Best MBA Colleges in 2025

Best MBA Colleges in India 2025

In this ultimate guide, we delve into the best MBA colleges in India for 2025 and provide you with the details you need to pick the right one for your career goals.

India has some of the world's best MBA colleges with challenging academic curriculum and excellent job placements. Below is an overview of some of the best-ranked colleges, including their average cost and placements:

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIM A)
◦ Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
◦ Exams Accepted: CAT
◦ Average Fees: ₹25.00 Lakhs 
◦ Average Placements: ₹34.45 LPA 
◦ Highest Salary Offered: ₹1.15 Crore

• Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM B)
◦ Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka
◦ Exams Accepted: CAT
◦ Average Fees: ₹24.50 Lakhs 
◦ Average Placements: ₹35.00 LPA 
◦ Highest Salary Offered: ₹1 Crore

• Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM C)
◦ Location: Kolkata, West Bengal
◦ Exams Accepted: CAT
◦ Average Fees: ₹27.00 Lakhs 
◦ Average Placements: ₹35.07 LPA
◦ Highest Salary Offered: ₹1.15 Crore

• Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), Delhi
◦ Location: New Delhi, Delhi
◦ Exams Accepted: CAT
◦ Average Fees: ₹2.00 Lakhs
◦ Average Placements: ₹34.10 LPA
◦ Highest Salary Offered: ₹1.23 Crore

• Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode (IIM K)
◦ Location: Kozhikode, Kerala
◦ Exams Accepted: CAT
◦ Average Fees: ₹21.00 Lakhs 
◦ Average Placements: ₹28.05 LPA (Note: another source states ₹25.4 LPA)
◦ Highest Salary Offered: ₹67.02 LPA

• Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM L)
◦ Location: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
◦ Exams Accepted: CAT
◦ Average Fees: ₹20.75 Lakhs
◦ Average Placements: ₹30.00 LPA 
◦ Highest Salary Offered: ₹65 LPA

• Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI)
◦ Location: Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
◦ Exams Accepted: XAT
◦ Average Fees: ₹27.40 Lakhs
◦ Average Placements: ₹29.80 LPA 
◦ Highest Salary Offered: ₹78.2 LPA

• SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR)
◦ Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
◦ Exams Accepted: CAT, GMAT
◦ Average Fees: ₹24.00 Lakhs 
◦ Average Placements: ₹33.00 LPA 
◦ Highest Salary Offered: ₹77.88 LPA

• Indian Institute of Management, Indore (IIM I)
◦ Location: Indore, Madhya Pradesh
◦ Exams Accepted: CAT
◦ Average Fees: ₹20.10 Lakhs 
◦ Average Placements: ₹25.68 LPA
◦ Highest Salary Offered: ₹1.14 Crore

• Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon
◦ Location: Gurugram, Haryana
◦ Exams Accepted: CAT
◦ Average Fees: ₹24.00 Lakhs (Note: another source states ₹24.15 Lakhs)
◦ Average Placements: ₹27.00 LPA (Note: another source states ₹27.67 LPA)
◦ Highest Salary Offered: ₹60 LPA

 
Best MBA Colleges by Ranking (NIRF 2024)
National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) gives authoritative rankings for Indian management institutions. Based on NIRF 2024, the best management colleges are as follows:
1. Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad
2. Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
3. Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode
4. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi
5. Indian Institute of Management Calcutta
6. Indian Institute of Management Mumbai
7. Indian Institute of Management Lucknow
8. Indian Institute of Management Indore
9. XLRI—Xavier School of Management
10. Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
(To view the official and latest rankings, visit the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) website.)

Top Private vs. Government MBA Colleges in India
India has a combination of both private and government colleges for MBA courses.
Top Private MBA Colleges:
• ISB Hyderabad (Exams Accepted: GMAT)
• XLRI Jamshedpur (Exams Accepted: XAT)
• SPJIMR Mumbai (Exams Accepted: CAT, GMAT)
• MDI Gurugram (Accepted Exams: CAT)
• NMIMS Mumbai (Accepted Exams: NMAT)
• SIBM Pune (Accepted Exams: SNAP)

Top Government MBA Colleges:
• IIM Ahmedabad (Accepted Exams: CAT)
• IIM Bangalore (Accepted Exams: CAT)
• FMS Delhi (Accepted Exams: CAT)
• SJMSOM (IITB) (Accepted Exams: CAT)
• DMS (IITD) (Accepted Exams: CAT)

Entrance Exams for MBA Admissions
The majority of India's best MBA schools ask candidates to pass certain entrance tests.

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is the most popular exam for top institutions such as the IIMs. Some other popular tests are:
• XAT (for XLRI)
• GMAT (for SPJIMR, ISB Hyderabad)
• NMAT (for NMIMS Mumbai)
• SNAP (for SIBM Pune, SCMHRD Pune)
• MAH MBA CET (for JBIMS Mumbai)
• CMAT
• CUET-PG (for TISS Mumbai HRM & LR)
• CET

Best Return on Investment (ROI) MBA Colleges
MBA investment being a major one, ROI becomes all the more important to consider. Colleges having good placements and comparatively smaller fees provide great ROI. Some of them are:
• FMS Delhi: Fees ₹2 Lakh, Average CTC ₹34.1 LPA
• JBIMS: Fee ₹6.10 Lakh, Average CTC ₹28.02 LPA
• TISS Mumbai: Fee ₹3.5 - ₹4.20 Lakh, Average CTC ₹27.22 LPA
• IIT - B (SJMSOM): Fee ₹14.77 Lakh (approx.), Average CTC ₹28.88 LPA
• IIT Delhi: Fee ₹12 Lakh, Average CTC ₹25.5 LPA
• IIM Lucknow: Fee ₹20.75 Lakh (approx.), Average CTC ₹30 LPA

MBA Colleges Without Entrance Exams
Though the majority of best-ranked colleges have entrance exams, some do not. Instead, these colleges weigh other parameters such as academic records, work experience, and personal interviews. Some examples are:
• NDIM New Delhi Delhi NCR
• Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida Delhi NCR
• Jaypee Business School, Noida Delhi NCR
• Sri Balaji University, Pune
• Vivekanand Business School (VBS) Mumbai
• ATLAS SkillTech University, Mumbai
• AIMS School of Business Bangalore
• Alliance School of Business—Alliance University Bangalore
This list can prove useful for those seeking alternative admission pathways.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Which are the top MBA colleges in India?

A: The best MBA schools in India are Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM A), IIM Bangalore (IIM B), IIM Calcutta (IIM C), Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) Delhi, IIM Kozhikode (IIM K), IIM Lucknow (IIM L), Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), IIM Indore (IIM I), and Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon. As per NIRF 2024, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Kozhikode are among the best.

Q: What are the average fees for some of India's best MBA programs?
A: Average fees for some of the best MBA programs differ drastically. For instance, FMS Delhi offers average fees of about ₹2.00 Lakhs, whereas IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Calcutta offer average fees of about ₹25.00 Lakhs and ₹27.00 Lakhs, respectively. SPJIMR charges around ₹24.00 Lakhs and XLRI is ₹27.40 Lakhs.

Q: What are the average placement offers for top college MBA graduates?

A: Top MBA college average placement offers are high. IIM Bangalore has an average of ₹35.00 LPA, IIM Calcutta ₹35.07 LPA, and FMS Delhi ₹34.10 LPA. IIM Ahmedabad is at ₹34.45 LPA, and XLRI is at ₹29.80 LPA.

Q: Which entrance exams are usually accepted by best MBA colleges?

A: The most usual entrance exam accepted by best MBA colleges, particularly the IIMs, is the CAT. Other usual ones are XAT (for XLRI), GMAT (for SPJIMR, ISB Hyderabad), NMAT (for NMIMS Mumbai), SNAP (for SIBM Pune), MAH MBA CET (for JBIMS Mumbai), CMAT, CUET-PG, and CET.

Q: Are there MBA colleges in India that do not require an entrance exam?

A: Yes, there are several MBA colleges in India that offer admission without requiring an entrance exam. These include institutions like NDIM New Delhi, Jaipuria Institute of Management Noida, Sri Balaji University Pune, and ATLAS SkillTech University Mumbai, among others.

Q: What are the best Return on Investment (ROI) MBA colleges in India?

A: FMS Delhi, JBIMS, TISS Mumbai, IIT-B (SJMSOM), IIT Delhi, and IIM Lucknow are the best colleges providing great ROI with their reasonable fees and good average placement packages.

Q: What are some of the best private MBA colleges in India?

A: Best private MBA colleges in India are ISB Hyderabad, XLRI Jamshedpur, SPJIMR Mumbai, SIBM Pune, MDI Gurugram, and NMIMS Mumbai.

Q: What are a few of the best government MBA colleges in India?

A: Some of the best government MBA colleges in India are IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Lucknow, FMS Delhi, and some of the IITs such as SJMSOM (IITB) and DMS (IITD).

Selecting the appropriate MBA college is a decision that defines your professional life. By thoroughly considering factors such as rankings, fees, placements, ROI, and accepted entrance exams, you can select the best option that best suits your professional aspirations.
Good luck with your MBA admissions! For daily tips and news, follow us on IG: mba_geek.