MBA Colleges in Lucknow Accepting Low CAT Score (2026): Fees, Cutoffs & Placements
4 MBA and PGDM colleges in Lucknow admit in the 40–92 CAT percentile band for 2026-28, 3 of them NIRF 2025 top-100. Fees run ₹1 L to ₹14.8 L and the best reported average is 8.8 LPA at Jaipuria Lucknow. Lowest CAT floor in the city: 50 percentile.
Lucknow’s private tier recruits regionally, with Jaipuria Lucknow the exception — Deloitte and the large banks hire there in volume. The state universities (University of Lucknow, BBAU) recruit locally but cost almost nothing.
All 4 MBA colleges in Lucknow
| NIRF 2025 | College | CAT band | Total fee | Avg CTC | Also accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67 | Jaipuria LucknowJaipuria Institute of Management Lucknow | 55–70 %ile | ₹14.8 L | 8.8 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA |
| 79 | BBAU LucknowBabasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University | 50–65 %ile | ₹1 L | 5 LPA | CUET-PG |
| 100 | University of LucknowUniversity of Lucknow | 50–65 %ile | ₹1.2 L | 5 LPA | CUET-PG |
| — | Amity LucknowAmity University Lucknow | 60–75 %ile | ₹9.4 L | 5.5 LPA | XAT, MAT, CMAT, NMAT |
Sorted by NIRF 2025 rank, unranked institutes last.
What actually decides your seat in Lucknow
The fee gap is stark: BBAU and the University of Lucknow charge ₹1–1.2 lakh through CUET-PG, Jaipuria Lucknow ₹14.8 lakh through CAT/XAT. Both are defensible choices; they are simply answers to different questions.
Across these 4 colleges the alternatives to CAT that come up most often are XAT (2), CMAT (2), MAT (2) and CUET-PG (2). Full routes are in our guide to MBA admission without CAT.
Fees vs placement in Lucknow
| College | City | Total fee | Avg CTC | CTC ÷ fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBAU Lucknow | Lucknow | ₹1 L | 5 LPA | 5.00 |
| University of Lucknow | Lucknow | ₹1.2 L | 5 LPA | 4.17 |
| Jaipuria Lucknow | Lucknow | ₹14.8 L | 8.8 LPA | 0.59 |
| Amity Lucknow | Lucknow | ₹9.4 L | 5.5 LPA | 0.59 |
Cheapest MBA colleges in Lucknow
| College | Total fee | CAT band | Avg CTC | Also accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBAU Lucknow | ₹1 L | 50–65 %ile | 5 LPA | CUET-PG |
| University of Lucknow | ₹1.2 L | 50–65 %ile | 5 LPA | CUET-PG |
| Amity Lucknow | ₹9.4 L | 60–75 %ile | 5.5 LPA | XAT, MAT, CMAT, NMAT |
| Jaipuria Lucknow | ₹14.8 L | 55–70 %ile | 8.8 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA |
Frequently asked questions
Which MBA colleges in Lucknow accept 50–60 percentile in CAT?
University of Lucknow, BBAU Lucknow, Jaipuria Lucknow and Amity Lucknow all admit at or below 60 percentile. The lowest floor in Lucknow is 50 percentile.
What is the cheapest MBA in Lucknow?
Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University at ₹1 L for the full two years, with 5 LPA reported average placement.
Is an MBA in Lucknow worth the fee?
Use placement ÷ fee. The best ratio in Lucknow is BBAU Lucknow at 5.00 (5 LPA on ₹1 L). Anything above 0.9 is healthy for this tier; below 0.6 needs a very good reason.
Watching your budget? See the cheapest MBA colleges in Lucknow ranked by total fee, or the lowest-fee list for all of India.
Missed CAT or expect a low score? See MBA colleges in Lucknow that accept MAT, CMAT, XAT, NMAT or a state test instead.
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.