Top CAT Accepting Colleges with Cut-Off and NIRF Ranking

Top CAT Accepting Colleges with Cut-Off and NIRF Ranking
The top MBA colleges in Delhi NCR accept the CAT 2026 score for full-time MBA admission in 2026. There are 20 IIMs in India, and other top CAT colleges in the non-IIM category located in the Delhi NCR, including JMI, FMS, DoMS IIT, IIFT, and GGSIPU.
 
You may learn everything about MBA colleges that accept CAT scores from this article. We have separated the CAT colleges into percentile ranges in descending order.
 
To help you understand which CAT colleges are best for you, we have added a list of top MBA colleges in Delhi NCR with their cut-off and NIRF rankings 2025.
 
CAT colleges and XAT colleges are the first choice for students seeking a career in management, even though CAT and XAT are two of the most complex entrance exams in India.
 

IIMs and Other Top CAT College's Cut-off Percentile

 
The 95-100 percentile range is the CAT Colleges' cut-off for admission to the IIMs in 2026 for all categories. The final CAT 2025 cut-off percentile for top IIMs was between 98 and 100 percentiles for students in the General category. The cut-offs are lower for students in the reserved category. The CAT cut-offs for 2025 were significantly lower for all categories for the new and young IIMs.
 
The IIMs and top MBA colleges in Delhi NCR, including FMS, JMI, DoMS IIT Delhi, release the preliminary CAT cut-offs for WAT-PI shortlisting well in advance of the publication of the test results, but they don't disclose the final CAT cut-offs until after the release of the exam results and/or at the time of PI shortlisting.
 
The minimum score requirements for admission in a full-time MBA course are known as qualifying CAT cut-offs, and they differ for each IIM and other non-IIM CAT colleges. They serve as the foundation for choosing applicants for the Written Ability Test and Personal Interview. The Indian Institute of Management previously set the CAT 2025 cut-off between 80 and 98 percent.
 
Statistics from past years show that a large number of candidates will be taking the CAT exam in 2026. This is due, in part, to the fact that more than 200 top MBA colleges in Delhi NCR accept the CAT score for admission to various management programs.
 
Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi (FMS), Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, and KCC Institute of Technology and Management are a few of the best colleges for MBA in Greater Noida and the NCR region that accept the CAT score in addition to IIMs.
 
Top CAT colleges offering full-time MBA programs emphasize academic output and placement opportunities, making the CAT one of the most prominent entrance exams in the nation for management programs. 
 

CAT cut-offs 2026 Highlights

The CAT cut off for 2026 is expected to be a minimum 98-100 percentile to be admitted to any IIM or top MBA colleges in Delhi NCR. Top IIMs, including IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, and IIM Kozhikode, still have high CAT cut-offs (99+ percentile).
 
The CAT cut-offs are typically fixed at 60 percentile and above in Tier 3 colleges and are typically in the range of 70 to 80th percentile and above in Tier 2 MBA colleges. For these colleges, the CAT 2026 cut-offs fall within the same range.
 
Before applying, students in Delhi NCR should make sure to verify the CAT cut-offs for the best MBA programs in Delhi NCR. Read on to learn everything there is to know about CAT cut-offs, including the criteria used to determine them, the distinction between qualifying and final cutoffs, past years' cutoffs, and anticipated cutoffs for full-time MBA admission.
 
  • Candidates must meet the minimum CAT cut-off to be considered for MBA admission.
  • To be selected for the WAT-PI round at IIMs and other top MBA colleges in Delhi NCR, candidates must also meet the CAT sectional cut-off.
  • For students in the General category, the CAT cut-offs for the best IIMs often range from 98 to 100 percentile.
  • The IIM cut-offs for students in the reserved category are marginally lower, ranging from 95 to 98 percentile.
  • The CAT cut-offs range from 90 to 99 percentiles for admission to CAT colleges in India, including FMS, Jamia Millia Islamia, among others.
  • The CAT cut-offs are not made public by the IIMs. Only applicants who take the CAT exam have access to the cut-offs via account login.
  • Please note that IIMs around the country release CAT cut-offs twice a year: The qualifying cut-off and final cut-off for admission in full-time MBA admissions.
  • Before the revelation of the CAT 2026 results, the qualifying IIM CAT cut-off 2026 will be released, and the final CAT cut-off 2026 will be released at the time of PI shortlisting.
 
Other CAT colleges that accept the CAT score for admission also set a minimal cut-off to screen applicants.
 

CAT 2026 Important Dates

 
CAT 2026 Important Dates & Timeline Important Dates (Tentative)
CAT 2026 Notification Date Last week of July 2026
CAT 2026 Registration Start Date First week of August 2026
CAT 2026 Registration Last Date Third/Fourth week of September 2026
CAT Form Correction Window Opening Third/Fourth week of September 2026
CAT Admit Card 2026 Release First week of November 2026
CAT 2026 Exam Date November 29, 2026 (Tentative)
CAT 2026 Result Date Third/Fourth week of December 2026
 

Private MBA colleges in Delhi NCR Accepting CAT scores in 2026

We have compiled a list of the top MBA colleges in Delhi NCR that offer a wide range of specializations, specifically in the Master's of Business Administration Program, along with their NIRF ranking 2025, fee structure, seat intake, eligibility, and average salary package.
 
Top MBA Colleges
NIRF 2025
Total Fees/Seats
Eligibility / Exams
MBA Salary
Amity University Noida
49
 INR 6.4 - 26.4 Lakh
Seats: 500
Graduation: 50%
MAT, XAT, CAT, NMAT, CMAT, GMAT, CUET-PG
INR 6.5 LPA
Jamia Hamdard
87
INR 5.2 Lakh
Seats: 180
Graduation: 50%
MAT, XAT, GMAT, CAT, CMAT, ATMA, GPAT
INR 5.5 LPA
BML Munjal University
77
INR 14.6 – 20 Lakh
Seats: 750
Graduation: 50%
MAT, XAT, CMAT, CAT, NMAT, UGAT, CUET PG, SAT
INR 9 LPA
Galgotias University
-
INR 90K - 6.3 Lakh
Seats: 900
Graduation: 50-60%
CUET-PG, MAT, CAT, NMAT, CMAT, CUET
INR 3.5 LPA
KCC Institute of Technology and Management
-
INR 2.60 Lakh
Seats: 240
Graduation: 50%
MAT, XAT, CAT, CMAT
INR 8 LPA
BVIMR New Delhi
-
INR 6.5 Lakh
Seats: 180
Graduation: 50%
BMAT
INR 7 LPA
Banarsidas Chandiwala Institute Of Professional Studies, New Delhi
-
INR 2.47 Lakh
Seats: 121
Graduation: 50%
CAT, CMAT, IPU CET
INR 3.1 LPA
Rukmini Devi Institute of Advanced Studies
-
INR 3.3 Lakh
Seats: 180
Graduation: 50%
CAT, CMAT, IPU CET
INR 3.5 LPA
Noida Institute of Engineering and Technology
-
INR  2.1 - 2.4 Lakh
Seats: 300
Graduation: 45%
CUET, UPTAC
INR 4 LPA
G.L. Bajaj Institute of Technology and Management
-
INR 1.33 lakh
Seats: 780
Graduation: 50%
CAT, MAT, UPTAC, CUET PG
INR 4.5 LPA
 

Government MBA Colleges in Delhi NCR Accepting CAT Scores

We have compiled a list of the top Govt. MBA colleges in Delhi NCR owned by the Government, that offer a wide range of specializations, specifically in the Master's of Business Administration Program, along with their NIRF ranking 2025, fee structure, seat intake, eligibility, and average salary package.
 
Top MBA Colleges
NIRF 2025
Total Fees/Seats
Eligibility / Exams
MBA Salary
IIT Delhi 
4
INR 12 lakh
Seats: 120
Graduation: 60%
CAT
INR 22.5 LPA
IIFT
17
INR 17.2 - 21.8 lakh
Seats: 780
Graduation: 50%
CAT, IIFT
INR 25 LPA
JMI
28
INR 53.8K - 1.4 Lakh
Seats: 254
Graduation: 50%
JMI Exam
INR 12 LPA
GGSIPU
76
INR 1.5 - 4.4 Lakh
Seats: 3.5K-4K
Graduation: 50%
CAT, XAT, MAT, IPU CET, CUET PG, CMAT
INR 6-10 LPA
FMS
-
INR 2.4 Lakh
Seats: 314
Graduation: 50%
CAT
INR 32 LPA
Delhi School of Management
-
INR 3.1 Lakh
Seats: 271
Graduation: 60%
CAT, MAT
INR 8-10 LPA
NSUT
-
INR 1.9 Lakh
Seats: 90
Graduation: 60%
CAT, MAT, CMAT
INR 15-18 LPA
Gautam Buddha University
-
INR 1.3 - 4.8 Lakh
Seats: 120
Graduation: 50%
CAT, MAT, CMAT, XAT, CUET PG
INR 4-5 LPA
J. C. Bose University of Science and Technology
-
INR 1 - 10 Lakh
Seats: 120
Graduation: 50%
CAT, MAT, CMAT, XAT, CUET PG, NPTI
INR 5-10 LPA
Gurugram University
-
INR 66K - 1.8 Lakh
Seats: 360
Graduation: 50%
CAT, MAT, CMAT, CUET PG, SAT India
INR 4-6 LPA
 

CAT Qualifying Cut-Offs 2026 Expected and MBA Fees

 
For general applicants, the CAT 2026 cut-offs for IIM admission are expected to be in the 95–100 percentile range. See the table below for the expected IIM cut-offs for CAT 2026 based on IIM admission standards for 2025:
 
Minimum CAT Cut-Offs for IIMs
 
IIM
Qualifying CAT cut-offs
Fees
IIM Ahmedabad
85
INR 25.00 lakh
IIM Bangalore
85
INR 24.50 lakh
IIM Calcutta
85
INR 27.00 Lakh
IIM Lucknow
90
INR 20.70 lakh
IIM Indore
90
INR 21.17 lakh
IIM Kozhikode
85
INR 20.50 lakh
IIM Amritsar
90
INR 21.00 lakh
IIM Sambalpur
93
INR 21.01 lakh
IIM Trichy
93
INR 19.20 Lakh
IIM Raipur
93
INR 18.00 lakh
IIM Ranchi
90
INR 17.20 lakh
IIM Kashipur
94
INR 17.30 lakh
IIM Vizag
80
INR 20.91 Lakhs
IIM Udaipur
93
INR 14.96 lakh
IIM Bodhgaya
93
INR 17.96 lakh
IIM Shillong
75
INR 17.50 lakh
IIM Sirmaur
92
INR 17.50 lakh
IIM Rohtak
95
INR 17.90 lakh
IIM Nagpur
85
INR 18.90 lakh
IIM Jammu
93
INR 18.85 lakh
 

CAT Final Cut-offs for IIM Admission in 2025 are as follows

The CAT cut-off percentiles for students in the General category for admission to the top 20 IIMs are shown below. Given below in the table are the final cut-offs used to narrow down the list of candidates qualified to appear for interview rounds.
 
Please be aware that while the minimum percentile requirements for students in the reserved category are significantly relaxed, the CAT colleges ' cutoffs for students in the general category remain high each year (90–100).
 
IIMs
Overall CAT Cut-Offs Category-Wise
Gen
EWS
OBC
SC
ST
PWD
IIM Ahmedabad
95+
95+
90+
85+
75+
85+
IIM Bangalore
85+
75+
75+
70+
65+
60+
IIM Calcutta
75+
65+
65+
60+
55+
45+
IIM Lucknow
90+
82+
82+
65+
60+
60+
IIM Mumbai
85+
75+
75+
70+
65+
55+
IIM Indore
90+
90+
80+
60+
45+
45+
IIM Kozhikode
85+
75+
75+
65+
55+
55+
IIM Shillong
-
-
-
-
-
-
IIM Udaipur
95
81
81
66
42
42
IIM Trichy
90
75
75
50
30
30
IIM Ranchi
90
75
75
50
30
30
IIM Rohtak
97+
93+
83+
60+
50+
***
IIM Raipur
90
75
75
50
30
30
IIM Kashipur
90
75
75
50
30
30
IIM Nagpur
95
81
81
66
42
42
IIM Bodhgaya
95
81
81
66
42
42
IIM Sirmaur
95
81
81
66
42
42
IIM Amritsar
90+
90+
80+
55+
40+
40+
IIM Sambalpur
90+
80+
75+
55+
40+
40+
IIM Vishakhapatnam
80+
72+
72+
45+
30+
30+
IIM Jammu
95
81
81
66
42
42
 

Other non-IIM CAT colleges with expected cut-offs in 2026

CAT Colleges CAT Cut-off (expected)
FMS, DU 98.20 Percent
DMS, IIT Delhi 98+ Percent
SJMSOM, IIT Bombay 99+ Percent
DMS, IIT Madras 95+ Percent
MDI, Gurgaon 95+ Percent
XIMB 90+ Percent
IMT, Ghaziabad 90+ Percent
NITIE Mumbai 95+ Percent
 

Factors Affecting CAT Cutoffs for 2026

Several elements that have an impact on the admissions process will be taken into consideration when determining the CAT 2026 cut-off percentile for top MBA colleges in Delhi NCR. Some significant factors influencing IIM cut-offs each category are listed below:
 
  • Level of difficulty of the CAT exam
  • Total estimate of candidates who appeared for the CAT exam
  • Total estimate of candidates who cleared the CAT exam
  • Seats are available at a specific institute
  • Institutional ranking across all of India
 

The distinction between the final cut-off and the qualifying cut-off 

IIM aspirants need to know the difference between the qualifying and final CAT cut-offs, which are crucial in the admissions process. We have detailed the differences between the cut-offs in the table below:
 
Qualifying CAT cut-offs
Final CAT cut-offs
Admission to the MBA program is not required for candidates who have met the requirements and were chosen for the WAT/GD-P1.
Meeting the final CAT cut-off does not guarantee admission for the applicant.
Qualifying cut-offs are declared before the results for the CAT exam are announced.
After the announcement of the CAT results, the final cut-off is set.
Each CAT college publishes the qualifying CAT cut-off percentiles along with their announcement of the admission requirements and selection process for that academic year.
No, IIM or even other top MBA colleges in Delhi NCR formally publish the final CAT cut-offs.
All IIMs continue to have qualifying CAT cut-offs that are above the 90th percentile, except IIM Ahmedabad, whose qualifying cut-off has recently been 85 percentile.
For all prestigious IIMs, the final CAT cut-offs continue to be as high as 99+ percentile, and for new IIMs, 95+ percentile.
Sectional and overall cut-offs are included in the qualifying CAT.
The final CAT results include both sectional and overall cutoffs.
Category-by-category, the CAT cutoff is fixed. For students in the general category, the cutoff is high (90), whereas for those in the reserved group, it is low (70 and below).
The final CAT cut-off for each category is established. The final cutoff for male students with engineering backgrounds in the general category is greater than that of students in the restricted categories, female students, and those without an engineering background.
 

Top CAT Colleges with NIRF Rankings from previous years

An essential consideration while choosing the top MBA colleges in Delhi NCR that accept CAT scores is ranking. Knowing which college is better than the competitors helps students. Every year, the NIRF (National Institutional Ranking Framework) assesses CAT colleges in India based on a variety of criteria, including perception, outreach and diversity, teaching, learning, and resource availability.
 
The following CAT colleges are among the top MBA colleges in India, according to the NIRF ranking from the previous year. For instance, IIM Ahmedabad has been constantly ranked 1st among the top MBA colleges in Delhi NCR by the NIRF 3 times in a row, while KCC Institute of Management is among the best colleges for MBA in Greater Noida.
 
TOP CAT colleges NIRF 2025 NIRF 2024 NIRF 2023
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad 1 1 1
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore 2 2 2
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode 3 3 3
Indian Institute of Technology Delhi 4 4 5
Indian Institute of Management Lucknow 5 7 6
Indian Institute of Management, Mumbai 6 6 7
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta 7 5 4
Indian Institute of Management Indore 8 8 8
Management Development Institute 9 11 13
Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI) 10 9 9
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management 11 13 17
Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur 12 19 14
Indian Institute of Technology Madras 13 16 15
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay 14 10 10
Indian Institute of Management Raipur 15 14 11
Indian Institute of Management Tiruchirappalli 16 27 22
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade 17 15 27
Indian Institute of Management Ranchi 18 17 24
Indian Institute of Management Rohtak 19 12 12
S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research 20 20 20
Indian Institute of Management Udaipur 21 22 16
Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee 22 18 18
 

NIRF Management Ranking for IITs

Not all IITs' management departments are doing well. With 8 of the top spots countrywide, the NIRF 2025 rankings clearly show how dominant the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are in the management category. For a second year in a row, IIT Delhi held the second spot in management, followed by IIT Kharagpur, IIT Madras, and IIT Bombay at #12, #13, and #14, respectively. The specifics are as follows:
 
IIT Institute NIRF 2025  NIRF 2024 NIRF 2023
IIT Delhi (Department of Management Studies) 4 4 5
IIT Kharagpur (Vinod Gupta School of Management) 12 19 14
IIT Madras (Department of Management Studies) 13 16 15
IIT Bombay 14 10 10
IIT Roorkee (Department of Management Studies) 22 18 18
IIT Kanpur (Industrial and Management Engineering) 27 29 23
Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines) 48 46 44
IIT Jodhpur 98 - -
 

IIM MBA Cost and ROI (Return on Investment)

Pursuing an MBA at a prestigious IIM has a very good return on investment. The number of recruiters has steadily risen over the years, and the average compensation offered during campus placements at new campuses is growing. To get a sense of the IIM MBA ROI, look at the table below that compares the average pay offered in campus placements with the MBA fees.
 
IIM
IIM Fee (In Lakhs)
Average CTC offered in Campus placements ( latest data)
IIM Ahmedabad
INR 25.00 lakh
INR 34.45 LPA
IIM Bangalore
INR 24.50 lakh
INR 35.92 LPA
IIM Calcutta
INR 27.00 Lakh
INR 35.07 LPA
IIM Lucknow
INR 20.70 lakh
INR 30.00 LPA
IIM Kozhikode
INR 20.50 lakh
INR 29.20 LPA
IIM Indore
INR 21.17 lakh
INR 25.68 LPA
IIM Raipur
INR 18.00 lakh
INR 21.04 LPA
IIM Shillong
INR 17.50 lakh
INR 26.10 LPA
IIM Rohtak
INR 17.90 lakh
INR 19.27 LPA
IIM Kashipur
INR 17.30 lakh
INR 18.10 LPA
IIM Jammu
INR 18.85 lakh
INR 15.48 LPA
IIM Udaipur
INR 14.96 lakh
INR 18.80 LPA
IIM Trichy
INR 19.50 lakh
INR 19.43 LPA
IIM Visakhapatnam
INR 17.82 lakh
INR 15.61 LPA
IIM Bodhgaya
INR 17.96 lakh
INR 13.09 LPA
IIM Ranchi
INR 17.20 lakh
INR 18.69 LPA
IIM Nagpur
INR 18.90 lakh
INR 16.29 LPA
IIM Sambalpur
INR 21.01 lakh
INR 14.21 LPA
IIM Sirmaur
INR 17.50 lakh
INR 14.45 LPA
IIM Amritsar
INR 21.00 lakh
INR 16.51 LPA
IIM Mumbai
INR 14.00 lakh
INR 29.44 LPA
 

Why choose KCC Institute of Technology and Management for an MBA?

KCC Institute of Technology and Management is one of the best colleges for MBA in Greater Noida, offering 2 2-year full-time MBA program in a wide range of specializations. The college is approved by AICTE and affiliated with AKTU. KCC ITM is ranked 2nd in terms of faculty and awarded the second position in the top MBA colleges in Delhi NCR. Students who seek direct admission in MBA programs without appearing for the CAT exam can also apply at KCC ITM. 
 
Also read : 
 
 

FAQs for Top CAT-Accepting Colleges with Cut-Off and NIRF Ranking

 
Q1. Are the CAT cut-offs released along with CAT results?
The CAT result is not released together with the CAT cut-offs. The cut-offs were not publicly disclosed either. They are known when the IIMs and other colleges begin their shortlisting process, a few days after the results are announced.
 
Q2. Which MBA colleges accept CAT scores of 60 percent or higher?
KCC Institute of Technology and Management is one of the best colleges for MBA in Greater Noida that accepts CAT scores in the 60+ percentile.
 
Q3. What distinguishes the final CAT cut-off from the qualifying CAT cut-off?
The minimum percentile (sectional as well as total) needed by candidates to be qualified for the Written Ability Test (Wat) and Personal Interview (PI) round is known as the qualifying CAT cut-off percentiles of an IIM. These are merely the eligibility scores; they are not the selection scores. The scores a candidate is chosen on for the What-PI round are the final CAT cut-off percentiles.
 
Q4. Is a CAT score of 68 good?
A CAT score of 90+ percentile (usually between 95-100 percentile in CAT) is considered good for admission to all types of IIMs and top MBA colleges in Delhi NCR. A 60-70 percentile on the CAT is regarded as adequate for MBA programs at tier 2 and tier 3 universities.
 
Q5. How many CAT attempts are permitted?
There is a lifetime cap of 8 attempts. Only one CAT exam may be taken each year on a day determined by the convening IIM.

 

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