MBA Colleges in Maharashtra Accepting Low CAT Score (2026): Fees, Cutoffs & NIRF Ranks
26 MBA and PGDM colleges in Maharashtra admit students in the 40–92 CAT percentile range for the 2026-28 batch, 4 of them NIRF 2025 top-100 (best: IIM Nagpur at rank 25). Fees start at ₹1.6 L (DIEMS, Aurangabad) and the highest reported average placement is 17 LPA at IIM Nagpur. The lowest CAT floor in the state is 40 percentile.
This is the full working list of MBA and PGDM colleges in Maharashtra that actually admit candidates below the IIM cutoff — 26 institutes, sorted by NIRF 2025 rank, with the CAT band each one admits in, its total two-year fee and its reported average placement. 17 of them take students at 60 percentile or below.
All 26 MBA colleges in Maharashtra
| NIRF 2025 | College | City | CAT band | Total fee | Avg CTC | Also accepts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | IIM NagpurIndian Institute of Management Nagpur | Nagpur | 92–96 %ile | ₹18.5 L | 17 LPA | CAT only |
| 65 | KJSIMK J Somaiya Institute of Management | Mumbai | 84–92 %ile | ₹23.9 L | 13.1 LPA | XAT, NMAT, CMAT, GMAT |
| 75 | WeSchool MumbaiPrin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research | Mumbai | 70–80 %ile | ₹14 L | 11.7 LPA | XAT, CMAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| 99 | IMT NagpurInstitute of Management Technology Nagpur | Nagpur | 75–85 %ile | ₹13.5 L | 11 LPA | XAT, CMAT, GMAT |
| 101–125 | PIBMPune Institute of Business Management | Pune | 70–80 %ile | ₹9.5 L | 10.3 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, MAH-CET, PMAT |
| 101–125 | SBUPSri Balaji University Pune | Pune | 60–75 %ile | ₹7.1 L | 8.8 LPA | MAH-CET, XAT, CMAT, MAT, SBEST |
| — | ISBM PuneInternational School of Business and Media | Pune | 60–70 %ile | ₹14.3 L | 11.4 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| — | NLDIMSRN. L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research | Mumbai | 75–85 %ile | ₹16.5 L | 11.2 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| — | PUMBADepartment of Management Sciences Savitribai Phule Pune University | Pune | 60–80 %ile | ₹3 L | 9.4 LPA | MAH-CET, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA |
| — | SIESCOMSSIES College of Management Studies | Navi Mumbai | 60–75 %ile | ₹10 L | 8.8 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| — | ITM Navi MumbaiITM Business School | Navi Mumbai | 50–78 %ile | ₹13.5 L | 8.7 LPA | XAT, NMAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, MAH-CET |
| — | DYPBSDr. D. Y. Patil B-School | Pune | 50–65 %ile | ₹8.7 L | 8 LPA | XAT, CMAT, ATMA, MAH-CET, MAT |
| — | IES MCRCIES Management College and Research Centre | Mumbai | 70–80 %ile | ₹8.6 L | 7.5 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| — | TIMSRThakur Institute of Management Studies and Research | Mumbai | 60–70 %ile | ₹5.1 L | 7.5 LPA | MAH-CET, CMAT |
| — | MET MumbaiMET Institute of Management | Mumbai | 55–70 %ile | ₹4.1 L | 7.5 LPA | MAH-CET, CMAT, XAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| — | CIMRChetana's Institute of Management and Research | Mumbai | 70–80 %ile | ₹9.6 L | 7 LPA | XAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, MAT, ATMA |
| — | VESIMVivekanand Education Society's Institute of Management Studies and Research | Mumbai | 60–70 %ile | ₹6.4 L | 6.1 LPA | MAH-CET, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| — | IMDR PuneInstitute of Management Development and Research | Pune | 80–90 %ile | ₹6 L | 6.1 LPA | XAT, MAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, ATMA, GMAT |
| — | XIMRXavier Institute of Management and Research | Mumbai | 55–65 %ile | ₹6.2 L | 6 LPA | MAH-CET, CMAT, MAT, ATMA |
| — | LLIMLala Lajpatrai Institute of Management | Mumbai | 50–60 %ile | ₹3.8 L | 5.5 LPA | MAH-CET, CMAT, XAT, MAT, ATMA, NMAT, GMAT |
| — | SIOMSinhgad Institute of Management | Pune | 40–55 %ile | ₹2.5 L | 4.6 LPA | MAH-CET, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| — | DIEMSDeogiri Institute of Engineering and Management Studies | Aurangabad | 40–50 %ile | ₹1.6 L | 4 LPA | MAH-CET, CMAT, ATMA |
| — | CSIBERChhatrapati Shahu Institute of Business Education and Research | Kolhapur | 40–55 %ile | ₹2.6 L | 3 LPA | MAH-CET, CMAT, XAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| — | DAIMSRDr. Ambedkar Institute of Management Studies and Research | Nagpur | 40–55 %ile | ₹1.8 L | 2.6 LPA | MAH-CET, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT |
| — | MET NashikMET's Institute of Management Nashik | Nashik | 40–55 %ile | ₹2.8 L | n/a | MAH-CET, CMAT, XAT, GMAT |
| — | MGMUMGM University Institute of Management | Aurangabad | 40–50 %ile | ₹2.7 L | n/a | MAT, 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 Maharashtra entrance-exam route most candidates miss
Maharashtra is the one state where CAT is often the harder route. Roughly 85 per cent of MMS and MBA seats in Mumbai and Pune are filled through MAH-CET, the state CET run by the DTE, via CAP (Centralised Admission Process) rounds. A candidate at 50 CAT percentile with a decent MAH-CET score will usually convert a better college through CAP than through the institute-level CAT quota, and at a fraction of the fee — CAP seats at VESIM, Thakur, MET and Lala Lajpatrai run ₹3.8–6.4 lakh against ₹9–16 lakh at the autonomous PGDM schools.
PGDM institutes (Welingkar, SIESCOMS, ITM, Chetana’s, N. L. Dalmia, PIBM, ISBM) sit outside CAP and run their own CAT/XAT/CMAT-based admissions. MBA/MMS colleges affiliated to Mumbai University or SPPU go through CAP. Apply to both — they are separate processes with separate deadlines.
Across these 26 colleges the most widely accepted alternatives to CAT are CMAT (25 colleges), XAT (21 colleges), MAH-CET (20 colleges), ATMA (19 colleges) and MAT (19 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 Maharashtra
Divide the reported average placement by the total fee. In Maharashtra the spread runs from ₹1.6 L at DIEMS to ₹23.9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PUMBA | Pune | ₹3 L | 9.4 LPA | 3.13 |
| DIEMS | Aurangabad | ₹1.6 L | 4 LPA | 2.50 |
| SIOM | Pune | ₹2.5 L | 4.6 LPA | 1.84 |
| MET Mumbai | Mumbai | ₹4.1 L | 7.5 LPA | 1.83 |
| TIMSR | Mumbai | ₹5.1 L | 7.5 LPA | 1.47 |
| LLIM | Mumbai | ₹3.8 L | 5.5 LPA | 1.45 |
| DAIMSR | Nagpur | ₹1.8 L | 2.6 LPA | 1.44 |
| SBUP | Pune | ₹7.1 L | 8.8 LPA | 1.24 |
NIRF 2025 ranked colleges in Maharashtra
4 Maharashtra 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | IIM NagpurIndian Institute of Management Nagpur | Nagpur | 92–96 %ile | ₹18.5 L | 17 LPA |
| 65 | KJSIMK J Somaiya Institute of Management | Mumbai | 84–92 %ile | ₹23.9 L | 13.1 LPA |
| 75 | WeSchool MumbaiPrin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development and Research | Mumbai | 70–80 %ile | ₹14 L | 11.7 LPA |
| 99 | IMT NagpurInstitute of Management Technology Nagpur | Nagpur | 75–85 %ile | ₹13.5 L | 11 LPA |
MBA colleges in Maharashtra by city
Open a city for its full list, local recruiter mix and fee spread: Mumbai (10), Pune (7), Nagpur (3), Navi Mumbai (2), Aurangabad (2), Nashik (1) and Kolhapur (1).
Frequently asked questions
Which MBA colleges in Maharashtra accept a low CAT percentile?
17 of the 26 colleges on this page admit at 60 percentile or below, the lowest floor in the state being 40 percentile. SIOM, DAIMSR, MET Nashik, DIEMS and MGMU are the most accessible.
What is the cheapest MBA college in Maharashtra?
Deogiri Institute of Engineering and Management Studies in Aurangabad at ₹1.6 L total for the two-year programme, reporting 4 LPA average placement. 19 colleges in the state charge under ₹10 lakh in total.
Which is the best MBA college in Maharashtra by NIRF ranking?
Indian Institute of Management Nagpur at NIRF 2025 rank 25, admitting in the 92–96 percentile band with a ₹18.5 L fee and 17 LPA average placement.
Can I get an MBA in Maharashtra without CAT?
Yes. PGDM institutes (Welingkar, SIESCOMS, ITM, Chetana’s, N. Beyond that, most private institutes here accept CMAT, XAT, MAH-CET 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.
17 of the 26 Maharashtra colleges in our table admit from 60 percentile or lower. The cheapest of those is DIEMS at ₹1.6 L in total fees, then DAIMSR (₹1.8 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.