MBA Colleges in Pune Accepting Low CAT Score (2026): Fees, Cutoffs & Placements

Last updated: 4 September 2026 · CAT 2025 scores → MBA/PGDM 2026-28 batch · Reviewed by the bestmbacollegeswithlowcatscore.com editorial team

Quick answer

7 MBA and PGDM colleges in Pune admit in the 40–92 CAT percentile band for 2026-28. Fees run ₹2.5 L to ₹14.3 L and the best reported average is 11.4 LPA at ISBM Pune. Lowest CAT floor in the city: 40 percentile.

Pune’s recruiter mix is manufacturing and automotive operations, IT services, and a growing analytics and fintech base. Operations and supply-chain specialisations place unusually well here relative to other cities, and the cost of living is materially lower than Mumbai for a two-year programme.

All 7 MBA colleges in Pune

NIRF 2025CollegeCAT bandTotal feeAvg CTCAlso accepts
101–125PIBMPune Institute of Business Management70–80 %ile₹9.5 L10.3 LPAXAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, MAH-CET, PMAT
101–125SBUPSri Balaji University Pune60–75 %ile₹7.1 L8.8 LPAMAH-CET, XAT, CMAT, MAT, SBEST
—ISBM PuneInternational School of Business and Media60–70 %ile₹14.3 L11.4 LPAXAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT
—PUMBADepartment of Management Sciences Savitribai Phule Pune University60–80 %ile₹3 L9.4 LPAMAH-CET, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA
—DYPBSDr. D. Y. Patil B-School50–65 %ile₹8.7 L8 LPAXAT, CMAT, ATMA, MAH-CET, MAT
—IMDR PuneInstitute of Management Development and Research80–90 %ile₹6 L6.1 LPAXAT, MAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, ATMA, GMAT
—SIOMSinhgad Institute of Management40–55 %ile₹2.5 L4.6 LPAMAH-CET, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT

Sorted by NIRF 2025 rank, unranked institutes last.

What actually decides your seat in Pune

PUMBA — the Savitribai Phule Pune University department — is the value anchor at about ₹3 lakh with a ₹9.4 LPA average, but its MAH-CET seats are among the most contested in the state. IMDR at ₹6 lakh is the best fee-to-outcome private option; PIBM and ISBM sit higher on fee with stronger corporate-immersion programming.

Across these 7 colleges the alternatives to CAT that come up most often are XAT (7), CMAT (7), MAT (7) and MAH-CET (6). Full routes are in our guide to MBA admission without CAT.

Fees vs placement in Pune

CollegeCityTotal feeAvg CTCCTC ÷ fee
PUMBAPune₹3 L9.4 LPA3.13
SIOMPune₹2.5 L4.6 LPA1.84
SBUPPune₹7.1 L8.8 LPA1.24
PIBMPune₹9.5 L10.3 LPA1.08
IMDR PunePune₹6 L6.1 LPA1.02
DYPBSPune₹8.7 L8 LPA0.92
ISBM PunePune₹14.3 L11.4 LPA0.80
Placement ÷ fee above 0.9 is healthy for this tier; below 0.6 means roughly two years of salary go into repaying the course. Colleges that publish no average are omitted.

Cheapest MBA colleges in Pune

CollegeTotal feeCAT bandAvg CTCAlso accepts
SIOM₹2.5 L40–55 %ile4.6 LPAMAH-CET, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, GMAT
PUMBA₹3 L60–80 %ile9.4 LPAMAH-CET, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA
IMDR Pune₹6 L80–90 %ile6.1 LPAXAT, MAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, ATMA, GMAT
SBUP₹7.1 L60–75 %ile8.8 LPAMAH-CET, XAT, CMAT, MAT, SBEST
DYPBS₹8.7 L50–65 %ile8 LPAXAT, CMAT, ATMA, MAH-CET, MAT
PIBM₹9.5 L70–80 %ile10.3 LPAXAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA, MAH-CET, PMAT

Frequently asked questions

Which MBA colleges in Pune accept 50–60 percentile in CAT?

SIOM, DYPBS, PUMBA, SBUP and ISBM Pune all admit at or below 60 percentile. The lowest floor in Pune is 40 percentile.

What is the cheapest MBA in Pune?

Sinhgad Institute of Management at ₹2.5 L for the full two years, with 4.6 LPA reported average placement.

Is an MBA in Pune worth the fee?

Use placement ÷ fee. The best ratio in Pune is PUMBA at 3.13 (9.4 LPA on ₹3 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 Pune ranked by total fee, or the lowest-fee list for all of India.

Missed CAT or expect a low score? See MBA colleges in Pune 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.

Leave a Comment