The NMAT 2026 cutoff is the minimum score candidates need to get shortlisted for MBA admissions in participating colleges. It depends on factors like the number of applicants, seats available, exam difficulty, number of qualified candidates, previous years’ trends, and each college’s admission policy. The cutoff is calculated for three sections: Language Skills (LS), Logical Reasoning (LR), and Quantitative Skills (QS). Each section has equal weight, and the total score is the sum of all three.
For example, the NMAT 2024 cutoff for MBA Mumbai was 62 in LS, LR, and QS, totaling 209 marks. Top colleges like NMIMS Mumbai, NMIMS Bengaluru and XIM Bhubaneswar usually require a high percentile, above 90, while other good B-schools accept scores in the 60–80 percentile range. Understanding cutoff trends helps candidates set realistic targets and prepare better for NMAT 2026.
Factors Affecting NMAT 2026 Cutoff
Several key factors influence the NMAT 2026 Cutoff. Each participating institute analyses these factors before deciding the minimum score for shortlisting candidates. The cutoff trends may slightly change every year based on various factors. Some of the key factors include-
- Total number of applicants
- Number of seats available
- Difficulty level of NMAT 2026 exam
- Number of candidates who qualified
- Previous years’ cutoff trends
- Admission policies of the institute
NMAT 2026 Selection Process
Admission through NMAT usually involves four steps: Group Discussion (GD) or Case Discussion (CD), Personal Interview (PI), and Written Ability Test (WAT). Each college may conduct these rounds differently based on their schedule.
- Group Discussion (GD): In this round, candidates are divided into groups of 7-10. Each group is given a topic, and students discuss it together.
- Case Discussion (CD): Some colleges replace GD with a Case Discussion. Here, candidates are given a short case or scenario to discuss. They should make 2-3 good points in about 15 minutes.
- Personal Interview (PI): After GD/CD, candidates face a Personal Interview. The panel, including college faculty and experts, asks questions about management, current events, and global issues.
- Written Ability Test (WAT): Some colleges also conduct WAT to check writing and communication skills. Candidates are given a topic and must write about it in 15-20 minutes.
NMAT Previous Year Cutoffs
The NMAT cutoff scores indicate the minimum marks required in each section to be eligible for admission to different MBA programs. The scores are divided into three sections: Language Skills (LS), Logical Reasoning (LR) and Quantitative Skills (QS). The total cutoff is the sum of these three section scores. Below is a table showing the NMAT 2024 cutoffs for various programs at NMIMS.
| Program | LR | LS | QS | NMAT Cutoff 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBA Mumbai | 62 | 62 | 62 | 209 |
| MBA HR | 62 | 62 | 62 | 209 |
| MBA Business Analytics | 62 | 62 | 62 | 209 |
| MBA Digital Transformation | 62 | 62 | 62 | 209 |
| MBA Pharmaceutical Management | 50 | 50 | 50 | 190 |
| MBA Bangalore | 62 | 62 | 62 | 209 |
| MBA Navi Mumbai | 62 | 62 | 62 | 209 |
| MBA Hyderabad | 62 | 62 | 62 | 209 |
| MBA Indore | 62 | 62 | 62 | 209 |
Top Colleges Accepting NMAT Percentile
After the NMAT results are announced, colleges release their percentile cutoffs. These percentiles are used to shortlist candidates for further selection rounds. Top colleges like NMIMS Mumbai, NMIMS Bangalore and XIM Bhubaneswar usually require high percentiles, typically 90 and above. However, there are other good B-schools that accept percentiles in the range of 60 to 80. The tables below show the top colleges accepting NMAT percentiles.
Colleges Accepting 90+ Percentile in NMAT
These are the top and most competitive NMAT-accepting colleges. Candidates who score in the 90th percentile or above have a strong chance of being shortlisted by these high-ranking institutes. The table below shows the colleges and their required NMAT cut-off percentiles.
| NMAT College | Cut Off Percentile |
|---|---|
| NMIMS Mumbai | 95+ |
| NMIMS Hyderabad | 90+ |
| NMIMS Bengaluru | 91+ |
| XIM, Bhubaneswar | 90+ |
Colleges Accepting 80–90 Percentile in NMAT
Candidates who score between the 80th and 90th percentile can still apply to well-known private universities and institutes with global collaborations. The table below lists colleges that accept NMAT scores in this range.
| NMAT College | Cut Off Percentile |
|---|---|
| VIT, Vellore | 85+ |
| Shiv Nadar University | 85+ |
| SRM University, Chennai | 80+ |
| SDA Bocconi, Mumbai | 80+ |
Colleges Accepting 70–80 Percentile in NMAT
Candidates scoring between the 70th and 80th percentile can apply to emerging B-schools and reputed institutes that offer industry-focused MBA programs. The table below shows colleges accepting NMAT scores in this range.
| NMAT College | Cut Off Percentile |
|---|---|
| IBS, Hyderabad | 75+ |
| BSE Institute Limited | 75–80 |
| Alliance University, Bangalore | 70–75 |
| Amity University, Noida | 70+ |
| Woxsen, Hyderabad | 75+ |
Colleges Accepting 60–70 Percentile in NMAT
Candidates scoring between the 60th and 70th percentile can apply to these colleges, which provide good placements and learning opportunities for building a strong MBA foundation. The table below lists colleges accepting NMAT scores in this range.
| NMAT College | Cut Off Percentile |
|---|---|
| UPES, Dehradun | 65+ |
| Thapar School of Management | 65+ |
| ITM, Navi Mumbai | 65+ |
| BML Munjal University, Gurgaon | 65+ |
| GSIB, Visakhapatnam | 65+ |
| Mody University, Jaipur | 60+ |
| HBS, Hyderabad | 60+ |
NMAT 2026 Cutoff FAQs
What are the key factors affecting NMAT 2026 cutoff?
NMAT 2026 cutoff depends on total applicants, number of seats, exam difficulty, number of qualified candidates, previous years’ trends, and institute admission policies.
What is the NMAT 2026 selection process after the exam?
NMAT 2026 selection involves Group Discussion (GD) or Case Discussion (CD), Personal Interview (PI), and Written Ability Test (WAT), conducted as per each institute’s schedule.
How is the Group Discussion (GD) conducted in NMAT 2026 selection?
In NMAT 2026 GD, candidates are divided into groups of 7–10 and discuss a given topic for evaluation of communication and teamwork skills.
What is a Case Discussion (CD) in NMAT 2026 admission?
Some NMAT 2026 colleges replace GD with CD, where candidates discuss a short case scenario and present 2–3 meaningful points in 15 minutes.
What is evaluated in the NMAT 2026 Personal Interview (PI)?
The NMAT 2026 PI assesses candidates on management knowledge, current events awareness, and global issues, conducted by faculty and experts.
What is the NMAT 2026 Written Ability Test (WAT)?
In NMAT 2026 WAT, candidates write on a given topic in 15–20 minutes to evaluate writing and communication skills.
What was the NMAT 2024 cutoff for MBA Mumbai?
The NMAT 2024 cutoff for MBA Mumbai was 62 in each section (LS, LR, QS), with a total of 209 marks.
Which colleges accept NMAT 2026 scores in the 90+ percentile range?
NMAT 2026 colleges accepting 90+ percentile include NMIMS Mumbai (95+), NMIMS Hyderabad (90+), NMIMS Bengaluru (91+), and XIM Bhubaneswar (90+).
Which colleges accept NMAT 2026 scores in the 80–90 percentile range?
Colleges accepting NMAT 2026 scores in the 80–90 percentile include VIT Vellore (85+), Shiv Nadar University (85+), SRM University Chennai (80+), and SDA Bocconi Mumbai (80+).
Which colleges accept NMAT 2026 scores in the 60–70 percentile range?
NMAT 2026 colleges accepting 60–70 percentile include UPES Dehradun (65+), Thapar School of Management (65+), ITM Navi Mumbai (65+), BML Munjal University Gurgaon (65+), GSIB Visakhapatnam (65+), Mody University Jaipur (60+), and HBS Hyderabad (60+).