
Some of the top Tier 1 MBA colleges in India 2026 are IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, IIT Delhi, XLRI, and more. To get admission to these colleges, students will be required to sit for MBA entrance exams like CAT, XAT, NMAT, GMAT, etc. By taking admission to these top-tier MBA colleges in India, students can stand a chance to study from experienced faculty members, get exposure to excellent placement prospects, and world-class infrastructure.

The CAP 2026 selection process is based on CAT cutoff percentiles, work experience, and academic performance. For the Personal Interview (PI) and Written Ability Test (WAT), the cutoff percentiles were maintained at 95 for General category candidates, 66 for SC, and 42 for ST/PwD. Eight IIMs took part in this year's CAP round to shortlist deserving candidates. Before the interviews, the CAP 2026 slot booking window was kept open until February 3, 2025. If you had completed your CAP 2025 registration you could choose your preferred interview slots online via the official portal, cap2025.iimbg.ac.in.

The NIRF Management Ranking 2025 has been released by the Ministry of Education, Government of India, on September 4, 2025. The top 5 institutes leading the list include IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, IIT Delhi, and IIM Lucknow. Some of the important parameters considered while preparing the NIRF management ranking 2025 are Research and Professional Practice (RP), Teaching, Learning & Resources (TLR), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI), Graduation Outcomes (GO), and Peer Perception. Scroll down and find out the full list of top NIRF 2025 management colleges.

IIM Lucknow gives 30% Weightage to CAT 2025 Score: The Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow) has released its admission policy for MBA, MBA-ABM, and MBA-SM programs for the academic year 2026-28. As part of the admission process, IIM Lucknow gives 30% weightage to CAT 2025 scores, emphasizing the importance of a strong performance in the Common Admission Test. The institute follows a rigorous selection process, considering various factors beyond just CAT scores, to identify talented individuals who can excel in its programs.


From ISB to management programs in the IIMs, there are several renowned GMAT MBA colleges in India. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) has emerged as a trendy route for access to premium MBA programs in both foreign and Indian business schools. Many top Indian business schools accept GMAT scores for their MBA as well as Executive MBA programmes, thereby offering students yet another avenue to access prestigious MBA programs besides the traditionally used entrance tests like CAT, XAT, or SNAP.
Also Read: Does IIM Accept GMAT

Have you been contemplating applying to an IIM and wondering, does IIM accept GMAT? You are not alone. Although most IIMs in India have long used the CAT exam for admissions, the times are changing. Some IIMs now accept GMAT by GRE and even GRE scores, particularly for certain programs like Executive MBA or for international students. This shift is wonderful news if you are an applicant from a professional background, or even if you are applying from abroad, it provides you with greater convenience and an opportunity to apply using a globally recognised score. It also reflects the way IIMs are developing, welcoming greater diversity of talent and striving towards a more cosmopolitan classroom. So if the CAT is not suitable for you, then the GMAT exam can be your next best option. Read below to know the complete list of IIMs accepting GMAT scores in India, their cutoff, eligibility criteria, admission process and more.

The expected IIM Lucknow CAT cutoff 2025 for the General category is 90 percentile, for OBC it is 82 percentile, and for SC candidates it is 65 percentile. This MBA cutoff represents the minimum percentile required to be shortlisted for further selection rounds or the qualifying cutoff. The final cutoff for IIM Lucknow is usually higher than the sectional and overall cutoff and generally lies between 97 and 98 percentile. The IIM Lucknow CAT cutoff for 2025 is determined by candidates' performance in the CAT 2025 exam, last year's cutoff, seat availability, and reservation policy. This article will explore the CAT cutoff trends for IIM Lucknow over the past few years, analyze the factors affecting the cutoff, and predict the expected CAT cutoff for 2025.
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IIM Lucknow Final Placements 2025: IIM Lucknow has concluded its placement drive for 2025 for its 39th batch of the Postgraduate Programme (PGP) and the 20th batch of the Postgraduate Programme in Agribusiness Management (PGP-ABM). According to the reports, around 600 offers were made to 570 students from the institute. Offers from both international and domestic recruiters were made since the placement drive was conducted in a hybrid mode. The highest domestic package (CTC) stood at Rs 75 lakh per annum, while the highest international package (CTC) reached Rs 65 lakh per annum. The average salary offered during the placement season was Rs 32.3 lakh per annum (LPA).
Also Read: IIM Ahmedabad Records 100% PGP Placement in 2025

IIM Lucknow has revised its selection criteria for the 2020-22 academic session due to the ongoing coronavirus lockdown. The institute has scrapped WAT as a part of the selection process. For more details, you can refer to the link given below.
IIM Lucknow Revises Admission Policy, Removes WAT for 2020-22

List of Top IIMs in India 2026: First established in 1961, the Indian Institute of Management, or IIMs, are some of the best MBA colleges in India. At present, there are a total of 21 IIMs in India across all the states. As per the latest IIM rankings by NIRF, the list of top 10 IIM colleges in India 2026 includes IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, etc (based on NIRF 2025 rankings). Being top-tier B-schools in the country, IIMs in India have a reputation for having excellent faculties, rich academic facilities, and vibrant campus culture, making them the dream destination for most MBA aspirants. Admission to the top IIMs, however, is highly competitive as most of them accept CAT scores above the 99th percentile. You can check your CAT 2025 percentile from the official website as the CAT result 2025 have been announced on December 24, 2025. If you are aiming to build a career in management and wish to pursue your postgraduate degree from one of the top IIMs in India, it is important to be familiar with the list of IIM colleges in India, their fee structure, and placement highlights. All these details have been covered for you in the article below.

When talking about MBA colleges accepting 90-95 percentile in CAT 2025, we typically include Tier 1 management institutes like SPJIMR, MDI Gurgaon, XIM Bhubanewar, IIT Delhi, and some of the top IIMs. Although the CAT cutoff 2025 for these colleges ranges from 90-95 percentile, merely scoring a high CAT 2025 percentile score is not enough to secure admission to these colleges. You must have an immaculate academic record and overall candidate profile in addition to clearing all stages of the admissions process, to secure admission to any of these top MBA colleges in India. Since the CAT 2025 results have been announced on December 24, 2025, you will find it easier to determine which of these colleges is best suited for you!

The list of non-IIM MBA colleges to apply before and after CAT 2025 includes DMS, SJMSOM, MDI Gurgaon, and IIFT Delhi. While IIMs are esteemed for their management education, many non-IIM MBA colleges also offer quality education and excellent placements. With the release of the CAT results 2025 on December 24, 2025, participating B-schools will begin their selection processes soon. If you are targeting non-IIM MBA colleges in India through CAT 2025 exam, which was conducted on November 30, you must apply separately by completing their application forms. Most of these Non-IIM MBA colleges begin their application process for MBA/PGDM admission during the month of July. It is advisable to check the official website of your preferred Non-IIM MBA college for a better understanding of the MBA application process for the same.

Students can check the CAT score vs percentile 2025 to understand the detailed comparison between a CAT score and a CAT percentile. As per the CAT score vs percentile in previous years, if a student has achieved a raw score of 102, then they will earn a percentile of 99.9. For a 99.5 percentile in the CAT examination, a student will require a CAT score of 89. For a 98 CAT percentile, a student will be required to score a raw score of 71.

MBA colleges accepting an 80-90 percentile in CAT 2025 include premier institutions such as Great Lakes Institute of Management, Bharathidasan Institute of Management, University Business School, and T.A. Pai Management Institute. If you achieve a CAT result 2025, which has been released on December 24, 2025, within the range of 80-90, you can also seek admission to several well-established and reputed MBA colleges and universities. These colleges may not be the top B-schools in India, however, a majority of these management institutes are ranked among the most reputable and promising colleges in the country. The MBA selection process for 80 to 90 percentile CAT colleges is similar to that of other B-schools accepting CAT 2025.
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Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh)
Bareilly (Uttar Pradesh)
Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh)
Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh)
Greater Noida (Uttar Pradesh)