The Top Colleges Accepting CMAT Score: Cutoff, Fees, and Average Placement
Scored well in CMAT 2026 but unsure which MBA college you can get? With 1000+ colleges accepting CMAT scores, choosing the right one can be confusing. This guide helps you identify the best colleges based on cutoff, ROI, fees, and your percentile.
What is a Good CMAT Score for Top Colleges?
- 99+ percentile → Tier-1 colleges
- 95–99 percentile → Top Tier-2
- 85–95 percentile → Mid-tier colleges
The Top MBA Colleges Accepting CMAT Score – Cutoff, Fees, and Average Placement
This table contains the most preferred universities by CMAT candidates. A cursory glance reveals that the highest CMAT cutoffs are for colleges offering the highest ROI. With low fees and high placements, JBIMS and SIMSREE are the most sought after CMAT accepting colleges. Other MBA colleges accepting CMAT score with high cutoffs are PUMBA and Welingkar.
| CMAT Accepting Colleges | CMAT Cutoff 2025 (Expected) | Program Fees (INR in lakh) | Average Placement (INR in lakh) |
| JBIMS, Mumbai | 99.99%ile | 6 | 28.00 |
| SIMSREE, Mumbai | 99.97%ile | 1.5 | 15.00 |
| KJ Somaiya, Mumbai | 95-99%ile | 21 | 12.00 |
| PUMBA, Pune | 99.95%ile | 4.4 | 8.85 |
| Welingkar Institute, Mumbai | 85%ile+ | 16 | 12.88 |
| NIBM, Pune | 98.5%ile+ | 16 | 14.16 |
| NL Dalmia, Mumbai | 85%ile+ | 14.70 | 10.28 |
| NIA Pune | 95%ile+ | 11.00 | 12.74 |
| XIME, Bengaluru | No minimum cutoff | 14.87 | 14.3 |
| SIES, Mumbai | 84%ile+ | 12 | 8.11 |
| BIMTECH, Noida | 95%ile+ | 16 | 10.5 |
| IFMR at Krea University, Sri City | 85%ile+ | 19.06 | 13.50 |
| IMT, Nagpur | 90%ile+ | 15.12 | 10.81 |
| IPE, Hyderabad | 82%ile+ | 11.15 | 7.1 |
Read More – CMAT Cutoff 2025
Read More – MAH MBA CET Cutoff – 2024, 2023, 2022
Which CMAT College Can You Get Based on Your Percentile? (2026)
Choosing the right MBA college depends heavily on your CMAT percentile. Based on CMAT 2026 expected cutoffs, top colleges like JBIMS and SIMSREE require 99+ percentile, while strong Tier-2 colleges fall in the 85–95 range.
| CMAT Percentile Range | Top Colleges You Can Target | Expected Cutoff Range | Tier | Admission Reality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 99.5+ %ile | JBIMS, SIMSREE | 99.9+ | Tier-1 | Extremely competitive, limited seats |
| 99 – 99.5 %ile | PUMBA, Top CAP colleges | 99+ | Tier-1 | High chance via CAP (Maharashtra quota matters) |
| 95 – 99 %ile | KJ Somaiya, NIBM, BIMTECH, Great Lakes (if accepting) | 95–99 | Tier-1.5 / Tier-2 | Strong shortlist chances |
| 90 – 95 %ile | Welingkar, NIA Pune, IFMR, IMI Kolkata | 90–95 | Tier-2 | Safe convert range |
| 85 – 90 %ile | NL Dalmia, SIES, XIME | 85+ | Tier-2/3 | Good private B-school options |
| 70 – 85 %ile | Jaipuria, IPE Hyderabad, ITM Business School | 70–85 | Tier-3 | Backup but decent ROI possible |
| Below 70 %ile | Emerging B-schools | <70 | Tier-3 | Consider reattempt or other exams |
Best CMAT Colleges by ROI (Fees vs Placements Analysis – 2026)
Return on Investment (ROI) is one of the most important factors when choosing an MBA college through CMAT. It tells you how quickly you can recover your fees based on the average salary offered.
Colleges like Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies and Sydenham Institute of Management Studies Research and Entrepreneurship Education consistently rank at the top due to their low fees and high salary packages.
CMAT Colleges Ranked by ROI
| College | Approx Fees (₹ Lakhs) | Avg Package (₹ LPA) | ROI Score | Payback Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies | 6 | 28 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | < 3 months |
| Sydenham Institute of Management Studies Research and Entrepreneurship Education | 1.5 | 15 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | < 2 months |
| Department of Management Sciences University of Pune | 4.4 | 8.8 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | ~6 months |
| National Institute of Bank Management | 16 | 14 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | ~1.2 years |
| K J Somaiya Institute of Management | 21 | 12 | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | ~1.8 years |
| Prin L N Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research | 16 | 12.8 | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | ~1.5 years |
| BIMTECH | 16 | 10.5 | ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ | ~1.7 years |
| IFMR Graduate School of Business | 19 | 13.5 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ | ~1.4 years |
Top government MBA colleges accepting CMAT score
One of the most pertinent questions troubling most students is about ROI – which colleges have lower fees and offer good placements. Usually, it is the top government MBA colleges accepting CMAT score that offer the highest ROI. Find out those colleges in the list below:
| Top government colleges accepting CMAT score | Location |
| JBIMS | Mumbai |
| SIMSREE | Mumbai |
| PUMBA | Pune |
| MNIT Jaipur | Jaipur |
Read More – CMAT Result 2025
Top CMAT Accepting Colleges With Low Fees
The scores obtained in CMAT are accepted by over 1000 B-Schools across the country. With the growing demand for management courses, it has become important to identify colleges that accept CMAT scores and offer quality education at a low fee. ROI is one of the most important factor that one
| Institute | CMAT Cut off (Expected) | MBA Fees | Average Placements |
| JBIMS, Mumbai | 99.99%ile | 6 Lakhs | 28.02 LPA |
| SIMSREE, Mumbai | 99.96%ile | 1.5 Lakhs | 15.59 LPA |
*The cutoffs are based on previous years and may vary from year to year.
Best CMAT Colleges in Mumbai
The table for the top CMAT colleges in Mumbai:
| College | Average Fees | Average Package |
|---|---|---|
| JBIMS | 6 Lakhs | 28 LPA |
| K J Somaiya Institute of Management MBA | 13.50 – 21.34 Lakh | 12 LPA |
| Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management MBA | 14 Lakh | 10 LPA |
| N.L. Dalmia Institute of Management MBA | 16.5 Lakh | 8.4 LPA |
| SIES College of Management Studies MBA | 7 – 10 Lakh | 7.5 LPA |
| Amity University, Mumbai MBA | 13.75 Lakh | 7 LPA |
The Best CMAT Colleges Accepting 96+ Percentiles
The candidates who achieved CMAT scores above 96 percentile can get into the top colleges that accept such scores:
| College Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) | Mumbai |
| Sydenham Institute of Management Studies and Research (SIMSREE) | Mumbai |
| K.J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research | Mumbai |
| Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research | Mumbai |
| Department of Management Sciences, University of Pune (PUMBA) | Pune |
| Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS) | Ranchi |
| BIMTECH, Greater Noida | Noida |
| NL Dalmia Institute of Management Studies | Mumbai |
Best CMAT Colleges Accepting 80-90 Percentile
The best colleges for CMAT scores in the 80-90 percentile range:
| MBA College | Location |
|---|---|
| Prin L N Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research | Mumbai |
| Xavier Business School (St. Xavier’s University) | Kolkata |
| IMT Nagpur | Nagpur |
| Jaipuria Institute of Management | Noida |
| IPE Hyderabad | Hyderabad |
| NL Dalmia Institute of Management Studies | Mumbai |
| FLAME University | Pune |
Top CMAT Colleges for 70-80 Percentile
| College | Location |
|---|---|
| Jaipuria Institute of Management | Lucknow |
| Institute of Management Technology | Nagpur |
| ITM Business School | Navi Mumbai |
| IES Management College and Research Centre | Mumbai |
| Christ University | Bangalore |
Top Colleges Accepting CMAT Scores: Percentile-Wise
Colleges classification in 3 broad categories as per the percentile scores:
What’s the CMAT Cutoff for Tier-1 MBA Colleges?
The top-tier MBA colleges require higher cut-offs for compared to the rest of the B-Schools. The usual cutoffs for tier-1 institutes typically fall in the range of 90 percentile and above. JBIMS colleges requires 99.90 percentile and above. The KJ Somaiya Institute of Management requires in the range of 95-99 percentile scores. SIMSREE takes above a 99 percentile.
How to Prepare for CMAT Exam?
Watch this video by expert mentor to learn about the important topics and study plan:
CMAT Mock Tests
You can enroll in CMAT mock tests to prepare better for the upcoming exam. These programs are for aspirants who need practice tests. The CMAT Mock Test Series 2025 by IMS comes with 15 full-length mock tests with detailed video solutions to each question, detailed analytics, predicted scores, and performance improvement strategies.
Overview of CMAT Exam
The CMAT is taken every year by around 70,000 candidates, competing for the few seats in the top colleges such as JBIMS, KJ Somaiya, Welingkar, SIMSREE, PUMBA, etc. The competition to land a seat can get intense for two primary reasons:
- The colleges accept scores from other exams, too, including MAH MBA CET, CAT, XAT, ATMA, and MAT. CMAT candidates aren’t just competing with each other; they’re also competing with students from other exams.
- The paper’s low difficulty level pushes the CMAT cutoff sky-high for the top-choice programs. For instance, the cutoff for JBIMS is 99.99%.
CMAT 2026 Admission Trends & Latest Insights
- Cutoffs Likely to Rise: Top colleges like Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies and Sydenham Institute of Management Studies Research and Entrepreneurship Education may see marginal cutoff increases due to consistent exam difficulty and rising serious applicants.
- ROI Colleges in High Demand: Institutes such as Department of Management Sciences University of Pune are witnessing intense competition because of low fees + high placements, making them comparable to Tier-2 CAT colleges.
- Private Colleges Shifting Focus: Colleges like K J Somaiya Institute of Management and Birla Institute of Management Technology are increasingly prioritizing CAT/XAT, making CMAT seats more competitive.
- Higher Competition Overall: With ~70,000+ test takers and limited seats in top colleges, even a 95–99 percentile may not guarantee admission.
How to Choose the Best CMAT College
FAQs
Which college is best under CMAT?
The top colleges accepting CMAT scores include JBIMS and KJ Somaiya Institute of Management for top-tier options that accept 99+%iles for admissions. The government colleges include SIMSREE and PUMBA. Other MBA institutions include Welingkar Institute, BIMTCH, Jaipuria, Amity, and Christ University.
What CMAT score is needed for top colleges?
A good score of 95 percentile and above is needed for the top tier colleges like JBIMS and KJ Somaiya. If you aim for a tier 2 college, a CMAT score of 85-95 percentile will suffice.
Does SP Jain accept CMAT scores?
The SPJIMR does not accept CMAT scores for its admission to the PGDM programs. The college accepts scores from CAT, XAT, GMAT, and NMAT.
What CMAT score is required for JBIMS?
JBIMS requires 99.99 percentile for general category candidates. For reserved category, the score requirement is about 80 percentile.
What are the CMAT top colleges with low fees?
The top CMAT colleges with affordable fees include SIMSREE, PUMBA, and JBIMS. Their fees range from approximately 1.20 lakh to 1.4 lakh. Other affordable CMAT colleges are TISS Mumbai and SIMSREE, Mumbai with low fees of around 1.3-1.4 lakh for 2 years. PUMBA, Pune charges approximately 1.2-1.3 lakh.
