Careers360 Logo
ask-icon
share
    Non-IIM Colleges Accepting CAT 2026: Top MBA Colleges Beyond IIMs

    Non-IIM Colleges Accepting CAT 2026: Top MBA Colleges Beyond IIMs

    SundararajanUpdated on 13 Oct 2026, 05:09 PM IST

    Non-IIM Colleges Accepting CAT Scores 2026: Candidates who appear for the CAT 2026 exam can use their CAT 2026 score to get into Non-IIM colleges accepting CAT 2026 scores, which include popular names like FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon, IMI Delhi, KJ Somaiya, and more. The CAT 2026 score will be used for MBA admissions 2027. Candidates who are curious to know more about Non-IIM institutions beyond top IIM colleges are advised to keep reading this article.

    This Story also Contains

    1. Non-IIM Colleges Accepting CAT Scores 2026
    2. Non-IIM Colleges Accepting CAT: Admission Criteria
    3. Expected CAT Cutoff for Non-IIM Colleges 2026
    4. Top IIT MBA Colleges Accepting CAT 2026
    5. Which Non-IIM CAT Colleges Should You Consider?
    Non-IIM Colleges Accepting CAT 2026: Top MBA Colleges Beyond IIMs
    Top 20 B-Schools (Beyond IIMs) Accepting CAT Scores

    Non-IIM Colleges Accepting CAT Scores 2026

    Qualifying for the CAT 2026 is a prerequisite for individuals who wish to join postgraduate management programs offered by IIMs. Also, more than a thousand MBA colleges in India consider applications from candidates with good CAT scores. Some of the reputed non-IIM MBA colleges include MDI Gurgaon, SPJIMR Mumbai, FMS Delhi, IITs, and IMI. Additionally, there are many reputed institutes that admit candidates with relatively low CAT scores. Moreover, the CAT 2026 score will be used by the non-IIMs for MBA admission 2027.

    Non-IIM Colleges Accepting CAT: Admission Criteria

    Admission in MBA colleges in India depends on the prerequisites for the CAT exam and other exam rounds. To get a seat in a non-IIM top institute, candidates must fulfil the following eligibility criteria:

    • Candidates belonging to the general category should have obtained a minimum of 50% (45% for the reserved category) in graduation from a recognised university or college.

    • Minimum 50% in 10th and 12th standards, from a recognised board.

    • A valid CAT 2026 score is the minimum cut-off declared by an individual institute.

    • Although there is no age limit and it is not mandatory, many business schools prefer applicants with substantial work experience.

    Birla Institute of Management Technology, Greater Noida

    AACSB Accredited | Highest CTC: 22 LPA

    Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai

    Globally Recognized by AACSB (US) & AMBA (UK) | 18 LPA Avg. CTC for PGPM 2026

    Along with the IIMs, many non-IIM institutions will also accept CAT 2026 scores for admission to their management programs. The eligibility criteria for non-IIMs will vary across different institutions

    Expected CAT Cutoff for Non-IIM Colleges 2026

    There are more than 50 colleges that accept CAT scores for their admission process. We have compiled the names of the top 20 non-IIMs that accept CAT scores for their MBA programs. A list of MBA colleges accepting the CAT score for MBA admissions 2027, along with their expected CAT 2026 cutoff and NIRF ranking 2025, is given below.

    CAT 2026 Accepting Colleges

    CAT 2026 Cutoff (Expected)

    NIRF Ranking 2025

    FMS Delhi

    99+

    -

    SPJIMR

    95-96

    20

    MDI, Gurgaon

    95-96

    9

    IMI Delhi

    88-90

    40

    TAPMI

    90+

    39

    Fore School of Management

    85

    59

    BIMTECH

    75

    61

    KJ Somaiya

    83-86

    65

    GLIM Chennai

    85-95

    37

    XIM Bhubaneswar

    91

    45

    BHU Varanasi

    85

    60

    GIM Goa

    90

    43

    IMT Nagpur

    85-90

    99

    IBS Hyderabad

    95

    -

    JBIMS Mumbai

    92-95

    -

    NIRMA University

    80-83

    53

    XIME Bangalore

    70

    -

    IMT Ghaziabad

    92-95

    30

    TISS Mumbai

    70

    -

    Note: CAT cutoffs mentioned above are expected/indicative and may vary by institute, category, programme, and admission year. Meeting the stated cutoff does not guarantee shortlisting or admission. Candidates should check the respective institute's official admission policy for the final eligibility and selection criteria.

    Top IIT MBA Colleges Accepting CAT 2026

    IITs are known as premier institutions for both academic excellence and successful placements. Some of the IITs have started the admission process for their management programs, and some IITs will begin the application process soon. The following table lists the top IITs that accept CAT-qualified candidates for MBA programs:

    CAT 2026 IIT Colleges

    CAT 2026 Cutoff (Expected)

    NIRF Rank 2025

    IIT Delhi

    98

    4

    IIT Kharagpur

    90

    12

    IIT Madras

    96

    13

    IIT Bombay

    99

    14

    IIT Roorkee

    94

    22

    IIT Kanpur

    94

    27

    Which Non-IIM CAT Colleges Should You Consider?

    The CAT 2026 colleges with low MBA fees are given below. The figures are expected and will be updated once the official fee structure is released by the respective MBA institutions.

    CAT 2026 Colleges with Low MBA Fees
    MBA Fees

    VIT Business School, Vellore

    Rs. 6.5 Lakh

    FMS Delhi

    Rs. 2.45 Lakh

    IMS Ghaziabad

    Rs. 9.5 Lakh

    New Delhi Institute of Management

    Rs. 9 Lakh

    Indus Business Academy Bangalore

    Rs. 9.5 Lakh

    BHU

    Rs. 50,000

    UBS Panjab University

    Rs. 4 Lakh

    GITAM Visakhapatnam

    Rs. 8.45 Lakh

    Chandigarh University

    Rs. 3.80 Lakh

    ABBS Bangalore

    Rs. 9.5 Lakh

    SOIL Gurgaon

    Rs. 10 Lakh

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: Which non-IIM colleges accept CAT scores?
    A:

    Some of the reputed non-IIM MBA colleges include SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, IITs, and IMI, accepting CAT 2026 scores.

    Q: What is the CAT percentile for non-IIM?
    A:

    For non-IIMs, the CAT cut-off 2026 is to be in the range of 70-99 percentile.

    Q: Does symbiosis accept CAT score?
    A:

    Symbiosis does not consider CAT scores for their MBA admissions process. SIBM Pune, along with other Symbiosis institutes, primarily relies on the SNAP exam for admission to their MBA and other postgraduate programmes.

    Q: Does SP Jain accept CAT scores?
    A:

    Yes. SP Jain accepts CAT and GMAT. Both fresh graduates and candidates with a maximum of five years of work experience can apply for MBA programme.

    Q: Can I apply for non-IIM institutes through CAT?
    A:

    Top-ranked Bschools such as MDI, IITs, NMIMS, FMS, SPJIMR, IIFT, LIBA, GIM, GLIM, and many more accept CAT scores for MBA admission.

    Articles
    |
    Upcoming Mba Exams
    Ongoing Dates
    NMAT Slot Booking Date

    20 Aug'26 - 17 Dec'26 (Online)

    Certifications By Top Providers
    Brand Management
    Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
    Accounting and Finance
    Via Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
    Certificate Programme in Human Resource Management
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
    Certificate Program in Digital Marketing and Applied Analytics
    Via Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
    Online PGDM
    Via Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida
    Corporate Law
    Via National Law University, New Delhi
    Explore Top Universities Across Globe

    Questions related to CAT

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to CAT ?

    Hello, for AP NEET PG Category C seats, NRI documents are generally required if you are applying under the NRI quota, and eligibility depends on the applicable counselling rules. The fee payment currency and procedure should be confirmed from the current Dr. NTRUHS notification at its official website drntr.uhsap.in.

    Hello, CAT aur B-school entrance exams ke baare mein aap exam dates, eligibility, registration, exam pattern, syllabus, colleges ya admission process ki information dekh sakte hain. Aapki requirement ke according relevant details yahan mil sakti hain: https://bschool.careers360.com/exams

    Hey there,

    For a B.Sc. with Chemistry, Botany and Zoology (CBZ), if the CAT application asks separately for:

    • Degree Name: B.Sc.
    • Graduation Stream: Science
    • Discipline: enter/select Science if that is an available option.

    If the Discipline dropdown has a more specific option such as “Biological Sciences,” “Life Sciences,” or “Zoology/Botany,”

    Hey there,

    Yes. With 2 years of work experience, you are eligible to target the regular 2-year MBA at IIM Calcutta as long as you have a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/PwD). Work experience is not required for eligibility.

    Which exam do you need?

    For