Engineering college cut-off ranks refer to the minimum rank required to secure admission into a particular college and branch, and they vary each year based on factors like the number of applicants, seat availability, reservation category, and exam difficulty. Top colleges like IITs, NITs, IIITs, and state government colleges usually have lower cut-off ranks (i.e., higher competition), while private or lesser-known colleges may have higher cut-offs. Cut-offs also differ for branches—Computer Science and Electronics often close earlier than civil or mechanical.