Why You must Apply to Non-IIM Colleges Separately?
Many of the top B-schools don’t want to share application systems to:
- Short-list candidates from multiple entrance examinations (i.e. CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP...) etc.
- Maintain control over their admission process and interview scheduling.
- Build a group of students from vastly different academic and professional backgrounds.
Top Non-IIM MBA Colleges You Must Apply Separately in 2025
| College Name | Accepted Exams | Expected Application Deadline (2026) | Avg. Package (LPA) |
|---|---|---|---|
| XLRI Jamshedpur | XAT, GMAT | Dec 2025 | ₹29.89 |
| SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai | CAT, GMAT | Nov 2025 | ₹33.02 |
| Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon | CAT, GMAT | Nov 2025 | ₹27.67 |
| Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad/Mohali | GMAT, GRE | Early Jan 2026 | ₹34.07 |
| Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi | CAT | Dec 2025 | ₹34.1 |
| Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Delhi | CAT | Nov 2025 | ₹29.1 |
| NMIMS Mumbai | NMAT | Oct 2025 | ₹26.63 |
| Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Pune | SNAP | Nov 2025 | ₹23.34 |
| TAPMI Manipal | CAT, XAT, GMAT | Jan 2026 | ₹15.7 |
| IMT Ghaziabad | CAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT | Nov 2025 | ₹17.35 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai | CAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT | Jan 2026 | ₹14.5 |
| FORE School of Management, New Delhi | CAT, XAT, GMAT | Jan 2026 | ₹14.5 |
| IMI Delhi | CAT, XAT, GMAT | Jan 2026 | ₹21 |
| GIM Goa | CAT, XAT, GMAT | Jan 2026 | ₹15.13 |
Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
1. Which Non-IIM MBA colleges need a separate application for 2025?
Colleges such as XLRI Jamshedpur, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, FMS Delhi, IIFT Delhi, NMIMS Mumbai, SIBM Pune, TAPMI, IMT Ghaziabad, Great Lakes Chennai, and FORE School of Management (with the exemption of some of them with the latest changes in admission policy), require a separate application. They have individual application processes and deadlines, so it's important to track everything.
2. When should I apply to Non-IIM MBA colleges?
Most Non-IIM MBA colleges will open applications during the time period from August to October 2024, for the 2025 cycle. Some colleges (such as NMIMS and IIFT) will close applications before the result of the CAT result has been published. You want to be able to get in when college admissions first open so as not to miss any deadlines.
3. Can I apply to these colleges without a CAT exam?
Yes, many colleges accept multiple entrance exams as well. For example, XLRI accepts XAT, NMIMS accepts NMAT, SIBM Pune accepts the SNAP, and ISB accepts the GMAT/GRE. However, FMS Delhi, only accepts CAT scores.
4. How many Non-IIM MBA colleges should I apply to?
An effective strategy would be to apply for 5-7 colleges, across various tiers and exams. This gives you a better chance while controlling your total application expense (roughly ₹10,000-₹15,000).
How to Plan Your Applications?
To ensure you don’t miss out:
- Track deadlines in advance – Some deadlines close before CAT results are released.
- Establish strategy to tackle exams - Many schools accept multiple entrance scores; choose the best.
- Budget for all application fees – Applying to 5-6 colleges will cost approximately ₹10,000 to ₹15,000.
- Develop different SOPs and essays - Some schools (e.g., SPJIMR, ISB) value profile-based selection.