Top MBA Colleges After CAT 2026: Cutoff and Fees

The top MBA colleges after CAT 2026 include IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, FMS Delhi, IIM Kozhikode and other leading B-schools. All three shortlist at 99 percentile and charge 26.30 to 27.5 lakh for the two year programme.

CAT 2026 will be held on November 29, 2026, and its score is accepted by 1,593 MBA colleges. FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai and MDI Gurgaon complete the top ten.

• The old IIMs generally require very high CAT percentiles for competitive shortlisting, but a 99 percentile does not guarantee a call or admission.
• FMS Delhi's 2026–28 MBA fee is approximately ₹2.43 lakh, while IIM Bangalore's PGP fee for the 2026–28 batch is ₹26 lakh, excluding certain additional expenses.
• FMS Delhi reported an average CTC of ₹32.27 LPA and median CTC of ₹29.59 LPA for the 2024–26 batch.
• TISS should not be treated as a conventional MBA college. Its CAT-based flagship programme is the M.A. in Human Resources Management & Labour Relations, for which the current published total course fee is ₹2.03 lakh
• ISB Hyderabad charges 45.12 lakh, the highest fee among the top 20, and takes GMAT rather than CAT.
• The average salary at the top 20 MBA colleges ranges from 18.30 LPA to 35.22 LPA.
• Candidates should compare fees, cutoff and placement together before choosing an MBA college.

Related Links:

• Government MBA Colleges in India: Fees, Admission and Cutoff
• CAT Score vs Percentile: Section-wise and Slot-wise Analysis

Which Are the Top MBA Colleges After CAT 2026?

The top MBA colleges after CAT 2026 are the three oldest IIMs, then ISB, IIM Lucknow and FMS Delhi. Fifteen of the top 20 use the CAT score.

• Eight IIMs sit in the top 20, from IIM Ahmedabad at rank 1 to IIM Shillong at rank 17.
• FMS Delhi, TISS Mumbai and JBIMS Mumbai are the three colleges under 7 lakh in total fees.

Each college publishes its own shortlist criteria after the CAT result in January 2027.

Factors to Compare After CAT 2026

• CAT percentile and sectional requirements
• Total programme fee
• Average and median CTC
• Programme duration
• Batch size
• Academic and work-experience criteria
• Personal interview and other selection stages
• Career opportunities by specialisation

Check: Top MBA Colleges in India 2026: Full Ranking List

Top 20 MBA Colleges After CAT 2026: Ranking, Fees and Cutoff

IIM Bangalore leads the top 20 on the Collegedunia placement score with 996 out of 1000. IIM Calcutta scores 991 and IIM Ahmedabad 990. Fees is the full programme cost.

Also Check:

• Top MBA Colleges in India 2026: Full Ranking List
• CAT Cutoff 2026: Sectional and Category-wise Percentile for All IIMs

MBA Fees vs Average Salary: Top Colleges Compared

TISS Mumbai charges 1.85 lakh for a 28.20 LPA average. ISB Hyderabad charges 45.12 lakh for 33.25 LPA. Both figures in the chart are in lakh.

FMS Delhi and JBIMS Mumbai are government institutes with fees below 7 lakh. Both report average salaries above 18 LPA.

Government MBA Colleges: Seats, Fees and Placement

IIM Lucknow has the largest batch of the top five government MBA colleges, at 621 seats. IIM Calcutta has the highest package, at 1.45 crore.

Also Check: Government MBA Colleges in India: Fees, Admission and Cutoff

Private MBA Colleges: Seats, Fees and Placement

SPJIMR Mumbai has the highest median package of the top five private MBA colleges, 33.75 LPA. Its fees are 26.50 lakh. Most of these colleges accept GMAT, XAT, NMAT or SNAP along with CAT.

Also Check: Top Private MBA Colleges in India: Fees, Placement and Ranking

MBA Colleges by CAT 2026 Percentile

SPJIMR Mumbai shortlists at around 85 percentile and BIMTECH Greater Noida at around 75. Candidates with 70 to 85 percentile in CAT 2026 have the options below.

MBA Colleges Accepting 85 Percentile in CAT 2026

MBA Colleges Accepting 75 Percentile in CAT 2026

MBA Colleges Accepting 70 to 80 Percentile in CAT 2026

Also Check: CAT Cutoff 2026: Expected Percentile by IIM and Category

Read More:

• CAT 2026: Is 95 Percentile Safe for IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore and Calcutta?
• 97 Percentile in CAT: Which IIMs Accept It, Score vs Percentile
• CAT 2026 99 Percentile: IIMs That Will Shortlist You and College List

FMS vs IIM Lucknow: What Candidates Are Reporting on Reddit

On August 24, 2026, a post on r/CATpreparation compared FMS Delhi and IIM Lucknow on summer placements. It put FMS fees at 2.5 lakh against 21 lakh, with a slightly higher median summer stipend. The post called FMS the better choice for an average profile.

The most upvoted reply said the placements are similar. It added that IIM Lucknow has a batch nearly twice the size and is chosen for brand and campus life. Several replies said finance and consulting recruiters favour IIM Lucknow, and that averages hide the quality of roles.

A December 2025 thread with 266 votes asked for the full cost of an MBA beyond tuition. Candidates listed hostel, mess and alumni fees as the costs most fee tables leave out.

Collegedunia Tip: Compare the total programme cost, the median package and the batch size together, not the average alone. Fees of 2 to 3 lakh at FMS Delhi and JBIMS Mumbai change the return on a similar median salary.

MBA Admission After CAT 2026: What the Cutoff Does Not Cover

The CAT cutoff earns a shortlist at each of the 1,593 colleges that accept it. Final MBA admission depends on the following.

• Final selection includes a written ability test, group discussion and personal interview.
• IIMs give weight to Class 10, Class 12 and graduation marks along with the CAT percentile.
• Candidates must clear the sectional percentile separately at most older IIMs.
• Work experience and academic diversity carry points at several institutes.
• ISB, IIFT, XLRI, NMIMS and SIBM use GMAT, XAT, NMAT and SNAP, so a CAT percentile does not apply directly.

Read More: CAT 2026 Safe Score for OBC-NCL: Minimum Percentile for IIM Calls

Exams Accepted by MBA Colleges in India

CAT is accepted by 1,593 MBA colleges in India, MAT by 1,376, CMAT by 1,265 and XAT by 912.

Top MBA Colleges After CAT 2026 FAQs