Top MBA Colleges in India Without CAT Exam 2025 - Direct Admission Guide 2025

Best MBA colleges in India without CAT exam

The best MBA colleges without CAT are XLRI Jamshedpur, Symbiosis International University (SIU), ISB Hyderabad, NMIMS, etc. Some top MBA colleges in India offer direct admission without CAT exam. Some of them conduct their management entrance exams.

XLRI, Jamshedpur

The first name on this list of top MBA colleges without CAT exams is XLRI. Every year, XLRI conducts the Xavier Aptitude Test or XAT, a national-level entrance exam to offer admissions to PGDM and MBA programmes. This top MBA college is known for its excellence and has several alumni working in significant positions in not only the Indian industries but also abroad. Students who are exclusively looking for the best MBA college without CAT 2025 can opt for this MBA college and shape their bright future.

Tata Institute of Social Sciences

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) can be considered a good option to pursue a PG programme. TISS discontinued TISSNET MBA exam for admission to its PG programmes and has started accepting the score of CUET PG MBA for the academic year 2025-2027. TISS offers good placement packages in top companies in various public and private sectors. All interested and eligible candidates must first apply to CUET PG MBA for admission to the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, one of the Top MBA colleges in India without CAT exam.

SIBM, Pune

The two-year full-time MBA is SIBM Pune's flagship programme, spread across four semesters and offering specialisations in marketing, human resource management, finance, operations and supply chain management and data analytics. Interested candidates must appear for SNAP exam to gain admission in this MBA college without CAT.

KIIT School of Management (KSOM)

KIIT School of Management (KSOM) is one of the top B Schools in India without CAT with a ranking of 32 as per NIRF, MHRD, Government of India, 2020. It offers a two-year full-time MBA programme. For admission to KSOM MBA and super MBA programmes candidates must take KIITEE management exam which is a national-level entrance exam. Candidates who meet the minimum KIITEE cutoff are called for the GD/PI round for final selection.

Jamnalal Bajaj Institute Of Management Studies

JBIMS offers a two-year management programme in Master in Management Studies equivalent to an MBA programme offering specialisation in Finance, Marketing, Operations, System and Human resource. Candidates wishing for admission to JBIMS must appear for MAH MBA CET exam. JBIMS cutoff for MMS admission ranges from 98 to 99+ percentile. This top MBA college without CAT exam offers excellent placement packages up to Rs. 35.75 LPA in top companies like KPMG, Deloitte, McKinsey and Company, etc.

Indian School of Business, Hyderabad

ISB, Hyderabad offers a one-year postgraduate programme to all eligible candidates. The eligibility criteria for admission to ISB, Hyderabad includes minimum 24 months of full-time work experience, a valid GMAT/GRE score and a bachelor's degree. The final selection criteria for ISB admissions will include shortlisting candidates based on their academics, work experience, awards and activities, GMAT/GRE scores, essay and recommendations if any.

Know more about:

• ISB Hyderabad Shortlist
• ISB GMAT Cutoff

Symbiosis International University

Symbiosis International University offers vibrant and dynamic learning opportunities to MBA aspirants across 4 states and 6 cities in India. Candidates shall appear for the Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP Test) for admission to MBA programmes offered in information technology, business analytics, banking and finance, and many more instead of the CAT exam. SNAP test takers also have to appear for the Personal Interaction (PI), Written Ability Test (WAT), and Group Exercise (GE) to be selected for admission.

IBS Hyderabad

Candidates who are looking for an MBA college without CAT exam in India can go with ICFAI Business School, Hyderabad. IBS Hyderabad enrolls candidates on the basis of the IBSAT exam. It is an online aptitude exam conducted by the ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education for admission to the MBA programmes of IBS Bengaluru and IBS Hyderabad. This MBA college also considers CAT scores. However, candidates who have not scored well or have not appeared in the CAT exam can go for this exam smoothly.

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies

NMIMS can be your dream MBA school. This MBA college has a legacy of over 41 years where it has shown credibility in the corporate world, with several alumni establishing themselves as successful entrepreneurs. Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies has been offering MBA programmes in several disciplines, such as HR and healthcare management. NMAT is the required MBA entrance exam to get into NMIMS. With NMAT, candidates can attempt the entrance test three times to crack this MBA exam, too, with no negative marking scheme.

Check out: Best MBA Colleges in Delhi Without CAT Exam

Best MBA colleges in India Without CAT exam- Eligibility criteria

Check out the basic eligibility criteria of the best MBA colleges without CAT in India.

• Candidates should have completed their graduation in any discipline with at least 50% marks in total aggregate. There is a relaxation of 5% for those who belong to the reserved category.
• Some of the institutes accept other competitive exam scores such as MAT, XAT, NMAT, GMAT, SNAP, ATMA, etc.

Best MBA colleges in India Without CAT exam- Documents required

At the time of MBA admission to the colleges, candidates need to produce the following documents.

• Class 10th certificate (Original and Photocopy)
• Class 12th certificate (Original and Photocopy)
• Graduation certification (Original and Photocopy)
• Photo ID proof
• Transfer certificate (If required)
• Two passport-size photographs

Best MBA colleges in India without CAT exam- Placements

MBA aspirants who wish to apply for MBA admission without the CAT exam may have doubts regarding the MBA placements and salary packages offered on these campuses. Check out the table below to get insights on the top MBA colleges in India without CAT scores that offer MBA placements.

Also Read: MBA Salary in India: Specialization-wise Salary, Freshers Salary, Average & Highest Package

Why Consider MBA Without CAT?

CAT exam is one of the most demanding and competitive entrance exams in India, taken by lakhs of MBA aspirants every year. Through this exam, it opens doors to the elite institutions like IIMs. However, not all students prefer CAT as the scope of admission to top B-schools. Many prefer admission without CAT, following are the factors:

• Excessive stress and extensive preparation time
• Availability of other exams
• Preference for different specialisations or locations
• Interest in direct admission or flexible learning opportunities

Interestingly, with the competition rising, an increasingly large number of MBA courses in India either accept alternative test scores or offer direct admission based on one's academic performance and interviews.