While it is well known that MBA in India is synonymous with Indian Institute of Management or IIMs, it is also important to acknowledge the fact that, IIMs are the only elite Business Schools where one can pursue MBA in India. There are a bunch of amazing management institutes which offer similar academic rigour and placement opportunities to their students. There are a couple of entrance exams which are also being conducted along with CAT, giving students some sort of flexibility and a wider range of options to pursue their MBA from their dream institutes. This article will highlight the top 15 such MBA colleges which are not linked to IIM status but still provide you with ample opportunities.
List of Top Non IIM MBA Colleges in India
| Colleges | Exams Accepted | Fees | Average Packages |
| ISB Hyderabad | GMAT | 41.8 lakh | 34.08 LPA |
| XLRI Jamshedpur | XAT | 27 lakhs | 29.89 LPA |
| XLRI Delhi | XAT | 27 lakhs | 29.89 LPA |
| FMS Delhi | CAT | 2 lakhs | 34.20 LPA |
| SPJIMR Mumbai | CAT, GMAT | 24 lakhs | 33 LPA |
| MDI Gurugram | CAT | 25 lakhs | 27.67 LPA |
| JBIMS Mumbai | CAT, CMAT, GMAT, MAT, MAHCET | 6 lakhs | 28.02 LPA |
| IIFT Delhi | CAT | 21.77 lakhs | 29.10 LPA |
| SJMSOM (IITB) | CAT | 14 lakhs | 28.88 LPA |
| TISS Mumbai(HRM & LR) | CUET-PG | 2.43 lakh | 27.22 LPA |
| SIBM Pune | SNAP | 22.20 lakh | 28.16 LPA |
| IIFT Kolkata | CAT | 21 lakhs | 29.10 LPA |
| NMIMS Mumbai | NMAT | 23.90 lakh | 26.63 LPA |
| DMS (IITD) | CAT | 11.2 lakhs | 25.82 LPA |
| SCMHRD Pune | SNAP | 23.90 lakh | 24.28 LPA |
Category 1
Indian School of Business, Hyderabad & Mohali
When it comes to executive MBA programs (one-year MBA programs), India School of Business (ISB) is ranked #1. The main campus of ISB is located in Hyderabad, and a second campus in Mohali has just opened. The Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) is one of ISB’s entrance exam requirements. A fact that one should take into account for ISB is that they give profiles a lot of weight.Additionally, they impose a strict two-year work experience requirement on their cohorts. The ultimate acceptance is determined by a thorough evaluation of the student profile, a demanding personal interview, and a very high GMAT score of 700+. Considering that its program lasts only a year, ISB is regarded as a bit pricey in comparison to other universities; nonetheless, it offers extensive placement assistance. After nearly 1500 offers were submitted for their batch, ISB’s average package reached 35 LPA.
- Fees: 41.8 lakh
- Average Package: 35 LPA
- Batch Size: 873 Students
XLRI Jamshedpur
Xavier’s Labour Relations Institute, often abbreviated as XLRI, is India’s oldest MBA College belonging to the elite category. XLRI is situated in the beautiful town of Jamshedpur in eastern India. XLRI was established in 1949, primarily as a Postgraduate Institute backed by the TATAs for Industrial Relations. As of Today, XLRI has a total of 2 flagship residential programs, PGDM – Human Resource Management and PGDM – Business Management. It also provides, PGDM – General Management which is an executive MBA and are suited for people having 5+ years of work experience in the industry before their MBA. The fee of XLRI Jamshedpur stands around 32 lacs for their flagship programs. XLRI has its own entrance exam known as Xavier’s Aptitude Test (XAT), which happens around the first week of January every year. It is believed that 98+ percentiles in XAT could easily fetch calls from XLRI. XAT is a relatively longer exam however has a very similar syllabus and pattern to CAT except for their Decision Making (DM) section, making it easier for students to crack XAT along with CAT.
- Fees: 27 lakh
- Average Package: 29.89 LPA
- Highest Package: 75 LPA
- Batch Size: 400 Students
XLRI Delhi
XLRI Delhi started in 2020, is situated in Jhajjar, NCR. XLRI Delhi comes under the aegis of XLRI Jamshedpur. XLRI Delhi only offers PGDM Business Management as its flagship program along with a few extra programs focused on entrepreneurship. One of the amazing benefits of joining XLRI Delhi is that XLRI promotes a one-institute culture, which means both campuses will have combined placements, enabling students to have ample opportunities across both the campuses. Being a relatively new campus, XLRI Delhi still secures an average placement of about 30 lacs with marquee recruiters visiting from multiple domains i.e., FMCG, General Management, and Consulting.
- Fees: 27 lakhs
- Average Package: 29.89 LPA
- Highest Package: 75 LPA
- Batch Size: 180 Students
Faculty of Management Studies, FMS Delhi
The Faculty of Management Studies (FMS) is a part of University of Delhi, is one of India’s premier MBA colleges, renowned for its high-quality management education and extremely competitive admission process. Established in 1954, FMS offers a range of programs, including its flagship MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral programs. FMS accepts CAT as one of their requirements for the selection to their MBA program. Due to limited seats, FMS is considered to be extremely difficult to crack institute. As it is a part of Delhi University, FMS has a very lenient fee structure, making it the best Business School in terms of return on investment (ROI).
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- Fees: 2 lakhs
- Average Package: 34.20 LPA
- Batch Size: 273 Students
SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR)
SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), based in Mumbai, is a top-tier MBA college in India known for its innovative teaching methods and values-driven approach. The institute offers a variety of programs, with the Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) as its flagship course. This program is available in four specialized streams: Finance, Marketing, Operations, and Information Systems. SPJIMR also recently introduced the PGDM – Business Management. With smaller batch size, strong industry connections and a vast alumni network, SP Jain provides excellent placement opportunities for its students. One of its unique features is the mandatory foreign exchange program, which offers the entire batch a two-week global immersion at foreign universities. SPJIMR looks for a holistic student profile, considering extracurricular achievements alongside academic performance, along with a great CAT or GMAT scores.
- Fees: 24 lakhs
- Average Package: 33 LPA
- Highest Package: 74 LPA
- Batch Size: 360 Students
Category 2
Management Development Institute, MDI Gurugram
Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurugram is one of India’s leading MBA college when it comes to management education. Established in 1973 by the Industrial Finance Corporation of India, MDI offers a variety of programs including its flagship Post Graduate Program in Management (PGPM), along with specialized programs in Human Resource Management (PGP-HRM) and International Business (PGP-IB). The IB course here offers dual degree; one from MDI and other from one of the partner universities in Europe. Candidates get to spend a year in the abroad by paying the same second year fee of MDI, gaining international exposure. Recently they also introduced MBA in Business Analytics for aspirants having a around 3 years of work experience. For its domestic students, MDI considers CAT scores along with profiling of the students for admission into these programs.
- Fees: 25 lakhs
- Average Package: 25.5 LPA
- Highest Package: 63.3 LPA
- Batch Size: 472 Students
Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, Mumbai
Among its peer business schools, Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies, or JBIMS, is frequently referred to as the CEO factory. When it comes to the ROI element, JBIMS is without a doubt one among the promising MBA colleges. While other institutions charge a high cost to study for an MBA, JBIMS only charges between six to seven lacs, giving students a sense of financial independence. The Maharashtra Health & Technical Common Entrance Test, or MAHCET, is the primary means of admission, while the institute also takes into account other entrance tests such as MAT and CMAT. The cutoff for MAHCET is above and above the 99.9 percentile due to the exceptionally high demand. Situated in the centre of Mumbai, it is well-known for its placement opportunities in the finance domain. Compared to its competitors, JBIMS is an MBA institute that lacks a completely residential program, but it makes up for it with a well-established methodology, lower batch sizes, and better opportunities for employment. A total of 55 companies, including 12 international firms, participated in the latest placement season.
- Fees: 6 lakh
- Average Package: 28.02 LPA
- Highest Package: 35.75 LPA
- Batch Size: 150 Students
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, IIFT Delhi
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Delhi is one of the premier MBA colleges of India, renowned for its focus on international business education and research. Established in 1963 by the Government of India, IIFT offers a flagship MBA in International Business, along with executive programs and doctoral studies. They recently also started an MBA program in the field of Business Analytics. Located in the heart of Delhi, the institute provides a rigorous curriculum that combines theoretical knowledge with practical insights into global trade and commerce. IIFT considers CAT scores since last year as their entrance exam along with academic diversity and work experience as their admission process criteria.
- Fees: 21.77 lakhs
- Average Package: 29.10 LPA
- Highest Package: 85.4 LPA
- Batch Size: 400+ Students
Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSoM), IIT Bombay
Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJMSoM) at IIT Bombay is one of the top-ranked MBA colleges in India. As we know how much value IIT Bombay holds when it comes to BTech, SJMSoM holds synonymous value when it comes to MBA. Established in 1995, SJMSoM offers a flagship MBA program, doctoral programs, and various executive education courses. Situated within the renowned IIT Bombay campus, the school benefits from a strong emphasis on technology and innovation, integrating management principles with cutting-edge engineering and technical knowledge. It is important to note that it considers CAT as an entrance exam for its MBA programs and institute is only open to engineers or aspirants holding a master’s degree in any domain.
- Fees: 14 lakhs
- Average Package: 28.88 LPA
- Highest Package: 72 LPA
- Batch Size: 115 Students
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), located in the financial capital, Mumbai, is a premier renowned MBA college known for its commitment to social justice and excellence in the field of education. Established back in time in 1936, TISS offered various programs like an MA in Social Work and Human Resources Management, making it a niche in its domain. TISS is one of the most sought-after colleges for human resources program in India after XLRI Jamshedpur. It is important to note that they do not provide MBA as a degree but their MA degree is highly competitive and is known industry-wide for its rigor and learning. Due to backing by Tata Trust, TISS programs come at a very reasonable fee structure; the two-year program costs around 2.5 lacs in total. TISS CUET-PG as their entrance exams for these equivalent degrees.
- Fees: 2.43 lakh
- Average Package: 27.22 LPA
- Highest Package: 49 LPA
- Batch Size: 80 Students
Category 3
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) Pune
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM) Pune was established in 1978 and is now one of India’s premier MBA colleges. SIBM Pune considers Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP) to be their entrance exam for their MBA program. SNAP is a speed-based test with three sections in it and the total time is 60 minutes. SNAP happens thrice withing a span of 5 – 6 weeks, and students are open to appear in all three attempts. The best score among all the three attempts will be considered as a final score for the following stages of selection. A score of above 42 out of 60 is regarded as a safe score for SIMB Pune. SIMB currently offers four different specializations in the fields of Finance, Marketing, Operations, and Human Resources.
- Fees: 22.20 lakh
- Average Package: 28.16 LPA
- Highest Package: 49 LPA
- Batch Size: 200 Students
Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, IIFT Kolkata
The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Kolkata is a prominent campus of the esteemed IIFT, known for its specialization in international business education. Established in 2006, the Kolkata campus offers the flagship MBA in International Business program, alongside a bunch of executive programs and doctoral studies. IIFT has a common admission process for both the campuses, and they even used to have common placement drive. IIFT as an institution considers CAT scores as their entrance exam criterion.
- Fees: 21 lakhs
- Average Package: 29.10 LPA
- Highest Package: 85.4 LPA
- Batch Size: 400+ Students
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) Mumbai
Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) in Mumbai is one of the best private universities in India for pursuing an MBA. Established in 1981, NMIMS offers various undergraduate and postgraduate programs. NMIMS offers two flagship MBA programs: one regular MBA and the other MBA in Human Resources. The institute considers the Narsee Monjee Aptitude Test (NMAT) as their entrance exam for both programs. Students can schedule an NMAT exam at their convenience, with a two-month window of extended availability. One may choose to appear at the closest NMAT facility or from the comfort of their own home. The rigorous standards used by NMIMS to choose students are based on their academic standing, professional experiences, NMAT results, and in-person interviews. A score of more than 240 on the NMAT is regarded as safe.
- Fees: 23.90 lakh
- Average Package: 26.63 LPA
- Highest Package: 67.80 LPA
- Batch Size: 650 Students
Department of Management Studies, DoMS IIT Delhi
The Department of Management Studies (DMS) at IIT Delhi is a renowned business school offering a range of programs, including the flagship MBA, Executive MBA, and doctoral programs. Established in 1993, DMS IIT Delhi is known for its strong emphasis on technology and innovation in management education. IIT Delhi is also open to only engineers or students having a master’s degree in any domain. The usual cutoff for IIT Delhi MBA is around 98+ percentile but also depends a lot on student’s past profile.
- Fees: 11.20 lakh
- Average Package: 25.82 LPA
- Highest Package: 41.30 LPA
- Batch Size: 150 Students
Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Pune
Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), located in Pune under the aegis of Symbiosis University and has a strong focus on management and human resources. Founded in 1993, SCMHRD combines rigorous academics with real-world industry expertise to offer specialties in Human Resources, Marketing, Finance, Operations, and Infrastructure Management. When it comes to MBA programs, SCMHRD is Symbiosis University’s second-best institution. Like SIBM, SCMHRD uses student profiles and SNAP scores as part of their admission exam criterion. For SCMHRD, a SNAP score of 38 out of 60 is generally seen as respectable. Despite the HR tag it carries, SCMHRD is also known for its career opportunities in marketing and operations. The institute also enjoys a very small batch size compared to other colleges.
- Fees: 23.9 lakh
- Average Package: 24.28 LPA
- Highest Package: 38 LPA
- Batch Size: 180 Students
