Best PGDM Colleges in India 2026: Fees, Entrance Exams and Placements

Written By
Vaishali Pandey
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Updated On:
May 30, 2026
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5 Minutes
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Vaishali Pandey
Updated On:
May 30, 2026

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Best PGDM Colleges in India 2026: Fees, Entrance Exams and Placements 

India hosts more than 5,000 AICTE-approved business schools offering PGDM and MBA programmes. PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) is an AICTE-approved two-year postgraduate programme awarded by autonomous institutes — officially recognised as equivalent to MBA by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Explore the best PGDM colleges in India for the 2026-27 admission cycle along with their fees, accepted entrance exams and placement summaries.

Top 10 PGDM Colleges in India (NIRF 2025 Management)

Here are the top management institutes offering PGDM or equivalent two-year programmes per NIRF 2025 Management rankings (released by the Ministry of Education on 4 September 2025):

NIRF 2025 RankInstituteLocationApprox. PGDM/PGP Fees (Full Programme, INR)
1IIM AhmedabadAhmedabad, Gujarat27.50 lakh
2IIM BangaloreBangalore, Karnataka24.50 lakh
3IIM KozhikodeKozhikode, Kerala23.50 lakh
4IIT Delhi (DMS)New Delhi12.00 lakh
5IIM LucknowLucknow, Uttar Pradesh20.50 lakh
6IIM MumbaiMumbai, Maharashtra21.50 lakh
7IIM CalcuttaKolkata, West Bengal27.00 lakh
8IIM IndoreIndore, Madhya Pradesh20.20 lakh
9IIT Bombay (SJMSOM)Mumbai, Maharashtra9.50 lakh
10XLRI Jamshedpur (PGDM-BM/HRM)Jamshedpur, Jharkhand25.90 lakh

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Entrance Exams for Best PGDM Courses

Below are the entrance exams accepted by the best PGDM colleges in India along with their conducting bodies and current-cycle timelines:

Entrance ExamConducting BodyCycle Window
CATIIM Indore (rotates among IIMs)CAT 2026: 29 November 2026; registration opens early August 2026
XATXLRI JamshedpurXAT 2026 was held on 4 January 2026; XAT 2027 expected first Sunday of January 2027
NMATGraduate Management Admission Council (GMAC)NMAT 2025: 5 November – 19 December 2025; additional phase 13 – 17 January 2026
CMATNational Testing Agency (NTA)CMAT 2026: expected last week of January 2026 (NTA notification)
MATAll India Management Association (AIMA)Multiple windows: February, May, September, December
SNAPSymbiosis International (Deemed University)SNAP typically conducted in December (3 test slots)
Karnataka PGCETKarnataka Examination Authority (KEA)Typically July
TS ICETTGCHE / Kakatiya UniversityTypically May-June
AP ICETAPSCHE / Andhra UniversityTypically May-June

Know more about the various entrance exams for PGDM courses in India, their fees, eligibility, and other details. 

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Best PGDM Colleges in India Without Entrance Exam

Note: Most top PGDM institutes require a valid CAT / XAT / NMAT / CMAT / GMAT scorecard. The institutes listed below offer direct or merit-based admission paths under their management quotas, subject to AICTE norms.

InstituteLocationApprox. Programme Fees (INR Lakhs)
NDIM New DelhiNew Delhi11.00
JAGSOM BangaloreBangalore, Karnataka16.50
ATLAS SkillTech UniversityMumbai, Maharashtra11.00
Sri Balaji University, PunePune, Maharashtra9.80
Woxsen UniversityHyderabad, Telangana19.50
Globsyn Business SchoolKolkata, West Bengal8.70
EDII AhmedabadAhmedabad, Gujarat12.50
Amrita School of Business CoimbatoreCoimbatore, Tamil Nadu13.20
IPE HyderabadHyderabad, Telangana8.50
Firebird Institute of Research in ManagementCoimbatore, Tamil Nadu6.10

Enrol in the right specialisation to get the most out of your PGDM degree. Explore the different specialisations and best colleges for a PGDM degree in India

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PGDM / MBA Colleges with Low Fees

Below are AICTE-approved or university-recognised management institutes that offer quality education at low fees:

InstituteLocationApprox. Full Programme Fees (INR Lakhs)
Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), DelhiDelhi2.00
JBIMS Mumbai (MMS)Mumbai6.50
TISS Mumbai (MA-HRM&LR)Mumbai1.50
Department of Management Sciences (PUMBA), PunePune1.40
Department of Financial Studies, Delhi UniversityDelhi0.30
Christ University (Bangalore)Bangalore5.20 – 9.10
Delhi Technological University (DTU)Delhi3.10

Top PGDM / PGP Colleges in India: IIMs

Here are the top IIMs offering two-year PGP / MBA programmes (PGDM-equivalent), with full-programme fees for the 2025-27 batch:

IIMLocationApprox. Full Programme Fees (INR Lakhs)
IIM Ahmedabad (PGP)Ahmedabad, Gujarat27.50
IIM Bangalore (PGP)Bangalore, Karnataka24.50
IIM Calcutta (MBA)Kolkata, West Bengal27.00
IIM Kozhikode (PGP)Kozhikode, Kerala23.50
IIM Lucknow (PGP)Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh20.50
IIM Indore (PGP)Indore, Madhya Pradesh20.20
IIM Mumbai (PGP)Mumbai, Maharashtra21.50
IIM Rohtak (PGP)Rohtak, Haryana18.10
IIM Raipur (PGP)Raipur, Chhattisgarh16.40
IIM Shillong (PGP)Shillong, Meghalaya15.50
IIM Tiruchirappalli (PGP)Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu19.50
IIM Nagpur (PGP)Nagpur, Maharashtra17.10
IIM Amritsar (PGP)Amritsar, Punjab15.30

Best College for PGDM in India: Non-IIMs

Here is a list of leading non-IIM autonomous institutes offering PGDM programmes:

InstituteLocationApprox. Full Programme Fees (INR Lakhs)
XLRI Jamshedpur (PGDM-BM/HRM)Jamshedpur, Jharkhand25.90
MDI Gurgaon (PGDM-BM)Gurugram, Haryana26.55
SPJIMR Mumbai (PGDM)Mumbai, Maharashtra26.50
IIFT (Delhi/Kolkata, MBA-IB)Delhi / Kolkata21.50
MICA Ahmedabad (PGDM-C)Ahmedabad, Gujarat22.50
Great Lakes Institute of ManagementChennai, Tamil Nadu19.50
IMT Ghaziabad (PGDM)Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh19.50
Goa Institute of Management (PGDM)Goa17.80
IMI Delhi (PGDM)New Delhi19.50
IRMA Anand (PGDM-RM)Anand, Gujarat15.90

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Top PGDM Colleges in India: City-Wise

1. Top PGDM / MBA Colleges in Delhi-NCR

InstituteLocationFees (Full Programme)
FMS Delhi (MBA)South Campus, DUINR 2.00 lakh
DMS, IIT Delhi (MBA)Hauz Khas, New DelhiINR 12.00 lakh
Jamia Millia Islamia (MBA)Jamia Nagar, New DelhiINR 1.20 lakh
MDI Gurgaon (PGDM-BM)Sukhrali, GurugramINR 26.55 lakh
IMI Delhi (PGDM)Qutab Institutional Area, New DelhiINR 19.50 lakh

2. Top PGDM / MBA Colleges in Pune

InstituteLocationFees (Full Programme)
SIBM Pune (MBA)Lavale, PuneINR 22.50 lakh
NIBM Pune (PGDM)Kondhwe Khurd, PuneINR 16.50 lakh
PIBM Pune (PGDM)Pirangut, PuneINR 13.10 lakh
National Insurance Academy (PGDM)Balewadi, PuneINR 17.20 lakh
Bharati Vidyapeeth (IMED, MBA)PuneINR 8.50 lakh

3. Top PGDM / MBA Colleges in Bangalore

InstituteLocationFees (Full Programme)
Christ University (MBA)Hosur Road, BangaloreINR 9.10 lakh
Alliance School of Business (MBA)Anekal, BangaloreINR 16.50 lakh
XIME Bangalore (PGDM)Electronic CityINR 14.50 lakh
Welingkar Bangalore (PGDM)Electronic CityINR 12.50 lakh
IIM Bangalore (PGP)Bannerghatta RoadINR 24.50 lakh

4. Top PGDM / MBA Colleges in Hyderabad

InstituteLocationFees (Full Programme)
ISB Hyderabad (PGP)GachibowliINR 39.00 lakh (1 year)
IMT Hyderabad (PGDM)ShamirpetINR 14.50 lakh
University of Hyderabad (MBA)GachibowliINR 0.60 lakh
MANAGE Hyderabad (PGDM-ABM)RajendranagarINR 5.20 lakh
NMIMS Hyderabad (MBA)HyderabadINR 19.00 lakh

Placements in Top PGDM / PGP Colleges in India (2024-25 cohort)

InstituteAverage Package (INR LPA)Highest Package (INR LPA)Full Programme Fees (INR Lakhs)
IIM Ahmedabad (PGP)35.5110+27.5
SPJIMR Mumbai (PGDM)33.7575.026.5
IIM Lucknow (PGP)32.3100.020.5
XLRI Jamshedpur (PGDM-BM)30.0110.025.9
MDI Gurgaon (PGDM-BM)29.597.526.55
IIM Kozhikode (PGP)28.1881.023.5
IIM Mumbai (PGP)25.562.021.5
IIM Raipur (PGP)20.556.016.4
IIM Rohtak (PGP)19.254.018.1
IIM Tiruchirappalli (PGP)20.5550.019.5

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Difference Between MBA and PGDM 

FeaturePGDMMBA
Award TypeDiplomaDegree
RegulatorAICTE (autonomous institute); AIU grants MBA-equivalenceUGC (university-conferred)
Focus of EducationIndustry-focused; curriculum updated frequentlyStructured curriculum; updated over 3-5 year cycles
Curriculum AdaptabilityHigh — typically reviewed annuallyUniversity Board of Studies process

If you are interested in PGDM, you can also check out the MBA degrees offered by various universities. Take a look at the different MBA courses, top colleges and admissions

Many banks and NBFCs provide easy and quick education loans for MBA and PGDM courses. 

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Special USPMarks-Based Approval
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FAQ About Best PGDM Colleges in India 

What are the best PGDM colleges in India?

XLRI Jamshedpur, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMI Delhi, IIFT Delhi, IMT Ghaziabad and Great Lakes Chennai are among the top PGDM institutes. IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode top the NIRF 2025 Management rankings among two-year PGP/MBA institutes.

What is the difference between a PGDM and an MBA?

PGDM is an AICTE-approved diploma awarded by autonomous institutes; MBA is a degree awarded by a UGC-recognised university. The Association of Indian Universities (AIU) grants equivalence to a two-year PGDM from an AICTE-approved (preferably NBA-accredited) institute — making the two effectively equivalent for higher studies and most employment purposes.

Which PGDM colleges in India offer the best placements?

XLRI Jamshedpur, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon and the top IIMs offer the strongest placements. Average packages range from INR 28-35 LPA at tier-1 institutes per the 2024-25 placement cycle.

What is the typical fee structure for top PGDM colleges in India?

SPJIMR, XLRI and MDI charge approximately INR 25-27 lakh for the full two-year programme. Mid-range institutes like IMT Ghaziabad and Great Lakes charge approximately INR 19-22 lakh. State and government PGDM institutes can cost under INR 5 lakh.

What entrance exams are accepted by the best PGDM colleges?

Most top PGDM institutes accept CAT, XAT, GMAT, NMAT or CMAT. Some also accept SNAP (Symbiosis), MAT (AIMA) or institute-specific tests.

Is it worth doing a PGDM from a top college in India?

Yes — a PGDM from an AICTE-approved tier-1 institute offers industry-relevant skills, an autonomous and frequently refreshed curriculum, alumni networks and strong placements.

What is the average salary after completing a PGDM from a top Indian institute?

Graduates from top PGDM institutes can expect average packages of INR 28-35 LPA at tier-1 (XLRI, SPJIMR, MDI, IIM A/B/C/K/L), INR 18-25 LPA at tier-2 and INR 8-12 LPA at tier-3 institutes (2024-25 placement cycle).

How is the curriculum in PGDM colleges different from MBA programmes?

PGDM curricula are designed and refreshed by autonomous institutes — typically annually — to align with industry. MBA curricula at universities go through the Board of Studies process and are revised over 3-5 year cycles.

Are there any scholarship options available in PGDM colleges in India?

Yes. Many top PGDM institutes (SPJIMR, XLRI, IMI, MDI) offer merit-based scholarships, need-based financial aid, and category-specific scholarships.

Which PGDM specialisations are the most popular in India?

Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Operations & Supply Chain, Business Analytics and Information Technology are the most popular PGDM specialisations.

What is the admission process for top PGDM colleges in India?

A valid national entrance score (CAT, XAT, NMAT, GMAT or CMAT) is followed by Written Ability Test or Group Discussion and Personal Interview at the institute level.

Are international placements available for PGDM graduates from top Indian colleges?

Yes — IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, XLRI, SPJIMR and ISB regularly record international offers (e.g. SPJIMR PGDM 2024-25 highest international offer was over INR 80 LPA).

What accreditations should I look for when selecting a PGDM college in India?

Confirm AICTE approval and, ideally, AIU equivalence and NBA accreditation. International accreditations like AMBA, AACSB or EQUIS indicate global recognition.

Is there a significant difference between PGDM offered by private institutes and IIMs?

IIMs offer PGP / MBA (PGP being the historic PGDM-equivalent at older IIMs; newer IIMs award MBA degrees under the IIM Act 2017). Private institutes like XLRI, SPJIMR and MDI offer AICTE-approved PGDM. Choice depends on rankings, fit, fees and placement profile.

What are the networking opportunities available at top PGDM colleges?

Top PGDM colleges offer strong alumni networks, industry interactions, corporate seminars, leadership talks and structured internships.

What are the job sectors that recruit PGDM graduates from top Indian colleges?

Top sectors include management consulting (McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Kearney), investment banking (Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan), FMCG (HUL, P&G, ITC), e-commerce (Amazon, Flipkart), technology product management, and BFSI.

Vaishali Pandey
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A banker turned content marketer with expertise in growth-focused content strategies for the finance and digital sectors.  She currently drives data-backed content initiatives at Propelld, through high-impact storytelling.

Before moving into content marketing, Vaishali spent nearly a decade in banking, across their asset and lending divisions and spent almost a decade in finance. An MBA in Marketing and a writer at heart, she finally took up content marketing and now simplifies money talks for the readers.

She is also a certified digital marketer (MICA), combining data-driven insights with creative storytelling to deliver measurable business growth.

Beyond work, Vaishali is a handcrafted brand founder, avid reader, and travel & food blogger, blending creativity and strategy in everything she does.

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