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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.
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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
Application Deadline: 10th March | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2025
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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
If you are looking to take admission in the MBA programme with a CAT score of 73, check out the list of MBA Colleges accepting 70-80 percentile .
All the best!
You can find all the information here:
CAT- https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/cat-exam-dates
SNAP- https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/snap-exam-dates
Hi Minakshi,
You can find the details related to IIM Kashipur admission criteria by clicking on the link below:
Dear Saloni,
May i know which college you are looking to apply for? Because the MBA fee varies from one college to another. Please check MBA fees colleges wise here:
MBA Fees in India 2025: Top Colleges, Fee Structure, Courses, Cost of MBA
Admission to IIFT (Indian Institute of Foreign Trade) for its flagship MBA (International Business) is generally through the CAT exam (as per the latest admission process), and there is no regular direct admission without an entrance test. However, executive or certificate courses may have different criteria. With Bcom (Foreign Trade)
Ranked among top 10 B-Schools in India by multiple publications | Top Recruiters-Google, MicKinsey, Amazon, BCG & many more.
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