Your CMAT 2026 score determines which MBA colleges you can target — scores of 340 and above put colleges like JBIMS Mumbai and SIMSREE within reach, while scores between 250 and 320 open doors to strong national Tier-2 B-schools.
CMAT 2026, conducted by NTA, is accepted by over 1,000 AICTE-approved B-schools across India. Your raw score out of 400 converts to a percentile that colleges use as the primary filter when shortlisting students for GD-PI rounds. Using previous-year closing scores from CMAT 2023, 2024, and 2025 as a guide, you can build a realistic college list before counselling opens.
- CMAT 2026 total marks: 400 (4 compulsory sections of 25 questions each at 4 marks per correct answer; an optional 5th section on Innovation and Entrepreneurship adds up to 100 more marks)
- Scores of 340 or above typically correspond to the 99th percentile and above — competitive for JBIMS, SIMSREE, and PUMBA
- Scores between 280 and 339 make Tier-2 colleges like Goa Institute of Management and Great Lakes realistic targets
- Scores between 200 and 279 are competitive for BIMTECH, Amity Business School, XIME, and similar private B-schools
- SC, ST, OBC, and EWS students are eligible for relaxed cutoffs at most government-aided colleges
| Direct Link to CMAT 2026 Official Portal | cmat.nta.nic.in |
CMAT 2026 Score Bands and College Tiers
CMAT 2026 is scored out of 400 marks across four compulsory sections. Colleges use the raw score and the corresponding percentile to shortlist students for GD-PI rounds. The table below maps CMAT 2026 score ranges to expected percentiles and college tiers, based on CMAT 2025 trends.
| CMAT 2026 Score (out of 400) | Expected Percentile | College Tier | Example Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|
| 340 – 400 | 99 – 100 | Tier 1 | JBIMS Mumbai, SIMSREE |
| 300 – 339 | 96 – 99 | Tier 1 – 2 | PUMBA, Goa Institute of Management |
| 260 – 299 | 88 – 96 | Tier 2 | Great Lakes, K.J. Somaiya, XIME Bangalore |
| 220 – 259 | 73 – 88 | Tier 2 – 3 | BIMTECH, IFMR, Amity Business School |
| 180 – 219 | 55 – 73 | Tier 3 | Regional and private B-schools |
| Below 180 | Below 55 | Tier 3 – 4 | State-level and low-cutoff private institutes |
All percentile and tier ranges above are expected, based on CMAT 2025 trends. Actual cutoffs will vary with exam difficulty, total test-takers, and individual college policies in 2026.
Top MBA Colleges Accepting CMAT 2026 with Expected Cutoffs
The table below lists prominent CMAT-accepting colleges, their programmes, and expected 2026 cutoff scores for General category students. All figures are expected, based on 2024–25 closing data.
| College | State | Programme | Expected CMAT 2026 Cutoff Score (General) |
|---|---|---|---|
| JBIMS — Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies | Maharashtra | MMS | 340+ |
| SIMSREE — Sydenham Institute of Management Studies | Maharashtra | MMS | 320+ |
| PUMBA — University of Pune, Department of MBA | Maharashtra | MBA | 305+ |
| Goa Institute of Management | Goa | PGDM | 300+ |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management | Tamil Nadu / Delhi NCR | PGDM | 275+ |
| K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management | Maharashtra | MBA | 265+ |
| XIME Bangalore | Karnataka | PGDM | 250+ |
| IFMR Graduate School of Business | Tamil Nadu | MBA | 240+ |
| BIMTECH — Birla Institute of Management Technology | Uttar Pradesh | PGDM | 230+ |
| Amity Business School | Uttar Pradesh | MBA | 200+ |
Maharashtra domicile students have a notable advantage at JBIMS, SIMSREE, and PUMBA — these colleges maintain a separate MH State merit quota with a lower closing score than the All India General merit list. If you hold Maharashtra domicile, compare your score against the state merit cutoff, not the All India General cutoff.
Category-wise CMAT Score Requirements
Government and government-aided colleges provide score relaxation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD students. Expected category-wise cutoffs for three benchmark colleges are listed below, based on 2024–25 patterns. Private colleges set their own category relaxation norms independently.
| Category | Expected JBIMS Cutoff 2026 | Expected GIM Cutoff 2026 | Expected BIMTECH Cutoff 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | 340+ | 300+ | 230+ |
| OBC | 305 – 335 | 265 – 295 | 195 – 225 |
| EWS | 315 – 338 | 275 – 298 | 210 – 228 |
| SC | 265 – 310 | 220 – 265 | 170 – 205 |
| ST | 230 – 265 | 185 – 220 | 145 – 175 |
| PwD | 240 – 280 | 195 – 240 | 155 – 195 |
All figures above are expected, based on 2025 trends. Verify exact category cutoffs on each college’s official admission portal after CMAT 2026 results are declared.
How to Use Your CMAT Score for College Selection
Once your CMAT 2026 scorecard is available, follow these steps to build a realistic MBA college shortlist.
- Download your CMAT 2026 scorecard from cmat.nta.nic.in and note your total raw score out of 400 and your overall percentile.
- Identify your score band using the table above to determine which college tier is realistic for your score.
- Check the cutoff format for each college — some use a minimum raw score, others a minimum percentile. Confirm this on each college’s official admission page.
- Apply your category — if you belong to SC, ST, OBC, EWS, or PwD, use the category-wise table to find colleges where your score is competitive.
- Check Maharashtra domicile eligibility — if applicable, compare your score against the MH State merit cutoff for JBIMS, SIMSREE, and PUMBA, which is lower than the All India cutoff.
- Build a balanced shortlist — apply to 2 to 3 reach colleges (score slightly below the expected cutoff), 3 to 4 target colleges (score meets the expected cutoff), and 2 to 3 safe colleges (score clearly above the expected cutoff).
- Prepare for GD-PI-WAT — your CMAT score secures a shortlist call; final selection depends on group discussion, personal interview, written ability test, and work experience, as weighted by each college’s selection process.
CMAT 2026 results and scorecards will be published on the official NTA portal at cmat.nta.nic.in. Monitor the portal regularly for result and counselling date announcements.
CMAT 2026 College Predictor FAQs
Ques. What is a good CMAT 2026 score to get into a top MBA college?
Ans. A score of 340 or above out of 400 is competitive for top CMAT-accepting colleges including JBIMS Mumbai and SIMSREE, based on 2025 trends. For strong Tier-2 colleges like Goa Institute of Management and Great Lakes, a score between 270 and 305 is generally sufficient.
Ques. Is CMAT 2026 scored out of 400 or 500?
Ans. CMAT is scored out of 400 marks for the four compulsory sections — Language Comprehension, Logical Reasoning, Quantitative Techniques and Data Interpretation, and General Awareness — with 25 questions each at 4 marks per correct answer. An optional fifth section on Innovation and Entrepreneurship adds up to 100 marks bringing the maximum to 500. Most colleges shortlist students on the 400-mark total.
Ques. Can I get a good MBA college with a CMAT score of 250?
Ans. Yes. A CMAT score of 250 out of 400 typically falls in the 85th to 92nd percentile range based on 2025 trends. Colleges such as XIME Bangalore, IFMR, BIMTECH, and several AICTE-approved private institutes accept students in this score range. Reserved-category students may qualify for higher-ranked colleges at this score due to category relaxation.
Ques. Do different MBA colleges have different CMAT cutoffs?
Ans. Yes. Each college sets its own cutoff and the format varies — some specify a minimum raw score, others a minimum percentile. Government-aided Maharashtra colleges such as JBIMS, SIMSREE, and PUMBA maintain separate cutoffs for Maharashtra domicile students and All India students, with additional category-wise relaxation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD students.
Ques. How does Maharashtra domicile affect CMAT college chances?
Ans. Maharashtra domicile students are eligible for the MH State merit quota at colleges like JBIMS, SIMSREE, and PUMBA. The closing score for this quota is typically lower than the All India General merit cutoff, giving Maharashtra students a meaningful advantage. Compare your score against the state merit cutoff rather than the General cutoff if you hold Maharashtra domicile.
Ques. When will CMAT 2026 counselling start?
Ans. CMAT 2026 counselling timelines vary by college. Most colleges announce GD-PI shortlists within four to eight weeks of result declaration. Monitor the official NTA portal at cmat.nta.nic.in and each college’s admission page for exact counselling dates once results are out.
Comments