Colleges Accepting NMAT 2026 Score: Expected Cutoffs and Seats

NMAT 2026 scores are accepted by over 50 MBA colleges in India, with NMIMS Mumbai’s Core MBA program requiring a score of 210 or above out of a total of 360.

NMAT by GMAC 2026 is scored on a scale of 0–360 across three sections — Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning. Knowing which colleges accept NMAT scores and what score you need for each helps you plan your retakes and build a realistic application shortlist before the admission cycle closes.

• NMIMS Mumbai Core MBA expected cutoff is 210+ out of 360 based on 2025 admission trends.
• SPJIMR Mumbai and Xavier University Bhubaneswar (XIMB) also accept NMAT with expected cutoffs of 210+.
• NMAT allows up to three attempts per test window — colleges consider your best score across all attempts.
• Seven NMIMS campuses across India exclusively accept NMAT scores; no alternative exam is considered.
• A score of 200 or above makes you competitive for most NMIMS campuses outside Mumbai.

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NMAT 2026 Score Range and Exam Structure

NMAT by GMAC 2026 is scored on a total scale of 0 to 360. The exam has three independently timed sections, each carrying a maximum score of 120:

NMAT uses a scaled scoring method — raw marks are converted to a normalised score to account for varying difficulty across test windows. Students can choose their section order on exam day. Colleges consider the highest score from all attempts in the cycle.

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All Colleges Accepting NMAT 2026 Score

The table below lists the major MBA and PGDM programs that accept NMAT 2026 scores, along with expected cutoffs and approximate seats based on 2025 admission data:

All cutoffs listed above are expected figures based on 2025 admission trends. Actual 2026 cutoffs will be announced by individual colleges after NMAT results are declared.

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NMIMS Campuses: Expected Cutoffs and Seats 2026

NMIMS (Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies) is the founding institution for which NMAT was originally designed. All NMIMS campuses mandate NMAT scores for MBA admission with no alternative exam accepted. Here is a campus-wise breakdown of expected cutoffs and seats for 2026:

NMIMS Mumbai Core MBA is the most competitive NMAT-only program. Shortlisted students go through a Written Test, Personal Interview, and Group Discussion (WTPI) after clearing the NMAT score threshold. A score of 210 or above is the expected shortlisting benchmark for the Core MBA based on 2025 data.

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Score-Wise College Chances for NMAT 2026

Use the score band table below to understand which colleges you can realistically target with your NMAT 2026 score out of 360:

A score of 210 or above out of 360 puts you in contention for the highest-ranked NMAT-accepting colleges. Students scoring between 195 and 210 have strong options across multiple NMIMS campuses. Those with scores in the 140–175 range have several private B-school options as reliable backup choices.

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Other Top MBA Colleges Accepting NMAT 2026

Beyond NMIMS, several prominent business schools in India accept NMAT by GMAC as one of their qualifying scores. These colleges typically also accept CAT, XAT, or GMAT scores, so your NMAT result can be part of a broader application strategy.

NMAT by GMAC is also accepted by business schools outside India — including institutions in South Africa, Nigeria, and the Philippines — making it a useful score if you are considering international MBA programs alongside domestic options.

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Factors That Affect NMAT 2026 Cutoffs

Expected NMAT cutoffs are based on historical trends and can shift year to year based on several variables:

• Applicant volume: Higher registrations typically push shortlisting cutoffs upward across all colleges.
• Exam difficulty: A harder paper lowers average scores, which can moderate cutoffs slightly compared to an easier window.
• Seat expansion: Colleges increasing their intake may lower their shortlisting threshold to fill additional seats.
• Multi-stage selection weight: For NMIMS programs, the NMAT score is a shortlisting filter — WTPI performance also determines the final admission offer.
• Category norms: Most NMAT-accepting institutions are private B-schools and do not follow government reservation norms, so cutoffs are generally uniform across all student groups.