BIMTECH PGDM Admissions 2026
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Top Colleges in India Accepting CAT Score: The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most popular management entrance exams. Around 1000+ MBA colleges in India accept CAT 2025 scores for MBA admission. There are 21 IIMs at present, and all IIMs accept CAT 2025 scores. Every year, around 3 lakh students register and appear for the CAT exam. Apart from IIMs and IITs, MDI Gurgaon, IIT Delhi, FMS Delhi, and SPJIMR Mumbai are the top colleges accepting CAT scores in India. Check this complete article to know more than score-wise top colleges accepting CAT 2025 scores, programme fees, intake capacity, average salary packages, and much more.
IIM Kozhikode will retain its three-stage admission process for the MBA (PGP) 2026–28 batch, with CAT 2025 scores carrying a final weightage of 35 percent. The minimum overall CAT cut-off for general category candidates remains at 85 percentile, with sectional qualifying scores required in VARC, DILR, and QA. Shortlisting of candidates will be based on CAT performance, academic record, and personal interview rounds.
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Having a CAT scorecard is mandatory for candidates seeking admission to postgraduate management programmes of IIMs. Moreover, there are more than 1000 MBA colleges through CAT scores where candidates with valid CAT scores apply. There are also good colleges that admit candidates with low CAT scores. The CAT percentile-wise colleges listed here will help to choose the right B-school based on the CAT score. The article lists the accepted CAT colleges' percentiles in the tables below.
The list of top MBA colleges accepting CAT scores as per the NIRF ranking 2025 is given below. Check the list of IIMs that offer admission based on CAT 2025 along with their fee structure:
A list of top MBA colleges in India with fees is mentioned in the table below. While the IIM Seats mentioned here are based on the 2024-2026 season, the IIM Fees are for the 2025-2027 IIM Admission Season.
CAT colleges | Number of Seats | Programmes Fee (in Rs.) |
402 | Rs. 27.5 lakh | |
535 | Rs. 26.00 lakh | |
475 | Rs. 27.00 lakh | |
497 | Rs. 20.75 lakh | |
497 | Rs. 23.50 lakh | |
489 | Rs. 21.15 lakh | |
363 (2023-2025) | Rs. 21 lakh | |
262 | Rs. 21.50 lakh | |
240 | Rs. 17.9 lakh | |
348 | Rs. 17.90 lakh | |
316 | Rs. 21.01 lakh | |
297 | Rs. 20.00 lakh | |
225 (2023-2025) | Rs. 22.8 lakh | |
250 | Rs. 19.2 lakh | |
327 | Rs. 20.30 lakh | |
474 | Rs. 17.30 lakh | |
395 | Rs. 26.18 lakh | |
343 | Rs. 21.33 lakh | |
356 | Rs. 21.50lakh | |
| IIM Mumbai | 505 | Rs. 21. 00 Lakh |
344 | Rs. 20.51 lakh |
Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) will begin its admission process after the declaration of the CAT result. IITs have proved themselves to be the premier institutes in terms of both studies and placement. Check the list below where you can apply:
CAT colleges | Name of the Department | Total Seat Intake |
Department of Management Studies | 115 | |
Shailesh Jha Mehta School of Business | 152 | |
Vinod Gupta School of Management | 200 | |
Department of Management Studies | 70 | |
Department of Management Studies | 95 | |
Department of Management Studies | 92 | |
Department of Management Studies | 78 |
Not only the IIMs, but there are also other highly ranked and internationally accredited MBA/PGDM colleges among the non-IIMs accepting CAT scores. Some of the prominent MBA colleges, excluding IIMs, will accept the score of CAT 2025 below.
Other than IIMs, the list of colleges accepting the 90-100 percentile of CAT scores is:
Best colleges accepting CAT percentile 90-100 | Course Fees |
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi | Rs. 12 lakhs |
IIT Bombay | Rs. 14.07 lakh |
Rs. 20,960 | |
Rs. 24.16 lakh | |
Institute of Management Technology (Ghaziabad) | Rs. 19.53 lakh |
Rs. 20 lakh | |
Rs. 2 lakh | |
Rs. 24 lakh | |
SDA Bocconi Mumbai | Rs. 20 lakh |
Students scoring between 80-85 percentile must not lose hope, as the list below will inform you about the top colleges in India accepting CAT exam scores:
Best colleges accepting CAT percentile 80-85 | Course Fees | Average Salary Package |
Rs. 14 lakhs to Rs. 16 lakhs | Rs. 18.10 LPA | |
Rs. 17 lakhs | Rs. 15 LPA | |
Rs. 17 lakhs | Rs. 15 LPA | |
Rs. 18 lakhs | Rs. 15 LPA | |
Rs. 12 lakhs to Rs. 15 lakhs | Rs. 15 LPA | |
Rs. 10 lakhs to Rs. 20 lakhs | Rs. 17 LPA | |
Rs. 6 lakhs to Rs. 9 lakhs | Rs. 7 LPA | |
Rs. 13 lakhs | Rs. 14 LPA |
Checkout: MBA Colleges Accepting 80-90 Percentile in CAT Exam
With most of the colleges considering the cutoff, below is the list of colleges that shortlist candidates based on their academic performance and profile. These colleges help students to hold admission into MBA programmes through other components as well. Some of the colleges are:
| Top Colleges in India Accepting CAT Score of 70-80 percentile | Course Fees | Average Salary Package |
| Rs. 12 lakhs | Rs. 10 LPA | |
| Rs. 5 lakhs to Rs. 16 lakhs | Rs. 10 LPA | |
| Rs. 9 lakhs | Rs 8.6 LPA | |
| Rs. 14 lakhs | Rs. 10 LPA | |
| Rs. 14 lakhs | Rs. 11 LPA | |
| Rs. 9.5 lakhs | Rs. 8.25 LPA | |
| Rs. 9.25 lakhs | Rs. 8.10 LPA | |
| Rs. 9.5 lakhs | Rs. 7.80 LPA | |
| Rs. 12 lakhs | Rs. 9.5 LPA | |
| Rs. 11.5 lakhs | Rs. 8.65 LPA | |
| Rs. 14 lakhs | Rs. 13.3 LPA | |
| Rs. 11.9 lakhs | Rs. 7.5 LPA | |
| Rs. 27 lakhs | Rs. 18 LPA | |
| Rs. 14 lakhs | Rs. 9.15 LPA | |
| Rs 6.5 lakhs | Rs. 9.68 LPA | |
| Rs. 11 lakhs | Rs. 8.5 LPA |
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Also Check: Browse all MBA Colleges in India Accepting 70-80 Percentile in CAT Exam
MBA aspirants who failed to reach the good percentile in the CAT exam can also apply to the MBA colleges through a CAT score of 50 to 60 percentiles. Some of the best MBA colleges for 50 to 60 percentile in the CAT exam are mentioned below.
Name of MBA Colleges Accepting Low CAT Score | Percentile Needed | Fees Needed |
50 | 6.97 Lakhs | |
50+ | 8.00 Lakhs | |
50+ | 5-12 Lakhs | |
50+ | 10.60 Lakhs | |
55 | 8.50 Lakhs | |
55 | 4.81 Lakhs | |
55 | 3.42 Lakhs | |
50-60 | 1.10 Lakhs | |
60 | 6.35- 9.25 Lakhs | |
60 | 1.60 Lakhs | |
60 | 24 Lakhs | |
60 | - | |
Shri Ram Murti Smarak International Business School, Lucknow | 60 | 2.90 Lakhs |
NTPC School of Business, Noida | 60 | - |
MIT School of Telecom Management, Pune | 60 | 7.25 Lakhs |
60 | - | |
60 | 4.90 Lakhs | |
60 | 6.00 Lakhs | |
60 | 9.90 Lakhs | |
60 | - | |
60 | - | |
60 | 8.15 Lakhs | |
60 | 9.15 Lakhs |
MBA is the most demanded and expensive management course offered in India. Candidates who are looking for the best MBA colleges with low fees can check out the below table.
Name of the College | CAT cut-off (percentile) | Fees Avg (INR) |
70 | Rs. 0.66 lakhs | |
70 | Rs. 8.00 Lakhs | |
70 | Rs. 7.20 Lakhs | |
70 | Rs. 3.80 Lakhs | |
70 | Rs. 6.97 Lakhs | |
70 | Rs. 10.25 Lakhs | |
70 | Rs. 5.32 Lakhs | |
60-70 | Rs. 4.99 Lakhs | |
60-70 | Rs. 8 Lakhs | |
50 + | Rs. 8.71 Lakhs |
Now that we have a clear image of the institutes accepting CAT exam scores for different percentiles, check the links below to know the top colleges in India accepting low CAT scores in various states:
Students must note that the list of colleges mentioned not only accepts the CAT score, but a few of them also accept other entrance exam scores, such as:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
No, CAT score is valid for 1 year only. CAT 2025 score will be valid till December 31, 2026.
There are many CAT colleges including all IIMs and other B-schools that accept CAT scores. Over 1000 MBA colleges in India accept CAT scores which include MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, IITs, and IMI and others.
As Symbiosis Institute accepts only SNAP scores, CAT is not applicable.
Candidates can get admission to MBA programmes with the CAT score. More than 1000 MBA colleges in India accept CAT scores which include MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, IITs, IMI and others accept CAT score in India.
90-100 percentile can be considered to be a good CAT exam percentile.
Yes, the CAT exam is the key to getting admission to top IIMs of the country and other reputed B-schools.
There are many top CAT exam colleges apart from the IIMs such as MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, IITs, and others.
The CAT 2023 entrance exam was held on November 26. Around 2.88 lakh candidates appeared for the exam out of 3.28 lakh registered eligible candidates. The overall attendance was approximately 88%.
No. 1000+ MBA colleges in India accept CAT scores including MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, IITs, IMI, and others. However, some Bschools conduct their own entrance test.
Over 1000 MBA colleges in India accept CAT scores.
On Question asked by student community
With 84.91 percentile in CAT (General, male, no work experience), top colleges like IIMs, IITs, FMS, MDI, etc. are not possible. You may get calls from private institutes such as IMT Nagpur/Hyderabad, IMI Bhubaneswar, XIME, SDMIMD, Welingkar (some programs) and similar colleges. Universities like Amity or LPU are also options.
It’s better to choose carefully, as placements and ROI may be average. Reattempting CAT or trying XAT/CMAT could improve options.
Hello,
With a CAT percentile of 88.77 and a strong CGPA of 9.0, you are in a competitive range for newer IIMs (like IIM Amritsar, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Nagpur) and several top non-IIM B-schools such as TAPMI, BIM Trichy, Great Lakes, IMI Delhi, FORE School of Management, and KJ Somaiya. You may not reach the older IIMs (Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, etc.) since they usually require 98+ percentile, but you have excellent chances at mid-tier and emerging institutes.
For more details access mentioned link below:
Hope it helps.
Hello
The expected cutoff for the JAP (Joint Admission Process) is around 90 to 95th percentile, with a minimum sectional cutoff of around 75 percentile in Quantitative Ability. You have scored 82.2% which is very low; that's why you are unlikely to meet the minimum criteria for the JAP IIMs in the general Category.
I hope this information helps you.
Thank you.
Hello,
Here is your IIM Cutoff for Gen/OBC/SC/ST, CS Score Cut Off. I am providing you the link. Kindly open and check it out. From here you can get all the details.
I hope it will help you.
Thank you.
With a CAT score of around 80 percentile and about 2 years of work experience, getting a call from the top IIMs (IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, Kozhikode, Indore) is extremely difficult, as their cutoff percentiles are usually much higher, even for reserved categories. These institutes typically shortlist candidates above 95–99 percentile depending on category, academic profile, and diversity factors.
However, you may still have some chances at a few of the newer or baby IIMs, especially if you belong to a reserved category (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) and have a decent academic background. IIMs such as IIM Jammu, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Nagaland, IIM Amritsar, and IIM Vizag have historically called candidates in the 75–85 percentile range for certain categories. Your 2 years of work experience can also work in your favour, as most IIMs give weightage to professional experience during shortlisting and final selection.
That said, selection does not depend on CAT percentile alone. Factors like your 10th and 12th marks, graduation score, academic consistency, gender and academic diversity, work experience quality, and performance in the personal interview play a very important role. Even with an 80 percentile, a strong interview and profile can improve your chances at newer IIMs.
You should also keep strong non-IIM options open. At this percentile, good colleges like newer IIT MBA programs, some NITs, and reputed private B-schools can offer better and more realistic opportunities. Applying broadly and preparing seriously for the interview stage is very important.
In summary, while top IIMs are unlikely at 80 percentile, you may still have a realistic chance at some of the newer IIMs depending on your category and overall profile.
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