MBA Admissions 2026: With the preliminary XAT notification, the process of MBA Admissions 2026 is now open. CAT 2025 registration has started from 2nd August 2025 for 21 IIMs. The race for MBA admission will become more intense as reputed institutes like MDI, SPJIMR, NMIMS, FMS, JBIMS, and SIBM are also ready to start their admission process soon.

MBA admission in top MBA colleges is done through 2 stages. Firstly, students have to appear for national-level, state-level level and institute-level entrance exams like CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT, GMAT, MAT, etc. In the second stage, students will have to appear in the personality test as GD or PI. Top colleges like IIMs, FMS, MDI, and XLRI take GD/PI before admission.

So, how do you keep track of the important dates for applications and exams for all these B-schools? Don't worry! Help is at hand. Like every year, CareerMantra.Org has carefully researched the admission process of all the good B-schools, and this article will serve as your ultimate guide for MBA admission. We update it regularly to include each new admission announcement. Begin the journey towards the B-school of your dreams!

Applications for MBA admission 2026 in top MBA colleges close this month and in January 2026

1. All 21 IIMs Application for MBA Admission 2026 is closed

2. MDI, SPJIMR, IIFT, XLRI and IMT Ghaziabad applications Open       

3. FMS Delhi MBA admission application open

4. TISS Cancels TISSNET entrance exam, now accepts CAT 2025 & CUET-PG 2026 Score

This Article Contains:

1. MBA Admission Highlights

2. MBA Entrance Exam 2025-2026

3. MBA Admission 2026 Applications Open

4. IIMs Admission Process Step By Step

5. Top B-Schools Other Than IIMs Application Status

6. MBA admission 2025-2026 State-level Entrance exam

7. TISS Mumbai, IRMA, MICA Admission Process

8. FMS, JBIMS, IIT DoMS Admission Process

MBA Admission 2026 Highlights:

XLRI, XIMB Admission 2026: XAT Application Closing Soon

XLRI acts as the official conducting body for the XAT exam and considers only the XAT entrance exam score for admission to its PGDM programme. XIMB of XIM University is a member institute of XAT and accepts XAT and CAT scores. XAT 2026 will be conducted in a single session on January 4, 2026. Additionally, the admission process for XLRI and XIMB for the year 2026 is currently open.

Alert! MBA Admissions 2026 Open for Top Colleges | Register Now

Top IIM Admission 2026; Expected Cut-Off 

The oldest and top IIMs are among the leading MBA colleges accepting CAT scores. CAT 2025 is the only test score that will be accepted by IIMs for MBA admission 2026. The start and closing dates of admission for MBA admissions 2026 in these top IIMs will open with the opening of the CAT 2025 registration process and close with the closing of the CAT 2025 registration process.

MBA Admissions 2026: Application Status

Some of the top MBA colleges targeted for admission, including IIMs and IITs, are listed below. These colleges invite online applications on the basis of MBA entrance exam scores. So, candidates should select their preferred college and start preparing for the MBA admission process, which includes filling the entrance exam registration form, filling the college application, qualifying for the entrance exam and appearing in GD/PI.

Top MBA Colleges (NON IIMs) Admission 2026 through CAT Score

There are top-ranked and internationally accredited MBA/PGDM colleges accepting CAT scores. They will accept only the CAT 2025 exam score for MBA admission 2026. Some of the top ranked MBA colleges, except IIMs, that will accept the CAT 2025 score for MBA admission 2026 are:

IITs MBA Admission through CAT Score

IITs also accept CAT scores for MBA admission. IITs will start the application process for MBA admission 2026 after the release of the CAT 2025 exam results.

Top 10 B-Schools in India (Non-IIM), but also emerged as a Multi-Campus/Centre

MBA Admission 2026: Check Application Status in Top Government Colleges

The fees of government MBA colleges are lower than compared of private MBA institutes. Therefore, students can also shortlist from these colleges as per their interests and suitability. Students are required to check the entrance exam, admission process, curriculum, specialisation and placement before making their final decision. The table below contains important information related to the examinations accepted by top government MBA colleges and their current application status.

Top Colleges In India Accepting CAT 50 to 60

MBA Entrance Exams 2025-2026:

There are so many National Level MBA entrance exams in India, like CAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, NMAT, MAT, ATMA, IIFT, IBSAT and TISSNET, etc. While CAT, XAT are accepted by a limited number of B-schools, CMAT, MAT, and ATMA are accepted by a wide range of B-schools across India. By taking the GMAT entrance test, a candidate has the advantage of applying to business schools around the world.

Apart from national-level MBA entrance exams, some top state-level MBA entrance exams like MAH MBA CET, AP ICET, TS ICET, KMAT Kerala, etc. that an MBA aspirant can consider for pursuing MBA. Apart from these national and state-level MBA entrance exams, there is also an individual institute-specific exam that can help candidates get admission in institutes affiliated with nationalised MBA entrance exams.

State-level MBA Entrance Exams 2025-2026:

Apart from the national-level MBA entrance exam, there are also some state-level MBA entrance exams, which are comparatively less competitive than the national-level management entrance exam. Check the details below to know the names of such state-level MBA entrance exams and their 2025-2026 exam dates.

List of MBA/PGDM Colleges in India by MBA Entrance Exams

Check out this list of reputed MBA/PGDM colleges in India that accept different MBA  entrance exam scores. This will help you to decide which exam to register for and prepare for.