Many students in Karnataka appear for the KCET exam each year. This exam helps them get admission into professional courses. These courses include Engineering, Architecture, B.Pharma, Pharma-D, Veterinary, and Farm Science. After getting a rank in KCET, students are called for counselling. During counselling, students choose colleges and courses based on their rank and interest.
One important part of this process is understanding the fee structure. The fee varies for different colleges and courses. It also changes based on the student’s category and family income. Many students get fee concessions under government rules. Understanding these details can help students and parents plan better.
This article explains the KCET 2024-25 fee structure in simple terms. It includes details for government, aided, unaided, and private universities. It also explains the fee differences based on student category and income. Use this article as a reference while preparing for admission after KCET.
Understanding the KCET Fee Structure Categories
Before applying for counselling and selecting colleges, it is very important to understand the KCET fee structure categories. The total fee you pay is not the same for every student. It changes based on three main factors: the type of college, your caste or reservation category, and your family’s annual income. These factors help the government decide how much concession you can get on your college fees. Let us break this down for better understanding.
1) College Type
In Karnataka, colleges that participate in KCET admissions are divided into several types:
Government Colleges: These colleges are fully run and funded by the state government. The fees are very low, making them the most affordable option for students. Almost all reserved category students and those with low income benefit greatly from these colleges.
Aided Colleges: These colleges are partly funded by the government. They may be private institutions but receive financial aid to support operations. The fee here is slightly higher than in government colleges but still affordable.
Unaided Colleges: These are private colleges that do not receive government support. They are of two types:
- Type-1: They charge lesser fees compared to other private colleges but still more than aided ones.
- Type-2: These charge the highest fees among KCET-affiliated private institutions. These colleges usually offer better infrastructure but are expensive.
Deemed and Private Universities: These universities follow their own admission rules after KCET. Their fees are the highest. They are not controlled by the state government, and students must pay as per the university’s decision. Concessions are very limited here.
2) Student Categories
The Karnataka government has divided students into different reservation categories. Each of these categories has different fee benefits:
- General Merit (GM): These students are not eligible for any caste-based fee concession. They pay the full fees as listed by the government or private college.
- 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B: These are backward classes who may get partial fee concessions, especially if their income is below ₹10 lakh per year.
- Category-1, SC, and ST: These students receive the maximum benefit. If their annual family income is below ₹2.5 lakh, they pay a very small amount as fees, sometimes as low as ₹2,680 per year for engineering.
- SNQ (Supernumerary Quota): This quota is meant for economically weaker students (income below ₹8 lakh) from all categories. Students under SNQ get a full tuition fee waiver. However, they still have to pay the university and other additional fees.
3) Income Criteria
Income is one of the most important factors in deciding your final payable fee:
- Up to ₹2.5 Lakh per year: Students from SC/ST or Category-1 families under this slab pay the lowest fees. Their tuition fees are often waived or highly reduced.
- Up to ₹10 Lakh per year: Some reserved category students may receive partial concessions under this income group.
- Above ₹10 Lakh per year: These students are not eligible for any income-based fee benefits. They pay the complete fee based on their seat and college type.
Students should carry valid income and caste certificates during counselling to claim these benefits. Without valid documents, they will be treated as General Merit students and will not receive any fee concessions.
Detailed KCET Fee Structure
The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) has released the provisional fee structure for various courses under KCET for the academic year 2024–25. The total fees depend on the type of college, the student’s reservation category, and the family income. Each combination results in a different fee. To make things easier, KEA divides students into the following groups:
- General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (including SC/ST with income above ₹10 lakh and Category-1 with income above ₹2.5 lakh)
- SNQ quota candidates (Engineering only)
- SC/ST and Category-1 students with income up to ₹2.5 lakh
- All categories with income up to ₹2.5 lakh
- All categories with income up to ₹10 lakh
Let’s now look at the fees for each course based on these groups and college types.
1) KCET FEE For Engineering and Architecture Courses
Government and Aided Colleges: Government and aided colleges charge the same fee structure for both engineering and architecture.
| Student Group | Annual Fee (₹) |
| General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (including SC/ST with income above ₹10 lakh and Category-1 with income above ₹2.5 lakh) | ₹42,866 |
| SNQ quota candidates (Engineering only) | ₹21,360 |
| SC/ST and Category-1 students with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹10 lakh | ₹21,360 |
University Visvesvaraya College of Engineering (UVCE)
UVCE is a government college but follows a slightly different fee structure.
| Student Group | Annual Fee (₹) |
| General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (including SC/ST with income above ₹10 lakh and Category-1 with income above ₹2.5 lakh) | ₹48,000 |
| SNQ quota candidates (Engineering only) | ₹21,360 |
| SC/ST and Category-1 students with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹10 lakh | ₹21,360 |
Unaided Colleges – Type 1
These include private unaided colleges and minority institutions under Type 1.
| Student Group | Annual Fee (₹) |
| General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (including SC/ST with income above ₹10 lakh and Category-1 with income above ₹2.5 lakh) | ₹1,07,495 |
| SNQ quota candidates (Engineering only) | ₹31,360 |
| SC/ST and Category-1 students with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹10 lakh | ₹85,989 |
Unaided Colleges – Type 2
These are other unaided colleges with a slightly higher fee structure.
| Student Group | Annual Fee (₹) |
| General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (including SC/ST with income above ₹10 lakh and Category-1 with income above ₹2.5 lakh) | ₹1,15,956 |
| SNQ quota candidates (Engineering only) | ₹31,360 |
| SC/ST and Category-1 students with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹10 lakh | ₹94,450 |
Deemed and Private Universities
These universities charge a standard amount, similar to Type 1 unaided colleges.
| Student Group | Annual Fee (₹) |
| General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (including SC/ST with income above ₹10 lakh and Category-1 with income above ₹2.5 lakh) | ₹1,07,495 |
| SNQ quota candidates (Engineering only) | Not Applicable |
| SC/ST and Category-1 students with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹10 lakh | ₹85,989 |
2) KCET FEE For B.Pharma Course
Government Colleges
| Student Group | Annual Fee (₹) |
| General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (including SC/ST with income above ₹10 lakh and Category-1 with income above ₹2.5 lakh) | ₹14,780 |
| SC/ST and Category-1 students with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹10 lakh | ₹6,250 |
Unaided Colleges
| Student Group | Annual Fee (₹) |
| General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (including SC/ST with income above ₹10 lakh and Category-1 with income above ₹2.5 lakh) | ₹26,750 |
| SC/ST and Category-1 students with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹10 lakh | ₹18,220 |
3) KCET FEE For Pharm-D Course
Pharm-D is only available in unaided colleges.
| Student Group | Annual Fee (₹) |
| General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (including SC/ST with income above ₹10 lakh and Category-1 with income above ₹2.5 lakh) | ₹67,750 |
| SC/ST and Category-1 students with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹10 lakh | ₹67,750 |
4) Farm Science Courses (Per Semester Fees)
These include B.Sc. in Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, and Forestry. These are only offered in government colleges.
| Student Group | Semester Fee (₹) |
| General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (including SC/ST with income above ₹10 lakh and Category-1 with income above ₹2.5 lakh) | ₹36,725 |
| SC/ST and Category-1 students with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹750 |
| All categories with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹18,738 |
| All categories with income up to ₹10 lakh | ₹36,725 |
5) Veterinary Courses – B.V.Sc & AH
This course is offered only in government veterinary colleges.
| Student Group | Annual Fee (₹) |
| General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (including SC/ST with income above ₹10 lakh and Category-1 with income above ₹2.5 lakh) | ₹70,470 |
| SC/ST and Category-1 students with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹12,525 |
| All categories with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹70,470 |
| All categories with income up to ₹10 lakh | ₹70,470 |
6) Fisheries and Dairy Courses – B.F.Sc (Per Semester)
These courses are offered only in government colleges.
| Student Group | Semester Fee (₹) |
| General Merit, 2A, 2B, 3A, 3B (including SC/ST with income above ₹10 lakh and Category-1 with income above ₹2.5 lakh) | ₹37,000 |
| SC/ST and Category-1 students with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹11,400 |
| All categories with income up to ₹2.5 lakh | ₹37,000 |
| All categories with income up to ₹10 lakh | ₹37,000 |
University Fees (Included in Total Fee)
These are fixed charges included within the main course fees. They cover registration, ID card, library, NSS, and sports.
| Course | University Fee Included (₹) |
| Engineering | ₹10,610 |
| Architecture | ₹11,260 |
| B.Pharma | ₹5,500 |
| Pharm-D | ₹4,700 |
KCET Preparation Tips for Top Rank
Scoring a top rank in KCET needs planning, practice, and discipline. Many students aim for a good rank to get admission into top colleges in Karnataka. If you want to reach that goal, you must follow the right strategy from the beginning. Here are some useful tips to help you prepare for KCET 2025 and aim for a top rank.
1) Know the Syllabus Well: Start by understanding the KCET syllabus completely. The exam is based on the 1st and 2nd PUC syllabus of Karnataka State Board. Subjects include Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology (for relevant courses). Check the chapters and weightage of each subject. Focus more on high-weightage topics. Do not skip any chapter, even if it seems easy.
2) Make a Realistic Study Plan: Create a daily timetable and stick to it. Divide your day into subject-wise slots. Keep time for revision and solving questions. Do not study for long hours without breaks. Take short breaks every 45–60 minutes. Try to cover all subjects every week. Balance board exam preparation and KCET revision together.
3) Use NCERT Textbooks: For KCET, the best books are NCERT textbooks. Most questions come directly from them. Read each chapter line by line. Practice all the solved examples and exercises. Understand the concepts rather than memorizing. NCERT books help you score well in both KCET and board exams.
4) Practice with KCET Previous Year Papers: Solve at least 5–10 previous year KCET papers. This will help you understand the exam pattern and difficulty level. While solving, note down the commonly asked questions and topics. Practice solving papers within the exam time limit. It builds speed and confidence.
5) Attempt Mock Tests Regularly: Take full-length mock tests every week. It will show your strengths and weaknesses. Analyze your performance after each test. Focus on your weak areas and revise them again. Mock tests prepare you for the actual exam pressure. Try to complete the test in 3 hours with accuracy.
6) Strengthen Time Management Skills: In KCET, you get 60 minutes for each subject. So, you need to solve 60 questions in 60 minutes. That gives you one minute per question. Practice solving questions quickly and correctly. Do not spend too much time on one question. If you don’t know the answer, skip it and come back later.
7) Avoid Guesswork: KCET has no negative marking, but don’t guess blindly. Unplanned guessing wastes time. Focus on questions you can solve with logic and understanding. If you are unsure, eliminate wrong options and then choose the best one.
8) Revise Every Week: Set one day every week for revision. Revise the chapters you studied earlier. This will help you remember the formulas, facts, and concepts for a longer time. Make short notes or flashcards to revise quickly before the exam.
With smart preparation and regular practice, you can aim for a top rank in KCET.
Conclusion
Understanding the KCET fee structure is important for every student planning to join a professional course through this entrance exam. The amount you pay depends on many factors such as your category, income level, and the type of college you choose. Government colleges have the lowest fees, while private universities charge more. If you belong to SC, ST, Category-1, or come from a low-income family, you may get big fee concessions or even complete fee waivers under SNQ.
Knowing these details before counseling helps you make smart choices. It also saves you from last-minute confusion or money-related stress. Always keep your documents ready and check the official fee list during seat allotment.
Use this article as your go-to guide while planning your admission. With the right information, you can reduce your expenses and focus more on your studies. Make sure you pick a college that suits both your interest and your budget.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) What if my family income exceeds ₹10 Lakhs?
If your income is above ₹10 lakhs, you do not qualify for income-based fee concessions. You have to pay the full fee applicable to your category.
2) Can I get a fee refund if I cancel my admission?
Yes. If you cancel your seat within the refund period, you can get a refund after a deduction of processing fees. The refund process is handled by KEA.
3) Are hostel fees included in the KCET fee structure?
No. Hostel fees are not part of the KCET tuition fee. You must pay separately to the college hostel section after admission.
4) How do I claim SC/ST or Category-1 fee concessions?
You need to submit a valid caste certificate and income certificate at the time of counselling. If eligible, your fee will be reduced as per government rules.
