Guide
An NMAT 240 score is strong enough that your shortlist should become selective. Do not respond by applying to every NMAT-accepting school; use the score to compare your best realistic programmes against the CAT/XAT options you also have.
The first shortlist to examine
| College | OYM planning context | Fee | Avg CTC | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMIMS Mumbai | NMAT 220+ as a safer competitive planning score; recent shortlist benchmark has been around 209 | ₹25L | ₹24.6L | BFSI; consulting; marketing |
| TAPMI Manipal | CAT/XAT ~85–90+; NMAT ~220+ competitive target | ₹19.45L | ₹12.97L | BFSI; marketing; HR |
| Great Lakes Chennai | CAT/XAT ~85–90+; CMAT ~90+; profile matters | ₹20.8L | ₹15.65L | Analytics; product; technology |
| KJ Somaiya Institute of Management | CMAT 95–99 percentile | ₹21L | ₹12L | Marketing; finance; analytics |
| IFMR GSB, Krea University | CMAT 85+ percentile | ₹19.06L | ₹13.5L | Finance; analytics; economics |
NMIMS Mumbai is the obvious anchor because NMAT is central to its admission route. TAPMI is also a natural score-led option, while Great Lakes/KJ Somaiya/IFMR should be checked against the exact programme and current acceptance policy before you assume one NMAT score opens every course.
At 240, optimise for fit—not merely safety
Ask what you want from the MBA. If BFSI/finance is the goal, NMIMS, TAPMI and IFMR deserve a different comparison from a marketing/product-oriented shortlist. If you already have a 95+ CAT or a strong XAT, compare fee, role mix and conversion probability across exams rather than treating 240 as a reason to ignore those routes.
Do not forget section scores
A strong total can still be weakened by a sectional requirement at a target institute. Read the current admission notice and check total + sectional expectations. Also remember the important NMAT/NMIMS planning rule: NMIMS uses the first valid NMAT score under the current policy, so a later retake is not automatically a second shot at NMIMS.
Final application rule
Create three columns: `would definitely join`, `would compare with CAT/XAT option`, and `backup only`. At 240, the useful work is deciding between credible schools, not padding the application count. Verify the current accepted-score policy and separate college form before paying.
Preparing for CAT?
See where you actually stand before changing your shortlist or study plan.
Why On Your Mocks?
A mock score tells you what happened. OYM helps you understand what went wrong and what to work on next.