NMAT 2026 Score vs Colleges: Why 209 Gets a Call but 232 Gets the Seat

Every year, NMAT candidates experience a confusing contradiction.

They clear the official NMIMS cutoff.

They receive the Competency Assessment call.

And yet, many never make it to the final merit list.

For the 2026–2028 admission cycle, this contradiction has only grown sharper.

NMIMS has officially lowered its call cutoff to 209, creating optimism across the candidate pool. But behind the scenes, the final merit list continues to reward much higher scores, particularly for the Mumbai campus.

This has created what we call the “209 vs 232 anomaly.”

• 209 gets you shortlisted

• 232+ gets you converted

And unlike CAT or XAT, NMAT admissions are strictly merit-based, with no caste-based reservations at NMIMS and most private B-schools.

This article breaks down the real NMAT 2026 admission landscape using verified updates from January 2026, historical score-to-rank mapping, and confirmed institute criteria.

You’ll learn:

• What NMAT scores are call-worthy vs conversion-worthy

• Why Mumbai behaves very differently from Bangalore or Hyderabad

• Which colleges are realistically achievable at each score band

• And how to make score-aligned application decisions, not emotional ones

If you’re writing NMAT to convert a seat, not just get a call, this is the clarity you need.

Based on the latest data for the admission cycle 2026-2028 (sourced from verified updates in Jan 2026), here is the in-depth analysis of NMAT scores, percentiles, and achievable B-Schools.

Executive Summary: The "209 vs. 235" Anomaly

A critical update for the 2026 admission cycle is the Lowered Call Cutoff for NMIMS.

• Official Call Cutoff: NMIMS has set a unified cutoff of 209 (with 62 sectional) for all campuses to shortlist candidates for the "Competency Assessment" and PI.

• Safe "Merit" Score: Despite the lower call cutoff, the final merit list (highly weighted on the test) still heavily favors high scorers. A "Safe" score for the Mumbai campus remains 232+.

• Reservations: NMIMS and most top NMAT colleges (Private) do not have caste-based reservations (SC/ST/OBC). They are strictly merit-based. XIMB is an exception with Domicile reservations.

1. NMAT 2025 Score vs. Percentile

NMAT scores are scaled. There is no fixed percentile, but historical data maps scores to rank ranges.

Scaled Score	Approx. Percentile	Proficiency Level
245+	99.5+ %ile	Elite (NMIMS Mumbai Core Safe)
235 – 244	98.0 – 99.0%ile	Strong (NMIMS Mumbai / XIMB HR)
225 – 234	95.0 – 98.0%ile	Competitive (Bangalore / TAPMI)
215 – 224	90.0 – 95.0%ile	Good (KJ Somaiya / NMIMS Hyd)
205 – 214	85.0 – 90.0%ile	Moderate (XIMB Rural / SDA Bocconi)
190 – 204	70.0 – 85.0%ile	Tier 3 (NMIMS Indore / Navi Mumbai)
< 190	< 70%ile	Low (Regional Colleges)

2. Achievable B-Schools by Score Band

Tier 1: The Flagships (Score: 232+)

Target Schools: NMIMS Mumbai (Core/HR), XIMB (HRM).

Profile	Achievability Analysis	Strategic Insight
General / Open	NMIMS Mumbai: 232+ is the realistic conversion zone. Even if you get a call at 209, conversion is rare without exceptional WAT/PI. XIMB (HR): 230-235+ typically required for All India seats.	NMIMS Weightage: 20% NMAT Score + 50% Competency Test + 10% PI + 10% Work Ex + 10% Academics. A high score (240+) acts as insurance.
Women (Diversity)	NMIMS: No explicit gender points, but 30% seats internally reserved for women in many programs. A score of 228-230 might suffice if the Competency Test is strong.	XIMB: 3-5 percentile relaxation often seen for non-engineers/females in PI shortlisting.
Reserved (SC/ST)	NMIMS: NO Reservation. You compete on Open Merit. XIMB: Has reservations (SC/ST/OBC). Cutoffs drop significantly (e.g., 200–210 range).	Warning: Do not apply to NMIMS expecting a lower quota cutoff.

Tier 2: Strong Contenders (Score: 220 – 230)

Target Schools: NMIMS Bangalore, NMIMS Hyderabad, TAPMI Manipal, KJ Somaiya, XIMB (Rural).

Profile	Achievability Analysis	Strategic Insight
General / Open	NMIMS Bangalore: 222+ is safe. TAPMI: 220-225 (Often gives profile calls at lower scores). KJ Somaiya: 222-225 (Unified cutoff). XIMB (Rural/Sustainability): 200-210 is very safe.	KJ Somaiya: Has a "Profile-based" shortlisting. If you have work ex/good acads, apply even at 218-220. TAPMI: Strong for Finance/Marketing. Accepts NMAT for all programs now.
Diversity	KJ Somaiya / TAPMI: Aggressively recruit women. Safe score drops to 215-218 for strong female profiles.	Focus on the SOP/PI. These colleges value "fit" more than just the raw NMAT score once you clear the basic threshold.
Reserved	XIMB (Rural): SC/ST candidates often get calls at 160-180 score range.	Odisha Domicile: If you are from Odisha, cutoffs for XIMB drop by 15-20 points (e.g., 210 for HR).

Tier 3: Emerging & Profile Schools (Score: 200 – 220)

Target Schools: SDA Bocconi (Mumbai), NMIMS Indore/Navi Mumbai, Great Lakes (Gurgaon/Chennai), IFMR GSB.

Profile	Achievability Analysis	Strategic Insight
General / Open	SDA Bocconi: Profile-heavy. 215+ is safe; 205+ acceptable with 70%+ in Acads. NMIMS Indore/Navi Mumbai: 209 cutoff guarantees a call.	SDA Bocconi: Great option if you want international exposure (Milan semester). Admissions are rolling; apply early (Round 1/2) for lower score acceptance.
Reserved / Diversity	IFMR GSB: 210-215. Strong for Finance. Great Lakes: 210+ usually needed.	IFMR: Offers scholarships for merit-cum-means, helpful for reserved category students with financial need.

3. Detailed Cutoff Table (2026 Intake)

Institute	Program	General Cutoff (Score)	Sectional Cutoff?	Reservation Policy
NMIMS Mumbai	MBA Core / HR	232+ (Safe) (209 Call)	Yes (62-70 range)	None (Merit Only)
NMIMS Bangalore	MBA	222+	Yes (60+)	None
NMIMS Hyderabad	MBA	215+	Yes (55+)	None
XIMB	MBA (HRM)	230+	Yes (variable)	Yes (SC/ST/OBC/Domicile)
TAPMI	MBA (General)	220 – 225	Yes (Language heavy)	None
KJ Somaiya	MBA	222 – 225	Yes	None
SDA Bocconi	IMB	215+ (Profile)	No	None
IFMR GSB	MBA	215+	No	None
Woxsen Univ	MBA	200+	No	None
XIMB	Rural Mgmt	190 – 200	No	Yes

Recommendation

• For Reserved Category (SC/ST): Your best NMAT bet is XIMB (Rural/Sustainability) or XIMB (HR). NMIMS is risky as you fight on open merit.

• For Women (210–225 Score): Apply to TAPMI, KJ Somaiya, and SDA Bocconi. These schools have a proven track record of admitting profile-strong female candidates in this score range.

• For High Scorers (240+): NMIMS Mumbai is your target. Ensure you clear the Sectional Cutoffs (Quant 70+, Language 70+, Logic 70+ typically). Missing one section by 1 mark disqualifies you despite a 250 score.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a safe NMAT score for NMIMS Mumbai?

A score of 232+ is considered safe for converting NMIMS Mumbai. While candidates receive calls at 209, conversion without a high score is rare due to the heavy weight on the Competency Test and NMAT score.

Why does NMIMS call candidates at 209 but select at 232+?

NMIMS uses a two-stage process. The first stage (call) has a lower cutoff, but the final merit list strongly favors high NMAT scorers, making 232+ the realistic conversion zone.

Is there any reservation in NMIMS admissions?

No. NMIMS is a private university and follows open merit only. There are no SC/ST/OBC reservations. All candidates compete in the same pool.

Which colleges can I target with an NMAT score of 220–230?

Strong options include:

• NMIMS Bangalore

• TAPMI Manipal

• KJ Somaiya

• XIMB (Rural / Sustainability)NMIMS Mumbai becomes a stretch below 232.

What are good NMAT options at 200–215 score?

At this range, candidates should target:

• SDA Bocconi (Mumbai)

• NMIMS Indore / Navi Mumbai

• Great Lakes (Chennai / Gurgaon)

• IFMR GSB (Finance-focused)

Do women get an advantage in NMAT colleges?

NMIMS does not explicitly award gender points, but many programs internally reserve ~30% seats for women, making 228–230 viable for strong female profiles with good interviews.

Can reserved category candidates benefit in NMAT colleges?

At NMIMS, no—there are no reservations.At XIMB, yes—SC/ST/OBC and domicile quotas significantly lower cutoffs, especially for Rural Management.

What is the biggest NMAT mistake candidates make?

Confusing call cutoffs with conversion cutoffs. Many candidates stop applying elsewhere after a 209 NMIMS call and lose better conversion opportunities.