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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.
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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.
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.
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
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 |
99+ | - | |
95-96 | 20 | |
95-96 | 9 | |
88-90 | 40 | |
90+ | 39 | |
85 | 59 | |
75 | 61 | |
83-86 | 65 | |
85-95 | 37 | |
91 | 45 | |
BHU Varanasi | 85 | 60 |
90 | 43 | |
IMT Nagpur | 85-90 | 99 |
95 | - | |
92-95 | - | |
NIRMA University | 80-83 | 53 |
70 | - | |
92-95 | 30 | |
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.
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 |
98 | 4 | |
90 | 12 | |
96 | 13 | |
99 | 14 | |
94 | 22 | |
94 | 27 |
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 |
Rs. 6.5 Lakh | |
FMS Delhi | Rs. 2.45 Lakh |
Rs. 9.5 Lakh | |
Rs. 9 Lakh | |
Rs. 9.5 Lakh | |
Rs. 50,000 | |
Rs. 4 Lakh | |
Rs. 8.45 Lakh | |
Rs. 3.80 Lakh | |
Rs. 9.5 Lakh | |
Rs. 10 Lakh |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Some of the reputed non-IIM MBA colleges include SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, IITs, and IMI, accepting CAT 2026 scores.
For non-IIMs, the CAT cut-off 2026 is to be in the range of 70-99 percentile.
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.
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.
Top-ranked Bschools such as MDI, IITs, NMIMS, FMS, SPJIMR, IIFT, LIBA, GIM, GLIM, and many more accept CAT scores for MBA admission.
On Question asked by student community
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
You can download the latest CAT syllabus from here:
Hey there,
For a B.Sc. with Chemistry, Botany and Zoology (CBZ), if the CAT application asks separately for:
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.
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