Looking for a low-cost MBA through CAT? FMS Delhi, IMS BHU, DSE, UBS Chandigarh, DFS and DBE are among the leading public MBA options accepting CAT. Compare their latest official fees, CAT admission criteria and programmes before shortlisting colleges for CAT 2026.
Students do not necessarily need to spend ₹15–25 lakh to pursue an MBA through CAT. Several public universities offer CAT-based MBA programmes at substantially lower fees.
Based on the latest official fee and admission information available, IMS BHU, University Business School Chandigarh, Delhi School of Economics and FMS Delhi are among the best low fee MBA colleges accepting CAT..
Best Low Fee MBA Colleges Accepting CAT 2026
| College | Fees | Programme | CAT Accepted? |
| IMS BHU | ₹1.20 lakh for 4 semesters | MBA/MBA-IB | Yes |
| UBS Chandigarh | Approx. ₹1.09 lakh in currently listed tuition and case-unit charges* | MBA/MBA IB/MBA HR | Yes |
| DSE, University of Delhi | ₹61,289 annual fee | MBA IB/MBA HRD/MBA BA | Yes |
| FMS Delhi | Approx. ₹2.43 lakh academic fee at current semester rate; MSA fee extra | MBA | Yes |
| DFS Delhi | ₹48,500 Annual for all categories except PWD | MBA Finance | Yes |
| DBE Delhi | ₹50,420 Annual (for General Category) | MBA Business Economics | Yes |
*UBS also states that other university charges may apply and fees are subject to revision.
Which are the best low fee MBA colleges accepting CAT?
IMS BHU, UBS Chandigarh, DSE and FMS Delhi are among the strongest affordable MBA options accepting CAT. BHU currently lists ₹30,000 per semester, DSE has an annual fee of ₹61,289 for newly admitted MBA students, while FMS lists an MBA semester fee of approximately ₹60,818.
Students interested specifically in Finance or Business Economics can also consider DFS and DBE at the University of Delhi, although the current applicable programme fee should be verified before admission.
MBA Colleges Under ₹2 Lakh Accepting CAT
For students searching for MBA colleges under ₹2 lakh accepting CAT, IMS BHU, UBS Chandigarh and DSE are among the strongest options based on currently published charges.
IMS BHU
The Institute of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University offers:
- MBA
- MBA International Business
For the 2026–28 batch, admission is based on CAT 2025, followed by the institute’s prescribed selection process.
IMS BHU MBA Fees
| Semester | Fee |
| Semester 1 | ₹30,000 |
| Semester 2 | ₹30,000 |
| Semester 3 | ₹30,000 |
| Semester 4 | ₹30,000 |
| Total | ₹1,20,000 |
The fee is payable through the BHU admission system. Hostel and mess charges are separate.
For the currently published batch, hostel charges are approximately:
- Boys’ Management Hostel: ₹6,000 per semester
- Girls’ Triveni Complex: ₹6,000 per semester
- Girls’ New PG Hostel: ₹10,000 per semester
Mess charges are additional.
IMS BHU CAT Admission
BHU officially states that admission to MBA and MBA International Business for 2026–27 is through CAT 2025.
CAT scores are used for shortlisting candidates for the subsequent admission process.
Why consider IMS BHU?
- MBA fee of only ₹1.20 lakh
- Central university
- CAT-based admission
- General MBA and International Business options
- Low overall academic cost compared with most private B-schools
IMS BHU is therefore one of the strongest options for students looking for a government MBA college accepting CAT with low fees.
University Business School Chandigarh
University Business School, Panjab University is another major low-cost CAT-based MBA option.
UBS offers:
- MBA
- MBA International Business
- MBA Human Resource
- MBA Entrepreneurship
- MBA Business Data Analytics
Students specifically looking for the lowest fees should note that the fee structures differ across programmes.
UBS Chandigarh MBA Fees
For the 2026–27 admission cycle, the published tuition fee for MBA, MBA IB and MBA HR is:
₹31,675 per year
UBS also lists the following case-unit and related charges:
| Year | Charges |
| First year | ₹19,000 |
| Second year | ₹26,500 |
Based on the currently published figures, the tuition plus these specified charges work out to approximately ₹1.09 lakh over two years.
However, students should not treat ₹1.09 lakh as an absolute all-inclusive programme cost. UBS states that other university charges may apply and fees are subject to change.
MBA Entrepreneurship and MBA Business Data Analytics have different tuition fees and should be checked separately.
UBS Chandigarh CAT Admission
Admission to the 2026 MBA programmes is based on CAT 2025.
One important point for students is that the UBS admission process refers to the CAT overall aggregate percentage score rather than CAT percentile while calculating merit.
Candidates should therefore avoid comparing unofficial “UBS CAT percentile cutoff” figures with the institute’s actual selection methodology.
DSE MBA: Low Fee MBA Through CAT at Delhi University
The Department of Commerce, Faculty of Commerce and Business at the Delhi School of Economics Campus, University of Delhi offers three MBA programmes:
- MBA International Business
- MBA Human Resource Development
- MBA Business Analytics
DSE MBA Fee
For students newly admitted in the 2026–27 academic session, the University of Delhi has notified an annual fee of:
₹61,289
The fee includes university, departmental, development, welfare and facilities-related components.
Students should not simply multiply this figure by two and treat it as a guaranteed two-year fee because the university may revise the fee in subsequent academic sessions.
DSE CAT Admission
For 2026 admission, candidates were required to:
- Hold a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks or meet the applicable category relaxation
- Appear for CAT 2025
- Apply separately to the Department of Commerce
Candidates are shortlisted for GD and/or PI based on their CAT score.
Importantly, the official admission brochure states that the CAT cutoff is decided by the Admission Committee.
Therefore, figures such as “DSE cutoff 90 percentile” or “DSE cutoff 95 percentile” should not be presented as official unless the university itself publishes them.
DSE Final Selection
For the 2026 admission cycle, the composite score included:
| Selection Component | Weightage |
| CAT score | 50% |
| Class 10 marks | 10% |
| Class 12 marks | 10% |
| Group Discussion | 10% |
| Personal Interview and Extempore | 20% |
Women candidates eligible under the stated conditions also receive an augmentation in the composite score.
DSE is particularly attractive for students looking for a low fee MBA in Delhi through CAT, especially in HR, International Business or Business Analytics.
FMS Delhi
Faculty of Management Studies, University of Delhi is one of the most sought-after public B-schools accepting CAT.
It offers a two-year full-time MBA programme.
FMS Delhi MBA Fees
For the 2026–28 MBA programme, FMS lists the semester fee at approximately:
₹60,818 per semester
At the current rate, four semesters would amount to approximately:
₹2.43 lakh
However, FMS states that fees can be revised.
Students should also account for the Management Science Association fee, which is currently ₹52,000 per year and is subject to revision.
At current rates:
- Approximate four-semester academic fee: ₹2.43 lakh
- Approximate two-year MSA fee: ₹1.04 lakh
This brings the currently identifiable institutional charges to around ₹3.47 lakh, excluding accommodation, food and personal expenses.
Does FMS Accept CAT?
Yes.
Indian applicants to the full-time MBA programme are selected using CAT as a major component of the admission process.
FMS does not, however, state a simple official general-category admission cutoff such as “98 percentile” or “99 percentile” in its current MBA admission bulletin.
Students should therefore distinguish between:
- official FMS admission criteria;
- historical admission-call trends; and
- unofficial expected cutoff estimates.
These are not the same thing.
Why Is FMS Considered a High-ROI MBA College?
FMS combines:
- relatively low academic fees;
- University of Delhi affiliation;
- a highly competitive admission process;
- established recruiter participation; and
- a strong management alumni network.
Students searching specifically for high ROI MBA colleges accepting CAT should nevertheless compare the latest official placement report rather than judging ROI only from tuition fees.
DFS Delhi MBA Finance
The Department of Financial Studies, University of Delhi offers a specialised MBA Finance programme.
The programme is particularly relevant for students interested in:
- corporate finance;
- investment management;
- banking;
- financial services;
- equity research; and
- financial analytics.
Does DFS Accept CAT?
Yes.
The University of Delhi’s joint admission notification for the 2026–27 academic session confirms admission through CAT for:
- MBA Finance
- MBA Business Economics
Candidates must:
- hold a graduate degree with at least 50% marks;
- have studied Mathematics or Business Mathematics at Class 12 level; and
- appear for CAT.
CAT scores along with other selection criteria are used for shortlisting.
DFS MBA Fee
Students should be careful with the fee figure commonly quoted online.
The DFS public fee page has historically displayed an annual fee of ₹48,500, but that figure relates to an older academic session.
Since a clearly updated current programme fee for the relevant new batch is not publicly confirmed in the latest admission material, CollegeShastra is not presenting ₹97,000 as the current two-year DFS MBA fee.
Candidates should verify the fee applicable to their admission cycle directly from the latest university fee notice before paying.
DBE Delhi MBA Business Economics
The Department of Finance and Business Economics also offers MBA Business Economics through the University of Delhi.
Does DBE Accept CAT?
Yes.
The official 2026–27 admission notification confirms that admission to MBA Business Economics is through CAT.
Candidates must have:
- a bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks; and
- Mathematics or Business Mathematics at Class 12 level.
Candidates appearing in the final year of graduation are also eligible subject to meeting the prescribed admission requirements.
DBE MBA Fee
A clearly current programme fee for the latest batch is not stated in the latest public admission notification.
Instead of using an old or third-party figure, candidates should check the latest University of Delhi/departmental fee notice when admission is offered.
Low Fee MBA Colleges Accepting CAT by Budget
Students can shortlist colleges according to their MBA budget.
MBA Colleges Around ₹1–2 Lakh
Consider:
- IMS BHU
- UBS Chandigarh
- DSE
These are among the strongest currently verified low-cost options.
MBA Colleges Under ₹5 Lakh
Consider:
- FMS Delhi
- IMS BHU
- UBS Chandigarh
- DSE
FMS remains within this range based on the currently identifiable academic and MSA charges.
DFS and DBE may also fall into the affordable public-university category, but students should first verify their latest applicable programme fees.
Government MBA Colleges Accepting CAT With Low Fees
Students specifically looking for government or public MBA colleges accepting CAT can shortlist:
| Institute | Institution Type | CAT-Based Programme |
| FMS Delhi | University of Delhi | MBA |
| IMS BHU | Central University | MBA/MBA IB |
| DSE – Department of Commerce | University of Delhi | MBA IB/MBA HRD/MBA BA |
| UBS Chandigarh | Panjab University | MBA/MBA IB/MBA HR and others |
| DFS Delhi | University of Delhi | MBA Finance |
| DBE Delhi | University of Delhi | MBA Business Economics |
These institutions are particularly relevant to candidates who want to keep education-loan requirements and overall MBA costs lower.
CAT Cutoff for Low Fee MBA Colleges
| College | What the Latest Official Information Says |
| FMS Delhi | No simple general CAT percentile cutoff stated in the current admission bulletin |
| IMS BHU | CAT used for admission/shortlisting; no fixed percentile cutoff stated in the latest bulletin |
| DSE | CAT cutoff is decided by the Admission Committee |
| UBS Chandigarh | Merit uses CAT overall aggregate percentage score; this should not be confused with percentile |
| DFS/DBE | CAT used along with other shortlisting criteria; overall/sectional criteria may be applied |
Students should therefore be cautious with websites quoting values such as:
- FMS: 98–99 percentile
- DSE: 90–95 percentile
- BHU: 80–90 percentile
Other Low-Fee Management Programme Accepting CAT 2026: TISS Mumbai
TISS Mumbai is worth considering for CAT aspirants even though its flagship HR programme is not an MBA.
Tata Institute of Social Sciences has officially announced that CAT 2026 scores will be used for 2027–28 admission to:
- MA Human Resource Management & Labour Relations
- MA Organisation Development, Change and Leadership
- Master of Hospital Administration
- MSc Analytics
This makes TISS particularly relevant to students building their shortlist using CAT 2026.
TISS MA HRM & LR Fees
The current official total course fee for the MA Human Resource Management & Labour Relations programme is:
₹2,03,500
The programme is offered at the TISS Mumbai campus.
The semester-wise course fees currently listed are:
| Semester | Fee |
| Semester 1 | ₹78,650 |
| Semester 2 | ₹41,250 |
| Semester 3 | ₹53,900 |
| Semester 4 | ₹29,700 |
| Total | ₹2,03,500 |
The total includes a refundable caution deposit among the listed components, and TISS states that the fee structure may be revised.
Students should describe this programme accurately as an MA in HRM & LR, not “TISS MBA”.
Which Low Fee CAT College Should You Choose?
There is no single best college for every CAT aspirant.
Choose FMS Delhi if:
- you want a general MBA;
- you are targeting an extremely competitive CAT-based programme;
- you want to keep fees significantly below many premium B-schools.
Choose IMS BHU if:
- keeping MBA fees very low is a major priority;
- you want a general MBA or MBA International Business;
- you prefer a central university.
Choose DSE if:
You are interested in:
- International Business;
- Human Resource Development; or
- Business Analytics.
Choose UBS Chandigarh if:
You want:
- low fees;
- multiple MBA specialisations;
- a university-based management programme.
Choose DFS if:
Your primary career interest is Finance.
Choose DBE if:
You are particularly interested in Business Economics.
Consider TISS Mumbai if:
You want a management-oriented career in Human Resources and are comfortable pursuing an MA rather than an MBA.
Is a Low Fee MBA Always a Better ROI Option?
No.
A low course fee can improve return on investment, but students should not compare MBA colleges based only on tuition.
Before deciding, compare:
- total compulsory programme fee;
- hostel and living expenses;
- median and average placement package;
- placement rate;
- batch size;
- job roles;
- recruiter mix;
- location;
- specialisation;
- alumni network; and
- education loan requirement.
For example, a ₹3 lakh programme with stronger career outcomes may provide better value than a ₹1 lakh programme with substantially weaker opportunities.
Students searching specifically for best ROI MBA colleges accepting CAT should therefore evaluate current official placement data along with fees.
How to Shortlist Low Fee MBA Colleges Through CAT 2026
CAT 2026 candidates can use the following approach:
- Estimate the colleges that fit their expected CAT performance.
- Identify programmes matching their preferred specialisation.
- Compare the latest official programme fees.
- Add hostel and living costs to calculate the actual cost of attendance.
- Check programme-specific eligibility.
- Verify whether a separate college application is required.
- Compare the latest official placement data.
- Apply to multiple colleges instead of relying on a single CAT target.
Most non-IIM institutes require a separate application even after a candidate registers for CAT.
What CAT 2026 Aspirants Should Know About 2027–29 Admissions
CAT 2026 will be used by participating institutions for the next admission cycle.
However, the 2027–29 admission brochures for most colleges on this list have not yet been released.
Therefore:
- current fees may change;
- admission weightages may change;
- application dates may change;
- seat intake may change; and
- shortlisting criteria may change.
One important exception is TISS, which has already officially announced that CAT 2026 will be used for specified 2027–28 postgraduate programmes.
Candidates should always check the latest institute-specific admission notice once applications open.
FAQs
Can final-year graduation students apply to low fee MBA colleges through CAT?
Yes, several CAT-accepting colleges allow final-year bachelor’s students to apply. FMS, DSE and the University of Delhi’s MBA Finance/Business Economics admission process provide for final-year candidates, subject to meeting the required degree eligibility and submitting results within the prescribed deadline.
Candidates should verify the 2027–29 admission brochure because deadlines may change.
Is filling the CAT form enough to apply to FMS, BHU, DSE, UBS or DFS?
No. Registering for CAT does not automatically register candidates for most non-IIM colleges.
Candidates generally have to apply separately to the relevant institute or university after or during the CAT admission cycle. Missing the institute-specific application deadline can make a candidate ineligible even if they have a valid CAT score.
Can I get a good MBA through CAT with fees below ₹5 lakh?
Yes. FMS Delhi, IMS BHU, DSE and UBS Chandigarh currently have fees or specified institutional charges well below ₹5 lakh. Candidates should account separately for hostel, food and other living expenses.
Does TISS accept CAT 2026?
Yes. TISS has officially announced that CAT 2026 will be used for 2027–28 admission to MA HRM & LR, MA ODCL, Master of Hospital Administration and MSc Analytics. TISS HRM & LR is an MA programme, not an MBA.
