MBA Colleges Accepting 40–50 Percentile in CAT 2026 (MBA 2027): Full List, Fees & Placements

Last updated: 19 October 2026 (CAT 2026 and fallback-exam dates corrected; Jaipuria Indore now shown with campus-level figures; college data verified 4 September 2026) · CAT 2025 scores → MBA/PGDM 2026-28 batch · Reviewed by the bestmbacollegeswithlowcatscore.com editorial team

Quick answer

A 40–50 percentile in CAT 2025 still qualifies you for 12+ AICTE-approved MBA/PGDM colleges, including one NIRF-ranked institute (BIT Mesra, NIRF 97). Expect total fees of ₹3–10 lakh and average placements of ₹5–8.5 LPA. IIMs and IITs are out of reach in the General category. For the 2027 intake, the December MAT, XAT (3 January) and CMAT (7 February, provisional) give you a second shot at the same colleges.

CAT 2026 cycle note (12 October 2026). The college data below comes from CAT 2025 scores and was last verified on 4 September 2026. CAT 2026 registrations are reported at about 2.84 lakh against 2.95 lakh last year, a small drop. For N between roughly 2.49 and 2.58 lakh, a 40–50 percentile is about rank 1,24,500 to 1,54,800 (an estimate: CAT publishes percentile, not rank; the real N is known only after the 29 November exam). Colleges at this level choose on interview, work experience and fees more than on a few percentile points, so the applicant count barely matters. The sensible move is a second exam: NMAT registration closes on 25 October (GMAC’s own dates page), and MAT’s December session takes registrations until 14 December (paper) or 21 December (computer). More in will fewer CAT applicants lower MBA cut-offs and the rank to percentile calculator.

Roughly one in two CAT takers lands between the 40th and 50th percentile, yet almost every guide online starts at 60. This page fixes that. Below is a verified list of colleges whose actual admitted-student band or published eligibility floor sits at 40–50 percentile, what each one costs, what its graduates earn, and how to decide whether to accept a seat or sit CMAT/MAT instead.

MBA colleges accepting 40–50 percentile in CAT: comparison table

College	City	CAT cutoff (approx.)	Total fee (2 yr)	Avg placement	NIRF 2025	Also accepts
BIT Mesra – Dept. of Management	Ranchi	40 (min. eligibility)	₹7.8 L	₹8.0 LPA (median)	NIRF 97	CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT
Globsyn Business School	Kolkata	50	₹8.95 L	₹6.85 LPA	—	CAT, MAT, CMAT, XAT, ATMA
ISBR Business School (PGDM)	Bangalore	50	₹15.6 L	₹8.0 LPA	—	CAT, XAT, NMAT, CMAT, MAT, KMAT
Jaipuria Institute of Management	Indore	50	₹16.1 L	₹11.8 LPA (Indore campus)	NIRF 101–125	CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, GMAT
Asian Business School (ABS)	Noida, Delhi-NCR	40–50	₹9.55 L	₹8.0 LPA	—	CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, ATMA, GMAT
EMPI Business School	New Delhi	45–60	₹8.95 L	₹8.5 LPA	—	CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, CUET
IES Management College (IES MCRC)	Mumbai (Bandra)	25–70 (round-wise)	₹8.1–9.1 L	₹7.5 LPA	—	CAT, XAT, MAT, ATMA, CMAT, MAH-CET
IIEBM Indus Business School	Pune	45–60	₹9.05 L	₹7.5 LPA	—	CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, NMAT, ATMA
School of Management Sciences (SMS)	Lucknow	45–65	₹2.76 L	₹4.5 LPA	—	CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, ATMA
IMS Unison University	Dehradun	50	₹6.6 L	₹5.9 LPA	—	CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, GMAT
GNIOT Institute of Management Studies	Greater Noida	50	₹8.55 L	₹7.25 LPA	—	CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT
FLAME University (MBA)	Pune	25–60 (round-wise)	₹14.4–19.6 L	₹9.5–11 LPA	—	CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, NMAT, GMAT

Cutoffs are the band in which the institute actually admits students for the 2026-28 batch, as reported by the institute or by Careers360/Collegedunia/MBAUniverse. Fees exclude hostel unless stated.

Read the cutoff column carefully. Very few private B-schools publish an official floor below 60. Colleges appear here because portals and the institutes’ own admission data show students being admitted in the 40–50 band — usually in later rounds or on the strength of academics and interview. A “50” floor means you need to clear 50; a “40–50” band means students in that range have been admitted.

How colleges in this band actually select you

At a 40–50 percentile college the entrance score is a gate, not the decider. Published selection weightages from this tier show CAT/MAT/CMAT carrying 20–35% of the composite score, with the personal interview and group discussion carrying 30–45%, academics 15–25% and work experience or extracurriculars 5–15%. IES Mumbai, for example, scores you out of 300 points: 125 for the entrance test, 80 for the interview, 25 for work experience, 25 each for Class X and XII, and 20 for GD.

Entrance test (CAT/MAT/CMAT/XAT): 20–35% — a 45 percentile costs you a few points, not the seat.
Personal interview + GD/WAT: 30–45% — the single biggest lever you control between now and the interview.
Academic record (X, XII, graduation): 15–25% — 70%+ throughout is a real advantage here.
Work experience / diversity: 5–15% — even 12 months of relevant work moves the needle.

Fees vs placement: which 40–50 percentile colleges give real ROI?

Use one rule: average placement ÷ total fee. Above 0.9 is healthy for this tier; below 0.6 means you will spend two or more years of salary repaying the course.

College	Total fee	Avg placement	Placement ÷ fee	Verdict
SMS Lucknow	₹2.76 L	₹4.5 LPA	1.63	Cheapest entry; modest salaries
BIT Mesra	₹7.8 L	₹8.0 LPA	1.03	Best brand + NIRF rank in the band
EMPI Delhi	₹8.95 L	₹8.5 LPA	0.95	Strong Delhi recruiter access
IES Mumbai	₹8.1–9.1 L	₹7.5 LPA	0.87	Mumbai location, MAH-CET also works
GNIOT Greater Noida	₹8.55 L	₹7.25 LPA	0.85	Acceptable
ABS Noida	₹9.55 L	₹8.0 LPA	0.84	Acceptable; check batch size
IIEBM Pune	₹9.05 L	₹7.5 LPA	0.83	Acceptable
Globsyn Kolkata	₹8.95 L	₹6.85 LPA	0.77	Fair for Eastern India
Jaipuria Indore	₹16.1 L	₹11.8 LPA	0.73	Indore-campus figures; strong salaries, but the priciest seat in this band
ISBR Bangalore (PGDM)	₹15.6 L	₹8.0 LPA	0.51	Expensive for the outcome; negotiate scholarship

Can’t clear 50? Your alternative exams for the same colleges

Every college in the table accepts at least two other tests. For the 2027-29 batch the fallback dates are: MAT December 2026 (tests on 20 December paper-based and 27 December computer-based), XAT on 3 January 2027 (registration closes 6 December) and CMAT on 7 February 2027 (provisional on NTA’s calendar; registration not open as of 19 October 2026). Most students in the 40–50 CAT band use one of these to re-enter the same admission rounds with a stronger percentile. Every date is in one deadline table for 2027 admissions. XAT (January) is accepted by Globsyn, ISBR, Jaipuria, ABS, EMPI, IES, IIEBM and FLAME. In Maharashtra, MAH-CET opens IES and other Mumbai/Pune MMS seats; in Karnataka, KMAT covers ISBR. Read our guide to direct MBA admission without CAT for the full route map.

City-wise picks at 40–50 percentile

Delhi-NCR: EMPI, ABS Noida, GNIOT Greater Noida — see all Delhi-NCR colleges accepting low CAT scores.
Mumbai: IES MCRC Bandra (also via MAH-CET) — see Mumbai colleges.
Bangalore: ISBR (PGDM) — see Bangalore colleges.
Pune: IIEBM Indus Business School, FLAME (later rounds) — see Pune colleges.
East & Central India: BIT Mesra Ranchi, Globsyn Kolkata, Jaipuria Indore.

Timeline: last cycle and the 2027-29 batch

CAT 2025 result: 24 December 2025. CMAT 2026: 25 January 2026 (result 17 February).
Main private-college rounds: January–March 2026. Spot/late rounds ran through June–July 2026 at ISBR, GNIOT, Jaypee, AIMS and others.
CAT 2026 (2027-29 batch): registration closed on 22 September 2026, a week after the original 15 September deadline. Admit cards from 4 November; exam on 29 November in three slots. IIM Indore has not fixed a result date; reports point to late December or early January (what is official so far).
Still open on 19 October 2026: NMAT (register by 25 October), XAT (by 6 December) and MAT December (by 14 or 21 December). CMAT 2027 registration has not opened yet.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get an MBA with 45 percentile in CAT?

Yes. A 45 percentile will not get you an IIM call, but a set of AICTE-approved private B-schools shortlist in the 40–50 band — BIT Mesra (40 percentile minimum eligibility), Globsyn Kolkata, ISBR Bangalore (PGDM), Jaipuria Indore, ABS Noida and EMPI Delhi among them. Your academics, work experience and personal interview carry 55–70% of the final weightage at these colleges.

Is 40 percentile in CAT good for anything?

At 40 percentile you are below the median test-taker, so treat CAT as a qualifying score rather than a differentiator. Most colleges in this band also accept MAT, CMAT, XAT and ATMA, and many students in this range convert a better MAT or CMAT score to enter the same colleges. For the 2027 intake, MAT runs on 20 and 27 December 2026 and CMAT is provisionally on 7 February 2027.

Which MBA colleges accept 40–50 percentile in CAT with fees under ₹10 lakh?

Globsyn Kolkata (₹8.95 L), ABS Noida (₹9.55 L), EMPI Delhi (₹8.95 L), IES Mumbai (₹8.1–9.1 L), IIEBM Pune (₹9.05 L), GNIOT Greater Noida (₹8.55 L), IMS Unison Dehradun (₹6.6 L), BIT Mesra (₹7.8 L) and SMS Lucknow (₹2.76 L) all have total fees below ₹10 lakh.

Is it worth paying ₹9–15 lakh for a college that admits at 45 percentile?

Only if the audited average placement is at least 70–80% of the total fee. BIT Mesra (₹7.8 L fee, ₹8 LPA median), Globsyn (₹8.95 L, ₹6.85 LPA), ABS Noida (₹9.55 L, ₹8 LPA) and EMPI (₹8.95 L, ₹8.5 LPA) pass that test; colleges charging ₹14 L+ in this band need a much closer look at their placement report.

Should I retake CAT or take MAT/CMAT instead?

If you registered for CAT 2026 (29 November) and can realistically reach 60–70 percentile, it opens NIRF-ranked colleges like IMI Bhubaneswar and NDIM. If not, the December 2026 MAT and CMAT 2027 (7 February, provisional) are the faster route into the same 40–50 band colleges for the 2027-29 batch. CAT 2026 registration closed on 22 September, so a fresh CAT attempt now means CAT 2027.

Next step

If your percentile is closer to 50, check whether you also clear the 50–60 percentile list — several NIRF-ranked colleges open up there. Want a shortlist filtered by your budget and city? Use the free form on the homepage and we will send verified fee and placement documents for each college, not brochure numbers.

Planning around a lower score or a tight budget? See the lowest-fee MBA colleges accepting CAT, the cheapest colleges you can enter without CAT and every MBA entrance exam still open after CAT 2026. Still waiting on your form? Check the CAT 2026 correction window and the admit card date.

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

Sources & methodology

Cutoffs are published shortlisting percentiles or the band in which the institute actually admits students; fees are total 2-year programme fees (hostel excluded unless stated); placement figures are the latest institute-reported averages. Cross-checked against NIRF 2025 and the portals below on 4 September 2026. Exam dates re-checked on 19 October 2026 against the official NMAT, MAT and XAT sites and two reports each for CAT and CMAT. Jaipuria Indore figures are campus-level from our directory, not group averages. Always confirm with the institute’s current admission brochure before paying any fee.