MBA Colleges in Kerala Accepting Low CAT Score (2026): Fees, Cutoffs & NIRF Ranks
9 MBA and PGDM colleges in Kerala admit students in the 40–92 CAT percentile range for the 2026-28 batch, 4 of them NIRF 2025 top-100 (best: SMS CUSAT at rank 82). Fees start at ₹2.1 L (IMK Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram) and the highest reported average placement is 11.5 LPA at NIT Calicut. The lowest CAT floor in the state is 40 percentile.
This is the full working list of MBA and PGDM colleges in Kerala that actually admit candidates below the IIM cutoff — 9 institutes, sorted by NIRF 2025 rank, with the CAT band each one admits in, its total two-year fee and its reported average placement. 5 of them take students at 60 percentile or below.
All 9 MBA colleges in Kerala
| NIRF 2025 | College | City | CAT band | Total fee | Avg CTC | Also accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | SMS CUSATSchool of Management Studies CUSAT | Kochi | 70–85 %ile | ₹2.2 L | 8.6 LPA | CMAT, KMAT |
| 82 | CUSATCochin University of Science and Technology | Kochi | 70–85 %ile | ₹2.2 L | 8.6 LPA | CMAT, KMAT |
| 85 | NIT CalicutSchool of Management Studies NIT Calicut | Kozhikode | 75–85 %ile | ₹4.3 L | 11.5 LPA | CAT only |
| 91 | Rajagiri KochiRajagiri Business School | Kochi | 50–65 %ile | ₹7.9 L | 7.5 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, KMAT, GMAT |
| — | XIME KochiXavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship Kochi | Kochi | 60–70 %ile | ₹10.2 L | 10 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, KMAT |
| — | RCBS KochiRajagiri Centre for Business Studies | Kochi | 50–65 %ile | ₹6 L | 9.3 LPA | CMAT, KMAT, MAT |
| — | SCMS CochinSCMS Cochin School of Business | Kochi | 65–75 %ile | ₹8 L | 7.1 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, KMAT |
| — | IMK TrivandrumInstitute of Management in Kerala University of Kerala | Thiruvananthapuram | 40–55 %ile | ₹2.1 L | 3.5 LPA | KMAT, CMAT |
| — | Amrita KochiAmrita School of Business Kochi | Kochi | 50–60 %ile | ₹6.6 L | n/a | XAT, CMAT, MAT, KMAT |
Sorted by NIRF 2025 rank, unranked institutes last. CAT band is the percentile range in which the institute actually admits for 2026-28.
The Kerala entrance-exam route most candidates miss
KMAT Kerala and CMAT drive most MBA admissions in the state, including at CUSAT — which is the point worth knowing, because CUSAT is NIRF-82, charges about ₹2.2 lakh total and reports an ₹8.6 LPA average. That fee-to-outcome ratio is not matched by any private school in Kerala.
Rajagiri (both the PGDM and the MG University MBA), SCMS Cochin, XIME Kochi and Amrita Kochi take CAT, and Rajagiri’s published Round-1 floor of 50 percentile makes a NIRF-91 college genuinely reachable on a weak CAT. NIT Calicut is CAT-only and sits at 75–85.
Across these 9 colleges the most widely accepted alternatives to CAT are CMAT (8 colleges), KMAT (8 colleges), MAT (5 colleges), XAT (4 colleges) and ATMA (2 colleges). Sitting one of them is usually cheaper than a CAT retake and the results land in time for the same admission rounds.
Fees vs placement: best ROI in Kerala
Divide the reported average placement by the total fee. In Kerala the spread runs from ₹2.1 L at IMK Trivandrum to ₹10.2 L at the top of the market, so the ratio matters more here than the brand name does.
| College | City | Total fee | Avg CTC | CTC ÷ fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMS CUSAT | Kochi | ₹2.2 L | 8.6 LPA | 3.91 |
| CUSAT | Kochi | ₹2.2 L | 8.6 LPA | 3.91 |
| NIT Calicut | Kozhikode | ₹4.3 L | 11.5 LPA | 2.67 |
| IMK Trivandrum | Thiruvananthapuram | ₹2.1 L | 3.5 LPA | 1.67 |
| RCBS Kochi | Kochi | ₹6 L | 9.3 LPA | 1.55 |
| XIME Kochi | Kochi | ₹10.2 L | 10 LPA | 0.98 |
| Rajagiri Kochi | Kochi | ₹7.9 L | 7.5 LPA | 0.95 |
| SCMS Cochin | Kochi | ₹8 L | 7.1 LPA | 0.89 |
NIRF 2025 ranked colleges in Kerala
4 Kerala institutes appear in the NIRF 2025 Management top 100. These carry the most weight with recruiters and are worth an application even if you are at the bottom of their published band.
| NIRF 2025 | College | City | CAT band | Total fee | Avg CTC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 82 | SMS CUSATSchool of Management Studies CUSAT | Kochi | 70–85 %ile | ₹2.2 L | 8.6 LPA |
| 82 | CUSATCochin University of Science and Technology | Kochi | 70–85 %ile | ₹2.2 L | 8.6 LPA |
| 85 | NIT CalicutSchool of Management Studies NIT Calicut | Kozhikode | 75–85 %ile | ₹4.3 L | 11.5 LPA |
| 91 | Rajagiri KochiRajagiri Business School | Kochi | 50–65 %ile | ₹7.9 L | 7.5 LPA |
MBA colleges in Kerala by city
Open a city for its full list, local recruiter mix and fee spread: Kochi (7), Kozhikode (1) and Thiruvananthapuram (1).
Frequently asked questions
Which MBA colleges in Kerala accept a low CAT percentile?
5 of the 9 colleges on this page admit at 60 percentile or below, the lowest floor in the state being 40 percentile. IMK Trivandrum, Rajagiri Kochi, RCBS Kochi, Amrita Kochi and XIME Kochi are the most accessible.
What is the cheapest MBA college in Kerala?
Institute of Management in Kerala University of Kerala in Thiruvananthapuram at ₹2.1 L total for the two-year programme, reporting 3.5 LPA average placement. 8 colleges in the state charge under ₹10 lakh in total.
Which is the best MBA college in Kerala by NIRF ranking?
School of Management Studies CUSAT at NIRF 2025 rank 82, admitting in the 70–85 percentile band with a ₹2.2 L fee and 8.6 LPA average placement.
Can I get an MBA in Kerala without CAT?
Yes. Rajagiri (both the PGDM and the MG University MBA), SCMS Cochin, XIME Kochi and Amrita Kochi take CAT, and Rajagiri’s published Round-1 floor of 50 percentile makes a NIRF-91 college genuinely reachable on a weak CAT. Beyond that, most private institutes here accept CMAT, KMAT, MAT and XAT, so a CAT score is one route among several rather than a requirement.
More ways to compare. Rank this state’s colleges by cost with the lowest-fee MBA list, see which entrance exams are still open, and check that a college is AICTE-approved before you pay.
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.