CAT 2025 Cutoff For Top Non-IIM MBA Colleges: Most students think that if they don’t get into an IIM, their MBA dream is over. But they often forget that some of the best-paying jobs in India come from colleges that aren’t IIMs. Whether you want to pay very low fees (like at FMS Delhi) or want to study in the heart of the business world (like at SPJIMR Mumbai), these “Non-IIM” colleges are considered far better than many IIMs.
If you appeared for the CAT exam this year and are wondering which colleges you might receive interview calls from, this blog will help you understand the expected CAT 2025 cutoff required by the top non-IIM colleges.
Also Check: CAT 2025 Results
Table of Contents
Why Target the Non-IIM Colleges?
Before diving into the numbers, it is essential to understand why these colleges are high-priority targets:
- Lower Fees & High ROI: FMS Delhi is legendary for its nominal fee structure (approx. ₹2 Lakhs) against an average package exceeding ₹34 LPA.
- Specialized Excellence: SPJIMR is world-renowned for its Value-based Leadership and Social Sensitivity programs.
- Industry Integration: Colleges like MDI and the IITs (DMS/SJMSOM) have deep-rooted ties with the corporate sector, often being the first choice for niche roles in Finance and Operations.
Also Check – CAT 2025 Category-wise Expected Cutoffs for Top IIMs and B Schools
Expected CAT 2025 Cutoff For Top Non-IIM MBA Colleges
Based on the moderate-to-high difficulty level of the CAT 2025 slots, the cutoffs are expected to remain stable or slightly decrease compared to previous years. Below is the projected percentile-wise list for General category candidates.
| Top Non-IIM Colleges | CAT Cutoff Percentile (General Category) |
Tuition Fees
(For 2 years in LPA) |
Average Package (LPA) |
ROI |
| Faculty of Management Studies (FMS Delhi) | 99+ | 2.32 | 34.10 | 14.70 |
| Indian School of Business (ISB) | 98+ | – | 38.67 | – |
| Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) | 98+ | 1.45 | 28.20 | 19.45 |
| SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) | 98+ | 26.50 | 32 | 1.21 |
| Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) | 97+ | 21.82 | 27.30 | 1.25 |
| Management Development Institute (MDI) | 96+ | 25.99 | 25.60 | 0.98 |
| IIT Bombay (SJMSOM) | 98+ | 15.15 | 25.82 | 1.70 |
| IIT Delhi (DMS) | 96+ | 12.00 | 23.40 | 1.95 |
| IIT Kharagpur – VGSOM | 94 | 2.00 | 22.75 | 2.00 |
| IIT Madras – DMS | 92 | 1.63 | 17.90 | 1.63 |
| BITSOM Mumbai | 85+ | 28.55 | 23.41 | 0.82 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 90 | 21.53 | 16.07 | 0.75 |
| Institute of Rural Management (IRMA) | 85 | 13.60 | 14.14 | 1.04 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM) | 85 | 21.63 | 17.30 | 0.80 |
| International Management Institute (IMI) | 90 | 23.54 | 16.73 | 0.71 |
| IIT Roorkee – DoMS | 92 | 9.68 | 17.91 | 1.85 |
| IIT Kanpur – DoMS | 92 | 4.12 | 17.20 | 4.17 |
| T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) | 83 | 18.00 | 13.99 | 0.78 |
Factors Affecting The CAT Cutoff 2025
CAT cutoffs don’t remain the same every year because the exam and admission situation keeps changing. Several key factors decide whether the cutoff will go up, go down, or stay close to last year:
- Difficulty level of the paper: If a section is tougher than usual, you need fewer marks to reach the 99%ile, so the cutoff scores drop.
- Number of aspirants: With close to 3 lakh test-takers, more serious candidates generally mean higher competition for the top 1%, which can push cutoffs up.
- Number of seats: If an IIM increases its intake, it can afford to admit more students, so the cutoff may go down.
- Academic diversity focus: Since IIMs now give extra weight to female and non-engineer candidates, the overall composite score needed for a call can change, sometimes allowing calls at slightly lower raw CAT scores.
Conclusion
IIMs remain the most aspirational MBA institutions in India, known for their academic rigor, brand value, and top-tier placements. At the same time, several leading non-IIM MBA colleges such as FMS Delhi, SPJIMR, MDI, IIFT, and IIT management schools have established themselves as equally strong alternatives with excellent ROI, industry exposure, and specialized programs. For CAT 2025 aspirants, the key lies in making informed choices by evaluating cutoffs, career goals, and specialization strengths. With the right strategy and profile, candidates can secure outstanding MBA opportunities both within and beyond the IIM ecosystem.
Also Check: CAT 2026 | CAT 2026 Online Classes
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I get a top non-IIM college with an 85 percentile?
A: Yes. Colleges like SPJIMR (profile-based), TAPMI, GIM, and FORE School of Management consider candidates in the 85-90 percentile range, provided they have a strong profile.
Q: Which non-IIM college has the best ROI?
A: FMS Delhi is the undisputed leader in ROI, followed by JBIMS Mumbai and TISS Mumbai (for HR).
Q: Do IITs accept non-engineers for MBA?
A: Of course. Even though most of the students are engineers, schools like DMS IIT Delhi and SJMSOM IIT Bombay actively look for candidates from other fields and encourage students who aren’t engineers to apply.
Q: How do placements compare for non-IIM colleges vs IIMs?
A: Leading non-IIMs frequently showcase impressive placement statistics with robust average packages, although IIMs generally excel in offering the highest packages. Take into account the alignment with the industry and areas of expertise when assessing ROI.
