IIM Scholarships 2025: Financial Aid Opportunities for Gen/EWS/OBC/SC/ST Students

IIM Scholarships 2025: Financial Aid Opportunities for Gen/EWS/OBC/SC/ST Students

Team Careers360Updated on 07 Aug 2025, 11:13 AM IST

IIM scholarships for candidates are provided by the different IIM colleges to candidates with financial constraints of some kind. The IIM scholarship is provided only to the eligible candidates. The IIM scholarships are funded either by the government or some other private institution. The IIM scholarships are provided with the goal of including every possible candidate in the prestigious management institutes. This article aims to provide robust information about the different IIM scholarships 2025 available for candidates, covering important aspects like type, eligibility, and features.

LiveCAT 2025 Result (OUT) LIVE: IIM CAT results declared on iimcat.ac.in; 12 candidates score 100 percentileDec 24, 2025 | 6:12 PM IST

TAPMI usually expects a CAT score of around 85 percentile, though some candidates may get calls at about 80 percentile. To be safe, aiming for the 85+ percentile is recommended.

Read More

This Story also Contains

  1. Types of Scholarships Offered at IIMs
  2. Eligibility Criteria for IIM Scholarship 2025
  3. IIM Scholarship for MBA Programme
  4. Top 10 Scholarships for MBA in IIM
  5. Application Process for IIM Scholarships
IIM Scholarships 2025: Financial Aid Opportunities for Gen/EWS/OBC/SC/ST Students
IIM Scholarship

Types of Scholarships Offered at IIMs

IIM scholarships 2025 can be of various types depending on the way they are catered to the candidates. The various types of IIM scholarships are mentioned below.

Merit-Based IIM Scholarship

  • Given to candidates with extraordinary academic performance at school and graduation levels along with exceptional performance in MBA entrance exams.

Need-Based IIM Scholarship

  • Given to candidates coming from poor backgrounds.
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Diversity and Gender-based IIM scholarship

  • Given to candidates coming from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds.
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External IIM scholarship

  • Given to students by companies that employ MBA graduates to bring new talent into their workspace.

Eligibility Criteria for IIM Scholarship 2025

The eligibility criteria for an IIM scholarship are specific to the particular scholarship. The eligibility criteria vary for every individual IIM scholarship. However, a few of the conditions remain the same. Having these increases the probability of a candidate being considered for the IM Scholarship. The general eligibility criteria for the IIM scholarship are as follows:.

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  • A bachelor’s degree from a recognized university or equivalent institution.
  • Excellent academic records at the school and college levels.
  • Letter of recommendation from institutions.
  • A justifiable reason to be granted a scholarship.
  • Exceptional performance in various MBA entrance exams such as CAT/XAT/CMAT, etc.

IIM Scholarship for MBA Programme

The IIM scholarships provided by different IIMs, along with their eligibility criteria, are listed in the table below.

IIMs

IIM Scholarship

IIM Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

IIM Ahmedabad

IIMA Special Need-Based Scholarships

Gross annual family income is below Rs. 15,00,000. During the previous financial year, you are eligible to apply for this scholarship.

SC/ST Scholarships

Awarded to meritorious SC/ST students whose family income does not exceed Rs. 4,50,000 per annum.

Aditya Birla Group scholarships

Merit-based scholarship. 6 students are selected.

OP Jindal Engineering and Management Scholars

Based on academic performance along with an online test and personal interview.

IIM Bangalore

T Thomas

The second-year student is shortlisted. Based on what merit cum means.

Societe General Global Solution Centre India

Financially weak students. Based on the interview.

Employment in Social sector scholarship

One-third of the tuition fee will be reimbursed as a scholarship after the candidate has completed 3 years of service in the social sector.

IIM Calcutta

Aditya Kashyap Memorial

First Rank Holder

SC/ST scholarship

Students belonging to SC/ST. Need-based.

IIM Lucknow

Bharti Scholarship

Annual income less than 1.08 lacs p.a.

IIM Indore

Financial scholarship

Need-based

State scholarship

Merit-based. Funded by the state government for top students belonging to the state.

IIM Kozhikode

IIMK Merit Scholarship

awarded to the students of Post Graduate Programmes (PGP, PGPLSM, and PGPFIN) first- and second-year students based on their performance during one academic year, as determined by their CGPA.

Top Class Education Scheme for SC Students

Students belonging to the SC category based on annual parental income from all sources for the previous financial year. The maximum income limit is Rs. 8,00,000/-.

National Fellowship and Scholarship for Higher Education of ST Students

Students belonging to the ST category, based on annual parental income from all sources for the previous financial year. The maximum income limit is Rs. 6,00,000/-.

Merit Cum Means Scholarship for Professional and Technical Courses CS

Students belonging to minority communities who have secured not less than 50% marks or equivalent grades in the previous final examination. The maximum limit of income for the previous financial year is Rs. 2,50,000.

Scholarship Scheme for Govt. of Tamil Nadu

Offered by the Government of Tamil Nadu to the native students belonging to BC/MBC/DNC communities. The maximum limit of income is Rs. 2,000,000/-.

IIM Nagpur

IIM Nagpur Merit Scholarship

For top ten scorer candidates securing 95%ile or above in CAT.

IIM Nagpur Need-cum-Merit Scholarship

For candidates with a family income of less than Rs 8 lakhs.

IIM Ranchi

Merit cum Means Scholarship

Students should possess an aggregate of more than 50% marks (or equivalent grade in the previous final examination).

The annual income of a student’s parents/guardians from all sources should not exceed INR 2.50 lakhs.

IIM Mumbai

Type 1

It gives a 30% waiver on the tuition fee. The annual family income should be less than 2.5 lakhs.

Type 2

It gives a 50% waiver on the tuition fee. The annual family income should be less than 1 lakh.

Top 10 Scholarships for MBA in IIM

Check out below the top 10 IIM scholarship for General category, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, etc.

IIM Ahmedabad Scholarships

  • IIM Ahmedabad need-based scholarships
  • Merit-Based Scholarships
  • Government Scholarships (e.g., Central Sector Scheme)
  • Alumni-Funded Scholarships

IIM Bangalore Scholarships

  • Need-Based Scholarships
  • IIM Bangalore merit scholarships
  • Corporate Scholarships (e.g., Aditya Birla, OPJEMS)
  • Special Scholarships for Women

IIM Calcutta Scholarships

  • Merit-Based Scholarships
  • IIM Calcutta financial aid for SC/ST students
  • Corporate Scholarships (e.g., JN Tata Endowment)
  • Government Scholarships (e.g., Central Sector Scheme)

IIM Lucknow Scholarships

  • Need-Based Scholarships
  • Merit Scholarships
  • Corporate Scholarships (e.g., OPJEMS, Aditya Birla)
  • Special Scholarships for SC/ST/OBC Students

IIM Kozhikode Scholarships

  • Need-Based Financial Aid
  • Merit Scholarships
  • Government Scholarships (e.g., Central Sector Scheme)
  • Corporate Scholarships

IIM Indore Scholarships

  • Need-Based Scholarships
  • Merit Scholarships
  • Special Scholarships for Women
  • Government Scholarships (e.g., Central Sector Scheme)

IIM Shillong Scholarships

  • Need-Based Financial Aid
  • Merit Scholarships
  • Corporate Scholarships
  • Special Scholarships for North-Eastern Students

IIM Rohtak Scholarships

  • Need-Based Scholarships
  • Merit Scholarships
  • Government Scholarships (e.g., Central Sector Scheme)
  • Corporate Scholarships

IIM Udaipur Scholarships

  • Need-Based Financial Aid
  • Merit Scholarships
  • Corporate Scholarships
  • Special Scholarships for Women

IIM Kashipur Scholarships

  • Need-Based Scholarships
  • Merit Scholarships
  • Government Scholarships (e.g., Central Sector Scheme)
  • Corporate Scholarships

Application Process for IIM Scholarships

  • Check the official website of the respective IIM for detailed scholarship information.
  • Submit the required documents (e.g., income proof, academic records).
  • Meet the eligibility criteria (e.g., merit-based, need-based, or category-specific).
  • Apply within the specified deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I get 100% scholarship for MBA?
A:

As we all know MBA come up with a hefty price tag. Many students finance their MBA course through education loans, savings, or through scholarships. However, securing a 100% MBA scholarship at renowned B-schools is quite uncommon. 

Q: Can I study in IIM for free?
A:

Studying in IIM for absolutely free is uncommon, however, there are several options which allow students to reduce their financial burden and help them study there.

Q: Which is the cheapest IIM?
A:

The IIM with the lowest fee for the MNA program is typically IIM Bodh Gaya with an approximate fee of Rs. 16.28 lakhs for the two-year program.

Q: Which IIM has the lowest fees?
A:

The Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), IIM Amritsar, IIM Sirmaur, and IIM Bodh Gaya are considered to have the lowest MBA fee.  

Q: Can I get 100% scholarship for IIM?
A:

A full 100% scholarship is not provided by any IIM. In most cases, a certain scholarship amount is provided to the candidates eligible for a particular IIM scholarship. The amount can vary for different IIMs.

Q: Does IIM offer a fee waiver?
A:

Some of the IIM Scholarships offer a fee waiver to candidates. The tuition fee waived can be between 30 to 50%. In very rare cases, only under special circumstances, a candidate is given a complete fee waiver for the tuition fee.

Q: Can second-year MBA students apply for scholarships?
A:

Yes. There are specially curated scholarships for MBA students in India who are studying in the second year of their respective courses.

Q: Can a poor student join IIM?
A:

With the introduction of numerous IIM scholarship programs for candidates by both government and private institutions, it has become feasible for candidates with a poor financial background to join IIM.

Q: Is IIM free for CAT students?
A:

Most of the IIMs do not provide category-wise scholarship to students who qualify the CAT entrance exam. The MBA/ PGDM course fee is the same for all categories of students. However, scholarships are offered to only eligible candidates based on several factors such as merit, merit-cum means, etc.

Q: Which IIM has the lowest fees?
A:

The Indian Institute of Management (IIMs), IIM Amritsar, IIM Sirmaur, and IIM Bodh Gaya are considered to have the lowest MBA fee.  

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello,

The results for the CAT 2025 entrance, which is conducted on November 30, 2025, were declared on December 22, 2025. Candidates can download and see their results on the official IIM CAT website. On the website, click on the "CAT 2025 Result/Scorecard" link to download the result by entering the required details.

I hope it will clear your query!!

Hello,

The link to the website where you can check the published result is attached herewith.  The result will be out soon. You can also check the cutoffs on the website of Careers360.

https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-result

Thank you.

CAT does not restrict eligibility based on stream. Candidates from commerce, arts, science, engineering or any other background can appear for CAT and apply to MBA programmes offered by IIMs and other top B-schools.

The basic eligibility criteria for CAT are:
You must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university with at least 50 percent marks (45 percent for SC, ST and PwD categories). Final-year graduation students are also eligible to apply.

Being a commerce graduate can actually be an advantage in areas such as accounting, finance, economics and business studies, especially during MBA coursework in finance, marketing and operations.

After qualifying CAT, admission depends on multiple factors including CAT percentile, academic background, work experience (if any), performance in GD, WAT and personal interview rounds. Many IIMs and B-schools follow a diverse academic background policy, which means non-engineering candidates, including commerce graduates, often receive additional weightage.

Apart from IIMs, several reputed institutes such as FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, and many state and private universities also accept CAT scores for MBA admissions.

So, as a commerce graduate, you are fully eligible to appear for CAT and pursue an MBA, provided you meet the minimum academic requirements and perform well in the selection process.

If you want, I can also help you with realistic CAT percentile targets based on your academic profile or suggest suitable MBA colleges.


Hello aspirant,

With a CAT 2025 raw score of 84 and strong sectionals, your expected percentile may fail in the high 98 range , depending on scaling. Your excellent academics and 2 years of work experience strengthen your profile .IIM Lucknow calls are possible but competitive for EWS engineers , while FMS Delhi looks mainly at CAT score and VARC , so you have a reasonable chance there . Final calls depend on cutoffs and composite score.

FOR REFERENCE : https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-cutoff

Hope the details will help you.

THANK YOU

Hello aspirant ,

For MANAGE Hyderabad MBA , the OBC cutoff in CAT 2024 was generally around 85-90 percentile for shortlist consideration , tough exact figures vary by section and profile . For CAT 2025, if fewer candidates appeared , the cutoff might slightly adjust , but percentile based cutoffs dont change drastically year to year. A minor decrease is possible , but you should still aim for 90+ percentile to be competitive. Factors like VARC, QA-LRDI and overall profile influence the final shortlist.

FOR REFERENCE : https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-cutof f

Hope the details will help you.

THANK YOU