Guide
A college should be on an NMAT shortlist because you would join it and your score/profile can realistically convert it, not merely because the institute accepts the exam. In the current OYM top-100 college universe, strong NMAT routes include NMIMS Mumbai, Great Lakes Chennai, TAPMI Manipal, IFMR GSB, Krea University.
Shortlist from the OYM college master
| College | OYM planning target | Fee | Avg CTC | Why it stands out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NMIMS Mumbai | NMAT 220+ as a safer competitive planning score; recent shortlist benchmark has been around 209 | ₹25L | ₹24.6L | BFSI; consulting; marketing; product; analytics |
| Great Lakes Chennai | CAT/XAT ~85–90+; CMAT ~90+; profile matters | ₹20.8L | ₹15.65L | Analytics; product; technology; consulting; finance |
| TAPMI Manipal | CAT/XAT ~85–90+; NMAT ~220+ competitive target | ₹19.45L | ₹12.97L | BFSI; marketing; HR; analytics; healthcare management |
| IFMR GSB, Krea University | CMAT 85+ percentile | ₹19.06L | ₹13.5L | Finance; analytics; economics; banking; consulting |
| KJ Somaiya Institute of Management | CMAT 95–99 percentile | ₹21L | ₹12L | Marketing; finance; analytics; HR; operations |
| Great Lakes Gurgaon | CAT/XAT ~80–85+ practical target; profile matters | ₹18.5L | ₹11.7L | Analytics; technology; consulting; marketing; finance |
| Woxsen University School of Business | Profile-driven; ~60–75+ equivalent can be viable | ₹20.5L | ₹10.1L | Consulting; analytics; finance; marketing; entrepreneurship |
| IBS Hyderabad | IBSAT ~80–85 percentile equivalent is a useful target; CAT/NMAT routes are profile based | ₹17.01L | ₹9.71L | Finance; marketing; analytics; operations; case-method learning |
The targets are planning bands, not guaranteed cutoffs. Fees and placement numbers should always be read with their current cycle/scope, and average CTC is not take-home salary.
Build three bands, not one long list
Create stretch, competitive and safer choices. A stretch school should still be plausible if your score rises; a safer school should be one you would genuinely attend. Do not fill the safer band with colleges you will reject later. Also check separate institute applications—accepting NMAT does not always mean exam registration automatically puts you in the college's applicant pool.
Match the college to the reason you are taking NMAT
NMIMS is the anchor; TAPMI/KJ Somaiya/Great Lakes and others accept NMAT subject to current policies. If you are taking NMAT mainly for a specialist route, compare the programme and recruiting sectors rather than overall fame. If you are using it as a backup to CAT, compare fee/outcome and your realistic conversion probability against the CAT colleges already on your list.
What to verify before applying
Open the current Know Your Campus profile and official admission page for each shortlisted school. Verify: accepted exam for the exact programme, current target/cutoff rules, section/category requirements, application deadline, programme fee and latest placement cycle. That five-minute check prevents the most common “college accepts this exam” mistake—assuming every programme, category and admission year follows the same rule.
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.