Updated on 26th March 2026 | 11:20 am | #TopNMATColleges
Top NMAT Colleges: NMAT is a well-recognized MBA entrance examination managed by the Graduate Management Admission Council and is recognized by a total of 78 colleges accepting NMAT scores across the globe. If we talk about India, 51 B-schools accepting NMAT scores in India for their MBA/PGDM admissions. It is particularly known for gaining admission to NMIMS's excellent MBA programs in Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru. And this is not all; NMAT accepting colleges aren’t limited to India but are also widely accepted outside the country as well.
To qualify for NMAT 2026 and secure a place at one of the best NMAT accepting colleges, candidates must have completed a bachelor's degree from a renowned university or college with a minimum aggregate of 50% or an equivalent GPA. Once the registration is completed, candidates can choose 5 colleges from the NMAT colleges list for a registration fee of INR 3000.
This article contains the list of top NMAT colleges and the required NMAT cutoff to receive a call from these B-schools, along with their fee structure and placement statistics.
The registrations for NMAT 2026 exam are expected to begin in the first week of August 2026. The table below showcases the important dates for NMAT exam for the academic year 2026 for your reference:
|
NMAT Events |
Start Date |
End Date |
|
Registration |
First week of August 2026 |
2nd week of October 2026 |
|
Scheduling |
First week of August 2026 |
3rd week of October 2026 |
|
Re-scheduling |
First week of August 2026 |
3rd week of December 2026 |
|
NMAT exam dates |
First week of November 2026 |
3rd week of December 2026 |
|
Retake registration |
First week of November 2026 |
3rd week of December 2026 |
|
Release of NMAT unofficial scorecard |
Immediately after submitting test responses |
|
|
Release of NMAT official scorecard |
Within 48 hours of the exam slot |
|
In order to stay updated with all the latest announcements on NMAT 2026, you must visit: NMAT Notifications 2026
The NMAT examination opens doors to numerous top B-schools with varying percentile cutoffs for admission, accompanied by program fees and average placement records for each institution. This information helps aspiring candidates make informed decisions about their educational and professional pursuits.
Following are the top listed B-schools and their percentile cutoffs, along with program fees and average placement records:
|
MBA Colleges Accepting NMAT Scores |
||||
|
B-School |
Required NMAT Score |
Tuition Fees (2 yrs) |
Avg CTC (LPA) |
Highest CTC (LPA) |
|
NMIMS Mumbai |
235+ |
27L |
25.13 |
67.70 |
|
KJ Somaiya (KJSIM) |
225+ |
23.88L |
- |
27.25 (Highest) |
|
NMIMS Bangalore |
220+ |
22L |
14.11 |
43.25 |
|
IFMR GSB |
222+ |
16L |
13.04 |
21.74 |
|
NMIMS Hyderabad |
210+ |
22L |
12.03 |
19.94 |
|
TAPMI |
200+ |
19.5L |
13.99 |
32.77 |
|
SDA Bocconi |
225+ |
20.75 |
15.01 |
36.5 |
|
NMIMS Indore |
200+ |
19L |
12.5 |
16.8 |
|
SRM University |
200+ |
- |
— |
50 |
|
NMIMS Navi Mumbai |
180+ |
22L |
6.7 |
14 |
|
ISB AMPBA |
170+ |
- |
— |
— |
|
School of Petroleum Mgmt PDPU |
160+ |
- |
9.45 |
21 |
|
ICFAI Business School |
150+ |
- |
— |
26.19 |
|
XIMB-HR |
225+ |
- |
19.53 |
30 |
|
SOIL Institute |
200+ |
15.8L |
10.75 |
27 |
|
BML Munjal |
200+ |
14.6L |
9.4 |
17 |
*The data above has been taken from the official websites of the respective colleges and is subject to change based on the results and analysis of NMAT 2025.
Also Read: NMAT Syllabus | NMAT Exam Pattern
As the number of NMAT Colleges increases, it becomes essential for the candidate to keep track of the NMAT Colleges to which they might be eligible. While there are several colleges that accept the NMAT Score, there are only a few NMAT Colleges that almost all the aspirants will be looking to get into. These colleges are focused on in this section:
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies, popularly known as NMIMS Mumbai, is one of the best colleges accepting NMAT scores for its MBA programs. The university is recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Distance Education Council (DEC). NMIMS is ranked among the top 10 private business schools in India and has a strong reputation for its academic excellence and industry connections. NMAT 2026 aspirants may set a target of 230+ and above in order to meet the cut-off for admission into NMIMS, Mumbai.
SP Jain, Mumbai, also comes under the list of NMAT accepting colleges, which isn't an easy nut to crack. The qualifying NMAT cutoff for SP Jain usually requires an 80 percentile, and the NMAT score range for SPJIMR MBA usually varies from 240 to 300. Candidates with a minimum score of 240 are generally considered for the group discussion (GD) and personal interview (PI) rounds. However, the exact cut-off may vary depending on the session and the quota.
Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar, or XIMB, is one of the top B-schools accepting NMAT scores at XIM University. Yes, you can apply for XIMB via your NMAT score for its prime HR and other programs. The NMAT cut-off and the selection for the same would be as per the XIMB structure, which aspirants need to have regular updates on as it changes over the years. The nominal cut-off of your NMAT score for admission to XIMB would range from 225 and above.
T.A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) is another B-school accepting NMAT scores that offers a full-time MBA program with various specializations, including Marketing, HRM, etc. It is accredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE) and has received numerous awards for its academic excellence. You can make it through TAPMI even using your NMAT scores with a minimum mark of 220 and above.
ISB Hyderabad is among the top B-schools that accept NMAT scores for their business analytics programs. The ISB NMAT cutoff depends on key factors such as the difficulty level of the NMAT exam, the total qualifying candidates, the normalisation of scores, the total seats offered, and the reservation criteria. The minimum marks required to clear the ISB Hyderabad NMAT cutoff are usually around 180 and above; further selection is based on NMAT scores and candidates' performance in GDPI rounds.
There are 45+ colleges accepting NMAT scores for admission to their MBA programs in India. Here is a list of top NMAT colleges as per the official list for your reference:
|
Top NMAT Accepting Colleges |
Location |
|
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) |
Mumbai |
|
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) |
Bangalore |
|
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) |
Hyderabad |
|
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) |
Navi Mumbai |
|
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) |
Indore |
|
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) |
Shirpur |
|
Institute of Management Technology |
Ghaziabad |
|
K J Somaiya Institute of Management |
Mumbai |
|
T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) |
Karnataka |
|
XIM University |
Bhubaneswar |
|
SDA Bocconi Asia Center |
Mumbai |
|
Indian School of Business |
Hyderabad |
|
Great Lakes Institute of Management |
Chennai |
|
ICFAI Business School |
Hyderabad |
|
Shiv Nadar Institute of Management Studies |
Greater Noida |
|
FLAME University |
Pune |
|
Athena School of Management |
Mumbai |
|
Thapar School of Management |
Chandigarh |
|
SOIL Institute of Management |
Gurugram |
|
BML Munjal University |
Delhi NCR |
|
Bennett University |
Noida |
|
Universal Business School |
Mumbai |
|
SRM University |
Chennai |
|
Alliance University |
Bangalore |
|
Amity University |
Noida |
|
Jindal Global Business School |
Delhi NCR |
|
VIT University |
Vellore |
|
Lovely Professional University |
Punjab |
|
Chitkara University |
Chandigarh |
|
Jindal Global Business School |
Delhi NCR |
|
International School Of Business & Research |
Bangalore |
|
Woxsen School of Business Management |
Hyderabad |
NMAT scores are accepted not only in India but also in South Africa, Morocco, Nigeria, Philippines, and Hungary, with over 25 universities. Here is a country-wise list of a few institutes:
Deciding on the right program is just as important as choosing a top B-school with great MBA courses and promising career options. Please refer to the table below for details on the courses available through the NMAT exam:
|
Particular |
Details |
|
Number of NMAT Accepting Colleges |
More than 750+ Colleges (Approximately) |
|
College Fees |
4 - 25 LPA (Varies from College to College) |
|
Courses Offered |
|
|
NMAT Admission Process |
NMAT exam score + GD-PI and WAT |
A candidate gets the option of selecting up to 5 Top NMAT Colleges from the list of participating colleges during NMAT registration. If a candidate wants to apply to more than 5 colleges, an additional fee of Rs 300 + taxes will be charged per scorecard.
GMAC sends the NMAT report to the preferred universities after the declaration of the result. The colleges set a minimum cut-off as an admission barrier to sift the candidates based on various parameters, including 10th, 12th, and graduation grades, gender diversity, and work experience.
While the names of the top NMAT colleges seem to be extremely alluring, the choices should not be made on reputation alone. Numerous factors, including program offered, location, placements, and fees, come into play as per an individual’s requirements.
NMIMS Mumbai remains the top choice for MBA admissions through the NMAT Exam. On the other hand, ISB is a good opportunity for working professionals looking to upgrade themselves or someone who is extremely interested in the field of Machine Learning.
NMAT has the longest testing window of 45 days, and candidates can make a maximum of 3 attempts per year. Candidates can apply for the exam by completing the NMAT 2026 registration process online, which is available on the official website now that registrations are open.
A score of around 200 in NMAT is considered decent and can help you target colleges like K J Somaiya, TAPMI, SDA Bocconi Asia Center, and XIMB (for specific programs like HRM). Top NMIMS campuses, especially Mumbai, typically require higher scores.
Yes, NMAT by GMAC scores are accepted by select international B-schools, particularly in countries like South Africa and the Philippines. However, acceptance varies by institute, so always check the official admission criteria of each college.
You can take the NMAT exam up to three times within a testing window of around 45 days, one main attempt and up to two retakes.
Many NMAT-accepting colleges consider your best score across attempts. However, some institutes like NMIMS consider only the first attempt score, so it's important to plan your first attempt carefully.
A score of around 195 is considered moderate. While it may not be sufficient for top campuses like NMIMS Mumbai, it can still make you eligible for colleges like NMIMS Hyderabad, NMIMS Indore, and other NMAT-accepting institutes depending on their cutoffs.
A score of 230+ is generally considered strong, especially for top colleges like NMIMS Mumbai. Scores in the 200-220 range are also competitive for several good B-schools.
Some of the top NMAT-accepting colleges include NMIMS (Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad), K J Somaiya, TAPMI, SDA Bocconi Asia Center, and XIMB (for specific programs). Each institute has its own sectional and overall cutoff criteria.
If you're aiming for top-tier colleges like NMIMS Mumbai, target a score of 230+. For a wider range of good B-schools, a score of 200-220+ can still give you strong options.