Top Colleges Accepting NMAT 2026 Scores: MBA Colleges, Courses, Fees & Admissions

A good NMAT 2026 score can open admission opportunities at several well-known management institutes across India. But choosing an NMAT college should involve more than checking whether the institute accepts the exam.

Students targeting MBA admissions for 2027 should compare the programme offered, expected NMAT score, tuition fee, selection process, location, specialisation and overall career fit before applying.

📌 NMAT College Admission Quick View
Exam: NMAT by GMAC 2026
Exam Window: 2 November – 20 December 2026
Score Range: 36–360
Admission Session: MBA/PGDM 2027
Important: NMAT registration and B-school applications are separate

GMAC's current list includes around 60 Indian institutions and schools accepting NMAT scores, including NMIMS, K J Somaiya, TAPMI, XIM University, Great Lakes, SDA Bocconi Asia Center, IBS, Alliance University and others.

🏆 Top Colleges Accepting NMAT 2026 Scores

The following institutes are among the notable options students can consider.

*Programme acceptance can change from one admission cycle to another.

The score figures above are indicative references published in GMAC's August 2026 overview, not guaranteed final admission cutoffs. Individual institutes can revise their requirements.

⚠️ Important: Do not assume that every programme offered by an NMAT-accepting university accepts NMAT. Always check the specific programme.

👑 1. NMIMS – One of the Most Popular NMAT Choices

SVKM's NMIMS remains one of the biggest names associated with NMAT.

Its current MBA admission portal lists the two-year MBA across campuses including:

📍 Mumbai
📍 Bengaluru
📍 Hyderabad
📍 Navi Mumbai
📍 Indore
📍 Ahmedabad

Candidates generally require a recognised bachelor's degree with at least 50% aggregate marks for the main MBA programme.

🚨 NMIMS Attempt Rule

NMIMS currently states that it accepts only the first NMAT attempt score.

NMAT Attempt 1  ✅ Considered by NMIMS

NMAT Retake 1   ❌ Not considered

NMAT Retake 2   ❌ Not considered

NMIMS also states that its cutoff can vary by campus and programme each year.

🎯 Strategy: If NMIMS is your primary target, do not use your first NMAT attempt simply as a trial run.

🌆 2. K J Somaiya Institute of Management

Mumbai-based K J Somaiya Institute of Management (KJSIM) accepts NMAT for programmes including MBA and selected specialised MBAs.

For 2027 admission, the institute currently accepts the best of two NMAT attempts.

💰 Latest Published MBA Fee

For the 2026–28 MBA batch:

Hostel charges are separate.

⭐ Good For: Students looking for a Mumbai-based MBA with multiple specialisation possibilities.

📊 3. TAPMI – Manipal

T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) accepts NMAT for specific MBA pathways, although accepted programmes should be checked carefully for the applicable admission cycle.

TAPMI's latest published fee for its 2026–28 MBA programmes is:

💵 ₹9.75 lakh tuition per year

That translates to approximately ₹19.5 lakh tuition over two years, excluding hostel, mess and certain additional charges.

Its selection process can include:

Entrance Score → Shortlisting → GD/WAT → Personal Interview → Final Selection

📌 TAPMI Alert: The institute's programme-wise NMAT acceptance rules can differ, so candidates applying for 2027 admission should verify the specific MBA programme before applying.

🌐 4. Great Lakes Institute of Management

Great Lakes Institute of Management appears on GMAC's current NMAT-accepting school list for its PGPM pathway.

GMAC's current overview mentions 200+ as a recommended NMAT score, rather than presenting it as a fixed cutoff.

💰 Great Lakes Gurgaon PGPM Fee Snapshot

For 2026–27:

Tuition Fee                       ₹12.44 lakh

Program Fee                    ₹6.37 lakh

Accommodation              ₹3.54 lakh

Other listed charges       ₹0.15 lakh

                                      ─────────────

Approx. Total                  ₹22.50 lakh

👥 5. XIM University

XIM University, Bhubaneswar accepts NMAT for selected management programmes.

Depending on the admission cycle, these may include areas such as:

• 👥 Human Resource Management
• 🌱 Rural Management
• ♻️ Sustainability Management
• 🏙️ Urban Management
• 📑 Public Policy
• 💹 Business Finance

GMAC's current NMAT overview lists an indicative score around 150+ for the university's NMAT-accepting programmes.

⚠️ Important: Students should not automatically assume the flagship MBA-Business Management programme accepts NMAT. Check programme-wise eligibility.

💼 6. ICFAI Business School – IBS

ICFAI Business School (IBS) is another popular option for NMAT candidates.

Its admission process can consider NMAT along with other accepted entrance scores, followed by a Micro Presentation and Personal Interview.

For the latest published 2026–28 cycle, IBS Hyderabad lists a programme fee of approximately:

💰 ₹8.505 lakh per year

📊 Approx. ₹17.01 lakh for two years

🚀 7. Alliance University

Alliance University's MBA accepts NMAT along with CAT, XAT and other recognised management tests.

Its currently published MBA programme fee is approximately:

💵 ₹15 lakh

Alliance also links NMAT performance with scholarships. For example, its current scholarship table offers different tuition waivers at NMAT scores of 180, 200, 220 and 240+, subject to academic and scholarship conditions.

🎓 Scholarship Tip: A stronger NMAT score may help not only with admission but potentially with merit-based financial support at selected institutions.

🌍 8. SDA Bocconi Asia Center

SDA Bocconi Asia Center in Mumbai accepts NMAT for its International Master in Business (IMB) programme.

The programme combines study in Mumbai with international exposure linked to SDA Bocconi in Milan.

For the 2026–28 cycle, the published programme fee was approximately:

💰 ₹20.75 lakh excluding applicable taxes

The institution also offers merit-based tuition waivers for eligible applicants.

💰 NMAT Colleges Fee Comparison

📊 Latest Published Fee Snapshot

💡 Fee Note: These figures come from the latest available programme fee schedules and are not necessarily the final fees for the 2027–29 batch. Hostel, deposits, travel and other charges may be extra.

🎯 NMAT Score-Based College Strategy

Instead of applying randomly, candidates can create three groups.

                                    YOUR NMAT SCORE

                                                  ↓  

                         ┌─────────┼─────────┐        

                         ↓                      ↓                      ↓      

                     DREAM           TARGET            SAFER  

                  COLLEGES     COLLEGES        OPTIONS    

                         ↓                      ↓                     ↓     

                  Ambitious           Strong             Backup      

                   Choices               Fit                  Choices

🧠 Example Approach

220+ Score: Explore NMIMS, K J Somaiya, TAPMI/IFMR and other competitive options.

200–219: Consider Great Lakes, Alliance and several other NMAT schools while checking programme-specific criteria.

Below 200: Expand your shortlist to institutes with comparatively lower score expectations and focus strongly on interview/profile performance.

⚠️ These ranges are planning guidance, not guaranteed admission bands.

📝 How to Apply to NMAT Colleges

One of the most important NMAT admission rules is:

❌ NMAT Registration ≠ College Application

Candidates generally need to follow:

Register NMAT → Take Exam → Send Score → Apply Separately to College → Shortlisting → WAT/GD/PI → Final Admission

GMAC explicitly advises candidates that NMAT registration and applications to individual B-schools are separate.

✅ What to Check Before Selecting an NMAT College

🎯 Best Strategy: Do not choose an MBA college solely because it accepts your NMAT score. Select the institution where programme + career goals + fees + placements + location make sense together.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

🎓 Which are the top colleges accepting NMAT 2026?

NMIMS, K J Somaiya, TAPMI, Great Lakes, XIM University, IFMR GSB, SDA Bocconi Asia Center, IBS and Alliance University are among the notable institutions on the current NMAT accepting-school list.

👑 Does NMIMS accept NMAT 2026?

Yes. NMAT is central to the current NMIMS MBA admission process. NMIMS presently accepts only the candidate's first NMAT attempt.

🔁 Does K J Somaiya accept NMAT retakes?

For the current 2027 admission information, K J Somaiya states that it considers the best of two NMAT attempts.

🎯 Is 220 a good NMAT score?

A score around or above 220 can make several competitive NMAT options worth exploring. However, admission depends on college-specific cutoffs, sectional performance and subsequent selection rounds.

💰 Which NMAT college has the lowest fees?

Fees differ significantly by programme. Candidates should compare total programme cost, including hostel and other compulsory charges, rather than tuition alone.

📄 Do I need to apply separately to colleges after NMAT?

Yes. Most participating institutions require a separate application, even after you register for NMAT and select schools for score reporting.