Checked 25 September 2026. Intake from the SAMS university-wise and college-wise intake pages (our sums match the portal's 32,571); fees from the Common Prospectus 2026-27 and the Gyanodaya operational guidelines of 07.08.2026.
CPET fills the P.G. seats of the SAMS system: the State's public universities, several private universities with self-financing seats, and more than a hundred colleges. For 2026-27 the portal counts 135 institutions and 32,571 seats, and — the biggest change in years — regular P.G. seats in State public universities and Government and aided colleges are now free of admission fees under the Gyanodaya scheme, for students who keep up 75% attendance.
Where other pages get this wrong
Odisha's SAMS P.G. admission covers 32,571 seats in 135 institutions in 2026-27 — 21 universities and 114 colleges.
Commonly published instead: "About 31,915 P.G. seats across 114+ institutions" and "58,708 registered candidates in 2026".
The portal's e-admission statistics give 135 institutes and 32,571 seats; our sum of its university-wise (12,477) and college-wise (20,094) intake lists matches exactly. The same page counts 58,613 applicants, 55,301 of them with the fee paid.
SAMS statistics and intake pages; Gyanodaya guidelines.
Universities and colleges
| Type | 2026-27 seats | Regular | Self-financing | 2025-26 seats |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Universities (21) | 12,477 | 9,383 | 3,094 | 12,405 |
| Colleges (114; 105 in 2025-26) | 20,094 | 11,107 | 8,987 | 19,488 |
| Total | 32,571 | 20,490 | 12,081 | 31,893 |
Our sums from the SAMS university-wise and college-wise intake pages; the 2026-27 total equals the portal's own statistic.
Our sums from the SAMS intake pages.
Two things follow. First, colleges hold more P.G. seats than universities — 20,094 against 12,477 — so the SAMS choice list is much wider than the famous campuses. Second, over a third of all seats (12,081) are self-financing, which Gyanodaya does not cover; in 2026 candidates chose at choice locking whether they wanted regular seats, self-financing seats or both.
The universities by P.G. intake
| University | Courses | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Utkal University | 38 | 1,422 |
| Ravenshaw University | 30 | 1,212 |
| Berhampur University | 30 | 1,206 |
| Sambalpur University | 32 | 1,048 |
| Gangadhar Meher University | 25 | 1,026 |
| Fakir Mohan University | 31 | 934 |
| MSCB University, Baripada | 25 | 880 |
| Rama Devi Women's University | 20 | 782 |
| Rajendra University, Balangir | 18 | 576 |
| Maa Manikeshwari University | 17 | 512 |
| Dharanidhar University, Kendujhar | 22 | 494 |
| Khallikote Unitary University | 19 | 488 |
| Vikram Dev University, Jeypore | 15 | 480 |
| Centurion University (self-financing only) | 12 | 475 |
| Shree Jagannath Sanskrit University | 8 | 272 |
| Others (NIST, C V Raman Global, CPGS-OUAT, Odia University, OUTR, Madhusudan Law University) | 24 | 670 |
Our sums from the SAMS university-wise intake page, 2026-27. A typical regular batch is 32 seats per subject.
Fees
What your CPET application costs
Common Prospectus 2026-27, §3.4.1: ₹500 (General) or ₹300 (SC/ST) for the first entrance subject and ₹200 for each additional one, up to three; exempt groups pay nothing. No refund; an edit that lowers the fee is not refunded.
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| CAF (entrance) fee, first subject | ₹500 General · ₹300 SC/ST |
| Each additional entrance subject (up to 3) | ₹200 |
| Exempt from the CAF fee | PwD, transgender, orphans, children without biological parents, single-mother families, children in Child Care Institutions |
| Answer-key objection | ₹200 per question, non-refundable (HED revised timeline, 2026) |
| Admission fee, regular P.G. seats (2026-27 to 2030-31) | Nil under Gyanodaya, with 75% attendance |
| Refund on cancelling an admission before closure | Whole admission fee paid, less ₹1,000 processing (relevant where a fee was paid, e.g. self-financing seats) |
| PwD (40% or more), regular courses | All academic fees except mess waived |
Common Prospectus 2026-27 §3.4.1 and admission rules; Gyanodaya operational guidelines. The FAQ's "₹500 per subject" wording contradicts its own next sentence; the prospectus rule is the one above.
Gyanodaya: what free P.G. means
The Gyanodaya – Shikshya Ru Samruddhi scheme (operational guidelines of 7 August 2026) removes the fees payable at admission — admission fee, development fee and other charges collected at admission — for regular-mode U.G. and P.G. seats in State public universities and in Government and non-Government aided colleges, from 2026-27 to 2030-31, with no income, category or district limit. The State pays the institution directly. Four limits matter. It needs 75% attendance, recorded biometrically or through HIMS (relaxable only in exceptional cases, never below 65%). It does not cover the examination fee. It does not cover self-financing courses, private institutions, PPP-mode programmes or distance learning. And it excludes professional and teacher-education programmes whatever the institution — B.Ed., M.Ed., LL.B., LL.M., MBA, MCA and similar. So when you lock choices, the regular/self-financing choice is now also a fee choice.
| Seat | Admission fee in 2026-27 |
|---|---|
| Regular seat, public university or Government/aided college | Nil, with 75% attendance; exam fee still payable |
| Self-financing seat | Payable as published by the institution |
| MBA, MCA, LL.M., M.Ed. (any institution) | Payable — professional and teacher-education programmes are excluded |
| Private university (SF-only seats) | Payable |
Gyanodaya operational guidelines, §§2, 4–6, 8; Phase-I and Phase-II guidelines 2026-27. Individual course fees are published in each institution's "College Profile" on SAMS.
Gyanodaya: the fine print
Three more rules from the operational guidelines. The benefit is available once for the first admission and the re-admission to later years of the same programme — not for repeated admission to the same programme. A student may not receive duplicate assistance for the same fee from more than one Government scheme unless the Government permits it. And the student must attend classes, sit all internal and end-semester examinations and complete internships, projects and practicals. Admissions under the scheme are made only through SAMS, and no separate application is needed — the SAMS admission record is the claim.
What CPET does not cover
| Programme or route | How admission works |
|---|---|
| P.G. diplomas and certificate courses | Outside SAMS; each institution admits itself |
| PPP-mode courses | Outside SAMS |
| M.Ed. (and B.Ed.) | Not covered by CPET; the SSB site lists a separate B.Ed./M.Ed. entrance |
| Seats left after SAMS closes | The 2026 Phase-II guidelines let a university hold its own entrance for non-CPET applicants |
| Second P.G. degree at Utkal, Berhampur or Rajendra | Subject to each university's own restrictions, printed as annexures to the prospectus |
Common Prospectus 2026-27 §3.1.2, ¶36 and p.7; Phase-II guidelines ¶25.
The system also grew between the two years: 114 colleges in 2026-27 against 105 in 2025-26, and 32,571 seats against 31,893 — with college self-financing seats rising from 8,443 to 8,987 (our sums from the 2025-26 and 2026-27 college intake pages). Course and admission fees for each institution are published on its "College Profile" page on SAMS, which is where to check the fee of a self-financing seat before you list it.
University seats, 2025-26 against 2026-27
| University seats | 2025-26 | 2026-27 |
|---|---|---|
| Regular | 9,619 | 9,383 |
| Self-financing | 2,786 | 3,094 |
| Total | 12,405 | 12,477 |
Our sums from the SAMS university-wise intake page for both years.
The mix inside the universities shifted the other way from Gyanodaya's direction: regular seats fell by 236 and self-financing seats rose by 308. For a student hoping for a fee-free regular seat, that makes choice order more important, not less — and it is one more reason to read the regular/self-financing choice at choice locking carefully.
How full are the seats?
When we read the portal on 25 September 2026 it counted 20,343 admissions against 32,571 seats — about 62% filled, with Phase-II still running to 7 October; the counter moves daily. Of the 58,613 applicants, 39,909 were women, and so were 14,246 of those admitted. After the SAMS process closes, a university may fill vacant P.G. seats through its own entrance for non-CPET applicants.
Practise it, don't just read it
With free regular seats, the competition for them rises. Timed topic quizzes are a quick way to prepare your subject.
The ProSyllabus Odisha CPET library has topic quizzes for English, Political Science, Economics, Botany and Commerce — the first one is free.
How many seats are there in Odisha CPET?
32,571 in 135 institutions in 2026-27.
Which university has the most P.G. seats in Odisha CPET?
Utkal University, with 1,422 seats in 38 courses, then Ravenshaw (1,212) and Berhampur (1,206).
Is P.G. free in Odisha from 2026?
Regular-mode seats in State public universities and Government/aided colleges carry no admission fee under Gyanodaya, with 75% attendance; exam fees, self-financing seats and professional courses such as MBA, MCA and LL.M. are not covered.
Is MBA free under Gyanodaya?
No. The guidelines exclude professional and teacher-education programmes such as MBA, MCA, LL.B., LL.M., B.Ed. and M.Ed., whatever the institution.
Is there an income limit for Gyanodaya?
No. The guidelines apply without any geographical, category or income-based restriction.
What is the Odisha CPET application fee?
₹500 for General or ₹300 for SC/ST for the first subject, plus ₹200 per extra subject; several groups are exempt.
Can I get a refund if I cancel my P.G. admission?
Before closure, the admission fee less ₹1,000 processing is refunded.
Are private universities part of CPET?
Yes — Centurion, NIST and C V Raman Global list self-financing seats in SAMS.
How many applied for Odisha CPET 2026?
58,613, of whom 55,301 paid the fee, per the SAMS statistics.
How many students got P.G. admission through SAMS in 2026?
20,343 by 25 September 2026, with Phase-II still running.
Do self-financing seats cost more?
They are outside Gyanodaya and carry the fee each institution publishes.
Does Gyanodaya cover the examination fee?
No. It covers the fees payable at admission — admission, development and other charges — but not the examination fee.
Do private universities take CPET students?
Yes. Centurion (CUTM), NIST and C V Raman Global list self-financing P.G. seats in SAMS; they are outside Gyanodaya, so their fees are payable.
How do I find a college's P.G. fee in Odisha?
On its "College Profile" page on the SAMS portal, where each institution publishes its course and admission fees.
Did Odisha add P.G. seats in 2026?
Yes — 32,571 against 31,893 in 2025-26, with 114 colleges against 105; university regular seats fell while self-financing seats rose.
Are PG diplomas in CPET?
No. P.G. diplomas, certificates and PPP-mode courses are outside SAMS.
More in this series
Sources
- official — SAMS P.G. — e-Admission statistics 2026-27
- official — SAMS P.G. — university-wise intake capacity
- official — SAMS P.G. — college-wise intake capacity
- official — HED Odisha — Common Prospectus for P.G. admission 2026-27 (linked from the SAMS portal)
- official — HED — Gyanodaya (Shikshya Ru Samruddhi) operational guidelines (07.08.2026)
- official — HED — Phase-I P.G. admission 2026-27 guidelines and timeline (27.07.2026)
- official — HED — Phase-II P.G. admission 2026-27 guidelines and timeline (Sep 2026)
- official — HED — revised CPET-2026 timeline (26.03.2026)
- official — State Selection Board, Odisha
- official — SAMS P.G. — FAQ
- reported — Collegedunia — Odisha CPET (reported; see corrections)
official = a document published by the conducting body. reported = a news or coaching site we could not check against an original. Where sources disagree this page says so rather than picking one.
