CAT 90 Percentile Colleges – Top MBA Options, Fees, ROI & More

You beat lakhs of aspirants in CAT and still feel stuck. Welcome to the confusing middle ground called the 90 percentile club.

Well, the good news is that several well-respected colleges offer strong placements, practical learning, and industry exposure that recruiters genuinely value. These institutes are known for good ROI, solid alumni networks, and career outcomes that will offer similar value as the top IIMs A-B-C in the long run.

However, the tricky part is shortlisting the right ones. With so many options floating around and every forum giving a different opinion, it can feel like solving a DI set without a calculator. Let us help you with that! 

You’ll find a curated list of colleges accepting the CAT 90 percentile, along with details on fees, placements, and how to choose what fits you best. If you’re serious about getting a quality management education, this list is a great place to start.

What Does a 90 Percentile in CAT Really Mean?

2.93 lakh candidates appeared for CAT 2024, and scoring 90 percentile means you are in the top 29.3K applicants. This translates to a raw score of 55-70 for candidates in 90-95 percentile range. Now, this score may not open doors to the holy trinity of IIM A, B, and C for general candidates or engineers. 

Several top institutes actively shortlist candidates in the 85-95 CAT exam percentile bracket, including MICA, TAPMI, KJ Somaiya, GIM Goa, and newer IIMs like IIM Udaipur and IIM Trichy.

Percentile vs College Breakdown

Here are some CAT 90 percentile colleges based on your percentile bracket:

CAT Percentile	College Tier	Some Popular Institutes (2024)
95–97	Tier 1	MDI Gurgaon, IIFT, IIM Udaipur, IIM Trichy, IIT Kharagpur, IIT Kanpur
90–94	Tier 1.5 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 wide scope to grow in these institutes and secure a strong leadership role in the long run.

Top Colleges Accepting 90 Percentile in CAT

Here are the top colleges accepting students with a 87-97 percentile on the CAT.

College(s)	Approx. Cut‑off	Fees (approx)	Avg CTC (annum)	Highlights
New IIMs (Shillong, Raipur, Rohtak, Trichy, Ranchi, Udaipur, Kashipur)	95 CAT	₹17-26 L	₹16-26 L	95 is the CAP cutoff as of CAT 2024 for all new IIMs except Raipur. Each college offers different specializations, some offering an MBA in IT as well.
Baby IIMs (Bodhgaya, Sambalpur, Sirmaur, Visakhapatnam, Amritsar, Jammu, Nagpur)	90 CAT	₹17-20 L	₹12-17 LPA	Highest package can go as high as 43.25 LPA (IIM Vishakhapatnam).
MICA Ahmedabad	80-95 CAT/XAT + MICAT	₹28 L	₹19.21 L	Known for marketing & communication specialization. Requires MICAT, including a psychometric test. Highest CTC 35.50 LPA
IMT Ghaziabad	90 CAT/XAT	₹21.53 L	₹16.11 L	Offers specializations in Marketing, Finance, and DCP. Highest CTC 41.55 LPA
MDI Gurgaon	92-94 CAT	₹16.70 L	₹25.6 L	Offers AI & Data Science, Banking & Finance, Marketing. Highest CTC: 53.6 L. 578 batch-size
GIM Goa	90 CAT/XAT/GMAT	₹20.40 L	₹14.81 L	Highest domestic ₹26.3 LPA; strong placement sectors in 2023-2024 are Manufacturing and financial services
KJ Somaiya Mumbai	85 CAT/XAT	₹22.32 L	₹12 L	Known for Finance, Marketing, Operations. Highest ₹28.25 L
XIM Bhubaneswar	87-90 CAT/XAT/XMAT	₹24.40 L (MBA-BM)	₹19.53 L	Offers BM, HRM, RM, SM, UMG, PPM, BF, etc. courses. Cutoff percentile varies for domiciled and non-domiciled
Great Lakes Chennai (PGDM)	90 CAT/XAT/GMAT	₹21.63 L	₹15.1 L	Highest Domestic ₹37 L. Major placement functions are finance and sales & marketing

ROI Breakdown – What Can You Expect from These Colleges?

When choosing an MBA college, a common question is whether the return justifies the investment. For CAT 90 percentile colleges, the answer depends on a lot of factors, including salary, fees, networking opportunities, recruiting companies, summer internships, and more.

Most colleges in this range charge fees between ₹17 to ₹28 lakhs. Average salaries, on the other hand, fall between ₹12 to ₹26 LPA. Some colleges deliver strong salary outcomes relative to their fee structure, while others offer long-term brand value that adds up over time.

Find a quick summary below:

• New IIMs (Shillong, Raipur, Trichy, Udaipur, etc.) have their fees between ₹17-26 L. Average CTC between ₹16-26 LPA. Some also offer specialized MBAs in areas like IT and analytics.
  
• Baby IIMs (Bodh Gaya, Sambalpur, Vishakhapatnam, etc.) have their fees around ₹17-20 L. Average CTC between ₹12-17 LPA. IIM Vishakhapatnam reported the highest package of ₹43.25 LPA.
  
• MDI Gurgaon stands out with an average CTC of ₹25.6 L against a fee of ₹16.70 L. It is one of the strongest ROI performers on this list.
  
• MICA Ahmedabad, despite its higher fee of ₹28 L, offers an average CTC of ₹19.21 L. For those aiming for marketing and communication roles, this can be a worthwhile long-term investment due to the specialised focus on marketing.
  
• IMT Ghaziabad, Great Lakes Chennai, and XIM Bhubaneswar sit in the mid-to-high ROI zone, with average packages between ₹15-19.5 L and fees ranging from ₹21-24.4L.
  
• KJ Somaiya Mumbai and GIM Goa are more moderate on ROI, offering average CTCs of ₹12-14.8 L against fees around ₹20-22 L, but they maintain strong placement consistency and reputation in finance and analytics.

Make your choice based on your specialization preference, the college’s brand value, the fee vs salary comparison, and the experiences of alumni.

What ROI Really Means

Salary is not the sole criterion of ROI. Some of the other factors are brand recognition, alumni network, campus opportunities, and quality of the peer group. A good college is the one that provides the above-mentioned benefits and helps you develop in-demand skills (like analytics or marketing strategy). So, consider ROI as an aggregate of all these factors.

How to Improve Post-MBA ROI (Even Before You Graduate)

1. Choose In-Demand Specializations

Your choice of specialization heavily influences the roles you’ll get shortlisted for.

• Marketing or Communication in MICA, IMT Ghaziabad, KJ Somaiya
• Business Analytics & Tech in Great Lakes, GIM Goa, TAPMI
• Finance or Operations in MDI, Baby IIMs, KJ Somaiya

2. Use Live Projects to Build Credibility

Live projects with companies during the semester allow you to apply classroom knowledge in real-world settings. Many colleges now encourage this through industry tie-ups. These short live projects help you with domain exposure, add high quality lines to your CV, and show recruiters your initiative and versatility.

3. Participate in Case Competitions

National-level case competitions by companies like HUL, Flipkart, and Mahindra are gold for your resume. In fact, finalists and winners often receive internship offers, cash prizes, and direct interview opportunities. These also build confidence and problem-solving skills.

4. Join Clubs & Committees Strategically

Don’t join everything. Choose 1-2 clubs or committees aligned with your target function (e.g., marketing club, consulting cell). Leadership roles in these groups often help you:

• Build visibility with recruiters during campus drives
• Strengthen interview talking points
• Expand your industry network through events and speaker sessions

5. Network Like Your Job Depends On It (Because It Does)

You must build connections consistently in alumni meets, LinkedIn conversations, or cold outreach to professionals in your dream companies. Referrals can help bypass resume shortlisting filters and open doors to better-paying roles, especially off-campus.

6. Prep for Interviews from Day One

Don’t assume placement prep begins in Term 5. Build your story, keep a journal of every project, and rehearse your personal pitch. Students who prepare early tend to get shortlisted by top recruiters and negotiate better offers.

Should You Consider Colleges Accepting 80-90 Percentile Scores?

Yes you should consider colleges accepting 80-90 percentile scores. The 80-90 CAT percentile range includes several well-respected B-schools that offer focused specializations, strong faculty, and placements that align with specific career paths. Colleges like IRMA Anand, Welingkar Mumbai, BIM Trichy, IFMR GSB, and Amrita Coimbatore regularly admit students in this range and are known for their niche strengths.

What makes these colleges worth considering is their fit with different career goals. For instance:

• IRMA is a top choice for those interested in rural management, development sector roles, or agri-business leadership.
• IFMR and BIM Trichy offer strong finance and analytics programs with consistent placement records.
• Welingkar is known for its innovative programs in media, design, and healthcare.
• Amrita has built a solid reputation in tech-driven management education, especially for engineering graduates.

Profile-based shortlisting plays a big role here. A good academic record, relevant internships, strong SOPs, or even regional and diversity factors will increase your chances significantly, even if the CAT score is slightly below 90. 

It’s a good idea to strike a balance when building your shortlist. Keep a few dream colleges, but also include safety colleges that align with your goals in the long run. Some of these schools may not have the brand pull of top IIMs, but they often deliver better ROI and career outcomes in specialized domains.

How to Choose the Right College Based on Your Goals

Below is a simple 3-step framework to help you shortlist wisely-

Step 1: Start With Clarity on Career Direction

Before comparing colleges, ask yourself:

• What kind of work do I see myself doing post-MBA? (Sales? Brand strategy? Product management? Consulting?)
• Am I looking for industry-switch, career acceleration, or domain depth?
• Do I need a generalist MBA or one with focused specializations?

Examples:

• If you want to build a career in marketing and brand, MICA or Welingkar makes more sense than a generic program at a newer IIM.
• For a future in finance, IFMR, BIM Trichy, or Great Lakes PGDM (Analytics + Finance) offer better curriculum alignment and recruiter interest.

Step 2: Evaluate College Fit Across Multiple Dimensions

A. Specializations Offered
Check the depth of the curriculum, relevant electives, and industry exposure. Some colleges offer the stream in name, but lack real placement support in it.

B. Recruiter and Role Match
Instead of just average CTCs, dig into which companies visit and what roles they offer.

• Marketing-heavy roles? Choose MICA, IMT, or Welingkar.
• Data-focused roles? Great Lakes, TAPMI, or GIM.
• Finance roles with BFSI exposure? IFMR, BIM, or Baby IIMs.

C. Location & Industry Access
Metro colleges (like KJ Somaiya, FORE, XIM Bhubaneswar) have better access to internships, live projects, and guest lectures from industry pros.

D. Batch Size and Peer Group
Larger batches (IMT Ghaziabad, KJ Somaiya) can mean more competition for placements. Smaller cohorts often mean better faculty access and mentoring.

E. Alumni Network Strength
Check LinkedIn. Are alumni from your target college working in your dream companies? Reach out. Many are open to sharing real feedback.

Step 3: Weigh ROI + Long-Term Growth Potential

Don’t judge ROI just by Year 1 salary. Instead, ask:

• Will this college help me enter a company or sector I can grow in?
• Are the fees justified by average outcomes for students with a profile like mine?
• If I spend ₹20L here, can I reasonably expect to recover that in 3-4 years?

Want Industry-Level Marketing Experience Alongside Your MBA?

Getting into a good MBA college is one thing. Breaking into a solid marketing role after it? That takes more than classroom learning.

That’s why many students choose to complement their MBA journey with the Marketing Launchpad by Kraftshala, a program designed to build job-ready marketing skills through actual tools, projects, and mentorship from people who work in the industry every day.

This is not just a certificate course. It’s a practical, hands-on path that helps you bridge the gap between theory and what companies actually expect.

• Job offers starting at ₹4.5 LPA+ in performance marketing and digital roles. It will be very useful if you are from a Tier 2/3 college or want to transition into core marketing.
  
• Experience with live campaigns, using real brand briefs and industry tools like Meta Ads Manager, Google Ads, and GA4 to help you understand how things work.
  
• Guidance from mentors who have worked at places like Swiggy, Unilever, and Meesho to help you whenever you need.
  
• Structured placement supportwhich includes resume reviews, mock interviews, and company connections.
  
• A growing community of 2400+ students placed, many of whom started in the same position, aiming to turn interest in marketing into a real career

For MBA students in the 80-90 percentile range, this kind of parallel experience can make all the difference in the job market. Especially if you’re serious about marketing but don’t want to rely on just college placements.

Explore the Kraftshala Marketing Launchpad now to see if it fits into your plan.

FAQs

Is 90 percentile in CAT a good score?
Yes, it’s a good CAT score that opens doors to several strong B-schools like IMT Ghaziabad, MICA, and the Baby IIMs. While it may not get you into the old IIMs, it still offers great options with solid career outcomes.

Which colleges accept CAT scores between 80 and 90 percentile?
Colleges like IRMA, Welingkar, IFMR, BIM Trichy, and Amrita Coimbatore actively accept students in this range. Many of these focus on profile-based shortlisting and offer strong programs in specific domains.

Can I get a high-paying job from a 90 percentile college?
Yes, especially if you choose the right specialization, build your profile, and do the right internships. Colleges like MDI Gurgaon, MICA, and Great Lakes have seen average packages of ₹15-25 LPA.

Should I apply to multiple colleges in this range?
Definitely. Applying to 5-7 colleges helps you balance dream, target, and safe options. It also gives flexibility based on interview calls and final admits.

What should I look for when choosing among CAT 90 percentile colleges?
Prioritize specializations, placement roles, location, and alumni support over just rankings. Also consider batch size, ROI, and whether the college aligns with your long-term goals.