MBA admission Cutoff in India

Check MBA admission cutoff in India with CAT and XAT percentile range for top 100 MBA colleges. Compare IIMs, XLRI, FMS, IITs, SPJIMR, MDI, XIMB and more.

MBA admission Cutoff in India

MBA Admission Cutoff in India

Every MBA aspirant wants to know one important thing before applying to B-schools: What percentile is required for MBA admission in India?

This is why students often search for MBA admission cutoff in India, CAT cutoff, XAT cutoff, IIM cutoff, XLRI cutoff, FMS cutoff and top MBA colleges cutoff.

MBA admission cutoff is the minimum score or percentile required to get shortlisted for the next stage of admission. In most reputed MBA colleges, the entrance exam score is followed by further rounds such as Written Ability Test, Group Discussion, Personal Interview, academic profile evaluation, work experience and diversity score.

For CAT-based admissions, IIMs and many top B-schools use CAT percentile for shortlisting. For XAT-based admissions, institutes such as XLRI, XIM University, IMT, TAPMI, FORE, GIM and many other B-schools may consider XAT scores, depending on their admission policy.

Students should remember one important point: cutoff is not the same for every student. It changes based on category, course, academic background, gender diversity, work experience, number of applicants, exam difficulty and seat availability.

The NIRF Management ranking is one useful source for identifying reputed management institutions in India, but ranking alone should not decide admission. Students should compare cutoff, fee, placement, specialization, ROI and admission criteria together.


What is MBA Admission Cutoff?

MBA admission cutoff is the minimum entrance exam score or percentile required by a college to shortlist candidates for the next admission round.

For example, if a college has an expected CAT cutoff of 95 percentile, it means a general-category candidate may usually need around 95 percentile or above to have a realistic chance of getting shortlisted. However, the final call also depends on profile and college policy.

MBA Cutoff May Be Based On

CAT percentile
XAT percentile
CMAT score
MAT score
NMAT score
SNAP score
GMAT score
Academic record
Work experience
Category
Gender diversity
Academic diversity
Interview performance

For IIMs, official admission pages often mention minimum qualifying CAT percentile, but the actual competitive shortlist percentile for general-category candidates can be much higher. IIM Ahmedabad, for example, states that candidates are shortlisted for AWT and PI from among applicants with valid CAT scores who satisfy the eligibility criteria, and IIM Bangalore also follows a shortlist process using CAT percentile and other profile factors.


CAT Cutoff vs XAT Cutoff: What is the Difference?

PointCAT CutoffXAT Cutoff
Exam Full FormCommon Admission TestXavier Aptitude Test
Used ByIIMs, IITs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IMI, IMT, etc.XLRI, XIMB, IMT, TAPMI, GIM, FORE, LIBA, etc.
Main PurposeMBA/PGDM admissionMBA/PGDM admission
Score TypePercentilePercentile
Top College ExampleIIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, FMS DelhiXLRI Jamshedpur, XIM University
Cutoff VariationVery high for IIMs and top collegesVery high for XLRI and good XAT colleges

Important Note Before Checking the Table

The cutoff table below shows approximate expected competitive percentile ranges for general-category candidates based on common admission trends, institute reputation and typical shortlisting levels. These are not official guaranteed cutoffs.

Actual cutoffs may change every year. Some colleges do not officially disclose final cutoffs. Some institutes use profile-based shortlisting, so candidates with lower percentile may receive calls due to academic diversity, work experience, category, gender diversity or exceptional profile.


Top 100 MBA Colleges in India With CAT and XAT Cutoff

No.College NameLocationMain ProgrammeCAT Cutoff RangeXAT Cutoff RangeOfficial Website
1IIM AhmedabadAhmedabadMBA99–99.8+Not acceptedVisit Website
2IIM BangaloreBengaluruMBA99–99.8+Not acceptedVisit Website
3IIM CalcuttaKolkataMBA99–99.8+Not acceptedVisit Website
4IIM LucknowLucknowMBA97–99+Not acceptedVisit Website
5IIM KozhikodeKozhikodeMBA97–99+Not acceptedVisit Website
6IIM IndoreIndorePGP/MBA97–99+Not acceptedVisit Website
7IIM MumbaiMumbaiMBA / MBA-OSCM97–99+Not acceptedVisit Website
8FMS DelhiDelhiMBA98–99.5+Not acceptedVisit Website
9XLRI JamshedpurJamshedpurPGDM BM / HRMNot accepted95–98+Visit Website
10SPJIMR MumbaiMumbaiPGDM85–95+ profile-based85–95+ profile-basedVisit Website
11MDI GurgaonGurgaonPGDM94–97+Not acceptedVisit Website
12IIFT Delhi / Kolkata / KakinadaDelhi / Kolkata / KakinadaMBA International Business95–98+Not acceptedVisit Website
13IIT Delhi DMSDelhiMBA96–98+Not acceptedVisit Website
14IIT Bombay SJMSOMMumbaiMBA96–98+Not acceptedVisit Website
15IIT Kharagpur VGSoMKharagpurMBA90–95+Not acceptedVisit Website
16IIT Madras DoMSChennaiMBA90–95+Not acceptedVisit Website
17IIT Kanpur DoMSKanpurMBA85–95+Not acceptedVisit Website
18IIT Roorkee DoMSRoorkeeMBA85–95+Not acceptedVisit Website
19IIT Jodhpur School of ManagementJodhpurMBA80–90+Not acceptedVisit Website
20TISS MumbaiMumbaiHRM / Management-related PGCAT-based as notifiedNot acceptedVisit Website
21JBIMS MumbaiMumbaiMMS / MBA95–99+ through applicable routeLimited / not primaryVisit Website
22SJMSoM / IIT BombayMumbaiMBA96–98+Not acceptedVisit Website
23IIM ShillongShillongPGP/MBA94–98+Not acceptedVisit Website
24IIM UdaipurUdaipurMBA92–96+Not acceptedVisit Website
25IIM TrichyTiruchirappalliMBA92–96+Not acceptedVisit Website
26IIM RanchiRanchiMBA92–96+Not acceptedVisit Website
27IIM RaipurRaipurMBA92–96+Not acceptedVisit Website
28IIM RohtakRohtakPGP/MBA92–96+Not acceptedVisit Website
29IIM KashipurKashipurMBA90–95+Not acceptedVisit Website
30IIM NagpurNagpurMBA90–95+Not acceptedVisit Website
31IIM VisakhapatnamVisakhapatnamMBA90–95+Not acceptedVisit Website
32IIM AmritsarAmritsarMBA88–94+Not acceptedVisit Website
33IIM Bodh GayaBodh GayaMBA88–94+Not acceptedVisit Website
34IIM JammuJammuMBA88–94+Not acceptedVisit Website
35IIM SambalpurSambalpurMBA88–94+Not acceptedVisit Website
36IIM SirmaurSirmaurMBA88–94+Not acceptedVisit Website
37IIM TiruchirappalliTiruchirappalliMBA92–96+Not acceptedVisit Website
38IIM Bodh Gaya DBM / HHMBodh GayaMBA specialized programmes80–90+Not acceptedVisit Website
39IIM Rohtak IPL / Sports / other MBA programmesRohtakMBA / specialized80–95+Not acceptedVisit Website
40XIM University, XIMBBhubaneswarMBA-BM90–94+90–94+Visit Website
41MICA AhmedabadAhmedabadPGDM-C80–90+ with MICAT80–90+ with MICATVisit Website
42IMT GhaziabadGhaziabadPGDM88–93+88–93+Visit Website
43IMI DelhiDelhiPGDM88–92+Usually not primaryVisit Website
44Great Lakes ChennaiChennaiPGPM / PGDM85–95+85–95+Visit Website
45TAPMI ManipalManipalMBA / PGDM equivalent80–90+80–90+Visit Website
46GIM GoaGoaPGDM85–90+85–90+Visit Website
47FORE School of ManagementDelhiPGDM80–88+80–88+Visit Website
48LBSIM DelhiDelhiPGDM80–88+80–88+Visit Website
49K J Somaiya Institute of ManagementMumbaiMBA83–90+83–90+Visit Website
50Welingkar Institute of ManagementMumbai / BengaluruPGDM75–85+75–85+Visit Website
51BIMTECH Greater NoidaGreater NoidaPGDM70–80+70–80+Visit Website
52IRMA AnandAnandPGDM Rural Management80–85+80–85+Visit Website
53IFMR GSB, Krea UniversitySri CityMBA75–85+75–85+Visit Website
54LIBA ChennaiChennaiPGDM75–85+75–85+Visit Website
55Nirma University Institute of ManagementAhmedabadMBA75–85+75–85+Visit Website
56XIME BangaloreBengaluruPGDM70–80+70–80+Visit Website
57JAGSoM BangaloreBengaluruPGDM70–85+70–85+Visit Website
58SDMIMD MysoreMysuruPGDM70–80+70–80+Visit Website
59Christ UniversityBengaluruMBA70–85+70–85+Visit Website
60NMIMS MumbaiMumbaiMBACAT not primaryNot primary; NMAT routeVisit Website
61SIBM PunePuneMBANot acceptedNot accepted; SNAP routeVisit Website
62SCMHRD PunePuneMBANot acceptedNot accepted; SNAP routeVisit Website
63SIOM NashikNashikMBA OperationsNot acceptedNot accepted; SNAP routeVisit Website
64SIBM BengaluruBengaluruMBANot acceptedNot accepted; SNAP routeVisit Website
65SDA Bocconi Asia CenterMumbaiIMB / Management programme70–85+70–85+Visit Website
66Alliance UniversityBengaluruMBA65–80+65–80+Visit Website
67UPES School of BusinessDehradunMBA60–75+60–75+Visit Website
68BITS Pilani, Department of ManagementPilaniMBA Business Analytics75–85+Not primaryVisit Website
69DoMS NIT TrichyTiruchirappalliMBA75–85+Not primaryVisit Website
70NIT Rourkela School of ManagementRourkelaMBA65–80+Not primaryVisit Website
71XISS RanchiRanchiPGDM60–75+60–75+Visit Website
72XIME ChennaiChennaiPGDM60–75+60–75+Visit Website
73XIME KochiKochiPGDM60–75+60–75+Visit Website
74IMT NagpurNagpurPGDM70–80+70–80+Visit Website
75IMT HyderabadHyderabadPGDM70–80+70–80+Visit Website
76IBS HyderabadHyderabadMBA / PGPMCAT accepted as applicableXAT accepted as applicableVisit Website
77Amity Business SchoolNoidaMBA60–75+60–75+Visit Website
78Chandigarh UniversityMohaliMBA50–70+50–70+Visit Website
79Lovely Professional UniversityPhagwaraMBA50–70+50–70+Visit Website
80Jain UniversityBengaluruMBA50–70+50–70+Visit Website
81Presidency UniversityBengaluruMBA50–70+50–70+Visit Website
82Gitam School of BusinessVisakhapatnam / Hyderabad / BengaluruMBA50–70+50–70+Visit Website
83Manipal University JaipurJaipurMBA50–70+50–70+Visit Website
84Jaipuria Institute of Management LucknowLucknowPGDM60–75+60–75+Visit Website
85Jaipuria Institute of Management NoidaNoidaPGDM60–75+60–75+Visit Website
86Jaipuria Institute of Management JaipurJaipurPGDM60–75+60–75+Visit Website
87Jaipuria Institute of Management IndoreIndorePGDM60–75+60–75+Visit Website
88JIMS RohiniDelhiPGDM60–75+60–75+Visit Website
89NDIM DelhiDelhiPGDM60–75+60–75+Visit Website
90Apeejay School of ManagementDelhiPGDM50–70+50–70+Visit Website
91IPE HyderabadHyderabadPGDM60–75+60–75+Visit Website
92VIT Business SchoolVellore / ChennaiMBA50–70+50–70+Visit Website
93PSG Institute of ManagementCoimbatoreMBA / PGDM60–75+60–75+Visit Website
94Rajagiri Business SchoolKochiPGDM / MBA60–75+60–75+Visit Website
95SCMS Cochin School of BusinessKochiPGDM50–70+50–70+Visit Website
96ISBR Business SchoolBengaluruPGDM / MBA60–75+60–75+Visit Website
97GIBS Business SchoolBengaluruPGDM / MBA50–70+50–70+Visit Website
98Taxila Business SchoolJaipurPGDM50–70+50–70+Visit Website
99University Business School, Panjab UniversityChandigarhMBA 85–92+Not acceptedVisit Website
100Delhi School of Economics, University of DelhiDelhiMBA / MBA-HRD / MBA-IB / MBA-BA85–92+Not acceptedVisit Website

Special Note: Where Does ISB Fit in MBA Admission Cutoff in India?

Indian School of Business, commonly known as ISB, is one of India’s most reputed management institutions and is especially popular for experienced professionals. However, ISB has been shown separately from the CAT/XAT cutoff table because its flagship Post Graduate Programme in Management is not a regular two-year MBA and does not use CAT or XAT as the main admission route. ISB’s PGP is a 12-month full-time residential management programme and requires a valid GMAT or GRE score along with at least 24 months of full-time work experience before enrolment.

ISB does not usually publish a fixed “cutoff percentile” like many CAT/XAT-based MBA colleges. Admission is profile-based and considers GMAT/GRE score, academic background, work experience, leadership potential, essays and interview performance. Therefore, students should treat ISB as a profile-based premium management school, not as a CAT/XAT percentile-based college.

ISB Programmes, Accepted Scores and Duration

ISB ProgrammeBest ForAccepted ScoreApprox. Percentile / Score NoteDurationOfficial Website
ISB PGP in ManagementProfessionals with work experienceGMAT / GRENo fixed public cutoff; strong GMAT/GRE score and profile required12 monthsVisit Website
ISB PGP YLFresh graduates and early-career professionalsGMAT / GRE / CATNo fixed public cutoff; admission is competitive and profile-based20 monthsVisit Website
ISB PGP PROMid-career working professionalsNo entrance test as per ISB FAQProfile-based evaluation18 monthsVisit Website

ISB’s PGP YL is a full-time residential programme of 20 months and accepts GMAT, GRE or CAT scores, while ISB PGP PRO is an 18-month programme for working professionals and its FAQ states that there is no entrance test for PGP PRO admission.

MBA Admission Cutoff in India by Percentile Range

99+ Percentile Colleges

Students scoring above 99 percentile in CAT can target the most competitive B-schools such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, FMS Delhi and other top IIMs. However, profile and interview performance still matter.

95–99 Percentile Colleges

This range is suitable for colleges such as IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Indore, IIM Mumbai, IIFT, IIT Delhi, IIT Bombay, MDI Gurgaon, XLRI through XAT and other top B-schools.

90–95 Percentile Colleges

This range can be useful for new IIMs, baby IIMs, IIT management departments, XIMB, IMT Ghaziabad, IMI Delhi and similar reputed institutes.

80–90 Percentile Colleges

Students in this range can target strong private and university B-schools such as TAPMI, GIM, FORE, LBSIM, K J Somaiya, MICA, IRMA, Great Lakes, Welingkar and other good colleges.

70–80 Percentile Colleges

Students can explore BIMTECH, XIME, SDMIMD, IMT Nagpur, IMT Hyderabad, XISS, Jaipuria, IBS and other private B-schools.

50–70 Percentile Colleges

Students can explore regional MBA colleges, private universities and institutes accepting multiple entrance exams. In this range, students should carefully compare fees, placement, approval and ROI.


CAT Cutoff for IIMs

For IIMs, students must understand the difference between minimum qualifying CAT percentile and actual shortlist percentile.

Minimum qualifying percentile is the basic eligibility level published in admission criteria. Actual shortlist percentile may be much higher because lakhs of candidates compete for limited seats.

For example, IIM admission documents generally mention CAT-based shortlisting along with academic profile and personal interview stages, while IIM Guwahati’s admission page states that candidates satisfying minimum CAT percentile cutoffs and positive raw scores in all sections are considered for subsequent stages.


XAT Cutoff for MBA Colleges

XAT is mainly important for XLRI and many other private B-schools. XLRI is the most competitive XAT-accepting institute and generally requires a high percentile. Other good XAT-accepting colleges may shortlist students at lower percentile ranges depending on programme, profile and application volume.

Students applying through XAT should check individual college admission pages because each institute has its own selection criteria.


Factors Affecting MBA Cutoff in India

MBA cutoffs change every year due to several factors.

1. Difficulty Level of Exam

If the exam is difficult, raw score required for a high percentile may be lower. If the exam is easier, the required raw score may increase.

2. Number of Applicants

More applicants usually increase competition and may push cutoffs higher.

3. Number of Seats

Colleges with fewer seats and high demand usually have higher cutoffs.

4. College Brand

Top IIMs, XLRI, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI and IITs usually have higher cutoffs because of strong demand.

5. Category

Cutoffs differ for General, EWS, OBC, SC, ST and PwD categories as per institute policy.

6. Academic Profile

Some colleges give weightage to Class 10, Class 12, graduation marks and academic diversity.

7. Work Experience

Work experience may improve admission chances in some colleges, especially when the institute follows composite-score selection.

8. Gender and Academic Diversity

Some institutes give diversity weightage, which may influence shortlist chances.


Is Clearing MBA Cutoff Enough for Admission?

No. Clearing the cutoff only improves the chance of getting shortlisted. Final admission usually depends on a composite score.

Final Selection May Include

Entrance exam score
Personal interview
Written ability test
Group discussion
Academic record
Work experience
Diversity score
Statement of purpose
Extracurricular profile
Final merit list

Therefore, a student with high CAT or XAT percentile may still not get final admission if interview performance or profile score is weak.


How to Use This MBA Cutoff Table

Students should use the cutoff table as a planning guide.

Use It For

Shortlisting target colleges
Creating dream, realistic and safe college lists
Understanding percentile expectations
Planning CAT and XAT preparation
Comparing admission chances
Selecting backup colleges

Do Not Use It For

Assuming guaranteed admission
Ignoring official admission criteria
Ignoring category-wise cutoff
Ignoring programme-wise differences
Ignoring interview and profile weightage


MBA College Shortlisting Strategy Based on Percentile

If Your CAT/XAT Score is 95+ Percentile

Apply to top IIMs, XLRI, MDI, SPJIMR, IITs, IIFT, FMS, IIM Mumbai, XIMB and top private B-schools.

If Your Score is 85–95 Percentile

Apply to new IIMs, baby IIMs, IMT, IMI, MICA, GIM, TAPMI, FORE, LBSIM, K J Somaiya, Great Lakes and IRMA.

If Your Score is 70–85 Percentile

Apply to BIMTECH, Welingkar, XIME, SDMIMD, LIBA, XISS, IBS, Jaipuria, IMT Nagpur, IMT Hyderabad and good regional colleges.

If Your Score is Below 70 Percentile

Focus on private universities, state MBA colleges, CMAT/MAT/OJEE/MAH CET options and colleges with better ROI. Check placement transparency carefully.


CAT vs XAT: Which Exam Should You Focus On?

Choose CAT If:

You want IIMs.
You want FMS, IITs, MDI, IIFT, SPJIMR or top CAT-accepting colleges.
You are comfortable with speed, accuracy and sectional performance.
You want the widest B-school acceptance.

Choose XAT If:

You want XLRI.
You want XIMB, IMT, TAPMI, GIM, FORE, LIBA or other XAT-accepting colleges.
You are comfortable with decision-making and analytical sections.
You want another strong exam option after CAT.

The best strategy is to prepare for CAT first and also appear for XAT because both exams open admission opportunities in reputed B-schools.


Common Mistakes Students Make While Checking Cutoffs

Students should avoid these mistakes:

Checking only highest-ranked colleges
Ignoring category-wise cutoff
Confusing minimum cutoff with actual shortlist percentile
Not checking sectional cutoffs
Ignoring application deadlines
Assuming XAT is accepted everywhere
Assuming CAT is accepted everywhere
Ignoring GD/PI preparation
Not checking official websites
Trusting only social media claims
Ignoring fees and ROI
Ignoring placement transparency


Final Thoughts

MBA admission cutoff in India is an important factor, but it is not the only factor in MBA admission. CAT and XAT percentiles help students shortlist colleges, but final admission depends on overall profile, interview performance, academic record, work experience and institute-specific selection rules.

Students with high percentiles can target IIMs, XLRI, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, IITs and other premium B-schools. Students with moderate scores can still find good MBA options if they choose colleges carefully based on fee, placement, specialization and ROI.

The best approach is to prepare a balanced college list with:

Dream colleges
Realistic colleges
Safe colleges
Backup colleges

Before applying, always visit the official website of the college and check the latest admission criteria, accepted exams, cutoff, fees and deadlines.

FAQs on MBA Admission Cutoff in India

What is MBA admission cutoff in India?

MBA admission cutoff is the minimum entrance exam percentile or score required by a college to shortlist candidates for admission rounds such as GD, WAT and PI.

What is a good CAT percentile for MBA admission?

For top IIMs and premium B-schools, 95–99+ percentile is usually competitive. For good private colleges, 75–90 percentile may also provide options.

What is a good XAT percentile for MBA admission?

For XLRI, students usually need a very high XAT percentile. For other XAT-accepting colleges, admission may be possible at different percentile ranges depending on the institute.

Is 90 percentile good in CAT?

Yes, 90 percentile is good and can open options in new IIMs, baby IIMs, IITs, IMT, IMI, XIMB and other reputed colleges, depending on profile and category.

Is 80 percentile good in CAT?

Yes, 80 percentile can be useful for colleges such as TAPMI, GIM, FORE, LBSIM, Welingkar, BIMTECH, XIME and similar institutes, depending on yearly cutoffs.

Can I get MBA admission with 70 percentile?

Yes, many private universities and regional MBA colleges accept candidates around 70 percentile or below, but students should check placement, fee and recognition carefully.

Do all MBA colleges accept CAT?

No. Many colleges accept CAT, but some use other exams such as XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT, MAT, GMAT or state-level exams.

Do IIMs accept XAT?

No, IIMs generally use CAT for their flagship MBA/PGP programmes.

Does XLRI accept CAT?

No, XLRI primarily accepts XAT and other routes as per specific programme policy.

Is clearing cutoff enough for MBA admission?

No. After clearing cutoff, students must perform well in interviews, written tests and other selection rounds.

Are MBA cutoffs same for all categories?

No. Cutoffs vary by category, programme and institute policy.

Where should students verify MBA cutoffs?

Students should verify cutoffs from official college websites, admission brochures and official admission portals before applying.


Website Disclaimer

MBA admission cutoffs, CAT percentile ranges, XAT percentile ranges, admission routes, selection criteria, fees and accepted exams may change every academic year. The cutoff ranges in this article are indicative and meant for student guidance only. Students must verify all details from official college websites before applying.

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