Top MBA Colleges Accepting Low CAT Scores: Fees, Admission Criteria & Colleges List

Scoring below 80 percentile in the Common Admission Test does not necessarily end a candidate's chances of pursuing an MBA or PGDM from a recognised management institute. Several private B-schools and universities accept CAT scores alongside other entrance examinations, such as XAT, CMAT, MAT and institute-level tests. Some institutes also consider academic performance, work experience, extracurricular achievements and personal interview performance during admission.

For the 2027–29 admission cycle, candidates appearing for CAT 2026 can explore colleges such as BIMTECH, Jaipuria Institute of Management, NDIM Delhi, Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Great Lakes Institute of Management, VIT Business School and LBSIM. However, accepting CAT does not automatically mean that an institute guarantees admission at a particular percentile. Many colleges do not publish a fixed CAT cutoff. CAT 2026 is conducted by IIM Indore on 29 November 2026 as a computer-based test in three sessions, with the admit card available from 6 November.

"The CAT score is one of the several factors we consider in our selection process," said Professor Himanshu Rai, Director, IIM Indore, in an interview published by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC).

Source: GMAC – IIM Indore MBA Application Insider.

What Counts as a Low CAT Score?

There is no officially defined low CAT score. The term generally refers to a percentile below the shortlisting range of highly competitive MBA institutes, particularly the IIMs. However, a lower CAT percentile does not automatically rule out admission to other MBA colleges. For example, IIM Ahmedabad's published admission criteria for the 2027–29 batch specify minimum qualifying CAT percentiles of 95 overall and 85 in each section for General category candidates. Check the official CAT website, iimcat.ac.in.

These are eligibility thresholds, not guaranteed interview calls or admission cut-offs. When evaluating colleges accepting lower CAT scores, consider these factors:

• Published cut-offs versus eligibility: Some institutes specify minimum CAT percentiles, while others publish accepted entrance exams and broader admission requirements without disclosing a fixed CAT cut-off.
• Overall selection criteria: CAT performance may be considered alongside Class 10 and 12 marks, graduation scores, work experience, academic diversity and performance in GD, PI or other selection rounds.
• Estimated percentile ranges: College-wise CAT percentile bands published by third-party websites are indicative, not confirmed admission requirements. Actual shortlisting can change by admission year, applicant profile and selection criteria.

Top MBA Colleges Accepting 50–60 Percentile in CAT

Candidates scoring between the 50th and 60th percentile in CAT 2026 should consider institutes that accept multiple management entrance examinations and assess applicants through additional selection parameters. However, the institutes listed below should be treated as application options, not confirmed 50–60 percentile admission colleges. Their current official admission pages do not establish a guaranteed CAT cutoff within this range.

Important: The colleges above accept CAT scores, but their official admission documents do not establish a common low-percentile admission guarantee. The absence of a published cutoff should not be interpreted as automatic eligibility or assured admission. Applicants must meet the institute's academic eligibility and selection requirements.

MBA Colleges Accepting 60–70 Percentile in CAT

Candidates with CAT percentiles between 60 and 70 can expand their college shortlist to include private management institutes that accept CAT scores and conduct additional selection rounds.

The following table identifies institutes with published CAT acceptance or admission requirements. Only NDIM has a historical 70-percentile benchmark in the mandatory disclosure reviewed; the other colleges do not publish a confirmed 60–70 percentile admission range.

Tier-2 MBA Colleges for Low CAT Percentiles

Some institutes disclose their entrance examination cutoffs through mandatory disclosures or admission documents. These are more useful for shortlisting than unverified estimates circulated by third-party websites.

1. New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM), New Delhi

NDIM's 2026 mandatory disclosure records a historical CAT cutoff of 70 percentile for its regular PGDM programme across the three admission years reported. This provides a historical admission benchmark, not a confirmed cutoff for the 2027–29 batch. Candidates should check the current selection process before applying.

How NDIM Selects Candidates

NDIM states that final selection rests on overall performance. Because CAT is only one of several components, a moderate percentile can be balanced by a strong academic record and a good interview. The components it lists are:

• Graduation, Class 12 and Class 10 results
• Scores in CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT or a state common entrance test
• Group discussion and personal interview
• Other achievements such as sports, work experience, additional qualifications, leadership and community service

Placements at NDIM

NDIM reports 100% placement since inception. Its placement information includes recruiters such as Deloitte, EY, BlackRock, S&P Global, ICICI Bank, Federal Bank, Hindustan Unilever, ITC and Genpact. Candidates should refer to the latest batch-wise placement report for average, median and highest salary figures rather than relying on recruiter names or placement percentage alone.

Official links: NDIM Admissions | Fees and Scholarships.

2. BIMTECH, Greater Noida

Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) offers postgraduate management programmes in Greater Noida. Its 2027 admission process accepts CAT 2026, XAT 2027, GMAT and CMAT scores for the applicable merit-based admission route.

BIMTECH Admission Criteria

Candidates need a valid accepted entrance examination score and must participate in the institute's selection process, which includes a personal interview and extempore. BIMTECH also has supernumerary seats for specified international and overseas applicant categories for which the entrance examination score is not required. These seats should not be confused with the regular merit-based admission route. BIMTECH does not publish a guaranteed 50–60 percentile admission cutoff on its current admissions page.

Official link: BIMTECH Admissions 2027.

3. Jaipuria Institute of Management

Jaipuria Institute of Management offers PGDM programmes through four campuses in Noida, Lucknow, Jaipur and Indore. It accepts CAT 2026, XAT 2027, CMAT, MAT and GMAT scores for its 2027–29 admission cycle.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Candidates must have a bachelor's degree with at least 50% marks or an equivalent CGPA. Final-year students can also apply subject to the institute's eligibility conditions. Jaipuria follows a selection process that considers multiple parameters:

This means entrance examination performance accounts for 45% of the published selection weightage, while the remaining 55% is allocated to other selection parameters.

Jaipuria Institute of Management Fees, 2027–29

A refundable security deposit of INR 15,000 is payable separately with the first instalment. Jaipuria does not publish a fixed CAT percentile guarantee for admission. Candidates should consider the full selection process rather than relying on estimated percentile ranges.

Official links: Jaipuria Admissions | Jaipuria Fee Structure.

Is 52 Percentile Good in CAT?

A 52 percentile in CAT is considered a low score for admission to IIMs and highly competitive MBA colleges, but it can still be used to explore MBA programmes at institutes with lower CAT cutoffs or alternative selection criteria.

The admission chances depend on the institute's minimum CAT eligibility, sectional cutoffs, academic profile, category and selection process. A 52 percentile does not automatically qualify a candidate for admission, even if an institute accepts CAT scores.

Direct Access Routes Beyond CAT

If your CAT score is weak, many of the same institutes accept other exams. NDIM, for example, accepts XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA and GMAT, and Jaipuria-type institutes accept a similar spread. Compare these with the top non-IIM MBA colleges in India and keep a second exam as a backup.

Other MBA Colleges to Consider with a Low CAT Score

Candidates with a moderate CAT percentile can also explore universities and management colleges offering MBA programmes. These institutes may accept CAT scores alongside other entrance examinations or consider candidates through their broader admission process. The following table provides a comparison of selected colleges, their locations, and indicative annual fees.

Note: Fees are indicative figures and should be checked against the latest programme-wise fee schedules for the 2027–29 admission cycle. Candidates should check each institute's current entrance-exam requirements and selection criteria before applying.

State-Wise MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Scores

Candidates can also shortlist MBA colleges according to their preferred study location. The following list includes institutes with published CAT acceptance for the relevant admission cycle.

MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Scores in Delhi NCR

MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Scores in Uttar Pradesh

MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Scores in Rajasthan

Candidates preparing their MBA college shortlist should also check the following CAT-related resources: CAT Cutoff 2026: IIM-Wise, Category-Wise and Non-IIM Cutoffs

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