The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the passport to some of India’s premier business schools. IIMs may hog the headlines, but numerous best private and deemed universities throughout the nation use CAT scores to shortlist students for their flagship MBA/PGDM course.
This guide offers a comprehensive comparison of best MBA colleges using CAT scores in 2026, including their fees, specializations, placement history, recruiters, hostel infrastructure, and admission procedures Such colleges blend prestige, good academics, industry exposure, and great placements. Most of them also give admission based on other exams like XAT, GMAT, and CMAT but CAT is still the main entry portal for Indian MBA aspirants.
Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT – Snapshot
| College Name | Type | Affiliation | Approx Fees (Total) | Accreditation |
| IIM Bangalore | Public | Autonomous (IIM Act) | ₹24 Lakh | EQUIS, AACSB |
| MDI Gurgaon | Private | AICTE Approved | ₹23 Lakh | AACSB, NBA |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | Private | Autonomous | ₹20 Lakh | AMBA, AACSB |
| IMT Ghaziabad | Private | AICTE | ₹19.5 Lakh | AACSB |
| XIM Bhubaneswar (XIMB) | Private (Jesuit) | Xavier University | ₹20 Lakh | NBA, SAQS |
| IMI New Delhi | Private | AICTE | ₹20 Lakh | AMBA, NBA |
| TAPMI Manipal | Private | AICTE | ₹18 Lakh | AACSB |
| Great Lakes Chennai | Private | AICTE | ₹17.5 Lakh | AMBA |
| FORE School of Management | Private | AICTE | ₹18.5 Lakh | NBA |
| GIM Goa | Private | AICTE | ₹17.5 Lakh | AMBA |
Course-Wise Fee Comparison (Flagship MBA/PGDM Programs)
| College | General MBA | MBA (Finance) | MBA (Marketing) | MBA (Analytics) |
| IIM Bangalore | ₹24 Lakh | ₹24 Lakh | ₹24 Lakh | ₹24 Lakh |
| MDI Gurgaon | ₹23 Lakh | ₹23 Lakh | ₹23 Lakh | ₹23 Lakh |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | ₹20 Lakh | ₹20 Lakh | ₹20 Lakh | ₹20 Lakh |
| IMT Ghaziabad | ₹19.5 Lakh | ₹19.5 Lakh | ₹19.5 Lakh | ₹19.5 Lakh |
| TAPMI Manipal | ₹18 Lakh | ₹18 Lakh | ₹18 Lakh | ₹18 Lakh |
| Great Lakes Chennai | ₹17.5 Lakh | ₹17.5 Lakh | ₹17.5 Lakh | ₹17.5 Lakh |
Top Recruiters & Placement Packages
| College | Top Recruiters | Avg. Package | Highest Package |
| IIM Bangalore | BCG, Bain, McKinsey, Microsoft | ₹33 LPA | ₹85 LPA |
| MDI Gurgaon | Deloitte, EY, Amazon, PwC | ₹27 LPA | ₹60 LPA |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | Accenture, Axis Bank, TCS, RPG | ₹25 LPA | ₹77 LPA |
| IMT Ghaziabad | Cognizant, Nestle, HSBC, Deloitte | ₹17 LPA | ₹38 LPA |
| XIMB | ICICI, Infosys, HUL, Axis Bank | ₹15 LPA | ₹29 LPA |
| TAPMI Manipal | HCL, EY, Infosys, Grant Thornton | ₹13.5 LPA | ₹27 LPA |
| GIM Goa | KPMG, IBM, CRISIL, Infosys | ₹14 LPA | ₹30 LPA |
Specializations Offered
| College | Major Specializations Offered |
| IIM Bangalore | Strategy, Finance, Marketing, HR, Analytics |
| MDI Gurgaon | Finance, Marketing, Operations, International Business |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | Information Mgmt, Ops & SCM, Marketing, Finance |
| IMT Ghaziabad | Marketing, HR, Finance, Business Analytics |
| TAPMI Manipal | Banking & Finance, HR, Marketing, Analytics |
| Great Lakes Chennai | AI & ML, Business Analytics, Finance, Marketing |
| GIM Goa | Big Data, Sustainable Development, HR, Finance |
Hostel Facilities & Fees
| College | Hostel Fees (Annual) | Amenities Offered |
| IIM Bangalore | ₹1.5 – ₹2.0 Lakh | Single Rooms, Wi-Fi, Cafeteria, Gym |
| MDI Gurgaon | ₹1.6 Lakh | AC Rooms, Sports Facilities, Medical |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | ₹1.5 Lakh | Library, Dining, Wi-Fi |
| IMT Ghaziabad | ₹1.4 Lakh | Shared AC/Non-AC Rooms, Laundry, Sports |
| TAPMI Manipal | ₹1.2 Lakh | Reading Room, Wi-Fi, Mess, TV Room |
| Great Lakes Chennai | ₹1.1 Lakh | Studio Rooms, Laundry, Sports, Cafeteria |
Admission Process & CAT Score Criteria
| College | Admission Process | CAT Cutoff (Expected) |
| IIM Bangalore | Shortlist via CAT + WAT + PI | 98–99.5 percentile |
| MDI Gurgaon | CAT + GD-PI | 96–98 percentile |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | Profile Based Shortlist + CAT + Interview | 85–93 percentile |
| IMT Ghaziabad | CAT + PI + Academic Record | 90+ percentile |
| XIM Bhubaneswar | CAT/XAT/GMAT + WAT/PI | 85–90 percentile |
| TAPMI Manipal | CAT/XAT/GMAT + PI | 80–85 percentile |
| GIM Goa | CAT/XAT/CMAT + PI | 80–85 percentile |
FAQs
Q1.Which is the best MBA college accepting CAT in India (excluding IIMs)?
A: MDI Gurgaon and SPJIMR Mumbai are top choices for their academics, industry connect, and high ROI.
Q2. What’s the typical CAT score range to get into top non-IIMs?
A: Most top-tier non-IIMs require a CAT percentile of 85–99, depending on the college and profile.
Q3. Do private colleges accept only CAT?
A: Many accept CAT/XAT/GMAT/CMAT, so check individual college criteria.
Q4. Are hostel facilities mandatory?
A: Yes, in most residential programs like IIMs, hostel is compulsory.
Q5. Are scholarships available in private MBA colleges?
A: Yes, colleges like SPJIMR, GIM, TAPMI, and IMT offer merit and need-based scholarships.
Conclusion
CAT provides the gateway to an array of great MBA programs aside from IIMs. CAT Exam Colleges List 2026 Strong industry connections, varied specializations, and well-paying placements at colleges such as MDI, SPJIMR, and IMT can be availed. Select your B-school considering your CAT percentile, career ambitions, desired specialization, and monetary investment.
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