CAT Colleges List 2026: Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score

If you’re preparing for the CAT exam and wondering which MBA colleges you can realistically target with your CAT score, this guide is your complete cat colleges list for 2026.

We’ll walk through top MBA colleges, important cat cut offs, typical sectional cutoffs, overall cutoff ranges, and explain that most colleges use your cat percentile (not raw score) for shortlisting. We’ll also cover state-wise colleges in India that accept CAT scores, and how to shortlist the right b schools for your profile.

Also, because this is a subpage, remember to check the detailed eligibility criteria for CAT on Mockat’s pillar page: 👉 CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Age, Qualification & Category

And of course, you can explore Mockat’s courses and free resources on Mockat.com to boost your CAT exam prep.

1. CAT Examand CAT Score: Quick Recap

The Common Admission Test is a national-level entrance exam conducted once a year by the Indian Institute of Management system for admission to MBA and related management studies programmes.

A few basics you must know before diving into the cat colleges list:

Your CAT score (raw marks) is converted into a CAT percentile based on how you perform relative to others.
Colleges declare cat cutoff or cat cut offs in terms of percentile, not raw marks.
Most top colleges have both sectional cutoffs and an overall cat cutoff or qualifying cutoff.
Meeting the minimum percentile required only gets you shortlisted; the final admission depends on your profile, PI, and other factors.

2. How Much CAT Score Is “Good”?

A common question is: “how much cat score do I need for my dream college?”

Broadly, for a general category student:

99–100 cat percentile: old IIMs and a few best MBA colleges like FMS Delhi and JBIMS Mumbai
95–98 cat percentile: new/next-gen IIMs, some IIT MBA programmes, and top non IIM colleges
85–95 cat percentile: strong non iim colleges, many university MBA programmes, and solid private b schools

In most places, the minimum percentile that keeps you in the game for top IIMs is 90–95, but actual cut offs for final admission may be 97–99+.

3. Snapshot: Top Colleges Accepting CAT Score

Table 1 – Flagship Indian Institute of Management campuses & typical general-category CAT percentiles (shortlisting range)

Institute (PGP/MBA)	State	Type	Typical Overall CAT Percentile*
IIM Ahmedabad – Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad	Gujarat	Old IIM	95 (qualifying) / 99+ safe
IIM Bangalore – Indian Institute of Management Bangalore	Karnataka	Old IIM	85 (qualifying) / 99+ safe
IIM Calcutta – Indian Institute of Management Calcutta	West Bengal	Old IIM	85 (qualifying) / ~99 safe
IIM Lucknow – Indian Institute of Management Lucknow	Uttar Pradesh	Old IIM	90 qualifying / 97–99 safe
IIM Indore – Indian Institute of Management Indore	Madhya Pradesh	Old IIM	90 qualifying / 97–98 safe
IIM Kozhikode – Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode	Kerala	Old IIM	85 qualifying / 97–98 safe

*These are indicative trends, combining official qualifying cutoff data with typical shortlisting levels published by exam prep platforms. Always check each institute’s latest notification.

4. Understanding Cut Offs, Sectional Cutoffs and Overall CAT Cutoff

Most colleges accepting CAT score define:

Sectional cutoffs – e.g., at IIMs, 75–85 percentile in each section for a general category student.
An overall cutoff – e.g., 90–95+ percentile.
A lower qualifying cutoff for shortlisting and a higher effective cutoff for final admission.
Cut offs are typically expressed in terms of cat percentile.

For example:

At IIM Ahmedabad, the official qualifying cutoff is 95 percentile overall, but actual cat cut offs for calls often go much higher.
At IIT Delhi, DOMS IIT Delhi typically uses around 90 percentile as the minimum CAT score for the MBA program, while final selection may concentrate around 97–98 percentile.

So when you read about cat cutoff, always ask: is this the minimum score to be considered, or the level at which most converts actually happen?

5. Top IIMs: Dream Destinations for Management Studies

The older IIMs are often considered the top colleges for management studies and business administration in India. Shortlisting at these institutes is typically based on a candidate's CAT percentile.

5.1 IIM Ahmedabad

IIM Ahmedabad (the flagship Indian Institute of Management campus) is known for very high cat cut offs and stellar placements, with recent average salary figures above ₹35 LPA.

Shortlist: mostly 99.5+ cat percentile for a general category student in recent years
You’ll find world-class campus life, rigorous MBA programmes, and strong focus on management studies and analytics.

5.2 IIM Bangalore

IIM Bangalore in Karnataka is another iconic Indian Institute of Management.

Official minimum: around 85 overall cat percentile with 80/75/75 sectional cutoffs.
Realistic call: 99+ cat percentile for PGP.

The institute offers top-notch MBA programmes, global exposure, and one of the best consulting and tech placement records among Indian b schools.

5.3 IIM Calcutta

Located in West Bengal, IIM Calcutta is famous for finance and analytics.

Minimum overall: 85 cat percentile with sectionals around 75–80 cat percentile.
For most converts, the effective overall cat cutoff is close to ~99 cat percentile.

5.4 IIM Lucknow

IIM Lucknow is the top B‑school of Uttar Pradesh, and ranks among India’s top five institutes for management studies.

CAT cutoff for general category typically 90 cat percentile (qualifying), but 97–99 cat percentile for safe calls.

5.5 IIM Indore and IIM Kozhikode

IIM Indore and IIM Kozhikode both have overall qualifying CAT percentile values around 90–95 for the flagship MBA program, with safe cat percentile ranges of 97–98 for general candidates.

These IIMs combine strong academics, lush campuses, and vibrant campus life with very strong placements.

6. Newer IIMs: Great ROI and Growing Brand

Beyond the original six, several newer Indian Institute of Management campuses offer excellent MBA programmes with slightly more accessible cat percentile cut offs.

6.1 IIM Nagpur, IIM Udaipur, IIM Ranchi & IIM Raipur

Table 2 – Newer IIMs and indicative CAT percentile ranges (General)

Institute	State	Qualifying CAT Percentile*	Typical Safe Range	Notes
IIM Nagpur – Indian Institute of Management Nagpur	Maharashtra	~94–95	95–97	95 percentile qualifying mentioned in recent policies
IIM Udaipur – Indian Institute of Management Udaipur	Rajasthan	92–94	95–97	Qualifying 92; expected 95 overall in recent years
IIM Ranchi – Indian Institute of Management Ranchi	Jharkhand	95	96–98	CAP-linked qualifying cutoff 95
IIM Raipur – Indian Institute of Management Raipur	Chhattisgarh	92–93	95–97	Overall qualifying percentile around 93

These MBA colleges are excellent options if your CAT score falls slightly below the old IIMs, but you still aim for strong MBA admission prospects and good average salary outcomes.

7. IITs Accepting CAT Score for MBA Programmes

Several Indian Institute of Technology campuses offer flagship MBA programmes through their Schools or Departments of Management Studies and business administration, and they all accept CAT scores. IITs use the CAT percentile for shortlisting candidates for their MBA admissions.

7.1 IIT Delhi – DoMS IIT Delhi

IIT Delhi (Department of Management Studies) runs an intensive MBA program and MBA (Telecom).
DOMS IIT Delhi usually has a qualifying overall CAT percentile around 90 for the general category student, with final calls closer to 97–98.

7.2 IIT Bombay – SJMSOM

IIT Bombay’s SJMSOM accepts CAT for its core MBA programme.
Qualifying cat percentile cutoff for General is around 90 percentile, with sectional cat percentile near 75 and real calls often above 95 cat percentile.

7.3 IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur and IIT Roorkee

From a CAT perspective:

IIT Madras – DoMS IIT Madras typically has a CAT cutoff around 96 percentile for General.
IIT Kharagpur – VGSOM IIT Kharagpur often keeps qualifying cutoff near 90 percentile.
IIT Roorkee – IIT Roorkee DoMS has overall CAT cutoff around 95 percentile for its MBA courses.

Table 3 – IIT Management Departments (General Category, CAT trends)

Institute	City / State	CAT Percentile (Overall, Approx.)	Highlight
IIT Delhi (DoMS)	Delhi, NCR	90 qualifying; 97–98 safe	Tech + management focus
IIT Bombay	Mumbai, Maharashtra	90 qualifying; 95+ realistic calls	Strong placements
IIT Madras	Chennai, Tamil Nadu	~96 safe	Quant + analytics edge
IIT Kharagpur	Kharagpur, West Bengal	~90 qualifying	Large campus, strong campus life
IIT Roorkee	Roorkee, Uttarakhand	95 overall cutoff (recent trend)	Balanced management studies

8. Top Non IIM Colleges Accepting CAT Score

You don’t have to be in an IIM to study at the best MBA colleges in India. Many elite non iim colleges accept CAT scores and use your cat percentile for shortlisting and cutoffs, offering fantastic ROI.

8.1 FMS Delhi – Faculty of Management Studies

FMS Delhi is a department of management studies under Delhi University and one of the top MBA colleges in India.

Extremely low fees (around ₹2–2.5 lakh total fee structure for 2 years).
CAT composite cut offs for shortlisting are based on cat percentile and often cross 99 percentile for General.

It’s a dream for ROI-focused aspirants targeting top non IIM colleges.

8.2 MDI Gurgaon

MDI Gurgaon is among the most sought-after private b schools that accept cat scores.

CAT percentile often hovers around 94–97 for its flagship PGDM; some sources show typical cutoffs near 94–97.

8.3 JBIMS Mumbai and Mumbai CAT Colleges

JBIMS Mumbai is a legendary college for finance aspirants.

It uses CAT, CET and CMAT, with CAT percentile cut offs around 98–99.9 for the MMS programme.
Recent reports show mean average salary crossing ₹26 LPA.

If you search “Mumbai CAT colleges”, JBIMS Mumbai will almost always feature at the top.

8.4 Fore School of Management

Fore School of Management in Delhi is another solid choice among non iim colleges that accept CAT scores.

Minimum CAT percentile typically between 85–95.

8.5 IIFT – Indian Institute of Foreign Trade

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) now relies on CAT instead of its own test.

Since 2023, IIFT has stopped its separate entrance exam and started admitting via CAT. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade
A 90+ CAT percentile is often needed for shortlist to its flagship MBA in foreign trade / International Business.

You’ll sometimes see older references to an “institute cat” exam for IIFT; after the change, CAT doubles up as that exam.

8.6 TAPMI Manipal & “Manipal CAT” Searches

T.A. Pai Management Institute (often casually referred to as Pai Management Institute) at Manipal is well-known for its PGDM and MBA programmes.

It accept CAT scores, and many “manipal cat” searches online are actually about TAPMI shortlisting criteria, which are based on CAT percentile.

8.7 IMT, Jain and Other B Schools

Institute of Management Technology Ghaziabad is a well-known private school that uses CAT, XAT and others; that’s why “ghaziabad cat colleges” searches often point to IMT. These institutes use cat percentile for shortlisting applicants.
Jain Institute (e.g., Jain University’s management schools) in Karnataka also run strong MBA programmes and MBA courses that accept cat scores and consider cat percentile during the application process.

These and other top MBA colleges are strong options if you want corporate exposure, modern curriculum and varied campus life.

9. Government Colleges vs Private Colleges

Within this broad pool of colleges in India that accept CAT scores, you’ll find:

Government colleges like IIMs, IITs, IIFT, FMS and some central universities
Private colleges like MDI Gurgaon, IMT, TAPMI, many Jain Institute campuses and other b schools

Government institutes often have higher cat percentile cut offs but lower tuition, while many private MBA colleges may have slightly lower cat percentile cut off but higher fees and excellent industry connections.

10. State-Wise Glimpse of Colleges Accepting CAT

To make your cat colleges list more structured, think state-wise. Here are some examples of colleges accepting CAT across key regions:

Table 4 – Examples of state-wise colleges accepting CAT score

State / Region	Example Institutes (not exhaustive)
Uttar Pradesh	IIM Lucknow, IMT Ghaziabad (via CAT), other b schools in NCR
West Bengal	IIM Calcutta, VGSOM IIT Kharagpur, other Kolkata MBA colleges
Maharashtra (Mumbai)	IIT Bombay, JBIMS Mumbai, other Mumbai universities and private colleges
Andhra Pradesh	University and private MBA colleges in Visakhapatnam & Vijayawada that accept cat scores
Tamil Nadu	IIT Madras (DoMS), other Chennai b schools that accept CAT scores
Madhya Pradesh	IIM Indore, leading regional MBA programmes
Himachal Pradesh	Select university MBA colleges that accept cat scores as one of multiple test options

There are dozens of additional colleges in India in each state, so always check official websites before applying.

11. Using Your CAT Score Range to Shortlist Colleges

Here’s a simple way to map your CAT score (percentile) to types of institutes:

Table 5 – CAT percentile vs target institutes

CAT Percentile Range	Typical Targets
99–100	Old IIMs (A, B, C, L, I, K), FMS Delhi, JBIMS Mumbai, top IITs
95–98	Newer IIMs (IIM Nagpur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Raipur, IIM Udaipur), IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, elite non iim colleges like MDI Gurgaon, Fore School
90–95	Good IITs, strong university MBA programmes, many high-quality private colleges and other top b schools
80–90	Regional universities, rising b schools, selected management technology institutes, some Jain Institute campuses
<80	Explore backup MBA courses, other entrance exam options (XAT, NMAT, SNAP, etc.) and work-ex + reattempt strategy

This table is only a guideline. Some colleges accepting CAT score will shortlist you at slightly lower levels if you have outstanding profile points.

12. Selection Process: From Qualifying Cutoff to Final Admission

For most IIMs and other top mba colleges, the selection process typically includes:

CAT exam performance – clear sectional cat percentile cutoffs and overall cat percentile cutoff.
Shortlisting based on CAT score, past academics, work experience and diversity.
Written Ability Test (or essay / WAT), sometimes a group discussion.
Personal Interview.
Preparation of final merit list for final admission.

So, your CAT score is necessary but not sufficient. You must also build a solid profile and practice interviews (Mockat can help here).

13. Fee Structure, ROI and Average Salary

When evaluating top colleges, don’t just look at cat cut offs. Compare:

Total fee structure (including hostel, mess and other charges)
Placement stats and average salary
Quality of campus life and peer group

For instance:

Old IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore have 2‑year fees in the ₹23–28 lakh range but average salary often exceeds ₹30–35 LPA.
FMS Delhi charges under ₹2.5 lakh and still offers average CTCs above ₹30 LPA, making it one of the best ROI MBA colleges in India.

14. Campus Life and Location

Your two-year experience matters as much as your CAT score.

Hill campuses like IIMs in the North-East or institutes in Himachal Pradesh offer serene environments, but fewer corporate offices nearby.
Metro-based b schools (Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad) tend to have more live projects, guest lectures and richer campus life.

Think about where you want to live, the alumni network you want access to, and which cities are hubs for your target sector.

15. Special Notes on Some Keywords & Institutes

To make sure this guide lines up with how students actually search online, here’s a quick “keyword-style” recap using popular phrases:

Many mba colleges and top mba colleges across India now accept CAT scores as the primary test for mba admission, especially for flagship mba programmes and specialised MBA program options like business analytics or management technology.
If you’re targeting iim bangalore, iim ahmedabad, iim calcutta, iim lucknow, iim indore, or iim kozhikode, aim well above the basic qualifying cutoff to maximise your chances of final admission.
For shortlisting, most colleges use your cat percentile as a key criterion. Among other institutes, MDI Gurgaon, Fore School, FMS Delhi, JBIMS Mumbai, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur and IIT Roorkee are regularly listed among other top mba colleges and other top b schools when aspirants search for best ROI.
Top colleges accepting cat and colleges accepting cat score now include the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade for global business / foreign trade, a range of IITs, and many central universities offering strong management studies and business administration degrees.
Regional options in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and beyond give you a long list of colleges in India to choose from, mixing government colleges and private colleges.
Search terms like “Mumbai CAT”, “Manipal CAT”, and “Ghaziabad CAT” usually point to local clusters of b schools including JBIMS Mumbai, TAPMI / Pai Management Institute in Manipal, and IMT Ghaziabad, plus a few Jain Institute campuses and specialised management technology institutes.

16. Linking Back to Eligibility: Don’t Forget the Basics

Before shortlisting b schools from this guide, always confirm that you meet:

The basic CAT eligibility criteria (graduation percentage, backlog rules, etc.)
Any additional institute-level conditions for MBA admission or specific mba courses

You can find a clear explanation of CAT eligibility criteria and examples for final-year students, working professionals and others on Mockat’s pillar page:

👉 CAT 2026 Eligibility Criteria – Age, Qualification & Category

17. How Mockat Can Help You Reach These Colleges

Whether your target is an old IIM, one of the newer Indian Institute of Management campuses, the IIT management schools, or ambitious non iim colleges, the journey always starts with:

Understanding how cat score maps to cat cut offs at your dream institutes, and knowing the required cat percentile for your target colleges
Working steadily towards the minimum score and then above it
Planning alternatives among top colleges and other b schools in case things don’t go exactly as planned

Mockat offers structured content, mocks and guidance focused on cracking the CAT exam, improving accuracy, and building confidence for PI and Written Ability Test rounds. You can explore their resources at mockat.com.

If you use this guide to create your own personalised cat colleges list, align it with your realistic CAT score expectation and your budget, and then back it up with disciplined preparation, you’ll be well on your way to joining one of India’s best MBA programmes.

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CAT Colleges List 2026: Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score

If you’re preparing for the CAT exam and wondering which MBA colleges you can realistically target with your CAT score, this guide is your complete cat colleges list for 2026.

We’ll walk through top MBA colleges, important cat cut offs, typical sectional cutoffs, overall cutoff ranges, and explain that most colleges use your cat percentile (not raw score) for shortlisting. We’ll also cover state-wise colleges in India that accept CAT, and how to shortlist the right b schools for your profile.

Also, because this is a subpage, remember to check the detailed eligibility criteria for the CAT exam on Mockat’s pillar page. You can also explore mockat.com for free CAT preparation resources.

1. CAT Exam and CAT Score: Quick Recap

The Common Admission Test is a national-level entrance exam conducted once a year by the Indian Institute of Management for admission to MBA and related management studies programmes.

A few basics before exploring the cat colleges list:

Your CAT score (raw marks) is converted into a cat percentile based on relative performance.
Colleges release cat cut offs in terms of percentile.
Most top colleges have both sectional cutoffs and an overall cat cutoff or qualifying cutoff.
Meeting the minimum percentile required only gets you shortlisted; final admission depends on your profile, interview, academics and work experience.

2. How Much CAT Score Is “Good”?

A common question is: “how much cat score do I need for my dream college?”

For a general category student:

99–100 cat percentile: The best MBA colleges including IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, FMS Delhi, JBIMS Mumbai
95–98 cat percentile: Newer IIMs, IIT MBA programmes, MDI Gurgaon, top non IIM colleges
85–95 cat percentile: Strong non iim colleges, university MBA programmes, and many good private b schools

The minimum percentile to remain competitive for top IIMs is around 90–95, but realistic cat cut offs for interview calls go much higher.

3. Snapshot: Top Colleges Accepting CAT Score

Table 1 – Flagship IIMs & Typical General Category Percentiles

Institute	State	Type	Typical Overall CAT Percentile
IIM Ahmedabad	Gujarat	Old IIM	95 qualifying / 99+ safe
IIM Bangalore	Karnataka	Old IIM	85 qualifying / 99+ safe
IIM Calcutta	West Bengal	Old IIM	85 qualifying / ~99 safe
IIM Lucknow	Uttar Pradesh	Old IIM	90 qualifying / 97–99 safe
IIM Indore	Madhya Pradesh	Old IIM	90 qualifying / 97–98 safe
IIM Kozhikode	Kerala	Old IIM	85 qualifying / 97–98 safe

4. Understanding Cut Offs, Sectional Cutoffs and the Overall CAT Cutoff

Most colleges accepting CAT score announce:

Sectional cutoffs: Usually 75–85 percentile for a general category student
Overall cutoff: Often 90–95+ percentile
Qualifying cutoff: Minimum level for considering the application
Higher actual shortlisting cutoff: The realistic percentile needed to receive interview calls

These cut offs are typically expressed in terms of 'cat percentile'.

For example:

At IIM Ahmedabad, the qualifying cutoff is around 95 percentile, but real calls come at 99+ percentile.
At IIT Delhi (DoMS), the qualifying cutoff is around 90 percentile, while realistic selection begins around 97–98 percentile.

5. Top IIMs: Dream Destinations for Management Studies

5.1 IIM Ahmedabad

One of India’s best Indian Institute of Management campuses with extremely high cat cut offs.

Realistic shortlist: 99.5+ cat percentile
Known for excellent placements and high average salary
Offers top-tier MBA programmes and excellent campus life

5.2 IIM Bangalore

A top choice for consulting, tech leadership and international exposure.

Minimum required: around 85 cat percentile
Realistic calls: 99+ cat percentile

5.3 IIM Calcutta

Strong in finance, analytics and corporate connect.

Minimum: 85 cat percentile
Realistic calls: about 99 cat percentile

5.4 IIM Lucknow

A top institute in Uttar Pradesh with strong placements.

Qualifying: ~90 cat percentile
Realistic: 97–99 cat percentile

5.5 IIM Indore and IIM Kozhikode

Premium choices for management aspirants seeking strong academics and vibrant campus life.

Qualifying: ~90 cat percentile
Realistic: 97–98 cat percentile

6. Newer IIMs: Great ROI and Growing Reputation

Table 2 – Newer IIMs and Indicative Percentile Ranges

Institute	State	Qualifying Percentile (cat percentile)	Safe Range (cat percentile)
IIM Nagpur	Maharashtra	~94–95	95–97
IIM Udaipur	Rajasthan	92–94	95–97
IIM Ranchi	Jharkhand	95	96–98
IIM Raipur	Chhattisgarh	92–93	95–97

Note: All percentiles listed are cat percentile.

These MBA colleges offer strong placements, great learning experiences and excellent return on investment.

7. IITs Accepting CAT Score for MBA Programmes

Many Indian Institute of Technology campuses accept CAT for their management education programmes, making them excellent non-IIM options. IITs use 'cat percentile' for shortlisting candidates.

7.1 IIT Delhi – DoMS IIT Delhi

Qualifying cat percentile: ~90
Realistic cat percentile call: 97–98

7.2 IIT Bombay – SJMSOM

Qualifying percentile (cat percentile): ~90
Expected shortlist (cat percentile): 95+

7.3 IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Roorkee

IIT Madras: ~96 cat percentile safe
IIT Kharagpur: ~90 cat percentile qualifying
IIT Roorkee: ~95 cat percentile

Table 3 – IIT MBA Options

Institute	State	Approx Overall CAT Percentile	Highlights
IIT Delhi	Delhi NCR	97–98	Strong analytics + management
IIT Bombay	Maharashtra	95+	Premium placements
IIT Madras	Tamil Nadu	~96	Tech-oriented management
IIT Kharagpur	West Bengal	~90	Excellent campus life
IIT Roorkee	Uttarakhand	~95	Comprehensive management studies

8. Top Non IIM Colleges Accepting CAT

8.1 FMS Delhi

A top management studies institution with extremely low fees and very high ROI.

Shortlisting often at 99+ cat percentile
Among the best mba colleges in India

8.2 MDI Gurgaon

Prestigious private college with great corporate connections.

CAT cut offs (cat percentile values) usually between 94–97 percentile

8.3 JBIMS Mumbai

Famous for finance and Mumbai corporate placements.

Shortlists at 98–99.9 cat percentile
Excellent average salary outcomes

8.4 Fore School of Management

Respected Delhi-based B-school.

Accepts CAT
Cutoff often falls in the 85–95 cat percentile range

8.5 IIFT – Indian Institute of Foreign Trade

Now accepts CAT for admission into its flagship MBA in foreign trade.

Typical shortlist above 90 CAT percentile

8.6 TAPMI Manipal (Pai Management Institute)

Strong PGDM school often searched as “manipal cat” online, with TAPMI shortlisting based on 'cat percentile'.

8.7 IMT Ghaziabad, Jain Institute and Others

Strong management technology and business-focused institutes receiving thousands of applications every year use 'cat percentile' for shortlisting.

9. Government Colleges vs Private Colleges

Government colleges like IIMs, IITs, IIFT and FMS offer excellent brand value, lower fees and high placements, but generally have higher CAT percentile cut offs.

Private colleges like MDI, IMT, TAPMI and others offer modern pedagogy, strong corporate exposure and extensive campus life, with slightly lower CAT percentile cut offs.

Choosing between them depends on fees, location, ROI and career goals.

10. State-Wise Overview of Colleges Accepting CAT Score

Table 4 – State-Wise Examples

State	Colleges Accepting CAT
Uttar Pradesh	IIM Lucknow, IMT Ghaziabad
West Bengal	IIM Calcutta, IIT Kharagpur
Maharashtra	IIT Bombay, JBIMS Mumbai
Andhra Pradesh	Multiple state universities, private MBA colleges
Tamil Nadu	IIT Madras, top Chennai b schools
Madhya Pradesh	IIM Indore, regional MBA programmes
Himachal Pradesh	Select universities accepting CAT

These are not exhaustive lists; many other colleges in India accept CAT scores.

11. Using Your CAT Score Range to Shortlist Colleges

Table 5 – CAT Percentile vs Target Colleges

CAT Percentile Range	Likely Targets
99–100	Old IIMs, FMS, JBIMS, top IITs
95–98	Newer IIMs, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, MDI
90–95	Strong private colleges, good university programmes
80–90	Regional universities, emerging b schools
< 80	Backup MBA options, alternate exams

Note: The ranges above refer to your CAT percentile. This is simply a guideline; your profile affects calls.

12. Selection Process: From Cutoff to Final Admission

Most top mba colleges use the following process:

CAT exam and meeting sectional cat percentile cutoffs + overall cat percentile cutoff
Profile-based shortlisting
Written Ability Test, GD (if applicable)
Personal Interview
Final composite score calculation

Your CAT score matters, but personal interviews and academics matter too.

13. Fee Structure, ROI and Average Salary

Comparing fee structure with expected outcomes is essential:

Old IIMs have higher fees (₹23–28 lakh) but offer average salary figures above ₹30–35 LPA.
FMS Delhi charges under ₹2.5 lakh with salaries comparable to IIMs.
Private colleges vary from ₹12–25 lakh with excellent industry exposure.

14. Campus Life and Location

Hill campuses offer a peaceful environment but fewer nearby corporate offices.
Metro campuses (Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai) offer better networking, internships and campus life activities.

Choose based on your lifestyle preferences and career aspirations.

15. Keyword-Aligned Recap for Aspirants

Many mba colleges and top mba colleges now accept cat scores for mba admission into flagship mba programmes. Most colleges use your cat percentile for shortlisting candidates.
Aspirants frequently target iim bangalore, iim ahmedabad, iim calcutta, iim lucknow, iim indore, iim kozhikode as their first choices.
IIT MBA programmes at iit delhi, iit bombay, iit madras, iit kharagpur, iit roorkee are strong alternatives.
Popular non-IIM options include fms delhi, mdi gurgaon, fore school, jbims mumbai, jain institute and others.
Searches like “mumbai cat”, “manipal cat”, “ghaziabad cat” point to well-known regional b schools.
Consider your minimum score, desired campus life, and budget before choosing between government colleges and private colleges.

16. Don’t Forget to Check CAT Eligibility Criteria

Before applying to any college, ensure you satisfy the CAT eligibility criteria, academic requirements and programme prerequisites.

Mockat’s dedicated pillar page on CAT eligibility explains everything clearly — ideal to refer to before shortlisting B-schools.

17. How Mockat Helps You Reach These Colleges

Whether you’re aiming for an older IIM, a newer Indian Institute of Management, an IIT department of management studies, or a high-ROI non iim college, your journey begins with:

Understanding the right CAT score requirement, including the required cat percentile for your target colleges
Knowing realistic cat cut offs and sectional cutoffs
Preparing strategically for CAT and interviews
Shortlisting based on ROI, location and career goals

Mockat provides high-quality preparation support, mocks, analysis and interview training to help you secure final admission into top b schools.

With this cat colleges list and smart planning, you can now map your MBA admission journey with confidence.