CMAT Score Accepted MBA Colleges in Kerala 2026 | Rankings, Fees & Seats

CMAT Score Accepted MBA Colleges in Kerala 2026 – Compare Rankings, Fees & Seat Intake to Choose the Right MBA College

If you took CMAT and are targeting an MBA in Kerala for 2026, this guide collects the up-to-date, practical information you need: which Kerala colleges accept CMAT scores, how they rank, what their fees generally look like, seat intake patterns, expected cut-off bands, and practical next steps (applications, fee planning, and timelines). The aim is to let you compare options and decide where to apply with confidence. Several reputable sources confirm that many top public, private and autonomous institutions across Kerala accept CMAT for admission to their MBA/PGDM programmes.

1. How CMAT Score Accepted MBA Colleges in Kerala 2026 (admission models)

Colleges treat CMAT in three common ways:

1. CMAT as a primary eligibility/shortlisting test — institutes shortlist candidates based on CMAT percentile/scores, then conduct group discussions (GD) and personal interviews (PI). This is common among private and autonomous colleges.

2. CMAT as one of multiple accepted scores — several Kerala colleges accept CMAT alongside KMAT, CAT, MAT, or state CET scores; selection weight may combine entrance score + academic record + PI/GD.

3. CMAT as supplementary — some universities or colleges accept CMAT but give preference to state entrance exams (KMAT/CET) or institutional tests; CMAT boosts your application but is not the sole factor.

1. List of prominent CMAT-accepting MBA colleges in Kerala

1. Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies (RCBS), Kochi — well-ranked in Kerala, strong industry links and consistent placement records; accepts CMAT along with CAT/KMAT. Representative total fees typically in the mid/high range for private B-schools.

2. SCMS Cochin School of Business, Kochi — longstanding private management school with good recruiter presence; accepts KMAT/CMAT; offers PGDM programmes.

3. Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME), Kochi — autonomous, good placements for specialized cohorts; accepts CMAT and other entrance scores.

4. Rajagiri School of Management / RCBS (other programmes) — multiple campuses and programmes; recurring presence in Kerala rankings.

5. Government and State University MBA programmes — various universities (e.g., MG University centres, University of Calicut affiliated colleges) accept CMAT in some form (especially for affiliated/constituent management programmes). Fees tend to be significantly lower.

2. Rankings & accreditation — what matters for ROI

When you evaluate colleges, prefer those with clear third-party validation:

• NIRF/central rankings: nationally ranked institutes (even if outside Kerala, e.g., IIM Kozhikode) give an objective benchmark; within Kerala, look for NIRF presence and score bands.

• AICTE / NBA / NAAC / UGC approvals: ensure the programme has statutory recognition or favorable accreditation; this impacts placement visibility and degree recognition.

• Placement transparency: published average and median packages, top recruiters, and placement rates are essential for ROI comparison. Aggregator sites publish placement summaries for many Kerala colleges and help compare year-on-year trends.

  
  

1. Fees — realistic 2026 ranges and examples

Fees differ by institute type. Representative brackets for 2026 (approximate):

• Government / State university MBA programmes: ₹30,000 – ₹2,00,000 (total). These are cost-efficient but may have more rigid admission quotas.

• Mid-tier private/affiliated colleges: ₹1.5 lakh – ₹5.0 lakh (total). Most CMAT-accepting private colleges fall here.

• Premium autonomous/private B-schools in Kerala: ₹6.0 lakh – ₹11.0 lakh (total). (Institutes like XIME/selected PGDMs and well-ranked private colleges).

3. Seats & intake patterns — what to expect

• Top private schools (RCBS, SCMS, XIME): typically offer multiple specialisations with total batch sizes in the 60–240 range per programme (varies by campus and autonomous approvals).

• State university affiliated colleges: intake per college often 20–120 seats per programme; cumulative state capacity across CMAT-accepting colleges is substantial (dozens of colleges × average intake).

4. CMAT cut-offs and percentile guidance for Kerala colleges (2026 expectations)

Cutoffs vary by college, category (General / OBC / SC/ST), and programme. Typical patterns:

• Top private/autonomous colleges: often shortlist candidates with CMAT percentiles in the 70–95+ band depending on institute reputation and the reserve category. Higher percentile needed for niche specialisations and fewer seats.

• Mid / lower-tier colleges: shortlisting may occur even for percentiles in the 40–70 range.

• University and government colleges: cutoffs may be influenced by state quotas and alternative entrance exams (e.g., KMAT or university CET); in some cases CMAT is used as supplementary evidence rather than the primary filter.

5. Placements — what the data says for 2025–26 intake cycles

Placement outcomes vary widely. Aggregators show:

• Mid-tier Kerala colleges: average packages often in the 4–8 LPA range.

• Higher-ranked private B-schools and autonomous institutes: averages can be 8–18 LPA or higher for niche/high-performing batches.

• Top national institutes (e.g., IIM Kozhikode): significant outliers with very high packages, but these rely on CAT rather than CMAT for primary entry.

  
  

6. Financial planning — budget template (quick)

• Application fees: ₹500–₹2,000 per application (depends on institute).

• Programme fees: plan for ₹0.5 lakh to ₹10 lakh.

• Living costs (Kerala major cities): ₹6,000–₹22,000 per month depending on housing choice.

• One-time costs (books, deposits): ₹10,000–₹40,000.