MBA Colleges for 85 to 90 Percentile in CAT 2026: Fees, Cutoffs & Admission

Scoring 85–90 percentile in CAT 2026 can open admission opportunities at IMI Delhi, GIM Goa, FORE Delhi, Great Lakes Chennai, LBSIM, K J Somaiya, IIT Kanpur, IMS BHU and selected NITs. Compare the latest official CAT rules, fees and admission criteria before applying.

An 85 to 90 percentile in CAT can put several reputed MBA and PGDM colleges within consideration, including private B-schools and relatively affordable public institutes. However, students should not assume that every college appearing on an “85 percentile colleges” list has officially declared an 85 percentile cutoff.

Some institutes publish a minimum CAT requirement. Others shortlist candidates using CAT along with academics, work experience, diversity and interviews without publishing a fixed percentile.

For CAT 2026 aspirants: CAT 2026 will primarily be used for admission to the 2027–29 batch. LBSIM and K J Somaiya have already published CAT 2026-related admission information. For colleges that have not yet released 2027–29 criteria, the latest official 2026–28 rules are used as a reference.

Best MBA Colleges for 85 to 90 Percentile in CAT 2026

College	85–90 CAT Positioning	CAT Position	Fees
IMI Delhi	Target	CAT accepted; no fixed cutoff published	₹23.54 lakh
GIM Goa	Target	CAT accepted; no fixed universal cutoff published	₹21.45 lakh academic fee
FORE School of Management	Target	Shortlisting based on CAT/XAT/GMAT	₹23.24 lakh
Great Lakes Chennai	Target	CAT accepted for PGDM	₹22.50 lakh including mandatory accommodation
LBSIM Delhi	Target	CAT 2026 accepted for 2027–29	₹17.25 lakh + listed additional charges
K J Somaiya	Target/Profile-dependent	CAT 2026 accepted; merit + profile-based shortlisting	Latest published MBA fee ₹23.88 lakh
IIT Kanpur DoMS	Above published minimum	80 percentile minimum for GEN/EWS/OBC in latest cycle	Semester-wise fee
IMS BHU	Low-fee target	CAT used; no fixed percentile published	₹1.20 lakh
NIT Trichy	Public MBA option	Shortlisting based on CAT overall percentile	Check current fee schedule
NIT Calicut	Public MBA option	Valid CAT score required	Check applicable regular-MBA fee
TAPMI Manipal	Profile-dependent	>90 or >80 depending on work experience	₹9.75 lakh/year tuition
MICA Ahmedabad	Specialist option	CAT/XAT/GMAT + MICAT	Check current programme fee

Target means the college is worth considering in this percentile range based on its admission framework and competitive positioning. It does not mean the institute has officially declared 85–90 percentile as a guaranteed interview cutoff.

Which MBA Colleges Can I Get With 85–90 Percentile in CAT?

At 85–90 percentile in CAT, candidates can consider IMI Delhi, GIM Goa, FORE Delhi, Great Lakes Chennai, LBSIM, K J Somaiya, IIT Kanpur, IMS BHU and selected NITs.

Admission chances vary because many colleges evaluate more than the CAT score. Academics, work experience, profile quality and interview performance can materially affect the final result.

A practical shortlist should include three categories.

Strong Target Options

• IMI Delhi
• GIM Goa
• FORE School of Management
• Great Lakes Chennai
• LBSIM Delhi
• K J Somaiya
• IMS BHU

Public MBA Options

• IIT Kanpur
• IMS BHU
• NIT Trichy
• NIT Calicut

Profile-Dependent or Specialised Options

• TAPMI Manipal
• MICA Ahmedabad

Candidates closer to 85 percentile should apply more broadly, while candidates approaching 90 percentile can add more competitive options.

1. IMI Delhi

International Management Institute Delhi is one of the major private B-schools students can consider in the 85–90 CAT percentile range.

IMI accepts:

• CAT
• XAT
• GMAT

Its selection process evaluates candidates using entrance-test scores along with:

• previous academics;
• work experience;
• video assessment; and
• personal interview.

Importantly, IMI states that there is no fixed cutoff and applicants are evaluated holistically. Therefore, figures such as “IMI Delhi CAT cutoff = 90 percentile” should not be described as official.

IMI Delhi Fees

The current PGDM programme fee is:

₹23.54 lakh

IMI Delhi Placements

For the 2023–25 batch, IMI officially reported:

Placement Metric	CTC
Average CTC	₹17.91 LPA
Median CTC	₹16.61 LPA
Highest CTC	₹40.31 LPA

The institute reported 100% placement for the batch.

Should You Apply to IMI Delhi at 85–90 Percentile?

IMI should be considered particularly by candidates near the upper end of this range.

However, because IMI does not publish a fixed CAT cutoff, percentile alone cannot predict whether a candidate will receive an interview call.

2. Goa Institute of Management

Goa Institute of Management is another major B-school to consider for candidates in this percentile range.

GIM accepts entrance exams including:

• CAT
• XAT
• GMAT

For its 2026–28 admission cycle, GIM accepted CAT 2025 and required at least 50% aggregate in the bachelor’s degree, subject to applicable category relaxation.

The institute does not publish a simple universal CAT cutoff such as 85 or 90 percentile on its current admission page.

GIM Goa Fees

The latest officially published academic fee for the flagship PGDM is:

₹21.45 lakh

This is the academic fee. Other applicable expenses should be considered separately.

GIM Goa Placements

For the Class of 2026 flagship PGDM, GIM reported:

• Average CTC: ₹16.27 LPA
• Median CTC: ₹15 LPA
• Highest CTC: ₹35 LPA
• 110+ recruiters

Should You Apply to GIM at 85–90 Percentile?

Yes. GIM can be included in a balanced shortlist in this range.

Candidates should not, however, treat third-party “GIM cutoff” estimates as guaranteed official interview thresholds.

3. FORE School of Management Delhi

FORE School of Management accepts CAT for its major full-time PGDM programmes.

The programmes include:

• PGDM
• PGDM International Business
• PGDM Financial Management
• PGDM Big Data Analytics

For the latest completed admission framework, candidates were shortlisted using CAT/XAT/GMAT scores, followed by a Personal Interview.

Final selection considered entrance-test score, PI performance, academics and work experience.

FORE Delhi Fees

The self-sponsored programme fee is:

₹23.24 lakh

A one-time registration fee of ₹23,000 is charged separately.

FORE Selection Weightage

For the 2026–28 batch, FORE stated the proposed selection weightage as:

Parameter	Weightage
CAT/XAT/GMAT score	35%
Personal Interview	25%
Past academics	22%
Work experience	10%
Regional diversity	5%
Gender diversity	3%

Should You Apply to FORE at 85–90 Percentile?

Yes.

FORE is worth considering in this range, but its official admission material does not publish a universal “85 percentile cutoff”.

Candidates should treat 85–90 percentile as an application range rather than a guaranteed shortlist.

4. Great Lakes Institute of Management Chennai

Great Lakes Chennai offers a two-year PGDM for candidates with relatively limited work experience.

CAT is among the accepted entrance examinations.

For students researching MBA colleges for 85–90 percentile, the two-year PGDM is usually the relevant programme rather than Great Lakes’ one-year PGPM for experienced professionals.

Great Lakes Chennai Fees

For PGDM 2026–28:

Component	Fee
Tuition fee	₹10.25 lakh
Programme fee	₹5.78 lakh
Accommodation	₹6.32 lakh
Other listed charges	₹15,000
Total	₹22.50 lakh

The programme is residential, so accommodation is mandatory. Vegetarian meals are included in the published fee structure.

Great Lakes Chennai Placements

For the PGDM Class of 2025:

• Average CTC: ₹15 LPA
• Highest CTC: ₹39.3 LPA
• 63 PPOs

Is Great Lakes Good for 85–90 CAT Percentile?

Great Lakes Chennai can be included among private B-schools to consider in this range.

As with several institutes on this list, applicants should not confuse an unofficial expected percentile with an officially declared admission cutoff.

5. LBSIM Delhi

Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management is especially relevant for CAT 2026 aspirants because its 2027–29 admissions are already open.

LBSIM officially accepts:

• CAT 2026
• XAT 2027
• GMAT

Candidates require a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks.

The institute states that cutoffs are programme-specific and announced each cycle rather than publishing a universal 85 or 90 percentile requirement.

LBSIM Selection Process

Shortlisting considers:

• CAT/XAT/GMAT score;
• previous academics;
• work experience; and
• information in the application.

Shortlisted candidates appear for:

• Extempore
• Personal Interview

Final selection considers the entrance score along with the interview, academics and work experience.

LBSIM Fees for 2027–29

For a General-category seat in the PGDM programmes, LBSIM has published:

₹17.25 lakh as the main two-year programme fee

The institute separately lists additional charges including:

• ₹25,000 mandatory experiential immersion programme
• ₹10,000 refundable security
• ₹15,000 examination fee
• ₹50,000 Management Grid fee
• ₹15,000 alumni fee

The specified additional charges total ₹1.15 lakh, bringing the currently identifiable listed amount to approximately ₹18.40 lakh, including the refundable security deposit and excluding optional international immersion.

LBSIM Placements

For the 2024–26 batch, the institute currently reports:

• Average CTC: ₹12.32 LPA
• Highest CTC: ₹24 LPA
• Top 25% average: ₹14.19 LPA

The placement report notes that recruitment is still underway, so the final figures can change.

Should You Apply to LBSIM at 85–90 Percentile?

Yes.

LBSIM should be included in the shortlist, and unlike several other institutes, its current admissions page already explicitly accepts CAT 2026 for the 2027–29 batch.

6. K J Somaiya Institute of Management

K J Somaiya Institute of Management is another important addition for CAT 2026 candidates.

Its current admissions page states that applicants can appear through:

• CAT 2026
• XAT 2027
• GMAT
• NMAT
• CMAT 2027

K J Somaiya Shortlisting Process

KJSIM uses two routes.

Cutoff-Based Shortlisting

Candidates meeting the institute’s entrance-exam cutoff can be shortlisted for the admission process.

Profile-Based Shortlisting

Candidates who do not meet the merit cutoff can still be considered if they meet profile-based criteria such as:

• consistent academic performance;
• 12–42 months of full-time work experience; and
• a valid accepted entrance score.

Shortlisted candidates go through:

• Problem Situation Analysis;
• Personal Interview; and
• Written Ability Test.

This makes K J Somaiya particularly relevant for candidates whose overall profile is stronger than their CAT percentile alone suggests.

K J Somaiya MBA Fees

The latest fee currently published for the 2026–28 MBA batch is:

Year	Total Listed Fee
MBA Year 1	₹11.52 lakh
MBA Year 2	₹12.355 lakh
Total	₹23.875 lakh

Hostel charges are separate.

The fee for the CAT 2026-based batch should be rechecked when KJSIM publishes the corresponding updated fee schedule.

K J Somaiya Placements

For MBA 2024–26, the institute currently reports:

• Highest package: ₹29.30 LPA
• Median CTC: ₹12 LPA
• 210 recruiters

Should You Apply to K J Somaiya at 85–90 Percentile?

Yes.

The combination of cutoff-based and profile-based shortlisting makes KJSIM worth considering across this percentile range, particularly for candidates with strong academics or relevant work experience.

7. IIT Kanpur DoMS

IIT Kanpur is one of the strongest public-institute options for candidates looking for MBA colleges at 85–90 CAT percentile.

Unlike many private B-schools on this list, IIT Kanpur publishes a clear minimum CAT requirement.

For the 2026–28 batch, GEN, EWS and OBC applicants required:

80 percentile or above in CAT 2025

Applicants also needed:

• 65% or above in Class 10;
• 65% or above in Class 12;
• at least 60% or 6.0 CPI in graduation; and
• Mathematics at Class 12 or equivalent level.

Does 85–90 Percentile Guarantee IIT Kanpur?

No.

The 80 percentile is a minimum eligibility requirement, not a guaranteed interview cutoff.

IIT Kanpur states that the actual shortlisting cutoff can be determined based on the number of applications and available seats.

IIT Kanpur Final Selection

The latest selection framework includes:

Component	Weightage
Scaled CAT score	20%
Class 10 + 12 academics	20%
Work experience	10%
Personal Interview	35%
Undergraduate performance	15%

IIT Kanpur releases MBA fees semester-wise, so candidates should use the latest institute fee schedule rather than relying on an old two-year estimate.

8. IMS BHU

Institute of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University is one of the strongest low-fee MBA options in this percentile consideration set.

It offers:

• MBA
• MBA International Business

The latest official admission bulletin confirms CAT-based admission.

IMS BHU MBA Fees

The 2026–28 fee is:

Semester	Fee
Semester 1	₹30,000
Semester 2	₹30,000
Semester 3	₹30,000
Semester 4	₹30,000
Total	₹1.20 lakh

Hostel and mess costs are separate.

IMS BHU Selection Process

The latest published selection framework gives:

• CAT: 50%
• Academic record: 20%
• Group Discussion: 15%
• Personal Interview: 15%

The official bulletin does not publish a simple fixed 85 or 90 percentile admission cutoff.

Why Consider BHU at 85–90 Percentile?

Its biggest advantages are:

• extremely low MBA fee;
• central university;
• CAT-based admission;
• general MBA option;
• MBA International Business option.

For students concerned about MBA ROI and education-loan burden, IMS BHU deserves serious consideration.

9. NIT Trichy

The Department of Management Studies at NIT Tiruchirappalli accepts CAT for MBA admission.

Candidates are shortlisted based on their CAT overall percentile.

Final selection considers:

• CAT overall percentile;
• undergraduate academics;
• work experience; and
• Personal Interview.

Is 85–90 Percentile Enough for NIT Trichy?

The current admission information does not state a universal fixed CAT percentile cutoff.

Therefore, NIT Trichy is worth considering in this score range, but an interview call should not be assumed solely from third-party cutoff estimates.

NIT Trichy also publishes a dedicated 2026 MBA fee structure through its official fees section. Candidates should use the latest schedule when calculating the total cost.

10. NIT Calicut

NIT Calicut offers a two-year full-time MBA through its Department of Management Studies.

For the regular MBA route in the 2026–28 cycle, applicants needed:

• a recognised bachelor’s degree;
• 60% aggregate for GEN/GEN-EWS/OBC-NCL;
• 55% for SC/ST/PwD; and
• a valid CAT 2025 score.

Selection is based on CAT score along with a written test and/or Personal Interview conducted by the department.

The regular MBA intake for the latest cycle was 75 seats.

Is NIT Calicut Good for 85–90 Percentile?

It is another public MBA option worth considering.

The official brochure does not publish a universal CAT percentile cutoff, so 85–90 percentile should be treated as a possible application range rather than a guaranteed call.

11. MICA Ahmedabad

MICA is a specialist management option for candidates interested in areas such as:

• marketing;
• brand management;
• strategic communication;
• digital business;
• media;
• consumer-focused roles.

Applicants must take at least one of:

• CAT;
• XAT;
• GMAT

and must also appear for MICAT.

MICA Selection Process

Admission involves three major filters:

1. CAT/XAT/GMAT
2. MICAT
3. Group Exercise and Personal Interview

MICA states that a minimum CAT/XAT percentile or GMAT score is considered, but the numerical threshold is not published in the current official selection document.

Therefore, MICA should not be described simply as an “85 percentile college”.

It is better treated as a specialised option where CAT is only one part of admission.

MBA Colleges to Consider at 85 Percentile in CAT

Candidates around 85 percentile can consider:

• GIM Goa
• FORE School of Management
• Great Lakes Chennai
• LBSIM Delhi
• K J Somaiya
• IIT Kanpur
• IMS BHU
• NIT Trichy
• NIT Calicut

TAPMI may also be possible where the candidate’s work-experience profile meets the programme-specific requirement.

At 85 percentile, candidates should avoid building an overly narrow shortlist. Apply across target and safer options because many institutes do not publish fixed interview cutoffs.

MBA Colleges to Consider at 90 Percentile in CAT

Candidates around 90 percentile can consider:

• IMI Delhi
• GIM Goa
• FORE School of Management
• Great Lakes Chennai
• LBSIM Delhi
• K J Somaiya
• IIT Kanpur
• IMS BHU
• NIT Trichy
• NIT Calicut
• MICA, subject to MICAT
• TAPMI, subject to its programme and work-experience criteria

Being closer to 90 percentile strengthens the potential shortlist, but 90 percentile does not guarantee admission to any college on this page.

Government MBA Colleges for 85–90 CAT Percentile

Candidates looking specifically for government or public MBA colleges for 85–90 CAT percentile can consider:

College	CAT Position	Key Advantage
IIT Kanpur	80 percentile minimum for GEN/EWS/OBC in latest cycle	IIT ecosystem
IMS BHU	CAT-based admission; no fixed percentile published	₹1.20 lakh fee
NIT Trichy	CAT overall percentile used for shortlisting	Public institute
NIT Calicut	Valid CAT score required	Public institute

These options can substantially reduce the cost of an MBA compared with many private PGDM programmes.

MBA Colleges for 85–90 Percentile With Good Placements

For students comparing CAT colleges at 85–90 percentile based on placements, recent official data includes:

College	Salary Package
IMI Delhi	₹17.91 LPA average; ₹16.61 LPA median
GIM Goa	₹16.27 LPA average; ₹15 LPA median
Great Lakes Chennai PGDM	₹15 LPA average
LBSIM Delhi	₹12.32 LPA current batch average*
K J Somaiya	₹12 LPA median

*LBSIM states that placements for the 2024–26 batch are still underway, so final statistics may change.

Placement salary should not be viewed in isolation.

Students should compare it with:

• total programme fee;
• median package;
• batch size;
• recruiter profile;
• job roles;
• location; and
• personal career goals.

A college with a lower average package can still offer better ROI if its total MBA cost is substantially lower.

CAT Eligibility Cutoff vs Actual Interview Cutoff

This distinction is critical when shortlisting colleges.

Minimum or Qualifying Cutoff

This is the score required to meet the minimum eligibility condition.

For example, IIT Kanpur currently publishes 80 percentile as the minimum for GEN/EWS/OBC applicants in its latest MBA cycle.

Shortlisting Cutoff

This is the score actually required to receive an interview call.

It can be higher than the eligibility minimum because it depends on factors such as:

• number of applicants;
• number of seats;
• applicant quality;
• category;
• programme;
• academics;
• work experience.

Final Admission

Clearing a cutoff does not guarantee admission.

Colleges may consider:

• CAT score;
• Class 10 marks;
• Class 12 marks;
• graduation marks;
• work experience;
• gender diversity;
• academic diversity;
• WAT/GD;
• Personal Interview.

Therefore, students should not select colleges using CAT percentile alone.

How to Shortlist MBA Colleges at 85–90 CAT Percentile

A good shortlist should contain three buckets.

1. Ambitious Options

Choose a few colleges where your score is toward the lower end of the competitive applicant pool but your academics, work experience or profile may help.

2. Target Options

These should make up the largest part of your applications.

Consider colleges where your CAT performance and overall profile make you reasonably competitive.

3. Safer Options

Include colleges where your entrance score is comfortably above the minimum requirement or where your profile creates a stronger admission probability.

Before applying, compare:

• official CAT requirement;
• programme fee;
• placement outcomes;
• specialisations;
• location;
• batch size;
• work-experience preference;
• selection weightage;
• application deadline.

Do not apply only to colleges carrying an unofficial “90 percentile cutoff” label online.

What Should You Do If You Score Between 85 and 90 Percentile?

Do not wait for only one or two dream colleges.

A candidate in this range should:

1. Build a shortlist of around 8–12 relevant colleges.
2. Apply across ambitious, target and safer options.
3. Prioritise institutes matching the preferred specialisation.
4. Compare fees against official placement outcomes.
5. Use profile-based admission routes where available.
6. Prepare seriously for PI/WAT/GD because many institutes give substantial weight to these stages.
7. Track each college’s separate application deadline.

Registering for CAT does not automatically apply you to most non-IIM MBA colleges.

FAQs

Can I get an IIM with 85–90 percentile in CAT?

An 85–90 percentile score can meet or exceed the qualifying threshold for some IIM/category combinations, but that does not mean an interview call is guaranteed. Actual shortlisting depends on the individual IIM’s admission policy, category, academics, work experience, diversity factors and applicant pool.

CAT 2026 candidates should check each IIM’s 2027–29 admission policy once released.

Is 85 percentile a good score in CAT?

An 85 percentile CAT score can provide access to several recognised private and public management institutes. It is generally below the competitive range for the most selective CAT-based B-schools, so candidates should build a balanced shortlist rather than relying on one or two colleges.

Which MBA college is best at 90 percentile in CAT?

There is no single best college for every 90-percentile candidate. IMI Delhi, GIM Goa, FORE Delhi, Great Lakes Chennai, LBSIM, K J Somaiya and public options such as IIT Kanpur can be considered depending on programme fees, specialisation, academics, work experience and the institute’s current selection process.

Does work experience matter at 85–90 percentile in CAT?

Yes. Work experience can materially affect admission chances.

TAPMI, for example, currently requires above 90 percentile for MBA Core applicants with less than 11 months of work experience but above 80 percentile for those with 12–23 months. K J Somaiya also considers candidates through a profile-based route that includes relevant full-time work experience.