CAT 2025: New IIMs See Record High Female Enrollment, Know Why

CAT 2025: The number of female enrollment in IIMs has been increasing in the past few years. For the MBA batch 2024-26, the female candidates’ enrollment ranged between 25% and 75%. This admission rate was seen specifically in new IIMs. 

Based on previous years’ trends, it is expected that IIM admission for CAT 2025 will allow more female candidates to pursue MBA degrees from top IIMs. One of the major factors contributing to the selection of more girls is the reduced cut-off score. Centres like IIM Sambalpur offer 5% relaxation on the composite cut-off marks to female candidates. The shift in the admission stats represents IIMs’ inclination towards bringing gender diversity in their MBA cohorts.

Historical Trends of Female Representation in IIMs

This year, female enrollment across IIMs has reached record high levels. Leading the charge is IIM Sambalpur, with a remarkable 76% of its MBA batch comprising women. This data shows female representation of more than three times the number of men. Similarly, IIM Rohtak reported 73% female representation in its 2024–26 cohort, a drastic jump from the mere 7% in 2017.

Presented below are the notable highlights of female candidates’ admission at various IIMs:

• At IIM Kozhikode, nearly 60% of the PGP cohort are female students.

• In IIM Kashipur, around 42% of women enrolled last year for the flagship MBA batch. This represents a 35% increase from last year.

• At IIM Mumbai (formerly NITIE), over 47% of women were admitted for its first cohort as an IIM. This represented an increase of 50% in women's participation as compared to the past year.

• Older IIMs like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta reported female participation between 25% and 40%, showing moderate yet steady improvement in gender diversity for MBA batches.

Reason for Increasing Female Enrollment in IIMs

The increase in female representation in IIMs is the result of deliberate, long-term strategies implemented by newer IIMs. Here are the key factors leading to the selection of more female candidates at IIMs:

Policy Reforms Favoring Gender Diversity

Several IIMs have introduced supernumerary seats exclusively for women. Additionally, these institutes have added diversity scores during the admission process. For instance, IIM Sambalpur offers a 5% relaxation in cut-offs for women in interviews, while IIM Kashipur awards 5 extra points for gender diversity in its admission matrix.

Targeted Campus Accessibility

Institutes like IIM Kashipur now conduct pre-admission campus tours for female aspirants and their families. This process aims to break the perception barriers about safety and remote establishment of the campus. According to its admissions committee, these interactions have played an important role in boosting applications from women aspirants.

Role Models and Success Stories

Success stories of female alumni from IIMs have become powerful motivators for increasing girls’ admission rates. IIM Sambalpur cited the case of a female student getting an INR 64 lakh package. Stories like this showcase that gender is not a barrier to excellence and opportunity.

Faculty Representation and Support Systems

Some IIMs have increased the recruiting of female faculty members as a strategy to attract more female candidates to apply to their MBA programs. For example, at IIM Sambalpur, women make up about 40% of the total faculty, ensuring that female students see themselves well represented at all levels. Additionally, the institute has upgraded the campus infrastructure with secure hostels and improved learning facilities. These steps are specifically designed to encourage gender inclusivity.

How IIMs Compare to International Institutes for Female Enrollment?

While global business colleges like Oxford Said Business School, with 51% women enrollment in 2023, and Wharton, ranked in the global top 10, have also seen progress in bringing gender diversity, the MBA landscape globally remains male-dominated. Only 13 international business schools in 2024 witnessed over 50% female enrollment. In this context, Indian B-schools, especially the newer IIMs, are making a significant contribution to balance gender admission rate.

Challenges IIMs Face to Increase Gender Diversity

Despite the progress of female admissions, IIMs face a few challenges in bringing gender diversity. This is primarily because older IIMs are still cautious about implementing supernumerary quotas,  citing merit-based concerns. Moreover, pursuing an MBA continues to be a challenging task for many women due to the following reasons:

• Balancing personal and academic responsibilities

• Financial constraints

• Societal expectations and lack of encouragement

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