility to applicants while ensuring better utilisation of available seats across higher educational institutions in the state.