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Top 20 Non-IIM MBA Colleges in India - Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are known for dominating the MBA domain, however there are several top non-IIM MBA colleges in India which are giving tough competition with affordable fees, strong placement records and high ROI. Top non-IIM institutes like FMS, Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, TISS Mumbai, SPJIMR Mumbai, XLRI Jamshedpur offer entrance exams like XAT, GMAT, CAT, CUET PG and offer MBA starting at just Rs. 57,350 and can go up to Rs. 25 Lakhs. As per latest placement reports, top institutes like FMS Delhi have an average placement of Rs 34. 1 LPA with a very affordable fee. On the other hand, XLRI Jamshedpur offers an average package of Rs. 31.08 LPA, giving stiff competition to premier IIMs. Additionally, many of these top B-schools not only accept CAT scores but also offer admission through exams like XAT, NMAT, GMAT and SNAP, making them accessible to a larger pool of audience. Keep reading this article to find the complete list of top non-IIM MBA colleges in India, their fees structure and placements.
The CAT 2025 scorecard will be available after the result declaration, which is expected in the last week of December or the first week of January. Candidates can download the scorecard by visiting the official website, iimcat.ac.in, logging in with their CAT 2025 user ID and password, and selecting the scorecard download link. The scorecard will remain accessible for a limited period and will be required for MBA admission and selection rounds.
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There are many non-IIM MBA colleges such as FMS Delhi which offer Rs. 34.1 LPA with just Rs. 57,350 fees and SPJIMR Mumbai offering an average placement package of Rs. 32.10 LPA with a fee structure of Rs. 22.50 Lakhs. Find a complete list of non-IIM MBA colleges in India.
Top Non-IIM MBA Colleges in India | Accepted Entrance Exams | Course Fees (Subject to Revision) | Average Placement |
XAT, GMAT, GRE, direct admission but involves a higher fee | Rs. 15.3 LPA | Rs. 31.08 LPA | |
SPJIMR Mumbai | CAT, XAT and GMAT | Rs. 22.50 Lakhs | Rs. 32. 10 LPA |
Rs. 16,70,700 | Rs. 25.6 LPA | ||
FMS Delhi | CAT | Rs. 57,350 | Rs. 34.1 LPA |
NMAT by GMAC exam | Rs. 25 Lakhs | Rs. 25.13 LPA | |
MAH CET, CAT and CMAT | Rs. 4,06,075 | Rs. 26.12 LPA | |
CUET PG, CAT, TISSNET | Rs. 1,85,000 | Rs. 28.20 LPA | |
SNAP | Rs. 24,90,000 | Rs. 28.83 LPA | |
CAT, XAT and GMAT | Rs. 21,53,000 | Rs. 16.25 LPA | |
XAT, GMAT, CAT and X-GMT | Rs. 22 Lakhs | Rs. 19.53 LPA | |
GMAT, XAT, NMAT and CAT | Rs. 21,63,000 | Rs. 15.1 LPA | |
XAT, CMAT and CAT | Rs. 16.75 Lakhs | Rs. 14.14 LPA | |
CAT | Rs. 21.82 Lakhs with an additional refundable security | Rs. 29.1 LPA | |
GMAT, GRE and CAT | Around Rs. 32 Lakhs | Rs. 32.5 LPA | |
XAT and CAT | Around Rs. 20 Lakhs | Rs. 11.2 LPA | |
XAT, GMAT, MAT, CMAT and CAT | Rs. 20,40,000 | Rs. 14.81 LPA | |
XAT, XMAT, CAT, GMAT and NMAT | Rs. 21,32,300 | Rs. 17.34 LPA | |
XAT, CAT, GMAT and NMAT by GMAC | Rs, 9,00,000 LPA | Rs. 13.84 LPA | |
IFMR Graduate School of Business | NMAT, CMAT, GMAT, GRE, XAT and CAT | Rs. 15,00,000 | Rs. 13.04 LPA |
FORE School of Management, Delhi | GMAT, XAT and CAT | Rs. 20,77,000 | Rs. 16.01 LPA |
Here is the following list of top non-IIM accepting CAT score colleges.
Top Non-IIM MBA Colleges in India | Accepted Entrance Exam | Course Fees (Subject to Revision) | Average Placement |
FMS, Delhi | CAT | Rs. 57,350 | Rs. 34.1 LPA |
SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai | CAT | Rs. 22.50 Lakhs | Rs. 32. 10 LPA |
MDI, Gurgaon | CAT | Rs. 16,70,700 | Rs. 25.6 LPA |
JBIMS, Mumbai | CAT | Rs. 4,06,075 | Rs. 26.12 LPA |
IMT Ghaziabad | CAT | Rs. 21,53,000 | Rs. 16.25 LPA |
XIM University (XIMB, Bhubaneswar) | CAT | Rs. 22 Lakhs | Rs. 19.53 LPA |
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai | CAT | Rs. 21,63,000 | Rs. 15.1 LPA |
FORE School of Management, Delhi | CAT | Rs. 20,77,000 | Rs. 16.01 LPA |
TAPMI, Manipal | CAT | Rs, 9,00,000 LPA | Rs. 13.84 LPA |
IFMR Graduate School of Business | CAT | Rs. 15,00,000 | Rs. 13.04 LPA |
Here’s a more detailed look at why one must choose a non-IIM MBA college.
Strong Placement Records: Many non-IIM institutions are known for impressive placement records and are rivals to leading IIMs, especially in top sectors and specialisations. Several non-IIMs have consistently achieved average CTC between Rs. 15-28 LPA as compared to leading IIMs.
Affordable Fee Structure: Non-IIMs offer MBA programs at a lower fees as compared to top IIMs. This leads to a better return on investment (ROI). For example, the fee structure of TISS Mumbai is around Rs. 1.5 Lakhs to 2 Lakhs and are known to have an extraordinary ROI.
Industry Connections: Non-IIMs such as JBIMS, NMIMS, SPJIMR, SIBM Pune have long-standing ties with MNCs, consulting firms and FMCG giants. Additionally, these institutions are also known for offering students with frequent guest lectures, live projects, summer internship and constant mentoring from leading industry experts.
Alternative Entrance Exams: Unlike IIMs which primarily accept CAT, non-IIMs give multiple entry routes. Some of these other entrance exams include XAT, NMAT, CMAT, SNAP, GMAT/GRE and among others. This gives aspirants more chances to secure a top MBA seat without depending solely on CAT.
The admission process for pursuing MBA degree in non-IIMs is broadly similar to that of IIMs but comes with certain unique aspects. Some reputed institutes accept national-level entrance exams such as XAT, NMAT, CMAT, MAT, GMAT and CAT or their own admission tests. Following this, all those candidates who meet the required cutoff will then be shortlisted for the next stages, which is Written Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD) or Personal Interview (PI).
Once the candidate clears all these rounds, a final merit list is prepared based on entrance test scores, performance in GD/PI, past academic records and relevant work experience.
Selecting the right non-IIM MBA college is a critical decision which goes beyond rankings. Here are some of the key factors which one must consider:
Placements & ROI
Before choosing the college, you must check the college’s average and median placement packages, top recruiters and industry connections. You must compare this with the course fee to evaluate the ROI. For example: colleges like FMS Delhi, TISS and JBIMS offer world-class placements at a very low fees and high ROI.
Specialisation Offered
Not all B-schools are known to excel in every stream. For instance, TISS is best known for HRM, SPJIMR for Marketing & Operations. Therefore, you must choose a college that aligns with your career goals.
Accreditations & Rankings
You must look for institutes accredited by AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS or those ranked high in NIRF and global rankings. This will ensure that your degree is recognised in India and abroad.
Alumni Network
Lastly, choose a college/institute with a strong alumni network which will open doors to mentorship, referrals and global opportunities. Institutes like XLRI, SPJIMR and MDI are known to have powerful alumni networks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
There are several non-IIMs which accept CAT scores for admission to MBA programs, these include FMS, Delhi, MDI, Gurgaon, JBIMS, Mumbai, TAPMI, Manipal, FORE School of Management, Delhi and several others.
Yes, you can get into a non-IIM MBA program with XAT or NMAT scores. Some of the top tier non-IIM institutions such as XLRI Jamshedpur, SPJIMR Mumbai, IMT Ghaziabad, IMI Delhi and others do accept XAT scores.
Top non-IIM institutions like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai and XLRI Jamshedpur are often considered to be on par with or considered even better than some of the newer IIMs.
Non-IIMs known for having the best placements are Symbiosis Institute of Business na
On Question asked by student community
Hello,
For a raw score of 56 in CAT 2025 Slot 3, your expected overall percentile is likely to be in the range of the 90th-95th percentile. The exact percentile can vary slightly on the final normalization process and the process and performance of all test-takers. In this article you'll find more about the CAT result.
I hope it will clear your query!!
Hello,
With a projected CAT percentile of 87% but not clearing sectional cutoffs, your chances at top IIMs are limited because they require both overall percentile and sectional minimums. However, you still have a good shot at other reputed management institutes and non-IIM B-schools. Consider colleges like NMIMS, SPJIMR, IMT, TAPMI, Great Lakes, and other well-ranked private or state-level B-schools that accept CAT scores and weigh your profile holistically. Your academic record, BSc in Animation with 80%, and 5 years of work experience at Ubisoft India are strong points and may help in institutes that value work experience in their selection process. Also, explore institutes that accept XAT, MAT, or CMAT, where your profile can be competitive.
Hope this helps you.
Good Morning,
NIT Rourkela CAT cutoff range is between 70-85 percentiles for the general category. 70 is the minimum percentile needed to apply, and 85 is the highest percentile. However, the maximum percentile depends on the particular year competition. It can be changed.
Thank You.
If you filled the UGC NET form under EWS but you don’t have a valid EWS certificate, then forget using the EWS category. They won’t accept it. You’ll automatically be treated as General category during document verification.
And no, this won’t make your form “invalid” or “illegal.” It just means you won’t get the EWS benefit.
So yes — you can still go for General category posts and Professor recruitment. Just don’t try to submit a fake/invalid certificate; that will get you disqualified.
Hello,
If your CAT admit card shows your surname first followed by your first name as entered in the form, it is correct. You do not need to worry about this format as long as it matches the details you provided. Ensure all other information on the admit card is accurate and carry it to the exam along with the required identification documents.
Hope this helps you.
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