Low CAT Percentile? Explore Top B-Schools Accepting XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT, and GMAT

4 min read

Aparajita Debnath

Content Writer | Updated on - Jul 8, 2025

If your CAT 2025 percentile didn't go as planned, that doesn't mean the end of your B-school dreams. Many top Indian management institutes accept other national-level entrance exams like XAT, NMAT by GMAC, SNAP, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, and even GMAT for their flagship MBA and PGDM programs.

In this article, you can check the top B-school-wise accepted exams, cut-off, fees, seat intake, accreditations, placements, and rankings. Whether you're targeting XLRI via XAT, NMIMS via NMAT, or ISB via GMAT, this guide covers the best alternatives to CAT for admissions in 2026.

1. XAT

The Xavier Aptitude Test (XAT) is conducted by XLRI Jamshedpur, typically on the first Sunday of January. The 3-hour 30-min computer-based exam includes Decision Making, Verbal & Logical Ability, Quantitative Ability & DI, and General Knowledge.

Check details about other top MBA colleges accepting XAT in the table below:

College Name	Program	Fees	Cutoff	IIRF Rank 2025
XLRI	PGDM	INR 30.6 Lakh	92+ percentile	2^nd out of 122
IMT Ghaziabad	PGDM	INR 21.53 Lakh	90 percentile	8^th out of 122
XIMB	MBA	INR 23.60 Lakh	88+ percentile	10^th out of 122
TAPMI, Manipal	MBA	INR 18 Lakh	85 percentile	12^th out of 122
GIM Goa	PGDM	INR 20.40 Lakh	85 percentile	12^th out of 122
LIBA Chennai	PGDM	INR 16.99 Lakh	75 percentile	18^th out of 122
IRMA Anand	PGDM	INR 19.78 Lakh	80 percentile	19^th out of 122

2. NMAT

The NMAT is a 2-hour online adaptive test conducted by GMAC, featuring three sections: Language Skills, Quantitative Skills, and Logical Reasoning. Candidates can attempt the exam up to three times, on the chosen date within a 70-day window, typically from October to December.

The table below presents details of the top MBA colleges accepting NMAT:

College Name	Program	Fees	Cutoff	IIRF Rank 2025
NMIMS Mumbai	MBA	INR 27 Lakh	234+	5^th out of 122
XIM University, Bhubaneswar	MBA-SM	INR 13.80 Lakh	220+	11^th out of 103
K J Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai	MBA	INR 22.32 Lakh	224+	17^th out of 122
Amity Business School, Noida	MBA	INR 15.8 Lakh	150+	24^th out of 122
SOIL Institute of Management	PGDM	INR 16.20 Lakh	210+	57^th out of 122
SDA Bocconi Asia Center, Mumbai	IMB	INR 20.75 Lakh	210+	-

3. SNAP

SNAP is conducted by Symbiosis International University. It is a 60-minute computer-based exam held in December, usually across three slots. It tests General English, Quantitative Ability & DI, and Analytical & Logical Reasoning.

Refer to the table below for details about the top SIU institutes accepting SNAP:

College Name	Program	Fees	Cutoff	IIRF Rank 2025
SCMHRD Pune	MBA	INR 24.60 lakh	96+ percentile	4^th out of 122
SIBM Pune	MBA	INR 27.77 Lakh	97+ percentile	6^th out of 122
SIOM Nashik	MBA- OM	INR 17.82 Lakh	87 percentile	23^rd out of 122
SCIT Pune	MBA-ITBM	INR 15 Lakh	76 percentile	33^rd out of 122
SIIB Pune	MBA-IB	INR 19.64 Lakh	93+ percentile	-
SIBM Bengaluru	MBA	INR 20.42 Lakh	90+ percentile	-

4. CMAT

CMAT is a 3-hour computer-based test conducted once a year by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It comprises five sections: Quantitative Techniques, Logical Reasoning, Language Comprehension, General Awareness, and Innovation & Entrepreneurship, with 20 questions each.

See the table below for the top MBA colleges accepting CMAT:

College Name	Program	Fees	Cutoff	IIRF Rank 2025
JBIMS	MMS	INR 6 Lakh	99.99 percentile	6^th out of 100
BIMTECH	PGDM	INR 14 Lakh	95+ percentile	22^nd out of 122
NIBM Pune	PGDM-BFSI	INR 16 Lakh	99.9 percentile	35^th out of 100
NDIM Delhi	PGDM	INR 12.75 Lakh	70 percentile	48^th out of 122
IFMR GSB, Krea University	MBA	INR 15 Lakh	85 percentile	-
GLIM, Gurgaon	PGDM	INR 19.12 Lakh	85 percentile	-

5. MAT

The Management Aptitude Test (MAT) is conducted by AIMA in PBT, CBT, and IBT modes, held four times a year. It consists of 200 questions across Language Comprehension, Intelligence & Critical Reasoning, Data Analysis, Mathematical Skills, and Indian & Global Environment.

Check the fees and cutoff of top MBA colleges accepting MAT in the table below:

College Name	Program	Fees	Cutoff	IIRF Rank 2025
VIT Business School, Vellore	MBA	INR 7 Lakh	80 percentile	23^rd out of 122
Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida	PGDM	INR 15.75 Lakh	75 percentile	29^th out of 122
Christ University, Bangalore	MBA	INR 10.6 Lakh	80 percentile	34^th out of 122
JIMS Rohini	PGDM	INR 8.70 Lakh	80 percentile	40^th out of 122
IPE Hyderabad	MBA	INR 8.15 Lakh	75 percentile	92^nd out of 122
SRM School of Management	MBA	INR 4.50 Lakh - INR 5.75 Lakh	67 percentile	-

6. ATMA

ATMA is a national-level test conducted by the Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS) for MBA/PGDM admissions. The online exam is held multiple times a year, with 180 questions across Analytical Reasoning, Quantitative Skills, and Verbal Skills.

See the table below for the top MBA colleges accepting ATMA:

College Name	Program	Fees	Cutoff	IIRF Rank 2025
Welingkar, Mumbai	PGDM	INR 14 Lakh	85 percentile	26^th out of 122
FIIB, New Delhi	PGDM	INR 11.55 Lakh	50+ percentile	75^th out of 122
IES Management College, Mumbai	PGDM	INR 11.13 Lakh	70+ percentile	90^th out of 122
PUMBA Pune	MBA	INR 2.50 Lakh	90 percentile	-
Welingkar, Bangalore	PGDM	INR 7 Lakh	80 percentile	-
ASBM University, Bhubaneswar	MBA	INR 4.36 Lakh - INR 7 Lakh	70+ percentile	-

7. GMAT (Indian B-Schools)

The GMAT Focus Edition is administered globally by GMAC and is accepted by Indian B-schools like ISB and SPJIMR. The 2-hour and 15-minutes test includes Quantitative Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning, and Data Insights sections, and can be taken year-round.

Explore other top MBA colleges accepting GMAT in the table below:

College Name	Program	Fees	Cutoff	IIRF Rank 2025
ISB Hyderabad	PGP	INR 35.95 Lakh	710+	-
IIM Bangalore	EPGP	INR 31.08 Lakh	700	3^rd out of 100
SPJIMR Mumbai	PGDM	INR 22.5 Lakh	650+	1^st out of 122
XLRI Jamshedpur	PGDM-GM	INR 24.20 Lakh	700+	2^nd out of 122
IMI New Delhi	PGDM	INR 22 Lakh	650+	7^th out of 122
GLIM Chennai	PGDM	INR 20.80 Lakh	600+	11^th out of 122

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