Top 20 Non-IIM MBA Colleges in India 2025: Fees, Placements, Entrance Exams

Top 20 Non-IIM MBA Colleges in India 2025: Fees, Placements, Entrance Exams

Malvika ChawlaUpdated on 20 Aug 2025, 03:32 PM IST

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.

This Story also Contains

  1. Top 20 Non-IIM MBA Colleges in India
  2. Top 10 Non IIMs Colleges Accepting CAT Score
  3. Why Choose Non-IIM MBA Colleges?
  4. Admission Process for Non-IIMs
  5. How to Choose the Right Non-IIM MBA College for You?
Top 20 Non-IIM MBA Colleges in India 2025: Fees, Placements, Entrance Exams
Top 20 Non-IIM MBA Colleges in India 2025

Top 20 Non-IIM MBA Colleges in India

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

XLRI Jamshedpur

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

MDI Gurgaon

CAT, XAT, GMAT, MAT, CMAT, and ATMA

Rs. 16,70,700

Rs. 25.6 LPA

FMS Delhi

CAT

Rs. 57,350

Rs. 34.1 LPA

NMIMS Mumbai

NMAT by GMAC exam

Rs. 25 Lakhs

Rs. 25.13 LPA

JBIMS Mumbai

MAH CET, CAT and CMAT

Rs. 4,06,075

Rs. 26.12 LPA

TISS Mumbai

CUET PG, CAT, TISSNET

Rs. 1,85,000

Rs. 28.20 LPA

SIBM Pune

SNAP

Rs. 24,90,000

Rs. 28.83 LPA

IMT Ghaziabad

CAT, XAT and GMAT

Rs. 21,53,000

Rs. 16.25 LPA

XIMB Bhubaneswar

XAT, GMAT, CAT and X-GMT

Rs. 22 Lakhs

Rs. 19.53 LPA

Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai

GMAT, XAT, NMAT and CAT

Rs. 21,63,000

Rs. 15.1 LPA

IRMA Anand

XAT, CMAT and CAT

Rs. 16.75 Lakhs

Rs. 14.14 LPA

IIFT Delhi

CAT

Rs. 21.82 Lakhs with an additional refundable security

Rs. 29.1 LPA

ISB Hyderabad

GMAT, GRE and CAT

Around Rs. 32 Lakhs

Rs. 32.5 LPA

LIBA Chennai

XAT and CAT

Around Rs. 20 Lakhs

Rs. 11.2 LPA

Goa Institute of Management (GIM)

XAT, GMAT, MAT, CMAT and CAT

Rs. 20,40,000

Rs. 14.81 LPA

KJ Somaiya Mumbai

XAT, XMAT, CAT, GMAT and NMAT

Rs. 21,32,300

Rs. 17.34 LPA

TAPMI Manipal

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

Top 10 Non IIMs Colleges Accepting CAT Score

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

Why Choose Non-IIM MBA Colleges?

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.

Admission Process for Non-IIMs

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.

How to Choose the Right Non-IIM MBA College for You?

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

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AACSB Accredited | Highest CTC: 22 LPA

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Assured Placements and Career Support

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

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Use CAT 2025 College Predictor to check your chances for IIM and top MBA calls based on CAT percentile, profile, work experience and cut-off trends.
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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

Great Lakes - PGDM & PGPM Admissions 2026

Last Date to Apply: 10th Feb | Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 17.8 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2025

K J Somaiya Institute of Management MBA Admissions 2026

Highest Package 27.25 LPA | Top 100 Average package 16.65 LPA | AACSB Accredited | Ranked 52 by QS International

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)

Q: Which non-IIMs accept CAT score?
A:

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.

Q: Can I get into a Non-IIM MBA with XAT/NMAT?
A:

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.

Q: Which Non-IIM is better than new IIMs?
A:

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.

Q: Which Non-IIM college has the best placements?
A:

Non-IIMs known for having the best placements are Symbiosis Institute of Business na

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

Hello,

Here are some top colleges accepting XAT and CAT exams :

Top colleges accepting CAT:

  • IIMs (All Indian Institutes of Management)

  • FMS Delhi

  • SPJIMR Mumbai

  • MDI Gurgaon

  • IIT Bombay (SJMSOM)

  • IIT Delhi (DMS)

  • IIFT

  • IMT Ghaziabad

  • JBIMS Mumbai

Top colleges accepting XAT:

  • XLRI Jamshedpur

  • XIMB Bhubaneswar

  • IMT Ghaziabad

  • Great

Hi there,

A female candidate with a CAT percentile of 67.97 and low sectional scores should target private and tier-2/3 B-schools that accept overall CAT scores in the 60–70 percentile range and have flexible sectional criteria.

Some suitable options include AIMS Institute Bangalore, Doon Business School Dehradun, Christ Institute of

Hi there,

Yes, you are eligible for XISS Ranchi with a CAT percentile of 67.60.

According to recent admission trends, the CAT cutoff for the PGDM in Human Resource Management for the general category has been around 60 percentile. For other programs such as Marketing, Finance, and Rural Management, the

Hi there,

Careers360 offers a wide range of eBooks and study materials to assist with CAT preparation. You can access past CAT question papers with solutions to understand the exam pattern and difficulty level. Additionally, there are quantitative aptitude handbooks, cheat sheets, and section-specific practice sets for arithmetic, algebra, and

Hi there,

The minimum eligibility criteria for a general candidate to receive a call from IIM Sambalpur are as follows:
VARC: 65%ile
QUANTS: 65%ile
LRDI: 65%ile
Overall: 90%tile
Keep practising and aim to improve your score. You can also focus on other management exams where you may secure a strong