CAT 2026 cutoff for SC category: The CAT 2026 Cutoff for the SC category for IIM Admission 2027 is expected to be released after the CAT results. The CAT 2026 SC cutoff is expected to be somewhere around the 70-85+ percentile for MBA admission 2027-29. Additionally, there's a 15% IIM reservation for SC category candidates. Candidates scoring in the upper band of the range in the CAT 2026 may get into top IIMs, while the lower band can get SC candidates into lower-tier IIM colleges. Keep reading this article for more information related to the CAT 2026 SC cutoff, the Top IIMs CAT exam SC cutoff, and much more.
The CAT cutoff for IIM for the SC category is dependent on the CAT exam difficulty level, the number of appearing candidates, seats offered, the reservation quota, and the normalization process. The expected CAT 2026 cutoff for the SC category is given in the table below.
CAT SC Cutoff for IIM and Other Colleges | CAT Exam SC cutoff 2026 (Expected) |
85+ | |
70+ | |
- | |
65+ | |
60+ | |
65+ | |
55+ | |
60 | |
55 | |
60-65 | |
- | |
- | |
50 | |
65-70 | |
- | |
75-80+ | |
60-65 | |
60-65 | |
80 | |
80+ | |
65 | |
60 | |
70 | |
60 | |
65 | |
70+ | |
65 | |
60 | |
65 | |
55 | |
55 |
Check out:
The CAT cutoff for the SC category has seen a consolidated trend staying between 55 to 70. The CAT cutoff for the SC category for IIM and other top-rated non-IIM colleges for the years 2024 and 2023 is provided in the table below.
Name of the College | SC cutoff for CAT 2024 | SC cutoff for CAT 2023 |
85.39 | 70+ | |
73.04 | 70 | |
- | 70 | |
67.2 | 65+ | |
64.71 | 60 | |
67.8 | 65 | |
- | 55 | |
- | 60 | |
55.08 | 54 | |
66.16 | 54+ | |
- | 54 | |
- | 54 | |
50.42 | 45 | |
70.76 | 54+ | |
- | 54 | |
- | 60 | |
- | 54 | |
63.61 | 55 | |
80.94 | 70 | |
85 | 50-85 | |
75 | 65 | |
60 | 60 | |
70 | 70 | |
65 | 60+ | |
65 | 65 | |
70+ | 70+ | |
70 | 65 | |
60 | 60 | |
65 | 65+ | |
55 | 55 | |
55 | 55 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Approximately 23,440 SC students had appeared for the CAT 2025 exam.
The CAT cutoff for the SC category for admission to top IIMs and other top MBA colleges varies significantly by institution. Although the cutoff typically ranges from 55 to 70+ overall percentile.
For newer IIMs, the minimum CAT percentile for IIM may be around 90-92, and for the reserved category, the CAT percentile for IIMs for the SC category can be around 80-90, making the CAT score lower than the general category students.
Scoring 70 to 80 percentile in CAT exam is considered a moderate score for MBA admission.
The IIMs do have a Scheduled Caste quota. According to the reservation policies, a total of 15% of the IIM seats are reserved for candidates coming from the SC category. The total seats across all the 21 IIMs throughout the nation are around 5500.
The CAT cut off for SC category for IIM admission is 45 to 70.
Last year a total of 3.29 lakh candidates registered for the CAT 2025 exam, out of which 8.51% candidates were from the SC category. Also, a total of 2.93 lakh candidates appeared for the same, out of which 8.08% candidates were from the scheduled caste (SC) category.
The IIM is not free for the SC category students. The fee structure remains the same for every candidate irrespective of the category. The IIMs do have scholarships and education loan facilities for students from different financial institutions.
The qualifying CAT cutoff for the SC category at IIM Kozhikode is around 65 as per the previous years' cutoff analysis. With 65, the SC category candidates can apply to the IIM Kozhikode. The final selection will depend on the overall application profile of the candidate.
The lowest IIM cutoff for SC category candidates is around 54. With this, the SC candidates can apply for MBA/PGDM courses at IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Nagpur, and IIM Sirmaur.
On Question asked by student community
Hey there,
For NIT Hamirpur MBA, the General-category CAT cutoff is not a fixed official percentile. NIT Hamirpur's 2026–27 admission process gives CAT a 10/10 weightage in the test component, followed by an interview; it accepts CAT, CMAT and MAT.
As a practical target, 80+ percentile is worth considering, while
If by B-category you mean management/private quota MBBS seats, the cutoff is very different from government-quota MBBS.
In Tamil Nadu, management-quota MBBS seats are available in self-financing/private medical colleges through the state counselling process. The closing rank varies significantly between colleges and counselling rounds. The 2025 counselling data shows that
Hello Student,
With a CAT 2025 percentile of 98.25, you have a good chance of receiving calls from several IIMs, particularly newer IIMs. However, IIM Ahmedabad , Bangalore , Calcutta , and Lucknow generally require higher percentiles for General-category candidates. Calls also depend on sectional percentiles, academics, work experience, and
Hello Aspirant,
Yes, you can access CAT preparation resources, including mock tests, practice questions, previous-year papers, and study material. Explore the CAT preparation resources and test series using the link below:
https://www.careers360.com/mba/download/ebooks-and-sample-papers?exam=45
Hope this Helps!
Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 18 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2026
75+ years of legacy | #1 Entrance Exam | Score accepted by 250+ BSchools
Test centres are available in 70+ cities across India | 75,000+ aspirants apply for the NMAT exam | Accepted by 58+ institutions like NMIMS, KJSIM, ISB, SPJIMR and Great Lakes.
6-Hour Masterclass to help you score 99+ percentile in CAT 2026
AACSB Accredited | 40 LPA-Highest CTC | Scholarships worth 10 CR
400+ Recruiters | Highest CTC 25 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | 92% Placements in 2025 | Ranked as Platinum Institute | Awarded Best Business School of the Year