In CMAT 2026, a score of 260 to 280+ gets you 90 percentile, which places you in the top 10% of test takers. At this percentile, you are eligible for many top colleges that have a high return on investment.
- This percentile opens doors for the reputed top Tier 2 colleges in India, such as GIM Goa, BIMTECH Noida, and GLIM Gurgaon to pursue MBA/PGDM.
- In these colleges, average packages vary from 7 to 12 lakh per annum.
- Selection to the Tier 2 colleges can be made based on academic profile and interview performance.
In this article, we will provide you list of top colleges accepting 90 percentile in CMAT 2026.
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- What is a Good Score in CMAT 2026, Score Calculator, and Expected Cutoff

Key Summary
- 90 percentile is a good score, which comes under the 260 to 280+ range of marks, suitable for Tier 2 MBA/PGDM colleges.
- Students can target GIM Goa, BIMTECH Noida, and GLIM Gurgaon like top management institutes.
- These colleges have good ROI, average package varies here from 7 to 12+ LPA.
- Final selection is based on CMAT percentile, academic profile, and GD/PI performance.
- This article will provide you with a detailed list of these colleges.
CMAT 2026 Expected Score vs Percentile
At 90 percentile, your score is near about 260 to 280+. Check this graphical view of expected Score vs Percentile in CMAT for better understanding.

| CMAT Score(out of 400) | Expected Percentile |
|---|---|
| 345-360+ | 99.5-100 |
| 320-344 | 99-99.5 |
| 300-319 | 97-99 |
| 280-299 | 95-97 |
| 260-279 | 90-95 |
| 240-259 | 85-90 |
| 220-239 | 75-85 |
| 200-219 | 65-75 |
| Below 200 | Below 65 |
Ques: My score is 255, can I get 90 percentile in CMAT 2026?
Ans: For 90 percentile expected score range goes from 260 to 280+. At 255, you can get near about 89.5 percentile depending on the exam. But if you have any category benefits, then you can get into good colleges at this score.
What Does 90 Percentile Mean in CMAT 2026?
The CMAT percentile is calculated after Normalization by NTA. The exact score needed to get this percentile varies year to year, depending on the number of candidates, overall performance, and exam difficulty.
- 90 percentile is considered a good score in CMAT, as it places you in the top 10% of the students.
- This percentile makes you eligible for the top management institutes.
Also Check:
- CMAT 2026 Result(Soon), Percentile, Cut-off, and Participating Colleges
- CMAT Score vs Percentile 2026- Check Score Calculation, Score Normalization, Previous Years’ Trend
List of Colleges Accepting 90 percentile in CMAT 2026
A 90 percentile in CMAT 2026 is considered a decent score that places candidates among the top 10% of test-takers. While top Tier 1 institutes usually require higher percentiles, this score still opens doors to many reputed Tier 2 and management colleges in India.
- At the 85-90 percentile, students can target top-tier colleges like GIM Goa, GLIM Gurgaon, and BIMTECH Noida. These colleges have an average package of 11 to 15 LPA.
- Students scoring in the range of 80-90 can target WeSchool, which has institutes in Mumbai and Bangalore. It also has an average package in the range of 10 to 12 LPA.
- Scoring below 90 percentile, especially in the range 75 to 90, also has options like NDIM Pune, ISBM Pune, and JIM Jaipur.
- Top government NITs, NIT Jaipur, and NIT Rourkela release their CMAT cutoff around 70-90 percentile.
| College | Location | College Type | CMAT Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goa Institute of Management (GIM) | Goa | Private | 85-90 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management | Gurgaon | Private | 85-90 |
| Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH) | Greater Noida | Private | 85-90 |
| Welingkar Institute of Management (WeSchool) | Mumbai / Bangalore | Private | 80-90 |
| Jaipuria Institute of Management | Jaipur | Private | 75-90 |
| NDIM | New Delhi | Private | 75-90 |
| ISBM Pune | Pune | Private | 75-90 |
| MNIT Jaipur | Jaipur | Government | 70-90 |
| NIT Rourkela | Rourkela | Government | 70-90 |
These colleges offer decent placements, reasonable fees, and a good return on investment.
In a Reddit thread, a user by answering said Wellingker Institute of Management can be filled by a student who is getting 90 percentile.

Also Check:
Ques: When will the exact cutoff of CMAT 2026 be released?
Ans: After the CMAT result, individual institutes release their cutoff during the admission round expected in March to May. You should regularly check their official websites.
Ques: Is 90 percentile enough to get admission?
Ans: 90 is considered a decent and competitive score. You can get admission into Tier 2 to Tier 1.5 colleges at these marks. If you have a good profile, then you can get even better college.
Ques: How is the ROI of these 90 percentile colleges?
Ans: These colleges have reasonable fees and offer a moderate return on investment. These colleges have average packages of around 7 to 12+ LPA.
Ques: Can I get JBIMS Mumbai at 90 percentile?
Ans: JBIMS is a Tier 1 college. It releases its cutoff around the 99 percentile. At the 90 percentile, making it into JBIMS is hard. At this score, there are many top colleges with good ROI. For those colleges, you can refer above list of colleges.







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