Scored 90 percentile in CAT 2025?
Congrats! You’ve officially joined the league of serious MBA contenders. While a 99+ percentile might open doors to IIM Ahmedabad or Bangalore, a 90 percentile still gives access to some of India’s top B-schools offering strong academics, placements, and a solid ROI.
Let’s explore the best MBA colleges accepting 90 percentile in CAT, their admission process, ROI insights, and strategies to maximize your chances.
Best CAT Colleges Accepting 90 Percentile
Look at the table below to see the top MBA colleges accepting 90 percentile in CAT:
| CAT 90 Percentile Colleges | Location | Courses Offered |
| Great Lakes Institutes of Management | Chennai | PGDM, PGPM |
| TAPMI- T. A., Pai Management Institute | Manipal | MBA, PGDM |
| UBS- University Business School | Chandigarh | MBA, MBA- HR, MBA- Business Analytics, MBA- Executive |
| BIM- Bharathidasan Institute of Management | Trichy | MBA |
| Alliance Schools of Business | Bangalore | MBA, PGDM, PGDM- Executive |
| Nirma University | Ahmedabad | MBA |
| IFMR- Institute of Financial Management and Research | Chennai | MBA- Finance |
| Wellingkar Institute of Management Development and Research | Mumbai | PGDM |
| IRMA- Institute of Rural Management | Anand, Gujarat | PGDM- Rural Management, PGDM- Executive |
| DSM- Delhi School of Management | Delhi | MBA |
| MICA | Ahmedabad | PGDM- Communication |
| XIME | Bangalore | PGDM |
| Amity Business School | Noida | MBA |
| Balaji Institute of Modern Management | Pune | PGDM |
| Institute of Public Enterprise | Hyderabad | MBA, MBA-Executive, PGDM |
| BITS-Mesra | Ranchi | MBA |
| SP Jain Institute of Management and Research | Mumbai | PGDM |
| Loyola Institute of Business Administration | Chennai | PGDM |
| MANAGE | Hyderabad | PGDM |
| MNNIT | Allahabad | MBA |
| ABV- IIITM | Gwalior | MBA, PGDM |
| Trinity College for Management and Technology | Ghaziabad | PGDM |
| Indian Institute of Forest Management | Bhopal | PGDFM |
| Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management | New Delhi | PGDM |
| Goa Institute of Management | Goa | PGDM, MBA- Executive |
| K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research | Mumbai | PGDM |
| IISC- DoMS | Bangalore | MBA |
| Woxsen School of Business | Hyderabad | PGDM |
| The University of Pune- Department of Management Sciences | Pune | MBA |
| BITS School of Management (BITSoM) | Mumbai | MBA |
| Institute of Management Technology (IMT) | Ghaziabad | PGDM |
| MICA | Ahmedabad | PGDM |
| Delhi School of Economics (DSE) | Delhi | MBA |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) | Amritsar | MBA |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) | Vishakhapatnam | EMBA |
Explore the CAT results now.
IIT and NIT Colleges Accepting CAT 90 Percentile
Below is the list of best IIT colleges accepting CAT 90 percentile, along with the NITs:
| College Name | Location |
| Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi | New Delhi |
| Shailesh J. Mehta School Of Management, IIT Mumbai | Mumbai |
| Vinod Gupta School of Management, IIT Kharagpur | Kharagpur |
| Department of Management Studies, IIT Roorkee | Roorkee |
| Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras | Madras |
| Institute of Technology, Kanpur | Kanpur |
| Department of Management Studies, IIT (ISM) Dhanbad | Dhanbad |
| School of Management & Entrepreneurship, IIT Jodhpur | Jodhpur |
| National Institute of Technology- NIT, Tiruchirappalli | Tiruchirappalli |
| National Institute of Technology- NIT, Rourkela | Rourkela |
Check the complete CAT Toppers List.
CAT Colleges for 94 Percentile and Above
Here’s a single table format listing colleges for the CAT scores of 94 percentile and above:
| College Name | Location |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Udaipur | Udaipur, Rajasthan |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Tiruchirappalli | Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Jammu | Jammu, J&K |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Raipur | Raipur, Chhattisgarh |
| Tata Institute of Social Studies (TISS), Mumbai | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kashipur | Kashipur, Uttarakhand |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Nagpur | Nagpur, Maharashtra |
| Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) | Delhi and Kolkata |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Rohtak | Rohtak, Haryana |
| Management Development Institute (MDI) | Gurugram, Haryana |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Shillong | Shillong, Meghalaya |
| Indian School of Business (ISB) – YLP Programme | Hyderabad, Telangana |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ranchi | Ranchi, Jharkhand |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sambalpur | Sambalpur, Odisha |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Sirmaur | Sirmaur, Himachal Pradesh |
| Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bodh Gaya | Bodh Gaya, Bihar |
Know the CAT Score vs Percentile here.
CAT Colleges with 99 Percentile and Above
Here’s a table listing some of the top colleges for CAT scores of 99 percentile and above:
| College Name | Location |
| Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad | Ahmedabad, Gujarat |
| Indian Institute of Management Bangalore | Bangalore, Karnataka |
| Indian Institute of Management Calcutta | Kolkata, West Bengal |
| Indian Institute of Management Lucknow | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
| Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode | Kozhikode, Kerala |
| Indian Institute of Management Indore | Indore, Madhya Pradesh |
| SP Jain Institute of Management and Research | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS) | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi | New Delhi |
| Indian Institute of Management Mumbai | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management, IIT Bombay | Mumbai, Maharashtra |
| Department of Management Studies, IIT Delhi | New Delhi |
Also download the CAT Admit Card.
CAT Percentile vs College Breakdown
Here are some CAT 90 percentile colleges based on your percentile bracket:
| CAT Percentile | College Tier | Some Popular Institutes |
| 95–97 | Tier 1 | MDI Gurgaon, IIFT, IIM Udaipur, IIM Trichy, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur |
| 90–94 | Tier 1 or 2 | IIM Nagpur, IIM Visakhapatnam, IIM Jammu, IIM Sambalpur, IMI Delhi, XIM Bhubaneswar, DoMS IIT Delhi, BIM Trichy, MICA, TAPMI |
| 85–89 | Tier 2 | GIM Goa, KJ Somaiya, FORE, Great Lakes Chennai, IRMA, UBS Chandigarh |
All the institutes mentioned above offer a promising return on investment. The networking, guest lectures, group projects, communities, and placement opportunities all offer a broad scope for growth in these institutes and for securing a strong leadership role in the long run.
Why a 90 Percentile in CAT Opens Doors to Top B-Schools?
- Top 10% of Test-Takers: Scoring 90 percentile puts you among the top 10% of candidates nationwide, making you highly competitive.
- Access to New and Baby IIMs: Institutes like IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Nagpur, IIM Vishakhapatnam, and IIM Amritsar actively shortlist candidates in this percentile range.
- Opportunities at Reputed Non-IIM B-Schools: Colleges like MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, TAPMI Manipal, XIM Bhubaneswar, GIM Goa, and MICA Ahmedabad welcome students with 90+ percentile scores.
- Strong Academic Programs: These colleges offer rigorous curricula, case-based learning, and diverse specializations.
- Excellent Placement Records: Most institutes in this bracket maintain impressive average and top placement packages.
- Growing Alumni Networks: Access to expanding alumni communities ensures networking opportunities and industry exposure.
- Balanced ROI: You get a combination of quality education, placement opportunities, and long-term career benefits.
Get complete details on CAT Cut-off.
ROI of 90 Percentile CAT Colleges
When choosing a college, ROI depends on fees, average salary, campus placements, internships, and alumni connections.
| College | Fees (₹ Lakh) | Average Salary (LPA) | Key Highlights |
| IIM Bodh Gaya | 17–20 | 13.9 | CAP round, growing industry network |
| MICA Ahmedabad | 28 | 19.2 | Marketing & communication focus |
| IMT Ghaziabad | 21.5 | 16.25 | Diverse specializations |
| TAPMI Manipal | 20.8 | 13.84 | Strong industry tie-ups |
| XIM Bhubaneswar | 24.4 | 19.53 | High ROI, multiple MBA programs |
| Great Lakes Chennai | 21.6 | 15.1 | BFSI & analytics focus |
| KJ Somaiya Mumbai | 22.3 | 13 | Finance & analytics focus |
| GIM Goa | 20.4 | 15.4 | BFSI & sustainability focus |
Also check the CAT 2025 Answer Key
Note: Fees and placements are indicative and can vary each year.
Admission Process for MBA Colleges Accepting 90 Percentile in CAT
Getting admission at these B-schools isn’t just about CAT scores. Most institutes follow a multi-stage selection process:
1. Application Form
Stay updated on the application dates of your preferred B-schools. Once registration opens, submit your form, the required documents, and your CAT scorecard.
2. Shortlisting
Institutes shortlist candidates based on CAT percentile, academic record, and overall profile for further evaluation.
3. Written Ability Test (WAT)
Many B-schools conduct a Written Ability Test or essay round to assess writing, analytical, and comprehension skills.
4. Group Discussion (GD) and Personal Interview (PI)
The final stage tests your communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills. Some institutes hold a GD before the PI to evaluate teamwork and clarity of thought.
How to Boost Your Admission Chances to 90 Percentile CAT Colleges?
- Research Thoroughly: Don’t just focus on CAT cut-offs. Explore each college’s curriculum, faculty, specializations, placements, alumni network, and campus culture to find the best fit.
- Craft Compelling Essays (SOPs): Use your essays to showcase your personality, experiences, and why you’re a strong fit. Tailor each SOP to the specific college.
- Prepare for GD/WAT/PI: These rounds are your chance to shine and make up for any gaps in your CAT score. Practice mock GDs, essay writing on current topics, and common interview questions.
- Highlight Your Strengths: Emphasize leadership roles, extracurricular achievements, unique skills, or relevant work experience.
- Consider Other Entrance Exams: Many colleges in this percentile range accept XAT, CMAT, GMAT, NMAT, or their own tests. Attempting these can broaden your options.
- Apply Strategically: Target a mix of colleges within and slightly above your percentile range to maximize your chances of getting calls.
Top CAT Coaching & Preparation Resources:
FAQS About 90 Percentile CAT Colleges
Mostly, baby and new IIMs (Bodh Gaya, Nagpur, Vishakhapatnam, Amritsar) shortlist candidates in this range. Older IIMs typically require a percentile of 97+
The average CTC ranges from ₹12–26 LPA, depending on the college and specialization.
XIM Bhubaneswar, MICA Ahmedabad, and IMT Ghaziabad are notable for strong ROI relative to fees.
Seat availability varies by college and program, but typically, baby and new IIMs, as well as reputed non-IIM B-schools, reserve a significant portion for candidates scoring 90+ percentile.
Yes. Many colleges, such as IMI Delhi, MICA Ahmedabad, and TAPMI Manipal, offer student exchange programs, global projects, and internships, even for 90 percentile candidates.
Tier 1 colleges generally offer higher average salaries, stronger industry connections, and international opportunities, while Tier 2 colleges offer solid ROI at lower fees and focused specializations.