MBA Colleges in Karnataka Accepting Low CAT Score (2026): Fees, Cutoffs & NIRF Ranks
18 MBA and PGDM colleges in Karnataka admit students in the 40–92 CAT percentile range for the 2026-28 batch, 4 of them NIRF 2025 top-100 (best: TAPMI at rank 39). Fees start at ₹1.5 L (KIMS Dharwad, Hubli-Dharwad) and the highest reported average placement is 13.1 LPA at TAPMI. The lowest CAT floor in the state is 40 percentile.
This is the full working list of MBA and PGDM colleges in Karnataka that actually admit candidates below the IIM cutoff — 18 institutes, sorted by NIRF 2025 rank, with the CAT band each one admits in, its total two-year fee and its reported average placement. 13 of them take students at 60 percentile or below.
All 18 MBA colleges in Karnataka
| NIRF 2025 | College | City | CAT band | Total fee | Avg CTC | Also accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | TAPMIT A Pai Management Institute | Manipal | 85–92 %ile | ₹20.1 L | 13.1 LPA | XAT, GMAT, NMAT |
| 57 | Christ BangaloreChrist University Institute of Management | Bangalore | 60–70 %ile | ₹11.4 L | 7.9 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| 71 | AllianceAlliance School of Business Alliance University | Bangalore | 60–70 %ile | ₹15 L | 8.5 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, NMAT, GMAT |
| 73 | CMS JainCMS Business School JAIN University | Bangalore | 50–60 %ile | ₹13.8 L | 8.7 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, NMAT, GMAT |
| 101–125 | PresidencyPresidency University Bengaluru | Bangalore | 50–60 %ile | ₹6.3 L | 7 LPA | PGCET, KMAT, CMAT, MAT, XAT, ATMA |
| — | WeSchool BengaluruPrin L N Welingkar Institute of Management Bengaluru | Bangalore | 60–70 %ile | ₹15 L | 10.7 LPA | XAT, CMAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| — | JAGSoMJagdish Sheth School of Management | Bangalore | 75–85 %ile | ₹17.5 L | 10.3 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, NMAT, GMAT |
| — | XIME BangaloreXavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship Bangalore | Bangalore | 70–80 %ile | ₹12.9 L | 10 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, GMAT, KMAT |
| — | SDMIMDSDM Institute for Management Development | Mysore | 60–70 %ile | ₹14.1 L | 10 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, KMAT |
| — | IBA BangaloreIndus Business Academy | Bangalore | 70–80 %ile | ₹10.8 L | 8.1 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, KMAT, PGCET |
| — | ISBRISBR Business School | Bangalore | 50–70 %ile | ₹12 L | 8 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, NMAT, ATMA, KMAT, PGCET |
| — | ISMEInternational School of Management Excellence | Bangalore | 50–60 %ile | ₹11 L | 8 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, KMAT |
| — | IBS BangaloreICFAI Business School Bangalore | Bangalore | 60–70 %ile | ₹13.1 L | 7.8 LPA | IBSAT, XAT, GMAT, NMAT |
| — | ABBSAcharya Bangalore B-School | Bangalore | 40–55 %ile | ₹9.5 L | 7.5 LPA | KMAT, PGCET, CMAT, MAT, ATMA |
| — | NITK SurathkalSchool of Management NIT Karnataka Surathkal | Mangalore | 70–80 %ile | ₹4 L | 7 LPA | CAT only |
| — | AIMIT MangaloreSt Aloysius Institute of Management and Information Technology | Mangalore | 40–55 %ile | ₹10 L | 4.4 LPA | KMAT, PGCET, MAT, CMAT, XAT |
| — | PES UniversityPES University Faculty of Management | Bangalore | 50–60 %ile | ₹15.1 L | n/a | CMAT, MAT, NMAT, ATMA, PGCET |
| — | KIMS DharwadKousali Institute of Management Studies Karnatak University | Hubli-Dharwad | 40–50 %ile | ₹1.5 L | n/a | PGCET, KMAT, CMAT |
Sorted by NIRF 2025 rank, unranked institutes last. CAT band is the percentile range in which the institute actually admits for 2026-28.
The Karnataka entrance-exam route most candidates miss
Karnataka runs two parallel state routes: Karnataka PGCET for government-quota seats in affiliated colleges, and KMAT Karnataka which most private institutes accept. Bangalore’s PGDM schools — ISBR, IBA, ISME, XIME, Acharya — take CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA and KMAT, so a weak CAT is rarely fatal here.
Deemed universities (Christ, JAIN/CMS, Alliance, PES, Presidency) run their own tests alongside CAT and admit in rolling rounds from December through June. Christ and Alliance in particular shortlist on profile rather than a hard percentile floor, which is why a 60-percentile candidate with strong academics gets calls there.
Across these 18 colleges the most widely accepted alternatives to CAT are CMAT (15 colleges), XAT (14 colleges), MAT (13 colleges), ATMA (9 colleges) and KMAT (9 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 Karnataka
Divide the reported average placement by the total fee. In Karnataka the spread runs from ₹1.5 L at KIMS Dharwad to ₹20.1 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NITK Surathkal | Mangalore | ₹4 L | 7 LPA | 1.75 |
| Presidency | Bangalore | ₹6.3 L | 7 LPA | 1.11 |
| ABBS | Bangalore | ₹9.5 L | 7.5 LPA | 0.79 |
| XIME Bangalore | Bangalore | ₹12.9 L | 10 LPA | 0.78 |
| IBA Bangalore | Bangalore | ₹10.8 L | 8.1 LPA | 0.75 |
| ISME | Bangalore | ₹11 L | 8 LPA | 0.73 |
| WeSchool Bengaluru | Bangalore | ₹15 L | 10.7 LPA | 0.71 |
| SDMIMD | Mysore | ₹14.1 L | 10 LPA | 0.71 |
NIRF 2025 ranked colleges in Karnataka
4 Karnataka 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39 | TAPMIT A Pai Management Institute | Manipal | 85–92 %ile | ₹20.1 L | 13.1 LPA |
| 57 | Christ BangaloreChrist University Institute of Management | Bangalore | 60–70 %ile | ₹11.4 L | 7.9 LPA |
| 71 | AllianceAlliance School of Business Alliance University | Bangalore | 60–70 %ile | ₹15 L | 8.5 LPA |
| 73 | CMS JainCMS Business School JAIN University | Bangalore | 50–60 %ile | ₹13.8 L | 8.7 LPA |
MBA colleges in Karnataka by city
Open a city for its full list, local recruiter mix and fee spread: Bangalore (13), Mangalore (2), Manipal (1), Mysore (1) and Hubli-Dharwad (1).
Frequently asked questions
Which MBA colleges in Karnataka accept a low CAT percentile?
13 of the 18 colleges on this page admit at 60 percentile or below, the lowest floor in the state being 40 percentile. ABBS, AIMIT Mangalore, KIMS Dharwad, ISBR and CMS Jain are the most accessible.
What is the cheapest MBA college in Karnataka?
Kousali Institute of Management Studies Karnatak University in Hubli-Dharwad at ₹1.5 L total for the two-year programme. It does not publish an average placement figure, so ask for the audited placement report before applying. 5 colleges in the state charge under ₹10 lakh in total.
Which is the best MBA college in Karnataka by NIRF ranking?
T A Pai Management Institute at NIRF 2025 rank 39, admitting in the 85–92 percentile band with a ₹20.1 L fee and 13.1 LPA average placement.
Can I get an MBA in Karnataka without CAT?
Yes. Deemed universities (Christ, JAIN/CMS, Alliance, PES, Presidency) run their own tests alongside CAT and admit in rolling rounds from December through June. Beyond that, most private institutes here accept CMAT, XAT, MAT and ATMA, 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.
13 of the 18 Karnataka colleges in our table admit from 60 percentile or lower. The cheapest of those is KIMS Dharwad at ₹1.5 L in total fees, then Presidency (₹6.3 L). Registrations for CAT 2026 are reported lower than last year, but that does not mean lower cut-offs; here is what it does change. For the cheapest options in the 50 to 60 band across India, see the lowest-fee list.
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.