CAT 2026 scores are accepted by all 21 IIMs and more than 1200 management institutes across India for MBA and PGDM admissions.
- Some of the top institutes that accept CAT 2026 are IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai and MDI Gurgaon.
- The required CAT percentile varies across institutes with the top IIMs generally calling candidates above the 99 percentile range.
- CAT Percentile required depends upon the institution and it ranges from 99+ percentile for the top IIMs to 85-95 percentile for some of the best MBA colleges other than IIMs.
- Most of the IIMs have both Overall Percentile and Sectional Percentile Cut off for shortlisting process.
- The 97–99 percentile range is often associated with calls from institutes including IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode, SPJIMR Mumbai and MDI Gurgaon.
- Candidates below the 95 percentile range can still target institutes such as IMI New Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB Bhubaneswar and other established private B-schools.
Related Links:
- CAT Cutoff- Check Category-wise Cutoff for IIMs and Top MBA Colleges, Marks vs Percentile, Good Score
- CAT 2025 Score Calculation, Marking Scheme, Percentile, and Raw vs Scaled Score Explained
- IIM Admission Criteria 2026-28(Out): Check Dates, CAT 2025 Cut off, Selection Process, Fees, Seats
Key Summary
- Most IIMs apply sectional cutoffs in addition to the overall percentile making performance across all sections important for shortlisting.
- Only having a very high percentile score in CAT doesn’t guarantee a seat, as interview and profile analysis also form important components of the process of admission.
- Candidates scoring 99.5+ percentile are competitive for institutes such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, FMS Delhi and JBIMS Mumbai.
- Final MBA admission is based on a combination of CAT 2026 percentile, WAT/GD performance, Personal Interview, academic record, work experience and other profile related parameters.
IIM-Wise Expected CAT 2026 Cutoff & Qualifying Percentile
IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta have the highest expected CAT 2026 cutoff with final call percentiles between 99–100 for General category candidates.
- At old IIMs, IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore and IIM Kozhikode the expected percentile cutoff is 97–98 while qualifying cutoff is between 85-90 percentile.
- The expected cutoff range drops to 94–96 percentile for IIM Mumbai and newer IIMs while Baby IIMs have the lowest expected percentile of 90–95 in CAT 2026.
| IIM | Qualifying Cutoff (Overall) | Expected Cutoff Percentile (General) | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | 95 | 99 - 100 | Highest among IIMs |
| IIM Bangalore | 85 | 99 - 100 | Very competitive |
| IIM Calcutta | 85 | 99+ | Extremely high final calls |
| IIM Lucknow | 90 | 97 - 98 | Strong sectional requirements |
| IIM Indore | 90 | 97 - 98 | Balanced |
| IIM Kozhikode | 85 | 97 - 98 | Good for profile-based calls |
| IIM Mumbai | ~ 90 | 94 - 96 | Rising institute |
| Newer IIMs (e.g., Rohtak, Trichy, Udaipur) | 80 - 85 | 94 - 96 | Varies by institute |
| Baby IIMs | 70 - 80 | 90 - 95 | More accessible |
Also Check:
- CAT 2026 DILR Topic Wise Weightage: Previous Year Trends & High-Scoring Topics
- IIM Lucknow CAT Cut off 2025, Admission Criteria 2026-28, Process, Fees, Placements
Ques. Can candidates receive an IIM call by clearing only the qualifying CAT cutoff?
Ans. No. Clearing the qualifying CAT cutoff only makes a candidate eligible for consideration during the shortlisting process. Final interview calls are usually issued at much higher percentiles after considering factors such as academic performance, work experience, diversity, and sectional scores. For top IIMs like Ahmedabad, Bangalore, and Calcutta, candidates often need a percentile significantly above the qualifying cutoff.
Ques. Which IIMs are more accessible for candidates scoring between 90 and 95 percentile in CAT 2026?
Ans. Candidates with a CAT 2026 percentile between 90 and 95 may have admission opportunities at several newer and Baby IIMs, depending on their profile and category. Institutes such as IIM Udaipur, IIM Trichy, IIM Raipur, IIM Jammu, and other newer IIMs often consider candidates in this range, especially when they have strong academics, work experience, or diversity advantages.
Top Non-IIM Colleges Accepting CAT 2026: Cutoff Comparison
FMS Delhi and JBIMS Mumbai have the highest expected CAT 2026 cutoffs among non-IIM institutes with percentile 98.5–99+ and 98–99.5.
- IIT Bombay, IIT Delhi and IIT Kharagpur are expected cutoffs is between 94-99 percentile placing them among the highest ranked CAT accepting engineering management schools.
- IMI New Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad and XIMB Bhubaneswar have comparatively lower expected cutoffs ranging from 88 to 93 percentile in the table.
| College | Expected CAT Cutoff (Overall Percentile) | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FMS Delhi | 98.5 - 99+ | Extremely competitive, low fees |
| IIT Bombay (SJMSOM) | 97 - 99 | Strong in Quant & Tech profiles |
| IIT Delhi (DMS) | 97 - 98.5 | Excellent ROI |
| MDI Gurgaon | 95 - 97 | Good for PGPM |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | 85 - 95+ | Profile-based shortlisting |
| JBIMS Mumbai | 98 - 99.5 | Very high for MMS (OMS) |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90 - 93 | Solid mid-tier option |
| IMI New Delhi | 88 - 92 | Good for General Management |
| XIMB Bhubaneswar | 90 - 93 | Strong placements |
| IIT Kharagpur (VGSoM) | 94 - 96 | Good for experienced candidates |
Also Check:
- IIM Ahmedabad Cutoff CAT & Admission Criteria: Check Eligibility & Score Vs Percentile
- IIM Bangalore Cutoff CAT and Admission Criteria: Check Category-wise cutoff & Eligibility Criteria
Ques. Which non-IIM MBA college offers the best ROI through CAT 2026?
Ans. Among non-IIM institutes, FMS Delhi is widely regarded as one of the best ROI MBA colleges in India because of its low tuition fees and strong placement record. Candidates with a CAT percentile above 98.5 generally have the best chances of receiving a shortlist. IIT Delhi and IIT Bombay are also considered strong ROI options for CAT-qualified candidates.
Ques. Can candidates with 90 percentile in CAT 2026 get admission to good non-IIM MBA colleges?
Ans. Yes. Candidates scoring around 90 percentile in CAT 2026 can target reputed institutes such as IMT Ghaziabad, XIMB Bhubaneswar, IMI New Delhi, and several other well-known MBA colleges. Admission chances depend on factors such as sectional percentiles, academic profile, work experience, and performance in the interview and selection rounds.
Top IIMs & Colleges Accepting CAT 2026 : MBA Fees Compared
IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta have the highest fee range with total MBA fees ₹27 lakh.
- FMS Delhi has the lowest MBA fee among the listed institutes at ₹2–2.5 lakh while JBIMS Mumbai follows with fees between ₹4 and ₹8 lakh.
- The fee range for IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore and IIM Kozhikode remains between ₹20.5 lakh and ₹23 lakh lower than IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta.
| Institute | Type | Total Fees (in Lakhs) |
|---|---|---|
| IIM Ahmedabad | IIM | 24.5 - 27 |
| IIM Bangalore | IIM | 24 - 25 |
| IIM Calcutta | IIM | 25 - 27 |
| IIM Lucknow | IIM | 20.5 - 22 |
| IIM Indore | IIM | 21 - 22.5 |
| IIM Kozhikode | IIM | 20.5 - 23 |
| FMS Delhi | Non-IIM | 2 - 2.5 |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | Non-IIM | 20 - 26.5 |
| MDI Gurgaon | Non-IIM | 24 - 26.5 |
| JBIMS Mumbai | Non-IIM | 4 - 8 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | Non-IIM | 16 - 19 |
| XIMB Bhubaneswar | Non-IIM | 20 - 22 |
| IIFT Delhi | Non-IIM | 12 - 13 |
| ISB Hyderabad (PGP YL) | Non-IIM | 29.69 |
| Goa Institute of Management (GIM) | Non-IIM | 21.5 |
Source: Youtube
Also Check:
- IIM Calcutta Cutoff CAT & Selection Process: Check Category-wise cutoff & Admission Criteria
- IIM Kozhikode CAT Cutoff and Admission Criteria: Check Previous Years’ Cut off, Eligibility, MBA Fees and Placements
Ques. Does a higher MBA fee guarantee better placements at CAT-accepting colleges?
Ans. Not necessarily. While several high-fee institutes such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and SPJIMR Mumbai offer excellent placement opportunities, lower-fee colleges like FMS Delhi and JBIMS Mumbai also deliver outstanding placement outcomes and ROI. Candidates should evaluate factors such as average salary, placement percentage, alumni network, and career opportunities rather than relying solely on fee structure.
Ques. Which CAT-accepting MBA colleges are considered the most affordable in India?
Ans. FMS Delhi and JBIMS Mumbai are among the most affordable MBA colleges accepting CAT scores while maintaining strong placement records. FMS Delhi has one of the lowest MBA fees among top-tier institutes, making it a popular choice for candidates seeking high ROI. IIFT Delhi also remains a comparatively affordable option when compared with most leading IIMs and private B-schools.
Top IIMs & Colleges Accepting CAT 2026: Reddit Discussion
- The discussion focused on the chances of securing admission to top IIMs and Tier-1 B-schools through CAT 2026 for a candidate with an SC category background, humanities academic profile, and 9 months of work experience, while evaluating whether to prioritize additional work experience or CAT preparation.
- Another Reddit user suggested that candidates with a similar profile may start receiving top B-school calls at around 85+ percentile, but recommended aiming for 90+ percentile to improve conversion chances through the interview process. The user also noted that achieving this target is realistic with consistent preparation of 3–4 hours daily and a structured study plan over the next nine months.
Source: Reddit
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