CAT-Common Admission Test is probably one of the most competitive entrance exams in India to seek admission into the prestigious management schools. Every year, this examination is held on a rotational basis by the IIMs. It acts as a channel for not only premium institutes like IIMs but almost all other premier management institutes across India.
It is an assessment of a candidate’s aptitude and it tests quantitative ability, verbal reasoning, data interpretation, and logical reasoning abilities of the candidate. There would be more than 100 top-ranked colleges accepting CAT scores that included IIMs, IITs, private colleges, and other institutes of governments admitting CAT scores.
It is an established fact that the CAT opens doors for many candidates to achieve their dreams of pursuing management education in India. In this blog post we will be discussing the Top Colleges Accepting CAT Scores you can target in 2024 based on percentile cut-offs, courses offered, seat intake, and covering almost all the critical points. So keep reading to get the detailed information!
Best Colleges Accepting CAT Scores
Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs)
These are the finest institutes for management education in India. The autonomous 21 institutes offer world-class education and research opportunities, with flagship programs being the two-year Post Graduate Program (PGP) in Management. The admission processes of the colleges accepting CAT score are highly competitive, with CAT being the pivotal criterion for deciding eligibility.
Top IIMs Colleges Accepting CAT Scores
1. IIM Ahmedabad
- Seats: 385
- Programs Offered: PGP, PGP-FABM (Food and Agri-Business Management), ePGD-ABA
- Fees: Rs. 21 lakhs
2. IIM Bangalore
- Seats: 430
- Programmes Offered: MBA, MBA in Business Analytics, EMBA
- Fees: Rs. 19.5 lakhs
3. IIM Calcutta
- Seats: 210
- Programmes Offered: MBA
- Fees: Rs. 22 lakhs
4. IIM Lucknow
- Seats: 436
- Courses Offered: GP, PGP-ABM (Agri-Business Management),
Other IIMs including IIM Indore, IIM Shillong, IIM Udaipur, and IIM Rohtak also have their prime MBA programs whose eligibility criteria would be that one should pass CAT. Fee ranges nearly between Rs. 15 to Rs. 22 lakhs among IIMs depending upon the program and the location.
IITs Colleges Accepting CAT Scores
Besides the renowned engineering courses, quite a few Indian Institutes of Technology are known to offer some mind-blowing MBA courses. All these courses blend technological skills with management skills, thus best suited for aspiring technical professionals. Some of the other courses that accept CAT scores are given below:
1. IIT Bombay (SJMSOM)
- Known for rigorous curriculum and tight industry connection.
2. IIT Delhi (DMS)
- Specialization in operations, marketing, financing, etc.
3. IIT Madras (DoMS)
- Technology management and entrepreneurship.
4. IIT Kharagpur (VGSoM)
- Union of management and technical courses.
5. IIT Kanpur (IME)
- Programs are well designed for leadership positions in technology-driven industries.
Top Colleges Accepting CAT Scores by Percentile
90-100 Percentile
These are the top scorers and very few students make this range. Tickets will be sought for the best colleges in the country. These are the few colleges accepting CAT scores:
- Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi: Signalized in producing high returns on investment by very low costs and excellent placement records.
- SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai: Provides flexible specialization options.
- XLRI, Jamshedpur: Although primarily a XAT-oriented institute, some programs consider CAT scores for admission.
- NITIE, Mumbai: Ideal for those students who are interested in operations and supply chain management.
- Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon: Has a very good range in diverse programs, international tie-ups, and ventures.
More than 80 Percentile
With this percentile range these are the few renowned colleges accepting CAT scores such as:
- TAPMI, Manipal: Very famous for finance and marketing programs.
- K J Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai: It is more syllabus going into industry relevance.
- FORE School of Management, Delhi: It is one of the most fantabulous names in North India.
- Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai: The one-year MBA is great for professionals with experience.
- Goa Institute of Management: It prides itself on being sustainable and innovative.
70-79 Percentile
Percentile in this range would still open the doors of many colleges accepting CAT scores with splendid infrastructure and faculty. They are as:
- BIMTECH, Greater Noida: It gives good placement support along with a range of specialization options.
- Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Nagpur: An institute known for the practical learning with its exposure towards industry-oriented experience.
- VIT Business School, Vellore: It is the most well-known destination for technologically integrated management education.
- SDMIMD, Mysore: Very much into academics and holistic development.
IFMR, KREA University: Provides expertise in finance and data-based management.
60-69 Percentile
The IIMs are now way out of reach in this percentile range but still there are private colleges accepting CAT scores which are worth studying in for quality management education.
- Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), Chennai: It is more well-known for ethical and value-based leadership.
- XIME, Bangalore: The opportunities are much better in placements and industry connections.
- Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore: This is known for both research-oriented programs as well as industry-oriented programs.
- Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida: Quite affordable education.
Government Colleges Accepting CAT Scores.
Other than the IIMs, there are many government colleges accepting CAT scores. It provides the means of availing the ever-scalable quality of education at the lowest costs.
1. Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi.
- Fees at just around Rs 2 lakh, and FMS gives unmatched ROI.
2. NITIE National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai
- Operations, industrial management, and supply chain management.
3. Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi.
- It gives an interface of technical and managerial education.
4. Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal
- Environmental management and sustainability.
5. Delhi School of Economics (DSE)
- It gives economics and management.
Preparation for CAT 2025
The key to attaining a high percentile in CAT lies in concentrated preparation along with regular practice and a complete understanding of the exam pattern and format. Performance can soar to a new level with mock tests, online coaching, and time management strategies.
As soon as CAT results are announced, institutions will start their shortlisting process based on their percentile for further round procedures in the forms of group discussions, written ability tests, and personal interviews. So keep your preparation thorough for the remaining rounds
Also, learn – Preparation Tips for CAT 2025
Conclusion
CAT acts as a gateway to some of the best management institutes in India. Having proper knowledge about the various range of percentile cut-offs, expected cut offs of different colleges and programs is equally important to make well-informed decisions whether one intends to enroll in the elite IIMs or IITs or go for other colleges accepting CAT scores.
It is very much possible to reach the target of getting into a top college that accepts CAT scores in 2024 with enough determination and right guidance. Each of the colleges has certain strengths of its own, into which one should induct.
Good luck!
FAQs
1. Which schools allow aspirant students to enter based on their CAT score?
Ans: IIM, IIT, FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, and many more are the list of elite institutes open to CAT score.
2. What is the minimum CAT percentile for getting admission in IIM?
Ans: A 98+ percentile is a must for admission into the top IIMs whereas the newer IIMs may take students from the 90-95 percentile bracket.
3. Do private institutes accept CAT scores for admissions?
Ans: Yes, there are a lot of institutes which take scores from CAT like SPJIMR, IMT Ghaziabad, Great Lakes.
4. Can non-engineers also avail CAT admissions?
Ans: Definitely, diversity is prized and there are a lot of colleges that weightage to students from non-engineering backgrounds.
5. Is there any acceptable college that offers lesser cut-offs?
Ans: Certainly yes, BIMTECH, NIT Trichy, and GIM are other options all having a reputation for strong academics and placements.
