Across India, 40-60 reputable MBA/PGDM colleges typically accept candidates in the 80-85 percentile range in CAT. This includes well-known institutes such as GIM Goa, TAPMI, XIMB (for some programs), LBSIM Delhi, FORE School of Management, BIMTECH, Welingkar, MDI Murshidabad, Christ University, and XIME Bangalore, among others.
- Around 50-55% of the colleges accepting an 80-85 CAT percentile fall under private colleges.
- Government colleges of roughly 15-20% accept 80 percentile, including central/state universities and NIT MBA programs.
- Deemed and private universities contribute about 20-25% of the institutes accepting 80 percentile, offering a mix of university-based MBA degrees and specialised programs.
- AICTE-approved autonomous PGDM colleges account for nearly 40-45% admission for 80 percentile.
The final number varies each year depending on institute-level cutoffs, application volume and program-specific requirements.
Also Read: Understand CAT 2025 results better: check official scorecard and expected IIM cutoffs here
Understanding Your Chances with 80 Percentile
- "Recently, several private and non-IIM B-schools reaffirmed that a CAT percentile around 80–85 can still earn you a call for shortlisting, especially for PGDM/MBA courses," reported Get my Uni.
- "Top IIMs continue to maintain very high cutoffs (near 98–99+ percentiles for general-category candidates) for flagship PGP admissions," as per a report from Jagran Josh.
- "Not all reputed B-schools use extremely high cutoffs. A few consider the overall percentile rather than the extremely demanding sectional and overall cut-offs. As a result, achieving around 80 percentile can still give you a shot at a solid MBA or PGDM programme," as per another report from Get my Uni.
Also Read: CAT marks vs percentile trends from 2025 to 2022
Admission Probability Calculator
Understanding your realistic chances helps in better college selection and preparation strategy.
| Your CAT Percentile | Academic Profile | Work Experience | Probability of Interview Call |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80-82 | 60-70% | Fresher | 40-50% (Lower tier only) |
| 80-82 | 75-85% | Fresher | 60-70% |
| 80-82 | 60-70% | 2+ years | 70-80% |
| 83-85 | 75-85% | 2+ years | 85-90% |
| 83-85 | 85%+ | Any | 90-95% |
Also Read: Step-by-step guide on how CAT scores are calculated
Ques: Can I get into these colleges with 79 percentile?
Ans: Yes, but the chances reduce significantly. Some colleges accept a 75-80 range, especially for candidates with strong work experience or exceptional academic records.
Ques: How much does work experience really matter?
Ans: Work experience can improve your chances by 20-30%. Colleges like TAPMI and GIM strongly prefer candidates with 2-3 years of quality experience.
Top MBA and PGDM Colleges in India Accepting 80 Percentile CAT
For aspirants targeting the 80-85 CAT percentile bracket, focus has shifted toward realistic assessment of B-schools offering strong placement, acceptable fee structure, and a reasonable chance of admission based on overall profile.
| College / Institute | Typical CAT Percentile Cutoff* | Approx. Fees (₹, Lakhs) | Notes / Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai | 80 percentile (for shortlisting) | ₹20–22 L (for PGDM) | Recognised PGDM, accepts CAT/GMAT/XAT, gives flexibility to freshers and low-work-ex candidates. |
| Welingkar Institute of Management (WeSchool), Mumbai / Bengaluru | 80 percentile (for many PGDM tracks) | ₹14–15 L | Multiple specialisations (Business Design, Analytics, Media, etc.); holistic selection (catscores + PI + profile). |
| T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal | 80–85 percentile (with work-ex 12–23 months) for general MBA admission shortlisting. | ₹17–18 L (approx.) | Balanced fees and good placement; considers multiple exams (CAT, XAT, GMAT). |
| KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai | 82+ percentile (some cycles accept 80–85 range) | ₹22–23 L | Established reputation, wide specialisations (MBA, HCM, BFSI, etc.). |
| GOA Institute of Management (GIM), Goa | Around 80–85 percentile (typically landing at 85) | ₹20–21 L | Strong in specialisations like Marketing, Analytics; comparatively less oversubscription than IIMs. |
| FORE School of Management, New Delhi | For some PGDM courses (IB, FM, BDA) 80-85 percentile may fetch a shortlist; core PGDM usually sees 85 percentile. | ₹18–21 L | Private PGDM school; profile-based evaluation; accepts interplay of CAT/XAT/GMAT. |
Also Read: Total seats available across all IIMs and top MBA colleges
State-Wise List of MBA Colleges Accepting Around 80 Percentile in CAT
Maharashtra
| College | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| KJ Somaiya Institute of Management | Mumbai | Usually 80–85 percentile for many programmes. |
| Welingkar Institute of Management (WeSchool) | Mumbai | 80 percentile is often used as a shortlisting benchmark. |
| N L Dalmia Institute of Management Studies & Research | Mumbai | Typically around 75-80+ percentile. |
| SIES College of Management Studies (SIMS) | Navi Mumbai | Calls often start around the 75–80 percentile. |
| PUMBA (University of Pune – MBA) | Pune | University department, cost-effective, around 80 percentile. |
Karnataka
| College | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) | Manipal | Often, 80-85 percentile + work experience is considered. |
| Welingkar Bengaluru Campus | Bengaluru | Similar pattern to the Mumbai campus. |
| Christ University Institute of Management | Bengaluru | Typically 75-80 percentile is considered. |
| IFIM / Jagdish Sheth School of Management (JAGSoM) | Bengaluru | Around 75-80 percentile. |
Tamil Nadu
| College | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM) | Chennai | 80 percentile is often valid for PGDM shortlisting. |
| Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA) | Chennai | Historically, 75–80 percentile, profile dependent. |
| PSG Institute of Management | Coimbatore | Around 70–80 percentile. |
Delhi NCR (Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon)
| College | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FORE School of Management | New Delhi | 80–85 percentile for some PGDM programmes. |
| BIMTECH (Birla Institute of Management Technology) | Greater Noida | Historically, around the 75-80 percentile. |
| New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM) | Delhi | Around the 70-80 percentile. |
| Management Development Institute (MDI) Murshidabad | Gurgaon Region (admission office) | Usually 80-85 for some courses (not MDI-Gurgaon). |
| IMT Nagpur / Hyderabad (IMT Group) | Nagpur / Hyderabad | IMT Ghaziabad is higher; these campuses often consider 75–80. |
Rajasthan
| College | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jaipuria Institute of Management (multiple cities) | Jaipur | Accepts around the 70–80 percentile. |
| Rajasthan University – R. A. Podar Institute of Management | Jaipur | Around the 75–80 percentile. |
Gujarat
| College | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) | Anand | Profile-based calls may begin around 80 percentile but vary. |
| MICA (for PGDM-C / PGDM) (through CAT + MICAT) | Ahmedabad | A CAT percentile of 80–85 is competitive when paired with a strong MICAT. |
| Narsee Monjee Institute of Management (NMIMS) – Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad | Accepts CAT for some cycles; usually around the 75–80 percentile. |
West Bengal
| College | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM) | Kolkata | Usually 75–80 percentile. |
| Globsyn Business School | Kolkata | Considers 70–80 percentile. |
Madhya Pradesh
| College | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Institute of Management Studies (IMS) – DAVV University | Indore | Around the 75–80 percentile. |
| Prestige Institute of Management and Research (PIMR) | Indore | Typically 70–80 percentile. |
Uttar Pradesh (Non-NCR)
| College | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Jaipuria Institute of Management | Lucknow | Around the 70–80 percentile. |
| IFIM / GLA University MBA | Mathura | Usually 70–80 percentile. |
Punjab
| College | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Punjab University – UBS Chandigarh | Chandigarh | Historically, around 80 percentile. |
| LM Thapar School of Management | Patiala | Around the 70–80 percentile. |
Telangana
| College | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE) | Hyderabad | Usually 70–80 percentile. |
| Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management (VJIM) | Hyderabad | Typically 70–80 percentile. |
Kerala
| College | City | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| SCMS Cochin School of Business | Kochi | The CAT 70–80 percentile is commonly considered. |
| Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies | Kochi | Usually 70–80 percentile. |
Also, Check: Find out what counts as a good CAT score for top B-Schools
Ques: Which state has the most affordable MBA options?
Ans: University-run programs in Maharashtra (PUMBA), Karnataka (Christ), and Tamil Nadu (PSG) offer fees under ₹10 lakhs with decent placements.
Ques: Are Tier-2 city colleges worth considering?
Ans: Yes, colleges in Manipal, Coimbatore, and Goa offer excellent education at lower living costs. Placements might involve relocation to metros anyway.
Also Read:
Cost vs ROI Analysis
Understanding the financial investment and returns helps make informed decisions.
- WeSchool and PUMBA offer the best ROI with the lowest payback periods.
- Great Lakes and TAPMI provide balanced cost-placement ratios.
Consider financial constraints and family situation before choosing high-fee colleges. Education loans add an interest burden, extending the actual payback period by 6-12 months.
| College | Total Cost (₹L) | Avg. Package (₹LPA) | Payback Period | Worth It? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes Chennai | 22 | 15 | 1.5 years | Yes - Strong ROI |
| TAPMI Manipal | 18 | 13 | 1.4 years | Yes - Best value |
| WeSchool Mumbai | 15 | 12 | 1.3 years | Yes - Fastest payback |
| KJ Somaiya Mumbai | 23 | 14 | 1.6 years | Moderate - High fees |
| GIM Goa | 21 | 14 | 1.5 years | Yes - Balanced option |
| FORE Delhi | 20 | 12 | 1.7 years | Moderate - Consider alternatives |
| Christ Bangalore | 10 | 10 | 1 year | Yes - Budget champion |
| PUMBA Pune | 3 | 8 | 0.4 years | Yes - Best budget option |
Check Out:
Find out what the actual CAT 2025 cutoff for general category students in the top IIMs
Ques: Are education loans easily available for these colleges?
Ans: Most nationalised banks provide loans for AICTE/UGC approved programs. Top colleges like Great Lakes, TAPMI have tie-ups with specific banks offering better terms.
Ques: Can I recover fees through campus placements?
Ans: Yes, most colleges achieve 85%+ placements. However, 10-15% students take 3-6 months post-graduation to secure jobs, requiring financial buffer planning.
Also Read: How academics and work experience are weighted in CAT 2025 admissions
What Reddit Says: Real User Experiences
"Scoring below 80%ile means IIMs are off the table, but it does not mean your MBA journey has to end. Welingkar, GIM, TAPMI, etc., where a strong profile and interview performance could still get you through," shared a Reddit user.
The CAT community on Reddit provides valuable ground-level insights about these colleges.
| Reddit User Profile | CAT Score | Colleges Applied | Final Result | Key Insight Shared |
| u/mbadreamer | 81%ile, 70% academics | TAPMI, WeSchool, GIM | Got TAPMI, joined | "Work-ex of 3 years helped compensate weak academics significantly" |
| u/catwarrior2024 | 84%ile, 88% academics | Great Lakes, FORE, Somaiya | All 3 calls, chose Great Lakes | "Strong academics matter more than people think, got scholarships" |
| u/hopefulMBA23 | 80%ile, 65% academics | Applied to 15 colleges | Only 3 calls received | "Should have applied to more safer options below 80%ile cutoff" |
| u/freshgrad2024 | 82%ile, fresher | GIM, Christ, LIBA | Got Christ and LIBA | "Freshers need 82+ minimum for decent calls without work-ex" |
| u/lateralentry | 83%ile, 5yr work-ex | TAPMI, FORE, BIMTECH | All calls, picked TAPMI | "Too much work-ex (5yr+) reduces calls, sweet spot is 2-3 years" |
| u/budgetMBA | 81%ile, average profile | PUMBA, NL Dalmia, SIMS | All calls, chose PUMBA | "Saved 15L in fees, similar placement outcome as expensive colleges" |
Check:
- The most important WAT topics for IIMs you must prepare
- Key PI tips and commonly asked interview questions in IIMs
What Should be Your Next Steps?
Experts suggest that aspirants with 80-85 percentiles in CAT should:
- Apply widely. It is advisable to include a mix of colleges. They should keep some safer options with an 80–85 cutoff, and some College options which are accepting higher percentiles.
- Prepare well for the interview. A strong performance in GD, WAT and PI is very important.
- Build a great profile. Showcase your academics, internships, and extracurricular achievements well.
- Attempt alternate entrance exams. Many colleges accept XAT and GMAT scores also.
- Maintain realistic expectations. Understand that placements and brand value might not match the top IIMs. But these colleges can still offer respectable opportunities if you work well.
Also Read: Know which IIMs do not consider work experience in shortlisting
If you have scored around the 80th percentile in CAT, it is better to have more realistic expectations and select the right colleges. It is equally important to prepare well for interviews and other evaluation rounds. It is advisable to not underestimate your overall profile like academics, internships, work experience, and communication skills. These will play an equally important role in getting you admission in a good college as your CAT percentile.
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