MBA Colleges in Hyderabad Accepting Low CAT Score (2026): Fees, Cutoffs & Placements
7 MBA and PGDM colleges in Hyderabad admit in the 40–92 CAT percentile band for 2026-28, 3 of them NIRF 2025 top-100. Fees run ₹2.3 L to ₹17 L and the best reported average is 12.4 LPA at IMT Hyderabad. Lowest CAT floor in the city: 60 percentile.
Hyderabad’s hiring is pharma and life sciences, IT services and product, plus a heavy PSU and public-enterprise presence that almost no other city offers. IPE’s placement base in particular leans on PSUs and banks in a way that suits candidates targeting stable rather than high-variance careers.
All 7 MBA colleges in Hyderabad
| NIRF 2025 | College | CAT band | Total fee | Avg CTC | Also accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46 | IBS HyderabadICFAI Business School Hyderabad | 70–85 %ile | ₹17 L | 9.8 LPA | IBSAT, XAT, GMAT, NMAT |
| 72 | IMT HyderabadInstitute of Management Technology Hyderabad | 85–92 %ile | ₹16 L | 12.4 LPA | XAT, CMAT, GMAT |
| 95 | MANAGE HyderabadNational Institute of Agricultural Extension Management | 75–90 %ile | ₹9.8 L | 12.4 LPA | CAT only |
| 101–125 | SMS UoHSchool of Management Studies University of Hyderabad | 80–90 %ile | ₹2.3 L | n/a | CAT only |
| — | WoxsenWoxsen University School of Business | 70–80 %ile | ₹15 L | 9.9 LPA | XAT, NMAT, GMAT, GRE |
| — | IPE HyderabadInstitute of Public Enterprise | 60–70 %ile | ₹9.2 L | 7 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| — | VJIMVignana Jyothi Institute of Management | 60–70 %ile | ₹9.2 L | 6.3 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
Sorted by NIRF 2025 rank, unranked institutes last.
What actually decides your seat in Hyderabad
The city’s fee spread is wide and the cheap end is genuinely good: University of Hyderabad’s School of Management Studies is CAT-only at roughly ₹2.3 lakh. Above that, Siva Sivani at ₹6.9 lakh and IPE at ₹9.2 lakh are the sensible mid-market picks, with IMT Hyderabad and IBS at the top.
Across these 7 colleges the alternatives to CAT that come up most often are XAT (5), GMAT (5), CMAT (3) and NMAT (2). Full routes are in our guide to MBA admission without CAT.
Fees vs placement in Hyderabad
| College | City | Total fee | Avg CTC | CTC ÷ fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MANAGE Hyderabad | Hyderabad | ₹9.8 L | 12.4 LPA | 1.27 |
| IMT Hyderabad | Hyderabad | ₹16 L | 12.4 LPA | 0.78 |
| IPE Hyderabad | Hyderabad | ₹9.2 L | 7 LPA | 0.76 |
| VJIM | Hyderabad | ₹9.2 L | 6.3 LPA | 0.68 |
| Woxsen | Hyderabad | ₹15 L | 9.9 LPA | 0.66 |
| IBS Hyderabad | Hyderabad | ₹17 L | 9.8 LPA | 0.58 |
Cheapest MBA colleges in Hyderabad
| College | Total fee | CAT band | Avg CTC | Also accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMS UoH | ₹2.3 L | 80–90 %ile | n/a | CAT only |
| IPE Hyderabad | ₹9.2 L | 60–70 %ile | 7 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| VJIM | ₹9.2 L | 60–70 %ile | 6.3 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| MANAGE Hyderabad | ₹9.8 L | 75–90 %ile | 12.4 LPA | CAT only |
| Woxsen | ₹15 L | 70–80 %ile | 9.9 LPA | XAT, NMAT, GMAT, GRE |
| IMT Hyderabad | ₹16 L | 85–92 %ile | 12.4 LPA | XAT, CMAT, GMAT |
Frequently asked questions
Which MBA colleges in Hyderabad accept 50–60 percentile in CAT?
IPE Hyderabad and VJIM all admit at or below 60 percentile. The lowest floor in Hyderabad is 60 percentile.
What is the cheapest MBA in Hyderabad?
School of Management Studies University of Hyderabad at ₹2.3 L for the full two years. It publishes no average placement figure — ask for the audited report.
Is an MBA in Hyderabad worth the fee?
Use placement ÷ fee. The best ratio in Hyderabad is MANAGE Hyderabad at 1.27 (12.4 LPA on ₹9.8 L). Anything above 0.9 is healthy for this tier; below 0.6 needs a very good reason.
Watching your budget? See the cheapest MBA colleges in Hyderabad ranked by total fee, or the lowest-fee list for all of India.
Telangana’s MBA entrance test was renamed — see TG ICET vs TS ICET explained.
Hoping to skip CAT altogether? Our guide to Hyderabad MBA colleges that accept XAT, CMAT, NMAT or IBSAT shows which test opens which college.
Before you pay anything: check that the college is AICTE-approved and know the refund rules.
Sources & methodology
Cutoffs are the published shortlisting percentile where the institute publishes one, and otherwise the band in which it actually admits, taken from institute disclosures and the portals below. Fees are total two-year programme fees excluding hostel unless stated; placement figures are the latest institute-reported averages. Cross-checked against NIRF 2025 on 4 September 2026. Always confirm against the institute’s current admission brochure before paying any fee.