A practical shortlist for CAT aspirants — colleges, indicative percentile bands, application strategy, and what to check before applying.
SEO Title: 33 Non-IIM Colleges That Accept CAT Score in India | CAT College List & Cutoffs
Meta Description: Looking beyond IIMs? Explore 33 prominent non-IIM colleges that accept CAT scores, indicative percentile ranges, application tips, and a smart shortlist strategy.
Introduction
A CAT score is not useful only for IIM admissions. A large number of non-IIM business schools also use CAT scores as one part of their admission process. For aspirants, this creates an important second track: even if an IIM call does not happen, a strong CAT percentile can still open doors to well-known institutes across Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Pune, Goa, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad and other major education hubs.
The list below focuses on 33 prominent non-IIM options that have been reported as accepting CAT scores. The percentile bands are indicative, not guaranteed cutoffs. Individual institutes may use sectional cutoffs, academics, work experience, diversity, interviews, written tests or other criteria.
Important 2026 Update
CAT 2026 registration has started, but admission policies and CAT-acceptance lists for the subsequent MBA/PGDM cycle can change. The latest confirmed CAT member-institution information available from the CAT ecosystem is therefore best treated as a reference point. Always verify the target institute’s official admission notice before paying an application fee or relying on a cutoff.
33 Non-IIM Colleges: Quick Reference
| # | College | Location | Indicative CAT range | Competition |
| 1 | FMS Delhi (University of Delhi) | Delhi | ~99+ | Very high |
| 2 | MDI Gurgaon | Haryana | ~94–96+ | Very high |
| 3 | SPJIMR Mumbai | Maharashtra | ~95+ | Very high |
| 4 | IIFT Delhi | Delhi | ~90–95+ | Very high |
| 5 | IIT Delhi – DMS | Delhi | ~98–99 | Very high |
| 6 | IIT Bombay – SJMSOM | Maharashtra | ~99 | Very high |
| 7 | IIT Madras – DoMS | Tamil Nadu | ~96 | High |
| 8 | IIT Kanpur – DoMS | Uttar Pradesh | ~92+ | High |
| 9 | IIT Roorkee – DoMS | Uttarakhand | ~90+ | High |
| 10 | IIT Kharagpur – VGSoM | West Bengal | ~90–95+ | High |
| 11 | TISS Mumbai | Maharashtra | ~70+* | High |
| 12 | MICA Ahmedabad | Gujarat | ~85+* | High |
| 13 | NIRMA University | Gujarat | ~80–83* | High |
| 14 | Goa Institute of Management (GIM) | Goa | ~90 | High |
| 15 | XIM University Bhubaneswar | Odisha | ~88–92* | High |
| 16 | TAPMI Manipal | Karnataka | ~85+* | High |
| 17 | IMT Ghaziabad | Uttar Pradesh | ~92–95* | High |
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| # | College | Location | Indicative CAT range | Competition |
| 18 | IMI Delhi | Delhi | ~90* | High |
| 19 | FORE School of Management | Delhi | ~85–95* | High |
| 20 | Welingkar Institute of Management | Maharashtra | ~70–80* | Moderate–High |
| 21 | K J Somaiya Institute of Management | Maharashtra | ~80–85* | Moderate–High |
| 22 | BIMTECH Greater Noida | Uttar Pradesh | ~75–80* | Moderate–High |
| 23 | Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai Tamil Nadu | ~85–95* | High | |
| 24 | BITS School of Management (BITSOM) | Maharashtra | ~94–99* | Very high |
| 25 | NIBM Pune | Maharashtra | ~90* | High |
| 26 | LIBA Chennai | Tamil Nadu | ~80* | Moderate–High |
| 27 | NIT Trichy – DoMS | Tamil Nadu | ~90* | High |
| 28 | IFMR Graduate School of Business, Krea University Andhra Pradesh | Varies | Moderate–High | |
| 29 | University Business School, Chandigarh | Chandigarh | Varies | Moderate–High |
| 30 | Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna | Bihar | Varies | Moderate |
| 31 | Development Management Institute, Patna | Bihar | Varies | Moderate |
| 32 | Management Development Institute, MurshidabadWest Bengal | Varies | Moderate | |
| 33 | Jaipuria Institute of Management | Multiple campuses | Varies | Moderate |
* Indicative 2025 figures reported by secondary education sources; institutes can set different overall/sectional thresholds and final selection criteria. “Varies” means a reliable single public percentile figure should not be treated as an official cutoff.
Top Non-IIM Targets by Percentile
99+ Percentile
FMS Delhi, IIT Bombay and other highly competitive options should be treated as ambitious targets. A high percentile alone does not guarantee a call because profile and institute-specific rules matter.
95–99 Percentile
SPJIMR, IIT Delhi, IIT Madras, BITSOM, IIFT and other strong schools can become relevant depending on the year, programme and selection policy.
90–95 Percentile
MDI Gurgaon, IIT Kanpur, IIT Roorkee, GIM, NIBM, IMT Ghaziabad and several other schools may enter the shortlist, subject to their individual requirements.
80–90 Percentile
FORE, TAPMI, NIRMA, K J Somaiya, LIBA, BIMTECH, Great Lakes and other schools may be worth researching. Some programmes can have sectional or profile-based requirements.
Below 80 Percentile
There are still non-IIM options, but the right choice should be made carefully using fees, placements, programme quality, location, accreditation and ROI rather than brand name alone.
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Why Non-IIM Colleges Matter
The phrase “non-IIM” should not automatically be interpreted as “low quality.” Some non-IIM schools have strong alumni networks, excellent corporate exposure, specialized programmes, strong placement ecosystems or particularly attractive fee-to-outcome ratios. For example, FMS Delhi is known for its low-fee model, while IIT management departments bring the IIT ecosystem into management education. Private schools such as SPJIMR, MDI, IMT, GIM and others can offer different combinations of specializations, location advantages and industry exposure.
The smarter approach is to compare schools on ROI, median/average placement outcomes, total cost, batch size, specialization, location, alumni network, recruiter quality and your own career goal.
How Non-IIM CAT Admissions Usually Work
1. Take CAT
Appear for CAT and secure a percentile aligned with your target schools.
2. Apply Separately
Many non-IIM institutes require a separate application even though they use the CAT score. 3. Meet the Cutoff
Shortlisting can depend on overall percentile, sectional percentile and eligibility conditions. 4. Profile Evaluation
Academics, work experience, diversity, achievements and other factors may influence shortlisting. 5. WAT/GD/PI or Similar
The institute may conduct a personal interview, group exercise, written test, case discussion or another assessment. 6. Final Merit List
The final decision can combine CAT performance with interview performance and profile-related components.
Separate Form = The Most Common Mistake
A CAT registration is not the same thing as applying to every CAT-accepting college. Many institutes have their own application forms, deadlines and fees. Aspirants should create a simple tracker containing: college name, programme, CAT requirement, application deadline, application status, interview date, fees and final decision.
How to Build Your CAT College Shortlist
Dream: Add schools where the required percentile is significantly above your current mock range. Target: Add schools that match your expected percentile and profile. Safe/Backup: Add schools where your score is comfortably above the typical competitive range. Do not build a shortlist only from rankings; compare actual programme outcomes and your intended career path.
What to Check Before Paying the Application Fee • Is CAT accepted for the exact programme you want?
• Is the published percentile an eligibility cutoff or a realistic shortlist level?
• Are there sectional CAT cutoffs?
• Does the college require a separate form?
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• What are the total tuition and living costs?
• What are the latest placement report details and median/average outcomes?
• Does the programme match your intended specialization?
• What is the refund/cancellation policy and application deadline?
Final Takeaway
If your CAT percentile is strong, do not stop your research at the IIM list. The non-IIM landscape includes some of India’s most competitive management programmes. The key is to apply strategically, track separate deadlines and evaluate colleges using ROI and career outcomes—not just the IIM tag.
CAT Unfiltered Tip: Your CAT percentile tells you where you can apply. Your profile, interview and college-selection strategy help decide where you can convert.
Sources & Verification Note
Primary reference: official CAT website and its list of non-IIM member institutions. Secondary cross-check: Careers360’s January 2026 compilation of 93+ non-IIM colleges accepting CAT 2025 scores for the 2026 admission cycle. CAT documentation explicitly notes that IIMs have no role in the selection process of non-IIM institutions; each institute controls its own admission process.
For the latest cycle, verify each institute’s official admission notification before publishing a cutoff, fee, deadline or programme-specific CAT requirement. This article is intended as an informational shortlist, not an admission guarantee.