MBA Colleges Accepting XAT 2027: 130 Colleges State by State, and Which Admit at a Low Percentile

Published 17 October 2026 · XAT 2027 registration closes 6 December 2026, exam 3 January 2027 · College data verified 4 September 2026 · Prepared by the bestmbacollegeswithlowcatscore.com editorial team

Why XAT is the fallback test with the longest runway

Every other major test closes earlier. NMAT registration ends on 25 October and SNAP on 25 November; CMAT’s 2027 window has not opened yet. XAT, run by XLRI, keeps registration open until 6 December, a week after CAT. You can sit CAT, check how the paper felt, and still decide on XAT. Full dates for each test are in our MBA admission deadline table.

The other reason is reach. In our directory XAT is named by almost as many colleges as CMAT (131) and more than MAT (113) or NMAT (30). It also reaches further up the list: among colleges whose band starts in the 80s, 16 of our 29 name XAT, against 8 for CMAT and 5 for MAT. That makes it useful at both ends of a shortlist.

XAT colleges state by state

Maharashtra leads by a distance, but read that number with care. Most seats there are filled through the state’s CAP counselling on MAH-CET; national tests such as XAT generally apply to the seats each institute fills itself. Our state entrance test guide explains how each state splits its seats. Gujarat is a similar case: in 2026 its centralised ACPC counselling asked for CMAT, MAT or CAT rather than XAT, so XAT matters there mainly at institutes that run their own admissions.

The cheapest XAT colleges with a CAT band starting at 55 or below

If you expect a modest CAT score and want XAT as a safety net, these are the lowest-fee options in our directory where the college’s band starts at 55 percentile or lower.

Half of these twelve are in Maharashtra, and each of them lists MAH-CET first. That is the state-seat pattern again: the fee is low, but a large share of the intake comes through the state test. If you are not from Maharashtra or did not sit MAH-CET, ask each institute how many seats are open to an XAT score before you count it as an option.

All XAT colleges in our directory, cheapest first

To browse every XAT college by city or state, use the full college directory.

Should you register for XAT?

XAT is worth the registration fee in some situations and not in others. A quick way to decide:

If your CAT score turns out low, XAT is not the only route. Compare it with the other fallbacks in MAT vs CMAT vs ATMA, and see the CMAT college list for the test with the most colleges in our directory.

XAT 2027 key dates

Dates as listed by MBAUniverse (updated 14 October 2026). Confirm on the official XAT site before you pay. Fees, eligibility and the registration steps are on our XAT 2027 registration page.

Frequently asked questions

Before you pay anything: check that the college is AICTE-approved and know the refund rules.

Not sure whether XAT belongs on your list? Get your free shortlist →