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Getting into an IIM is the dream of every CAT aspirant, but it is far from the only path to a successful MBA career. Every year, several top non-IIM MBA colleges admit students through CAT and offer excellent placements, industry exposure, and return on investment.
The CAT percentile required for these colleges varies widely. While premier institutes generally expect 95+ percentile, many reputed B-schools offer admission opportunities in the 80-90 percentile range, and some good colleges also accept students with 70-80 percentile.
This article explains the expected CAT cutoff for top non-IIM colleges, colleges available at different percentile ranges, and how you should shortlist MBA colleges based on your CAT score.
College-wise CAT Cutoff for Top Non-IIM MBA Colleges
The table below provides the expected CAT percentile required for admission to some of India's leading non-IIM MBA colleges. These are approximate cutoffs based on previous admission trends. Final shortlisting depends on multiple factors, including profile, work experience, category, academic background, and interview performance.
MBA College | Expected CAT Percentile |
FMS Delhi | 98.5-99.5 |
| TISS Mumbai | 98+ |
SPJIMR Mumbai | 95-98 |
MDI Gurgaon | 94-97 |
IIT Bombay (SJMSOM) | 97-99 |
IIT Delhi (DMS) | 96-98 |
IIT Kharagpur (VGSoM) | 90-94 |
IIT Madras (DoMS) | 90-94 |
IIT Roorkee (DoMS) | 88-92 |
IMT Ghaziabad | 90-93 |
IMI New Delhi | 90-93 |
Great Lakes Chennai | 85-90 |
GIM Goa | 85-90 |
TAPMI Manipal | 85-90 |
FORE School of Management | 85-90 |
K J Somaiya Mumbai | 84-90 |
BIM Trichy | 80-85 |
Welingkar Mumbai | 80-85 |
XIME Bangalore | 75-80 |
Important: Some institutes like XLRI accept only XAT scores, while institutes like NMIMS primarily use NMAT. Always check the accepted entrance exam before applying.
MBA Colleges You Can Get at Different CAT Percentiles
Instead of targeting only one institute, aspirants should create a balanced shortlist according to their expected CAT percentile.
CAT Percentile Range | MBA Colleges to Consider |
99+ Percentile | FMS Delhi, ISB Hyderabad, SPJIMR Mumbai, TISS Mumbai, IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi and other top IIT MBA programmes |
95–98 Percentile | MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai through profile-based shortlisting, JBIMS Mumbai, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur and IIT Roorkee |
90–95 Percentile | IMT Ghaziabad, IMI Delhi, Great Lakes Institute of Management, GIM Goa, IIT Kanpur |
85–90 Percentile | TAPMI Manipal, FORE School of Management, K J Somaiya Institute of Management, LBSIM and BIM Trichy |
80–85 Percentile | Welingkar Mumbai, XIME Bangalore, SDMIMD Mysore, and Christ University MBA |
Below 80 Percentile | Candidates can explore colleges accepting MAT, CMAT, XAT, NMAT, MICAT, and institute-specific entrance examinations. |
Also Read: CAT Percentile-wise Colleges in India 2026, Check Now
Top Non-IIM MBA Colleges with Low CAT Cutoffs
Many reputed MBA colleges admit candidates with CAT percentiles below 90 while maintaining decent placement records.
College | Approximate CAT Cutoff |
Great Lakes Chennai | 85+ |
TAPMI Manipal | 85+ |
GIM Goa | 85+ |
IRMA | 85+ |
FORE School of Management | 85+ |
K J Somaiya | 84+ |
BIM Trichy | 80+ |
Welingkar Mumbai | 80+ |
XIME Bangalore | 75+ |
SDMIMD Mysore | 75+ |
A lower CAT cutoff does not necessarily indicate poor quality. Several of these institutes have strong alumni networks, industry partnerships, and consistent placement performance.
Seats in Top Non-IIM MBA Colleges
The table shows the approximate annual intake for flagship two-year MBA/PGDM programmes. Intake may change for the 2026–28 batch, and supernumerary, international or specialised-programme seats may be counted separately.
College | Flagship MBA/PGDM Programme | Approximate Seats |
FMS Delhi | MBA Full-Time | 251 |
SPJIMR Mumbai | PGDM and PGDM-BM | 360 |
MDI Gurgaon | PGDM, PGDM-HRM, PGDM-IB and PGDM-Business Analytics | 600–720 |
SJMSOM, IIT Bombay | MBA | 152 |
DMS, IIT Delhi | MBA and MBA-Telecom | 115 |
VGSoM, IIT Kharagpur | MBA | 200 |
DoMS, IIT Madras | MBA | 100 |
DoMS, IIT Roorkee | MBA | 95 |
IMT Ghaziabad | PGDM, PGDM-Marketing and PGDM-Financial Management | Around 600 |
IMI New Delhi | PGDM, PGDM-HRM and PGDM-B&FS; | 420 |
XIM University, Bhubaneswar | MBA-Business Management | 360 |
MICA Ahmedabad | PGDM-C and PGDM | Around 240 |
Goa Institute of Management | PGDM Core | 300 |
TAPMI Manipal | MBA | Around 420 |
Great Lakes Chennai | PGDM and PGPM | Around 550 |
FORE School of Management | PGDM and specialised PGDM programmes | Around 720 |
K J Somaiya Institute of Management | MBA and specialised MBA programmes | Around 600 |
BIM Trichy | MBA | 120 |
Welingkar Mumbai | PGDM and specialised PGDM programmes | Around 600 |
XIME Bangalore | PGDM | Around 240 |
Note: The numbers should not be interpreted as the number of CAT seats alone. Some colleges also accept XAT, GMAT, NMAT, CMAT or their own entrance processes. Additionally, programme-wise intake, reservation, supernumerary seats and regulatory approvals can change before admissions begin.
Factors That Affect CAT Cutoffs for Non-IIM Colleges
The final admission cutoff varies every year due to several factors.
Factor | How It Affects CAT Cutoffs and Admission |
Number of Applicants | A higher number of CAT applicants increases competition and may push college cutoffs upward. |
CAT Difficulty Level | A tougher CAT paper changes the raw score required for a particular percentile. Colleges may also adjust their shortlisting expectations accordingly. |
Number of Available Seats | Colleges with fewer MBA seats usually have higher cut-offs because more candidates compete for limited interview calls. |
Academic Profile | Many colleges consider Class 10, Class 12, graduation marks, and academic diversity. Candidates with strong academics may receive calls at slightly lower percentiles. |
Work Experience | Some B-schools award additional weightage for relevant professional experience, especially when it falls within the preferred duration specified in their admission policy. |
Gender and Academic Diversity | Female candidates and applicants from non-engineering backgrounds may receive diversity points during the shortlisting or final selection process. |
PI, WAT and GD Performance | CAT percentile mainly helps candidates receive a shortlist. Final admission may depend significantly on the Personal Interview, Written Ability Test, and Group Discussion, where applicable. A strong performance can help a lower-percentile candidate outperform someone with a higher CAT score. |
What to Do If You Don't Get an IIM Call?
Not receiving an IIM interview call does not mean losing out on a quality MBA. Many successful professionals graduate from top non-IIM institutes every year.
Here are some practical options:
- Apply to reputed CAT-accepting colleges such as MDI, SPJIMR, IITs, IMT, IMI, GIM, Great Lakes, and TAPMI.
- Consider other entrance exams like XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT, and MICAT to expand your options.
- Strengthen your profile through internships, certifications, work experience, or extracurricular achievements before interviews.
- Focus on GD, WAT, and PI preparation, as these stages significantly influence final admission.
- Evaluate colleges based on placements, ROI, faculty, alumni network, curriculum, and industry exposure instead of relying only on rankings.
A smart application strategy with a balanced mix of ambitious, realistic, and safe colleges often leads to better admission outcomes than applying only to the highest-ranked institutes.
Also Read: IIM Ranking List 2026: Fees, Placements ROI and Specializations
CAT Percentile Required for Non-IIM MBA Colleges 2026: Conclusion
The minimum CAT percentile required for non-IIM MBA colleges depends on the institute you are targeting. While colleges like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon, and the IITs typically require 95-99+ percentile, several highly regarded B-schools such as IMT Ghaziabad, IMI Delhi, TAPMI, GIM, Great Lakes, FORE School, and K J Somaiya admit candidates with CAT percentiles between 80 and 90.
Rather than focusing solely on percentile, build a balanced college list based on your expected score, academic profile, work experience, and career goals. With the right strategy, even candidates who miss out on IIM calls can secure admission to excellent MBA programmes that offer strong placements and long-term career growth.
