Top 10 Management Colleges in India

The growth of management education in New Delhi, India, has been remarkable over the last 20 years. The country has successfully produced a global-level leadership team of educated entrepreneurs and corporate professionals. The need for a highly skilled manager to oversee the complicated nature of business has escalated enormously with the advent of globalization.

There are renowned MBA colleges by the government, such as the Management Development Institute (MDI) and the Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.

This article helps you select the best college according to your choice. Here we have mentioned the Top 10 Management Colleges in India.

MBA-Master of Business Administration

The MBA Program is a postgraduate degree that provides students with highly specialized skills and advanced knowledge in business management and leadership. The courses and subjects included in an MBA program favour the use of practical applications and case studies, which ultimately prepare graduates for leadership roles in various industries. Admission for MBA courses and programs is based on the entrance exam and is considered when a GD, WAT, and PI have been completed.

Top 10 Management Colleges in India -_3.1

 Why is an MBA important?

Completing an MBA from a top Indian college builds your career opportunities in the corporate sector, startups, and leadership roles in sales, marketing, finance, and the HR department. Pursuing an MBA may help you to work on your skills like leadership, communication, strategy, and management. These skills help you grow your career with a high salary and faster promotions.

There are 21 Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) in India. All of these 21 are part of the Top 50 business schools globally, as ranked by the Ministry of Human Resource Development’s National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). The most famous colleges under IIMs are IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bengaluru, and IIM Calcutta.

Top 10 Management Colleges in India

Selecting the right college is one of the biggest tasks for students who want to get admission in top colleges and institutes to make their career bright with quality education and be able to get the best placement and a high package, and a good position in the job sectors. Some of the best management colleges are:

1. IIM Ahmedabad

IIM Ahmedabad is the best B-school in India, offers a variety of courses such as digital strategy, leadership, economic policies, business analytics, game theory, and pre-MBA accounting. The fee for the program is from INR 25.5 to 36 lakhs. Admission for Indian students is based on the CAT exam and GMAT.

2. IIM Bengaluru

IIM Bengaluru is one of India’s top business schools and offers courses like Accounting for Decisions, Corporate Finance, Marketing Management, Economics for Managers, Operations Management, Macroeconomics, Multivariate Data Analysis, and Optimization. The average program fee is about INR 26 lakhs, and only one exam is mode for admission, that is the CAT (Common Admission Test).

3. IIM Calcutta

IIM Calcutta is based in West Bengal and is a well-known, sought-after business school in India. It has a variety of courses such as Managerial Communication, Managerial Skill Development, Decision Making Tools, Marketing, and Financial Analysis. The course fee starts from 23.2 to 25 lakhs, and the entrance exam is the CAT (Common Admission Test).

4. IIM Lucknow

IIM Lucknow is one of the top business schools in India, located in Uttar Pradesh. IIM Lucknow is a newly built college in Indian management education, as compared to IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Bengaluru. IIM Lucknow offers management courses such as Organizational Behaviour, Financial Accounting, Managerial Economics, Corporate Finance, and Human Resource Management. The program fee starts from INR 16.28 lakhs to 36.2 lakhs. Admission is done through CAT.

5. IIM Kozhikode

IIM Kozhikode (Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode) is a business school in Kerala and is one of the most popular business schools in India. The IIM Kozhikode offers program courses like Organization and Market Economics, Organizational Behaviour, Data Analysis, Business Communication, Marketing Management, and the Economic Environment, etc. The average fee for the MBA program is INR 20.5 lakhs. They only accept the CAT Exam.

6. Faculty of Management Studies (FMS)

FMS Delhi is located in New Delhi,  has been one of the best MBA colleges in India. It charges extremely low fees for quality education and excellent placement in comparison to other B-schools of its category. FMS Delhi offers courses and subjects such as Organizational Behaviour, Managerial Economics, Financial Accounting, Marketing Management, Business Communication, Business Strategy, etc. The total MBA fees amount to about INR 2.29 Lakh, and admission is through the CAT exam.

7. Indian School of Business, Hyderabad & Mohali

ISB(short for the Indian School of Business) is a private business school in Hyderabad and Mohali. ISB offers a regular MBA program with courses such as Public Policy, Learning & Management, Business Markets, Analytical Finance, Healthcare, and Global Manufacturing. The average fee a student pays is around INR 49.5 lakhs, and students are selected on the basis of GMAT or GRE Scores.

8. IIM Indore

IIM Indore is located in Madhya Pradesh and is the best IIMs and a top business school in India. The Institute offers Courses in Marketing, Economics, Strategy, Organizational Behaviour, Accounting, and Communication. The fee structure ranges from INR 21.17 lakh to 31.17 lakh for an MBA. Admission is based on the CAT exam or the IIM Indore IPMAT exam.

9. MBA ESG, India

MBA ESG is a school of business with campuses in Paris, Bengaluru, and Pune, ranked in the top 20 in Europe and the top 4 in India. MBA ESG specializes in the courses: Luxury & Fashion Management, Data Science & Artificial Intelligence, International Business, Fintech Management, International Marketing & Branding, and Sports Management. The average fee is approximately INR 15 lakhs. Admissions depend on the college’s own entrance examination.

10. SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai

SP Jain Institute was established in 1981 and is located in Mumbai, one of the best business schools in India. The institute offers a range of courses like Contemporary Marketing, Logistics and Supply Chain, Consulting, Technology and Finance, Organizational Behaviour, Managerial Economics, Financial Accounting, etc. The average fees range from INR 9.5 lakhs to INR 23 lakhs. The entrance exams for admission to this college are CAT and GMAT. They also have their entrance exam called SPJAT (SP Jain Aptitude Test).

IIMs Admission Process 2026

The Admission process at IIM is essentially three separate stages. The following is a brief overview of the three stages of the IIM admission process:

Stage 1: Shortlisting of candidates based on their CAT exam score

A new role for candidates in the WAT/GD-PI stage is created only after the results of the CAT exam are declared. The relevant notification is published on the websites of different IIMs. Candidates who are at or above the cut-off for the shortlist must submit their academic credentials and CAT score by logging in with their CAT IDs.

Stage 2: Selection of candidates for WAT/GD-PI

The second stage is the process whereby the applicants for the WAT/GD-PI are short-listed depending on their CAT score and grades. Next, the interview letters are sent to the selected candidates for a WAT-GD-PI round. Such a round takes place in a number of cities between February and April.

Stage 3: Derivation of Composite Score and Final Selection

The last stage in the IIM entrance is the determination of each candidate’s composite score from a variety of parameters that lead to final selection.

Eligibility Criteria For Management Colleges

The eligibility criteria for MBA programmes at IIMs are identical to the eligibility criteria for CAT, which is 50 percent aggregate marks in graduation. Anyone eligible to take the CAT will be eligible for admission to the IIMs as long as they meet some additional selection criteria. Here are the IIM eligibility criteria:

  • The minimum IIM eligibility criteria are a Bachelor’s Degree with an aggregate of a minimum. 50 percent marks or equivalent Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) (45 percent in case of SC, ST, and PWD/DA categories).
  • Candidates in the final year of a bachelor’s degree/equivalent qualification, or who have appeared in the final examination for the degree/equivalent qualification, or candidates waiting for results, are eligible to apply.y
  • So first, for candidates to be eligible for an IIM interview call, having at least the IIM shortlist/qualifying cut off is beneficial to have qualified.
  • To have an expectation of the interview call and attend WAT/GD-PI, candidates have to qualify at least the minimum IIM call cut.

Management education in India is still compared with institutions like IIMs, XLRI, ISB, FMS, SPJIMR, MDI, etc. The Top 10 Management Colleges in India 2026 will not just provide unique education but also help in development, global exposure, entrepreneurial assistance, and corporate training.

The best school for India will depend on the person’s career goals, specialization, fees for education, and ROI. Best schools such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Calcutta will keep their top rankings similar to XLRI and ISB, and FMS will offer similar opportunities.

Sharing is caring!

FAQs

Which is the No.1 MBA college in India?

IIM Ahmedabad is widely considered the No.1 MBA college in India due to its academic excellence, global reputation, and high placement packages.

What entrance exams are required for admission to these colleges?

Most top MBA colleges accept CAT (Common Admission Test). Some also accept GMAT/GRE (ISB, SPJIMR), while specific institutes may have their own exams like XAT (XLRI) or SPJAT (SPJIMR).

What is the average fee for top MBA colleges in India?

Fees vary across institutes. IIMs typically charge between INR 20–36 lakhs, ISB Hyderabad charges around INR 49.5 lakhs, while FMS Delhi is very affordable at around INR 2.3 lakhs.