CAT Score 60–70 Percentile? Get Direct MBA Admission

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📌Introduction: Is the 60–70 Percentile in CAT Really Low?

Every year, over two lakh aspirants appear for the CAT (Common Admission Test) with the dream of entering top IIMs and reputed B-schools. While media narratives often glorify 99+ percentiles, the reality is that a large number of capable students score between 60–70 percentiles. Unfortunately, this range is frequently misunderstood and unfairly labelled as “low.”

If you are among those who scored 60–70 percentile in CAT, let us be clear:

👉 Your MBA dream is NOT over.

👉 Direct MBA admission is very much possible.

👉 You still have access to reputed colleges, strong placements, and long-term career growth.

📊What Does 60–70 Percentile Actually Mean?

A CAT percentile of 60–70 means you have performed better than 60–70% of test takers nationwide. With over 2 lakh aspirants, this is not a small achievement.

However, top IIMs usually shortlist candidates above the 90–95 percentile, leaving many aspirants uncertain. This gap is where private universities, autonomous institutes, and Tier-2 B-schools play a crucial role.

⚠️Why Good Candidates End Up in This Range

Many strong candidates score 60–70 percentile due to:

❌ Weak performance in one section (especially Quant or VARC)
❌ Poor exam-day strategy or time management
❌ First-time CAT attempt
❌ Strong academic or work profile but average aptitude scores

✅ Can You Get MBA Admission with 60–70 Percentile in CAT?

✔️The Short Answer: YES

Several reputed B-schools in India:

Accept CAT scores from 60 percentile onwards
Offer direct MBA admission via management quota or institute-level seats
Conduct profile-based selection, not percentile-centric admission

These colleges focus on:

🌟Academic consistency

🌟Communication skills

🌟Work experience

🌟Interview performance

🌟Overall personality

🔁Admission Routes for CAT 60–70 Percentile Candidates

📌 1. Management Quota Seats

Many private and autonomous B-schools reserve a percentage of seats as management quota.

Key features:

Lower CAT cut-off (often 50–70 percentile)
Direct personal interview
Faster admission process
Slightly higher fees (but strong ROI)

🧾2. Profile-Based Selection

Institutes consider:

Graduation marks
Work experience
Diversity (academic, gender, professional)
SOP and interview performance

A candidate with average CAT but a strong profile often outperforms a high-percentile candidate with weak interpersonal skills.

🏛 3. Private Universities & Autonomous Institutions

Private universities have:

Flexible cut-offs
Holistic admission process
Strong industry-linked curriculum
Excellent campus infrastructure

🏫Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score: Cut off Percentile – 70-80

In the 70-80 percentile range in CAT, there are still plenty of good MBA colleges that offer quality education and decent placement opportunities. While these institutions may have slightly lower cutoffs compared to the top-tier B-schools, many of them are well-regarded for their focused programs, industry tie-ups, and regional reputation

🏫 B-School	💰 Program Fee (in Lakhs)	📈 Avg. Placement (in lakhs)	📌 Admission Status
BIMTECH Greater Noida	Rs.14.00 lakhs	Rs. 11.10 LPA	Open
ICFAI Business School (IBS) Hyderabad	Rs. 7.01 lakhs	Rs. 9.71 LPA	Open
IFMR GSB, KREA University	Rs. 15.00 lakhs	Rs. 13.06 LPA	Open
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Gurgaon	Rs.15.75 lakhs	Rs. 11.70 LPA	Open
Woxsen University Hyderabad	Rs. 14.40 lakhs	Rs. 9.09 LPA	Open
MDI Murshidabad	Rs. 11.69 lakhs	Rs. 11.76 LPA	Open
JAGSOM Bangalore	Rs.14.90 lakhs	Rs.10.58 LPA	Open
Jaipuria Institute of Management Noida	Rs. 15.75 Lakhs	Rs. 11.29 LPA	Open
XIME Bangalore	Rs. 12.50 lakhs	Rs. 10.75 LPA	Open
CIMP Patna	Rs. 7.65 lakhs	Rs. 7.00 LPA	Open
Rajagiri Business School Kochi	Rs. 7.50 lakhs	Rs. 8.00 LPA	Open
IMI Kolkata	Rs. 9.90 lakhs	Rs. 12.48 LPA	Open
IMT Nagpur	Rs.14.27 lakhs	Rs.11.00 LPA	Open
Indus Business Academy – IBA Bangalore	Rs. 10.32 lakhs	Rs. 7.96 LPA	Open
KIIT School of Management Bhubaneswar	Rs. 8.70 lakhs	Rs. 9.50 LPA	Open
SIES School of Business Studies, Navi Mumbai	Rs. 10.00 lakhs	Rs. 9.10 LPA	Open
Jaipuria Institute of Management Lucknow	Rs.14.75 lakhs	Rs.11.29 LPA	Open
IMI Bhubaneswar	Rs.12.99 lakhs	Rs.12.02 LPA	Open
VIT Business School (VIT) Vellore	Rs. 7.02 lakhs	Rs. 9.68 LPA	Open
Amrita School of Business Coimbatore	Rs. 11.10 lakhs	Rs. 8.98 LPA	Open
Thiagarajar School of Management (TSM) Madurai	Rs. 12.00 Lakhs	Rs. 8.44 LPA	Open

🏫Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score: Cut off Percentile – 60-70

A good number of MBA colleges accepting the CAT percentile in the range of 60-70 offer several MBA/PGDM programs and award greater weightage to the profile of the applicants than only to the CAT exam score. Some of them are highly ranked and good MBA colleges with consistent placements.

🏫 B-School	🎯CAT Cut off
Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida	60-70
New Delhi Institute of Management – NDIM New Delhi	60-70
Jindal Global Business School	60-70
Institute of Management Technology, Hyderabad	60-70
Chetana’s Institute of Management and Research – CIMR Mumbai	60-70
Jaipuria Institute of Management Noida	60-70
NTPC School of Business – NSB Noida	60-70
Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management – VJIM Hyderabad	60-70
Praxis Business School	60-70
Birla Global University, Bhubaneswar	60-70
Jaipuria Jaipur: Jaipuria Institute of Management	60-70
Delhi School of Business	60-70
EDII Ahmedabad	60-70
IIMS Pune: International Institute of Management Studies	60-70
IPE Hyderabad: Institute of Public Enterprise	60-70
JIMS Rohini Delhi	60-70
PSGIM Coimbatore	60-70

⭐Advantages of Choosing Direct MBA Admission

✅ Advantage	📖 Explanation
⏳No Wasted Academic Year	Instead of repeating CAT and losing a year, you can begin your MBA immediately and move ahead in your career timeline.
🛠 Skill-Focused Education	Many private and autonomous colleges focus on *practical learning through case studies*, industry projects, certifications, and soft-skill training to make students job-ready.
💰Better ROI for Mid-Percentiles	Rather than waiting for uncertain IIM calls, students gain real corporate exposure and skills, ensuring better returns on time and investment.
🚀Equal Career Opportunities	Once placed, professional growth depends on performance, skills, and results—*not on your CAT percentile or the admission route.*

❌Common Myths About MBA with Low CAT Percentile

✅Myth 1: “Only IIMs Guarantee Success”

Reality: Many non-IIM alumni hold CXO and leadership roles.

✅Myth 2: “Low CAT Means Poor Career”

Reality: MBA success depends on skills, network, and performance.

✅Myth 3: “Management Quota Is Illegal”

Reality: It is legal, transparent, and regulated when done through approved institutions.

🔁Should You Repeat CAT or Take Direct Admission?

🔄 Repeat CAT If:

✔️You are confident of improving to 90+
✔️You can afford another year
✔️No immediate career pressure

🎓 Choose Direct MBA Admission If:

✔️You want immediate career progression
✔️You value practical exposure
✔️You have financial & time constraints
✔️You want assured admission in a reputed institute

🔍Final Words: Turn Your CAT 60–70 Percentile into an Advantage

A CAT score of 60–70 percentile does not define your potential. Thousands of successful managers, entrepreneurs, consultants, and leaders entered MBA programs through alternative routes and built remarkable careers.

What truly matters is:

Choosing the right college

Selecting the right specialization

Developing real-world skills

Leveraging internships and placements

If approached strategically, Direct MBA admission with a 60–70 percentile CAT score can be the smartest career decision you make.