Will CAT 2024 Registration Numbers Go Up? Check Key Trends & Expectations

After the close of CAT 2024 registration on September 20, all educators are eager to know if CAT 2024 registration number will increase this year too. While the final figures are yet to be released by Prof Ramya T Venkateswaran, CAT Convener & IIM Calcutta Faculty, an analysis of past data can be a useful guide. MBAUniverse.com revisits last 12 years CAT Registration numbers and the currents trends.

Before we discuss CAT 2024 registration numbers, let’s note a few important facts about this year’s CAT. 

• IIM Calcutta is conducting CAT 2024 exam on November 24, 2024 in three slots.
• CAT Registrations have closed on September 20, 2024 
• There was an extension of 7 days. 
• CAT Error Correction Window Opening is delayed by a few days 
• IIM Calcutta will release detailed CAT 2024 Registration Data soon 

What factors can lead to increase in numbers? 
MBAUniverse.com finds following important factors that may contribute in the further increase of CAT 2024 registrations Number:

CAT 2024 Accepting Colleges: Increase in IIMs & Other Top CAT B-Schools
As is well known, Common Admission Test (CAT) is the largest MBA entrance exam, leading to admission opportunity in top Indian B-schools. Besides, in the last decade, almost all the IIMs and other top MBA colleges accepting CAT score have increased seats in their flagship program and have also launched new programs. 

• Number of IIMs go up to 21 from 20: Seats increased
• More Seats as IIFT, TISS to Accept only CAT 2024 Score
• Seven IITs offering MBA to Accept only CAT 2024 score for Admission 2025
• FMS, SPJIMR, MDI to Accept only CAT 2024 Score

CAT Numbers Registered Strong Growth in Last Two Years
CAT registration trends during CAT 2022 and 2023 reveal a good growth after remaining stagnant for more than a decade. However, whether it will furtherincrease is yet to be seen. 
 

CAT Exam Year	CAT Registration number in Lakhs	Percentage Increase over previous year
2022	2.55	11%
2023	3.30	30%

CAT 2024 Exam Cities: Increased to 170  
The increase in CAT numbers is also expected as CAT 2024 exam cities are increased to 170 from 160 last year. Adding more test cities, with an increase in exam centres may add to the increased number of CAT registrations. Last year CAT was conducted in 160 cities, while CAT 2022 was conducted in 154 cities

Engineering Placements are Down 
Placement season 2024 for engineering graduates has been reported as the most challenging in a decade. The tech sector recession, shifts in industry demand, economic slowdown are considered as the key factors for drop in placements and salary packages of engineering graduates. As such the students are looking up to pursue MBA.  

What factors can hinder growth in CAT Registration Number? 
Following are the factors that can hinder the growth in increase in CAT 2024 registration number.

CAT Registrations Compounded Annual Growth Rate was less than 1% between 2011-2021 
In the last decade from 2011 till 2021, the total number of candidates taking CAT exam had remained stagnant with negligible growth. Stagnation in number of candidates applying for CAT and other exams for pursuing an MBA in India posed a big challenge to management education in India. The Table below reflects that from 2011 to 2021 CAT registrations have not gone up and shows less than 1% growth

CAT Registrations in 2011	2,14,000
CAT Registrations in 2021	2.30,000
Total Years of CAT Exams	10
Annual Growth in CAT Registrations	0.72

Source: MBAUniverse.com Analysis

CAT Registration Numbers from 2011 to 2021
Except for CAT 2015, when CAT registration numbers reflected some growth, during the entire decade it remained fluctuating and going in negative also as shared below:

CAT Year	Candidate Registrations	% Increase/Decrease
2011	2.05	--
2012	2.14	4.4%
2013	1.95	-8.9%
2014	1.97	1.0%
2015	2.19	11.2%
2016	2.32	5.9%
2017	2.31	-0.4%
2018	2.41	4.3%
2019	2.44	1.2%
2020	2.28	-6.6%
2021	2.3	0.9%
2022	2.55	11%
2023	3.30	30%

Source: MBAUniverse.com Analysis

MBA Placements 2024 show fall in Average Salary 
MBA Placement 2024 season was unlike any other in the last decade. MBAUniverse.com Analysis of B-school Placement Reports 2024 reveals that MBA salaries have fallen this year compared to last year. Further, the percentage of MBA graduates who were left unemployed on the date of completion of their MBA program was at a record high. Many B-schools had to reach out to their Alumni, and also hire external placement agencies for support. 

 

B-school	Average Salary 2023 (Rs. in Lakhs)	Average Salary 2024 (Rs. in Lakhs)	Increase/ Decrease (%)
IIM Bangalore	35.31	35.92	+1.7%
IIM Calcutta	35.07	35.07	0%
IIM Ahmedabad	34.45	Audited report to be released in Oct 2024
XLRI Jamshedpur	32.70	29.89	-9% Drop
SPJIMR Mumbai	33.02	33.00	0%
MDI Gurgaon	27.67	25.50	-8% Drop
IIM Lucknow	32.20	30.00	-7% Drop
IIM Kozhikode	31.02	28.05	-10% Drop
IIM Indore	30.21	25.68	-15% Drop
SJMSoM IIT Bombay	28.88	28.01	-3% Drop

Source: MBAUniverse.com Analysis of B-school Placement Reports 2024

MBA Fees have been rising 
While MBA placements have gone down, the MBA Fee is consistently rising in B-schools. It may refrain many candidates from registering for MBA entrance exams including CAT 2024. Key trends in MBA Fee hike in IIMs are as below:

Indian Institute of Management (IIM)	Percentage Increase in 2024 from 2022	Fees for 2024-26 Batch	Fees for 2023-25 Batch (Rs.in Lakhs)	Fee for 2022-24 Batch (Rs.in lakhs)
IIM Ahmedabad	+8%	Rs.26.50 lakhs	Rs. 25.00 lakhs	Rs. 24.61 lakhs
IIM Bangalore	+ 13%	Rs.26.20 lakhs	Rs. 24.70 lakhs	Rs. 23.20 lakhs
IIM Kozhikode	0%	Rs.20.50 lakhs	Rs. 20.50 lakhs	Rs. 20.50 lakhs
IIM Calcutta	+ 6.4%	N.A.	Rs. 25.00 lakhs	23.50 lakhs
IIM Lucknow	0% So far	N.A.	Rs. 20.75 lakhs	20.75 lakhs
IIM Mumbai	43%	Rs.21 lakhs	Rs.14.63 lakhs	--
IIM Indore	0%	Rs.21.17 lakhs	Rs. 21.17 lakhs	Rs.21.17 lakhs
IIM Shillong	41%	Rs.26.18 lakhs	Rs.21.50 lakhs	Rs.18.56 lakhs
IIM Kashipur	+12%	Rs.17.30 lakhs	Rs.17.30 lakhs	Rs.15.42 lakhs
IIM Udaipur	+26%	Rs.22.24 lakhs	Rs.21.43 lakhs	Rs.17.59 lakhs
IIM Tiruchirappalli	+18%	NA	Rs.21.00 Lakhs	Rs.16.50 lakhs
IIM Rohtak	+7.5%	Rs.17.90 lakhs	Rs.17.90 Lakhs	Rs.16.65 lakhs

Source: MBAUniverse.com Analysis

Looking at the above data and insights, it seems that CAT 2024 registration numbers may not see a significant increase at compared to last few years. Should there be an increase in the numbers, it will bring relief to B-schools who have significantly increased seats in recent years. 

Stay tuned to MBAUniverse.com for more updates on CAT 2024