The wait for the CAT 2025 result is almost over, with scores expected to be declared shortly on the official portal iimcat.ac.in. As thousands of aspirants gear up for the next phase of admissions, the focus isn't solely on the prestigious Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). A significant number of premier non-IIM business schools also accept CAT scores, offering excellent alternatives.
Top Non-IIM Institutes According to NIRF 2025
The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Management Rankings 2025 serves as a critical benchmark for candidates. These rankings evaluate institutes on five core parameters: Teaching, Learning and Resources (TLR), Research and Professional Practice (RPC), Graduation Outcomes (GO), Outreach and Inclusivity (OI), and Perception.
Based on the latest NIRF data, here are the top five non-IIM management institutes in India for candidates to consider after the CAT 2025 result declaration.
The Leading Contenders: Rankings and Scores
Securing the fourth position overall and leading the non-IIM pack is the Department of Management Studies at IIT Delhi. Located in New Delhi, it achieved an overall score of 78.94, with particularly high scores in RPC (87.50) and GO (83.30).
At rank nine is the Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurugram in Haryana. It boasts a strong TLR score of 78.96 and an exceptional GO score of 94.96, resulting in an overall score of 71.96.
Following closely at rank ten is XLRI – Xavier School of Management in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand. It leads with the highest TLR score among this group at 84.92 and a GO score of 94.94, culminating in an overall score of 70.63.
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) Pune in Maharashtra holds the eleventh rank. It recorded an overall score of 67.90, supported by a solid TLR score of 78.53 and a GO score of 94.56.
Ranked twelfth is the Vinod Gupta School of Management at IIT Kharagpur in West Bengal. It stands out with a robust RPC score of 78.53 and an overall score of 66.97.
Why These Institutes Are Crucial for CAT Aspirants
These elite non-IIM institutes hold a venerable position in India's management education landscape and regularly attract candidates with high CAT percentiles. Schools like IIT Delhi, XLRI, and MDI actively use CAT scores in their shortlisting processes, either as a primary criterion or within a composite admission framework.
For many candidates whose CAT 2025 result might not meet the high cut-offs of the IIMs, these colleges provide prestigious and viable alternatives without stepping outside the national admission ecosystem. Their selection processes often mirror those of IIMs, typically involving subsequent rounds like Written Ability Tests (WAT), Group Discussions (GD), and Personal Interviews (PI).
Action Plan After CAT 2025 Result
Once the CAT 2025 scorecard is downloaded, candidates should strategically proceed with the following steps:
Compare your scores: Match your overall and sectional percentiles against the previous year's cut-offs announced by these non-IIM institutes.
Monitor deadlines: Keep a separate track of application timelines for non-IIM business schools, as they may differ from IIM schedules.
Verify eligibility: Thoroughly review the specific eligibility criteria and shortlisting policies on the official website of each institute.
Begin preparation: Start preparing for the subsequent selection rounds, including interview questions, current affairs for GD, and written assessments.
It is imperative for candidates to rely solely on official notifications and institute websites for all admission-related updates following the CAT 2025 result declaration.
