The Common Admission Test (CAT) is one of the most significant management entrance exams in the nation because it is the portal to some of the finest business schools in India. Thousands of aspirants every year desire to make their way into the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and other renowned management institutions in the nation.
Some of the most popular colleges accepting CAT are the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, Lucknow, and Kozhikode, along with top non-IIM B-schools such as XLRI Jamshedpur, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, and ISB Hyderabad.
There are so many other top-notch B-schools that take CAT scores and provide amazing opportunities in terms of management learning, exposure, and professional development. There is so much diversity in the forms of specialization, academics, course presentation, placements, infrastructural facilities, and more among the institutions accepting CAT scores.
Top Institutes Accepting CAT Score 2025 | IIMs
Candidates can check out the top IIMs accepting CAT in India. Students must keep their desired institute in mind while preparing for the exam as well as while attending the counselling.
S. No | Institute Name | Popular Programs |
1 | PGP, PGP-FABM | |
2 | PGP, EPGP | |
3 | PGP, PGPEX, PGPWE | |
4 | PGP, IPMX | |
5 | PGP, EPGP | |
6 | PGP, IPMX | |
7 | PGP | |
8 | PGP | |
9 | PGP | |
10 | PGP |
Top Non IIMs Accepting CAT
Students can look at the non IIM colleges accepting CAT score below. The following table also comprises a list of popular programs offered by each institute.
S. No | Institute Name | Location | Popular Programs |
1 | Delhi | MBA | |
2 | Jamshedpur, JH | BM, HRM | |
3 | Mumbai, MH | PGDM, PGMP | |
4 | Gurgaon, HR | PGPM, PGDM | |
5 | Hyderabad, TS | PGP, PGPpro | |
6 | Ghaziabad, UP | PGDM | |
7 | Mumbai, MH | MMS, PGDM | |
8 | Chennai, TN / Gurgaon, HR | PGPM, PGDM | |
9 | Manipal, KA | PGDM | |
10 | Mumbai, MH | PGDM |
CAT 80 - 90 Percentile Colleges
Students who receive 80 to 90 percentile can consider the following options for college. These colleges accept 80 - 90 percentile.
S. No | Institute Name | Location | Approx. CAT Percentile | Popular Programs |
1 | IIM Shillong | Shillong, Meghalaya | 85 - 90 | PGP |
2 | IIM Rohtak | Rohtak, Haryana | 85 - 90 | PGP |
3 | IIM Udaipur | Udaipur, Rajasthan | 85 - 90 | PGP |
4 | IMT Ghaziabad | Ghaziabad, UP | 80 - 85 | PGDM |
5 | JBIMS Mumbai (MMS/PGDM) | Mumbai, MH | 85 - 90 | MMS, PGDM |
6 | TAPMI Manipal | Manipal, Karnataka | 80 - 85 | PGDM |
7 | Great Lakes Institute of Management | Chennai, TN | 80 - 85 | PGPM, PGDM |
8 | LBSIM New Delhi | New Delhi | 85 - 90 | MBA |
9 | FORE School of Management | New Delhi | 85 - 90 | PGDM |
10 | MDI Gurgaon | Gurgaon, Haryana | 85 - 90 | PGPM, PGDM |
11 | KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies | Mumbai, MH | 80 - 85 | PGDM |
12 | Jaipuria Institute of Management | Lucknow, Noida | 80 - 85 | PGDM |
13 | IFIM Business School | Bangalore, KA | 80 - 85 | PGDM |
14 | Christ University School of Business | Bangalore, KA | 80 - 85 | MBA |
Top Institutes Accepting CAT Low Percentile
Aspirants who could not receive higher scores can still pursue admission in reputed management institutes. The table provided below contains a list of CAT accepting colleges for low percentile candidates.
S. No | Institute Name | Location | Approx. CAT Percentile | Popular Programs |
1 | Jaipuria Institute of Management | Lucknow, Noida | 70 to 80 | PGDM |
2 | KJ Somaiya Institute of Management Studies | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 70 to 80 | PGDM |
3 | Institute of Management Technology (IMT) | Nagpur / Hyderabad | 65 to 75 | PGDM |
4 | Christ University School of Business | Bangalore, Karnataka | 70 to 80 | MBA |
5 | BIM Trichy (Bharathidasan Institute) | Trichy, Tamil Nadu | 65 to 75 | PGDM |
6 | Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE) | Hyderabad, TS | 65 to 75 | MBA |
7 | GL Bajaj Institute of Management & Research | Greater Noida, UP | 60 to 75 | PGDM |
8 | Amity Business School | Noida / Gurgaon | 65 to 75 | MBA / PGDM |
9 | Alliance University, Bangalore | Bangalore, KA | 60 to 75 | MBA / PGDM |
10 | SRM School of Management | Chennai, TN | 60 to 75 | MBA / PGDM |
How to Choose Best College Based on CAT Score?
Know Your CAT Percentile: Calculate your actual percentile so that you can shortlist colleges in which your CAT score is equal to or greater than the average number of cut-offs.
Check Cut-offs of Colleges: Look at the CAT cut-offs of the previous years of each college and program so that you get an idea if you have any realistic chance
Sort Out Your School Options: Picking from IIMs, top-tier non-IIMs, and private Business Schools, depending on your post-grad aspirations in the field and CAT scores.
Review Specializations: Make sure the specialization that you opt for is available in the college that you are targeting for your PGDM or MBA.
Check the Placement Statistics: Check average salary offered, no. of top recruiters, placement patterns in order to get the return on your investment.
Keep Location in Perspective: Consider the city, the campus facilitation, the cost of living, and how far you are from the heart of the industries you're interested in.
Seek Alumni Network & Reputation: A strong alumni network will provide formal mentorship, internships, and employment through a formal network.
Check Fees and Return on Investment: Compare fees versus degree and placements so that it is within your financial ability and decent ROI.
Seek out Faculty & Curriculum: Conduct research on experienced faculty, the curriculum and industry input.
Attend Webinars or Visit: Participate in college tours, counselling or webinars to see the destination and get the feel of the campus and culture.
→ Also Check How to Predict CAT Score with Answer Key Here
