MBA Colleges in Chennai Without CAT: TANCET, MAT and the ₹1.4 Lakh Exception
Our directory lists seven MBA colleges in Chennai, and none is CAT-only. Five name TANCET, Anna University’s state test, and LIBA lists XAT alone. The standout is Anna University’s Department of Management Studies at ₹1.4 lakh in total fees, against ₹6 lakh for the next-cheapest. Its seats fill through TANCET counselling, which ran from March to July this year, so it’s a spring 2027 plan.
The 7, cheapest first
| College | CAT band | Total fee | Avg CTC | Also accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DoMS Anna UniversityDepartment of Management Studies Anna University | 40–55 %ile | ₹1.4 L | 6 LPA | TANCET, MAT |
| Saveetha ChennaiSaveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences | 50–65 %ile | ₹6 L | 5.5 LPA | MAT, CMAT, TANCET |
| SSN SOMSSN School of Management | 60–70 %ile | ₹7 L | 6.8 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, TANCET, ATMA |
| SRM ChennaiSRM Institute of Science and Technology | 55–70 %ile | ₹8 L | 6.5 LPA | MAT, CMAT, XAT, TANCET |
| XIME ChennaiXavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship Chennai | 60–70 %ile | ₹9.9 L | 8.6 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, TANCET, GMAT |
| LIBALoyola Institute of Business Administration | 80–88 %ile | ₹19.1 L | 11.2 LPA | XAT |
| GLIM ChennaiGreat Lakes Institute of Management Chennai | 80–90 %ile | ₹22.5 L | 15 LPA | XAT, CMAT, NMAT, GMAT |
Cheapest first. Total two-year fee excluding hostel. The last column names every test the college accepts.
What TANCET is, and what it fills
TANCET is the Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test, run by Anna University on the state’s behalf. It feeds a single-window counselling covering Anna University’s departments and regional campuses, Annamalai University, government and government-aided colleges, and the government quota in self-financing colleges. In 2026 applications ran from 16 March to 16 April, the exam was on 9 May, results came on 22 May, counselling registration ran from 4 to 30 June, and the consolidated MBA rank list was due on 16 July.
Why the ₹1.4 lakh seat is different
The jump from ₹1.4 lakh at Anna University to ₹6 lakh at Saveetha is the biggest gap on this list. DoMS Anna University admits at 40 to 55 percentile and reports an average placement of ₹6 lakh a year, about four times the entire fee. The route in is TANCET counselling, with MAT also named, which is why it’s worth treating TANCET as the main event if you want a low-fee Chennai MBA rather than a backup.
If you’ve missed TANCET
The other six don’t depend on it. SSN School of Management, SRM, XIME and Saveetha all take MAT, CMAT or both, and SSN, SRM and XIME take XAT too. LIBA and Great Lakes sit much higher, at 80 to 90 percentile, and both list XAT, which closes for registration on 6 December. A realistic fallback plan is one MAT or CMAT score now for the middle four, and TANCET next spring for the Anna University seat.
Questions people ask
Can I get an MBA in Chennai without CAT?
Yes. None of the seven Chennai colleges in our directory is CAT-only. Five name TANCET, and the others take MAT, CMAT or XAT.
What is the cheapest MBA college in Chennai?
In our directory, the Department of Management Studies at Anna University, at ₹1.4 lakh in total fees. Seats are filled through TANCET counselling.
When is TANCET 2027?
Not announced. In 2026 applications ran from 16 March to 16 April and the exam was on 9 May, so expect a similar spring window.
Is TANCET the same as CAT?
No. TANCET is a Tamil Nadu state test run by Anna University. A CAT score does not replace it for TANCET counselling seats.
Before you pay anything: check that the college is AICTE-approved and know the refund rules.
Where this comes from
College data is from this site’s directory (verified 4 September 2026). TANCET dates are as reported on the pages below.