The NMAT Cutoff 2026 will be announced by participating B-schools after the declaration of the NMAT result. Since there is no common cutoff for all institutes, each college will release its own qualifying score or percentile during the admission process.

  • The NMAT cutoff is the minimum score required to qualify for the next admission rounds, such as PI, WAT, GD, or Case Discussion, depending on the institute.
  • Candidates who meet the cutoff are shortlisted for further selection based on the admission process of their chosen B-school.
  • The expected NMAT 2026 cutoff for top B-schools is likely to be between 210 and 235+ marks, depending on the institute and program.
  • To stay competitive for the most sought-after MBA colleges, candidates should aim for a score of 230+ with balanced sectional performance.

In NMAT 2025, the highest MBA cutoff was around 233 marks, while several other leading B-schools considered candidates with scores between 210 and 225. Scoring 230+ marks remains a safe target for admission to the most competitive NMAT-accepting institutes in 2026.

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NMAT Cutoff 2026

NMAT 2026 Cutoff: Quick Overview

Particulars Details
Conducting Body GMAC (Graduate Management Admission Council)
Exam Window November 5 – December 19, 2025
NMIMS Overall Cutoff 2026 209 (out of 360)
NMIMS Sectional Cutoff 60–62 per section
MBA Pharmaceutical Management Cutoff 190 overall
Safe/Merit Score (NMIMS Mumbai) 232+
PI Shortlist Announced January 19–21, 2026
Final Merit List Expected around April 20, 2026

NMAT Cutoff 2026: College-wise Expected Cutoff

  • NMIMS campuses dominate the top positions with the most accessible cutoff of 209 overall and 62 sectional, making them the primary target for 76-80 percentile scorers.
  • In contrast, colleges ranked 3-6, like KJ Somaiya, TAPMI, and XIMB, expect 220+ (roughly 85+ percentile), reflecting higher competition and stronger placement records.
  • Students scoring 230+ have an excellent chance of making the top 10.
College / Institute Expected Overall Cutoff Sectional (Approx.) Expected Percentile
NMIMS Mumbai (Core MBA Programs) 209 62 76-80
NMIMS Bangalore / Navi Mumbai 209 62 76-80
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management 220+ 55-60 85+
TAPMI Manipal 220+ 55+ 85+
NMIMS Hyderabad 206-209 60-62 74-78
XIM University Bhubaneswar 220-230 50-55 82+
NMIMS Indore 206 60 74+
MISB Bocconi Mumbai 220+ 55+ 85+
IBS Hyderabad / Other IBS Campuses 180-200 50+ 65-75
ITM Navi Mumbai / Similar Colleges 160-190 45-50 60+

Also Check:

NMAT Cutoff 2026: NMIMS Campus-Wise Overall & Sectional Scores

NMIMS applies a common cutoff policy across most of its campuses for 2026 admissions, a change first introduced in the 2025 admission cycle to widen the shortlist pool and shift more weight onto the Competency Test and PI stage.

NMIMS Campus / Program Expected Overall Cutoff (NMAT 2026) Expected Sectional Cutoff
NMIMS Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Navi Mumbai & Indore (Core MBA / MBA HR / Business Analytics / Digital Transformation) 209 60–62 in Language Skills, Quantitative Skills & Logical Reasoning
NMIMS Mumbai – MBA Pharmaceutical Management 190 55–60 per section (approx.)

NMAT Cutoff 2026: The "209 vs 232" Reality Call Cutoff vs Safe Score

  • A score of 209 is generally enough to receive a Competency Assessment and PI call, but it does not guarantee admission.
  • The NMAT score has limited weightage in the final selection, while the Competency Test and PI play a bigger role.
  • A score of 232+ offers a stronger chance of converting the call into a final admission, provided you perform well in the selection rounds.

NMAT Cutoff 2026: Sectional Cutoff Scores

NMIMS strictly enforces sectional cutoffs. Missing the minimum mark in even one section (Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, or Logical Reasoning) can disqualify a candidate regardless of a strong overall score.

Section Core MBA Programs MBA Pharmaceutical Management
Language Skills (LS) 60 55–60
Quantitative Skills (QS) 60–62 50–55
Logical Reasoning (LR) 60–62 50–55

Tip: Aim for balanced scores across all three sections rather than over-preparing one area, since a single low sectional score can override a high overall total.

NMAT Cutoff 2026 for Other Top MBA Colleges

Candidates from reserved categories should note that NMIMS and most private NMAT-accepting colleges follow a strictly merit-based selection process with no caste-based reservation, except XIMB, which offers domicile-based reservation for select programs.

College Expected NMAT Cutoff 2026
NMIMS Mumbai (Safe/Merit Score) 232+
XIMB (XIM Bhubaneswar) 210–225
TAPMI (T.A. Pai Management Institute) 210–225
KJ Somaiya Institute of Management 210–225
SDA Bocconi Asia Center 210–225
Mid-tier NMAT Colleges 200–210

Also Check: NMAT 2026 Safe Score for NMIMS Mumbai: Sectional Cutoffs and Score Bands

NMAT Cutoff 2026: NMIMS Previous Years vs 2026

Year NMIMS Mumbai Overall Cutoff Sectional Cutoff
2022 230 ~70
2023 235 (98th percentile) ~70
2025 209–232 range 62
2026 209 (call) / 232+ (safe) (Expected) 60–62 (expected)

NMAT Cutoff 2026: Factors Affecting NMAT Cutoff 2026

Several variables influence how NMIMS and other institutes set their yearly cutoff:

  • Total number of NMAT test-takers (60,000+ candidates annually)
  • Overall difficulty level of the exam across testing windows
  • Number of available seats per campus and program
  • Previous year's cutoff trends and conversion ratios
  • Institute-specific weightage given to NMAT score vs Competency Test and PI

NMAT Cutoff 2026: What is a Good Score in NMAT?

  • 230+ marks is an excellent NMAT score and improves your chances of getting calls from top B-schools like NMIMS Mumbai, KJ Somaiya, and TAPMI.
  • 210–229 marks is a good score for receiving shortlists from most NMIMS campuses.
  • 209 marks is the minimum qualifying score for many NMIMS programs, but a strong performance in later admission rounds is usually needed for final selection.
Score Range Percentile (Approx.) Good For (Colleges) Chance Level
230+ 90+ NMIMS Mumbai (Strong Call), KJ Somaiya, TAPMI, XIMB Excellent
220-229 85-90 NMIMS All Campuses (Safe), Top Non-NMIMS Very Good
210-219 77-84 NMIMS Mumbai/Bangalore (Borderline Safe) Good
209 76 NMIMS Minimum Cutoff (All Major Programs) Minimum
190-208 65-75 NMIMS Pharma, Lower Tier Colleges Moderate
NMAT Cutoff 2026: What is a Good Score in NMAT?

Also Check: Is 250 a Safe Score in NMAT 2026 for NMIMS Bangalore

NMAT Cutoff 2026: Program-wise Expected Cutoff

For flagship programs like the MBA Core at Mumbai, a good score of 220-229 offers a safe shortlisting chance, while specialized programs such as Business Analytics require 225+ due to higher competition.

  • Pharmaceutical Management remains the most accessible, with a good score starting from 205+.
  • Aim for 230+ overall for excellent calls across top programs and campuses.
Program / Specialization Minimum Cutoff (Expected) Excellent Score Recommended Percentile
MBA Core / General Management (Mumbai) 209 230+ 85-90+
MBA Human Resources (HR) 209 230+ 84+
MBA Business Analytics 209 235+ 88+
MBA Digital Transformation 209 230+ 86+
MBA Pharmaceutical Management 190 220+ 75+
NMAT Cutoff 2026: Program-wise Expected Cutoff

Also Check:

NMAT Cutoff 2026: Marks vs Rank

A score of 230+ (90+ percentile, top 10,000 rank) is highly competitive for top NMAT colleges

  • While 209 meets the minimum cutoff for NMIMS but corresponds to a mid-tier rank.
  • Students should aim for 220+ for safer shortlists across premier institutes.
NMAT Marks (Overall) Expected Percentile Approximate Rank Range (Out of ~80,000 test-takers) Suitable For
250+ 98+ Top 1,000 - 2,000 Top Calls (NMIMS Mumbai Top Waitlist)
240-249 95-98 Top 2,000 - 5,000 Excellent (All Top Colleges)
230-239 90-95 Top 5,000 - 10,000 Very Good (NMIMS + KJ Somaiya, TAPMI)
220-229 85-90 Top 10,000 - 20,000 Good (Safe for Most NMIMS Campuses)
210-219 77-84 Top 20,000 - 35,000 Borderline Safe (NMIMS)
209 ~76 Top 35,000 - 40,000 Minimum for NMIMS Cutoff
200-208 70-75 Top 40,000 - 55,000 Pharma & Lower Colleges
Below 190 Below 65 55,000+ Limited Options
NMAT Cutoff 2026: Marks vs Rank

NMAT Cutoff 2026: NMIMS Selection Process After Clearing the Cutoff

Meeting the NMAT Cutoff 2026 is only the first step in the admission process at leading B-schools.

  • Candidates must also perform well in the Competency Assessment and PI to improve their final selection chances.
  • Since the Competency Test typically carries the highest weightage (around 50–60%) compared to NMAT's 10–20%, candidates should treat clearing the cutoff as only the first milestone, not the finish line.
Admission Stage Details
Stage 1: NMAT Cutoff Meet the overall and sectional NMAT Cutoff 2026 to receive a shortlist for the next round.
Stage 2: Competency Assessment & PI Appear for the Competency Assessment Test and Personal Interview conducted by the institute.
Final Merit List Final selection is based on a combination of NMAT score, Competency Test, PI performance, academic record, and work experience (where applicable).
NMAT Cutoff 2026: NMIMS Selection Process After Clearing the Cutoff

NMAT Cutoff 2026: Reddit Discussions

NMAT Cutoff 2026: Reddit Discussions

Source: Reddit

UST graduates with an NMAT percentile below 85 may still be considered, depending on the admission cycle and available seats. A strong academic record and overall profile can improve your chances.

NMAT Cutoff 2026: Reddit Discussions

Source: Reddit

If your NMAT score is below the cutoff, your application may still be processed, but admission is not guaranteed. Keep checking your application status, as the final decision depends on seat availability and the admissions committee.

NMAT Cutoff 2026 FAQs

Ques. What is the NMAT Cutoff 2026 for NMIMS Mumbai?

Ans. The official call cutoff is 209 overall, with 60–62 in each section, though a "safe" conversion score for NMIMS Mumbai remains 232 and above.

Ques. Is there a separate NMAT cutoff for MBA Pharmaceutical Management?

Ans. Yes, MBA Pharmaceutical Management has a lower overall cutoff of 190, with reduced sectional requirements compared to core MBA programs.

Ques. Do all NMIMS campuses have the same cutoff?

Ans. Yes, NMIMS follows a unified/common cutoff policy for Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Navi Mumbai, and Indore for most core programs.

Ques. What happens if I miss the sectional cutoff but clear the overall score?

Ans. You will be disqualified. NMIMS requires candidates to clear both the overall and sectional cutoffs simultaneously.

Ques. Which other colleges accept NMAT scores besides NMIMS?

Ans. XIMB, TAPMI, KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, and SDA Bocconi Asia Center are among the top institutes accepting NMAT scores for MBA/PGDM admissions.

Ques. Is the NMAT score the only factor for NMIMS admission?

Ans. No. NMAT contributes only a small percentage to the final merit list; the Competency Test, Personal Interview, academics, and work experience carry greater weightage.