TNEA Round 1: Computer Science, ECE Top Preferences; Zero-Intake Colleges Raise Concerns

At the end of Round One of counselling for the Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions (TNEA) 2026, computer science and engineering (CSE) and its allied subjects continue to be the most preferred choice among students, followed by electronics and communications engineering (ECE). Data from the first round indicates that more than half of the filled seats belong to CSE and allied courses, while ECE accounts for over 20% of the seats.

Electrical and electronics engineering (EEE), though lower in preference, has registered a gentle upward swing in the number of seats filled. Career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi noted, “There is no doubt a greater interest was shown in core engineering subjects like ECE, EEE, and even mechanical. Intake for civil and other core subjects are, however, a bit down.”

Independent career counsellor R. Ashwin provided further granularity: among the top 100 students in TNEA counselling this year, 73 preferred CSE and allied courses, 26 opted for ECE, and only one chose mechanical engineering. Overall, the first round saw CSE and allied courses capture more than half of all seats filled, ECE above 20%, and EEE close to 5%.

However, a significant concern emerged from the fact that around 140 colleges recorded zero intake after the first round, with over 30 of them being autonomous institutions. Mr. Gandhi remarked, “This either points at lack of awareness among students about the institutions or the fact that the process of award of autonomous status by the authorities should be revisited.”

Region-wise, the Coimbatore region has fared better than the Chennai region for yet another year. Mr. Gandhi attributed this to several factors, including locational access, institutional reputation, pleasant weather, and Coimbatore’s status as a hub for textiles, information technology, and accessories manufacturing. “Institutions in Coimbatore are connected to students in a wider area across the west and south of the State. For example, a student from Salem, Dharmapuri, or Tirunelveli would prefer to study in Coimbatore rather than coming to Chennai,” he said.

Absenteeism in the first round has crawled up to 35%, an increase of about three percentage points compared to last year. Mr. Ashwin suggested that students may have opted for medicine or other courses, or they may have made incorrect choice filling. Mr. Gandhi echoed this, adding that he had come across students choosing tier-two colleges instead of NIRF-ranked institutions. “This shows lack of awareness. It is quite acute among rural students,” he added.

Another notable trend was observed in the top 10 institutions in terms of filled-up seats. Three private colleges have managed to fill about 85% of their seats. Mr. Ashwin observed, “Students are perhaps preferring private colleges because of better placements and infrastructure.”

Looking ahead to the second round, Mr. Gandhi said candidates with cut-off marks of 160-170 would still be able to get into top institutions, which was not the case last year. For those scoring below 160, Mr. Ashwin advised, “Students who scored below 160 should fill as many choice combinations as possible so that they have a better chance to get a good seat.”