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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.
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.
Non-IIMs known for having the best placements are Symbiosis Institute of Business na
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.
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.
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.
Hello Kapish
You can find the last 5 year questions of DILR for CAT at Careers360 website. Moreover, you can find the previous year papers of all the subjects i.e. DILR, Quants and VARC. I am attaching the link through which you would be able to access the same.
Here's the link:
CAT Previous Year Papers by CAREERS360
Sample paper of DILR:
CAT Sample Paper (DILR) by CAREERS360
Thank You!!!
Hello Divya,
Yes, candidates with an online BBA can sit for both CAT and GMAT provided that the degree is from a recognized (UGC approved in India or accredited abroad) institution. The leading B-schools in both India and abroad do not look down upon online degrees as long as the degree is from a recognized body, they will mostly be looking at your test scores, academic performance, work experience, and profile holistically. What matters is the legitimacy of the institution and how you showcase your abilities, not whether your degree was obtained online or in-person.
Yes, someone with an online BBA can sit for both CAT and GMAT, provided the degree is from a UGC recognized university. Top B-schools in India (like IIMs) and abroad generally accept online degrees if they are valid, and you won’t be marked down just because it’s online. What matters more is your entrance exam score, academic record, work experience, and overall profile.
In situations like yours, where the CAT 2025 payment has been successfully debited from your bank account but the portal shows the transaction as failed, it is usually due to a technical delay in updating the system. Such discrepancies can sometimes take more than 48 hours to be resolved automatically. It is important to retain all proof of payment, including bank statements, transaction IDs, and any receipts. You should contact the CAT helpdesk again, providing full details of your application and payment. Additionally, keep checking your email for any automated confirmation or ticket numbers. If there is no response within a few days, you can escalate the issue by contacting the IIM Kozhikode admissions office directly through official contact details.
Important topics for NIFT CAT are mostly based on your creativity, observation, design thinking, and visual communication skills. So here's list of important topics you should focus on:
- Observation and drawing skills: Human figures & gestures, nature & Scene drawing are important
- Creative Visualisation: In this you'll have to convert 2d shapes into 3d, making imaginary scenes from a theme, and story illustration from given situations.
- Design & Concept Development: You'll be making logo, posters with creative slogans, book cover design and many more designs.
- Color theory, creative use of texture & patterns.
- Imagination & Innovation: merging two object to make new thing, designing eco friendly or festive based products
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
A Business Development Executive identifies and pursues new business opportunities to drive company growth. They generate leads, build client relationships, develop sales strategies, and analyse market trends. Collaborating with internal teams, they aim to meet sales targets. With experience, they can advance to managerial roles, playing a key role in expanding the company’s market presence and revenue.
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
A Sales Manager leads a sales team to meet targets, formulates strategies, analyses performance, and monitors market trends. They typically hold a degree in management or related fields, with an MBA offering added value. The role often demands over 40 hours a week. Strong leadership, planning, and analytical skills are essential for success in this career.
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
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