CAT 60 Percentile Colleges – Decent MBA Options, Fees, and Career Paths

You stared at the CAT result. The CAT result stared back. Now what? This blog. Getting a 60 percentile in CAT might feel like you’re out of options. But the reality is different. 

Not every good MBA journey begins at a top IIM. Many students in this range go on to study at colleges that offer specialized programs, industry exposure, and campus placements that match their goals and aspirations. You don’t need to chase brand names if you’re clear about what you want and are ready to put in the effort. 

Here, we have compiled a list of CAT 60 percentile colleges and information on fees, placements, and course strengths. You’ll also find practical advice on whether to take admission now or give CAT another shot, based on your career goals and budget. 

What Does a 60 Percentile in CAT Actually Get You?

2.93 lakh candidates appeared for CAT 2024. 60 percentile means you are ahead of 1.75 lakh candidates. This translates to a raw score of 20-25. 

A lot of AICTE and UGC-approved B-schools admit candidates in this percentile bracket of 60 to 70. These include private university departments, state-level MBA institutes, and specialized schools and also some popular colleges offering niche courses in Rural Management, Retail, Agri-business, Healthcare, and HR.

CAT 60 percentile colleges may not have the strongest brand value, but they often offer practical exposure, good faculty in specific areas, and decent placements through industry connections. You will land wonderful opportunities if you accept the reality, are open to working on your skills, ready to network at every chance you get, and treat the MBA as a two-year launchpad instead of a sure-shot placement opportunity.

What Students Often Get Wrong

Many MBA aspirants assume that a low CAT exam percentile means the MBA journey is over. According to experts at Kraftshala, this isn’t true. Your CAT score will help you get into a college. But what brings success is your effort at building a strong profile through internships, live projects, certifications, and communication skills.

If your profile includes work experience, strong academics, or even strong communication skills, that adds weight beyond your CAT exam score. MBA admission is increasingly becoming about overall fit, not just percentile.

CAT 2024: Approximate Score to Percentile Conversion

Raw Score (out of 206)	Percentile
57	90
49	85
43	80
25	70
20	60

Best MBA Colleges Accepting 60-70 Percentile in CAT

Here are 10 good MBA colleges for 60 percentile in CAT:

Should You Choose a 60–70 Percentile College or Reattempt CAT?

Scoring in the 60-70 percentile range puts many aspirants in a tough spot. The top IIMs may be out of reach, but several colleges still offer credible MBA programs. So, should you move forward with what you have or give it another shot?

When It Makes Sense to Join a College Now

• You’ve given your best shot this year
  If your prep was consistent and the score reflects your actual ability, another attempt might not change much.
• You don’t want to lose time
  If you’re a fresher without a job offer or any backup plan, starting now gives you structure, placements, and career momentum.
• You’re okay starting at ₹6-8 LPA and growing from there
  CAT 60 percentile colleges like JIMS Rohini, IPE Hyderabad, and Christ University offer domain-specific roles. They’re not dream jobs, but can lead to ₹10-12 LPA within 2-3 years if you build on them by working hard.
• You plan to add parallel industry exposure
  Programs like Kraftshala’s Marketing Launchpad, live projects, and certifications can boost your profile even if you’re at a Tier 2 or 3 B-school.

When It’s Better to Reattempt CAT

• Your prep was incomplete or rushed
  If you know you can improve by 20+ percentile with focused effort, retaking the exam gives you a shot at better institutes.
• You have strong academics or work experience
  If your academics are good (like 8/8/8 or 9/9/9) or if you have a decent work experience of 1.5-2 years, you may consider reattempting, as your strong profile will help you convert excellent tier 1 and 2 MBA colleges with a good score in CAT. 
• You have something solid to fall back on
  If you’re working or pursuing another degree, the pressure to convert next year reduces, and you’ll likely prep more confidently.
• You’re targeting niche or high-pressure roles
  Aspirants aiming for consulting, product, or leadership programs often need top-tier campuses to access such opportunities.

Ask Yourself These Before Deciding

• Was this score close to my potential or much below it?
• Can I handle the time, pressure, and financial delay of another CAT exam cycle?
• Do I have a realistic plan to improve strategy, mocks, and mentorship?
• Will the colleges I’m getting now help me move forward faster?

How to Maximize Your Career Outcomes from a Tier-2 MBA

There are a lot of things you can do to enhance your profile and secure good offers from a tier-2 MBA. Here is a list of the top things to do:

Start Early and Be Proactive

We suggest not waiting for placement season or second-year electives to build your profile. Start in the first semester and volunteer to be part of event committees, placement cells, and student clubs. These roles teach teamwork, stakeholder communication, and give you stories to talk about in interviews.

Reach out to startups and small agencies if your college doesn’t offer live projects or corporate exposure. Many of them are open to short-term support in exchange for experience. You can also pitch project ideas to professors or local businesses and execute them independently.

Choose a Domain That Has Good Demand

Pick your specialization based on market demand. Domains like digital marketing, business analytics, supply chain, and fintech continue to grow and offer good entry points even for students from mid-tier colleges.

Explore sub-niches within those domains. For example, in marketing, you can focus on performance ads, email marketing, content, or CRM tools. In analytics, tools like SQL, Power BI, and Excel modeling are heavily valued in entry-level roles.

Build a Resume Showing Real Statistics

A recruiter should be able to understand your skills within 30 seconds of reading your resume. 

Complete certifications in platforms and tools relevant to your field. If you’re in marketing, get hands-on experience with Meta Ads Manager, Google Ads, and email marketing tools. If you’re into analytics, build dashboards, solve Kaggle case problems, and create data stories.

Try to work on projects that generate measurable results. A case study showing how you helped a small brand get leads or optimized ad spend stands out far more than a paragraph about a summer internship where you shadowed a manager.

Do More Than Campus Placements

Campus placements are just one channel. Many Tier-2 colleges do not attract companies that offer growth-oriented roles. You can increase your chances by building a strong LinkedIn presence, connecting with alumni, and sharing your work.

Write short posts about what you’re learning, create content around tools you’re exploring, or summarize insights from webinars and industry sessions. Recruiters notice students who are visible and curious.

Also, don’t hesitate to apply for off-campus internships and entry-level jobs. Many students from top colleges also apply off-campus. 

Stack Skills That Compound Over Time

Soft skills are as important as technical ones. Focus on improving how you communicate, present ideas, and collaborate with others. These show up in group projects, competitions, and eventually, interviews.

Also, try to participate in at least two national-level case competitions. Even if you don’t win, the experience will teach you structured thinking, time management, and pressure handling.

Build a portfolio of your work if you’re going into creative, marketing, or design-related roles. Even for analytics or strategy, showcasing your thought process in a Google Doc or a Notion page will help you a lot.

What Helps Tier-2 Students Stand Out in Interviews?

According to Kraftshala’s placement mentors, students from Tier-2 colleges stand out when they show depth in their learning. Not when they try to fake expertise, but when they can talk about what they’ve worked on, what went wrong, what they learned, and how they would approach it differently next time.

Want a Shortcut to Industry Experience Alongside Your MBA?

If you’re studying in a tier 2 or tier 3 MBA college, your campus might not attract big recruiters during the program. That doesn’t mean you’re stuck. What you build alongside your MBA can matter just as much as where you study.

That’s where Kraftshala’s Marketing Launchpad fits in. It’s India’s most loved sales and marketing program designed to give learners practical, job-ready experience in marketing and paid media while they’re still in college or just after graduation.

Here’s how it helps students stand out, especially those from non-elite B-schools:

• Focus is on relevant and trending tools & platforms
  The program teaches on real tools, live campaigns, and marketing workflows used by brands so that you learn what is required.
• Work on industry-grade projects
  You’ll work on assignments like setting up ad campaigns, managing budgets and reporting performance – that is what agencies and marketing teams expect from entry-level professionals.
• Train with mentors from top companies
  Sessions are led by professionals from leading brands who’ve built and run campaigns.
• Get placement support for marketing roles
  Past learners have landed roles with salaries of ₹4.5-9.5 LPA and above in digital marketing, paid media, and brand communication.
• Join a growing community of 2400+ placed students
  The peer network and alumni community help you stay on track, get referrals, and learn faster through shared experiences.

For many students with 60-70 percentile CAT exam scores, the Launchpad serves as the right step to compensate for the low percentile and land their dream job in te domain of marketing. It will compliment your MBA by offering exactly what you should learn. For freshers, this will also help compensate for the work experience by letting you work on real brand projects to build your portfolio.

Explore more about the Marketing Launchpad program here. 

FAQs

Is 60 percentile in CAT too low for MBA?
It’s lower than the cut-offs for top B-schools, but many credible institutes accept scores in this range. With the right college and skill-building, you can still shape a strong career.

What colleges accept 60-70 percentile in CAT?
Colleges like JIMS Rohini, NDIM Delhi, IPE Hyderabad, BIMM Pune, and Christ University are known to accept students in 60-70 percentile range. They offer domain-specific MBAs with decent placement support.

Can I get good placements with a 60 percentile MBA college?
Yes, if you actively build skills through projects, internships, and certifications. Many students secure ₹6-8 LPA roles.

Should I retake the CAT after scoring 60 percentile?
If you believe you can improve significantly with focused prep, it’s worth retaking. But if you’re ready to build experience and upskill now, starting with a college can also work well.

Is joining a 60 percentile MBA college worth it?
It can be, if you’re clear about your goals and willing to put in extra effort. The college gives you structure, but your outcomes will depend on how much you add beyond it.