Entrance Exam: CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, for MBA Admission 2025

MBA Entrance Exams Registration dates are getting very popular these days. In a generation where most parents are giving only two career options to choose their children, it is amazing to see how well students are attracting MBA’s. Even the candidates who have work experience, they are also tilting towards MBA degree.

MBA Entrance exams Registration Dates and last apply
MBA Entrance exams Registration Dates and last apply

MBA Entrance Exams CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, UPES | MBA Admissions

After experiencing corporate culture and understanding how difficult it is to act as an employee, people now want to see themselves as entrepreneurs or administrators. That is helpful for any one of the MBA degrees. Not only that the students of the dollar are taking the exam for MBA abroad.

Entrance ExamRegistration MonthsLast Months for Applying
CATNovemberSeptember
XATJanuaryNovember
UPESJanuaryJune
NMAT by GMACOct to DecOctober
SNAP 2024DecemberNovember
CMATJanuaryNov
MATFeb, MAY, Sep, DecOpen 12 Months
ATMAJanuaryDecember
IBSATDecemberDecember
TISSNETJanuaryNovember
IRMASATFebruaryDecember
MICATDecemberNovember

MBA entrance Exams Important dates :

Entrance exam dates 2025 for admission to MBA 2025 batch in IIMs, XLRI, Symbiosis, FMS, and other top MBA colleges have been announced. While IIM-CAT 2025 is on Nov 25, the XLRI-XAT 2025 is on January. Besides, MBA entrance Exams Important dates for some of the other MBA entrance exams like

are also announced now.

Apart from eight popular national level MBA entrance exams Calendar like

  • MAH MBA CET
  • UPESMET
  • KMAT,
  • AP ICET
  • TS ICET

etc. by Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana

there are many State level and Institute specific MBA entrance exams Calendar to be held for MBA admission 2023-25 batch. The MBA entrance exam dates and schedule for them are either announced or to be announced shortly.

Top MBA Entrance ExamAccepting top Colleges India
CAT20 IIMs, FMS, MDI, SPJIMR, IITs, IMI, IMT, TAPMI + 500 Others
XATXLRI, SPJIMR, IMT, XIMB + 140 Others
SNAPSIBM Pune, SCMHRD,  + 13 Other top Symbiosis Institutes
NMAT by GMACNMIMS Mumbai + 20 other MBA colleges & Universities
IIFT3 Campuses of IIFT at Delhi, Kolkata and Kakinada
CMATAll the Institutes and Universities offering AICTE approved MBA/PGDM programmes
IBSATIBS Hyderabad & all the other 8 campuses of ICFAI B-Schools
MAT300 MBA/PGDM colleges across India
ATMAMore than 300 MBA/PGDM colleges in India
TISSNETTata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and all its campuses
IRMASATIRMA Anand
MICATMICA Ahmedabad

Entrance Exams dates and schedule 2023 for state level

  • MAHCET
  • TS-ICET
  • AP-ICET
  • PGCET
  • KMAT
  • TANCET

is over. The schedule for these entrance exams 2023 will be announce in January/February onward.


MBA Entrance Exams in India 2025 – For Top Colleges & Universities

Planning to pursue an MBA from India’s top colleges and universities? Cracking the right MBA entrance exam is the first step. From CAT to XAT, CMAT to NMAT—this guide gives you everything: exam details, top colleges, eligibility, fee structures, placements, scholarships, and FAQs to help you take a well-informed career decision.


MBA Entrance Exams in India 2025 – For Top Colleges & Universities

  • Top MBA Entrance Exams & Ranking Overview
  • MBA Programs & Course Details
  • Admission Process for Top MBA Colleges
  • Placement Records
  • Scholarships Overview
  • FAQs

Top MBA Entrance Exams in India & Recognition

Entrance ExamConducting BodyTop Colleges AcceptingKey Achievements
CATIIMsIIMs, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, IITs, IMT, IMIWidely accepted across 1000+ colleges
XATXLRI JamshedpurXLRI, XIMB, IMT, TAPMIKnown for decision-making and GK sections
CMATNTAJBIMS, KJ Somaiya, Great Lakes, BIMTECHAccepted by 600+ AICTE-approved institutes
NMATGMACNMIMS, XUB, IBS, UPESFlexible scheduling, used by top private universities
SNAPSymbiosis UniversitySIBM Pune, SCMHRD, SIIBSpecific to Symbiosis Group of Institutes
MATAIMAChrist, JIMS, IILM, Jaipuria, NDIMConducted 4 times a year; suitable for Tier 2/3 colleges

MBA Courses Offered by Top Institutions

LevelProgram NameDurationFees (Approx.)
PGMBA (General / Dual Specialization)2 Years₹10 – ₹25 Lakhs
PGPGDM (AICTE Approved)2 Years₹6 – ₹18 Lakhs
PGExecutive MBA / Online MBA1–2 Years₹5 – ₹15 Lakhs

Admission Process: MBA Entrance Exams to Final Selection

LevelProgram NameEligibility CriteriaEntrance Exams AcceptedApplication Deadline (2025)
PGMBA / PGDMGraduation with 50% (45% for reserved category)CAT, XAT, CMAT, SNAP, NMATJuly to November 2025
PGExecutive MBAGraduation + 2-5 years of work experienceGMAT, CAT, Institutional TestMarch to June 2025
PGOnline MBAGraduation with basic eligibilityDirect / MAT / NMATRolling Admissions

MBA Placements – Year-wise Data from Top Colleges

YearProgramAverage PackageHighest PackageTop Companies
2024MBA (IIM A)₹35 LPA₹1.15 Cr (International)McKinsey, BCG, Goldman Sachs, Amazon
2024MBA (FMS)₹32.4 LPA₹85 LPAAccenture, Deloitte, Tata, American Express
2024PGDM (XLRI)₹29 LPA₹75 LPAPwC, HUL, Cipla, Microsoft
2024MBA (NMIMS)₹13 LPA₹58 LPAEY, L’Oréal, HDFC, Reliance
2024PGDM (IMT)₹12.5 LPA₹40 LPAKPMG, Axis Bank, Gartner

Scholarships for MBA Aspirants in India

CourseScholarship TypeEligibilityFees After Scholarship (Approx.)
MBA (IIMs)Need-based + Merit-based (NSP, IIM Funds)Family income < ₹8 LPA / Top 5% in CAT₹6 – ₹12 Lakhs
MBA (Private)Entrance Score Based (CAT/XAT/CMAT ≥ 90%)90+ Percentile in Entrance Test₹4 – ₹8 Lakhs
PGDMInstitute SponsoredAcademic Merit + GDPI₹5 – ₹10 Lakhs
AllGovernment Scholarships (SC/ST/OBC)Domicile + Income Proof + CategoryFull / Partial Waiver

FAQs – MBA Entrance Exams & Admissions

Which MBA entrance exam is best for IIMs?

CAT is the only entrance exam accepted by all IIMs.

How many times can I appear for NMAT?

Up to 3 attempts are allow in one admission cycle.

What is the difference between MBA and PGDM?

MBA is a degree offer by universities; PGDM is a diploma offer by AICTE-approve autonomous institutes. Both are industry value.

Can I get a scholarship after cracking CAT or XAT?

Yes, many top colleges offer merit scholarships for high scorers (90+ percentile).

Which entrance exam is easiest among CAT, XAT, and CMAT?

CMAT and MAT are relatively easier than CAT and XAT in terms of difficulty level.

What is the validity of CAT and other MBA exam scores?

Most scores are valid for 1 year only for the admission cycle they are taken.

Are there any entrance exams for government MBA colleges in states?

Yes. Some states conduct their own exams like MAH-CET, TANCET, TS ICET, AP ICET.


AdmissionMBA - MBA Admission 2025 Open

MBA Admission Form 2025