MBA in Rural Management: Details, Eligibility, Fees, Scope

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Jagpreet

06 February, 2025

MBA in Rural Management: Details, Eligibility, Fees, Scope

An MBA in rural management prepares management professionals in a way that they can bring forth equitable, sustainable and ecologically friendly growth in the society. That is why employers prefer qualified MBA graduates to handle such critical responsibilities. Although there are other courses for this field, an MBA in Rural Management covers in-depth business and management aspects of rural development and has high credibility in the job market.

If India is to become a developed country, it must focus on its rural regions, as most of the population lives there. Rural management is a vast field with core areas such as agriculture, rural infrastructure, rural entrepreneurship, and governance. It caters professionally to the underserved sections of the economy. It is a critical field that requires thorough rural dynamics and management skills to improve rural livelihoods.

If you are seeking a lucrative career in this field, an MBA in Rural Management holds great prospects for your career growth. In this blog, we have covered the details of the course, colleges offering the programme, their fee structure, jobs in rural management and important facts.

What is an MBA in Rural Management?

Master of Business Administration in rural management is a 2-year postgraduate programme which focuses on overseeing rural and agricultural enterprises. This programme is delivered in both offline and online formats with a similar curriculum. Pursuing this programme enhances your chance of employment in the agriculture sector as well. The MBA in rural management programme shall cover subjects including accounting, financial management, leadership and marketing in rural contexts.

It is an experiential learning programme that includes project work, case studies, and site visits. Its main component is to study the management theories and practices for economic development at the rural level and solve rural business problems. This course is designed in a way to enhance your prowess in designing, implementing, administering and measuring the effectiveness of rural projects. Those passionate about development and reaching the grassroots of economic development in India should go for this programme.

MBA in Rural Management Course Highlight 2025

Course DetailsInformation
Course NameMaster of Business Administration in Rural Management
Course LevelPostgraduate
Course Duration2 years
Eligibility CriteriaGraduation with 50% (Some colleges/universities offer discounts and off for reserved categories)
AgeNo age bar
Entrance ExamsCMAT, XAT, CAT, MAT, GMAT
Average FeesINR 50,000 – 3,00,000
Average SalaryINR 7 LPA – 30 LPA
Top Colleges Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore
Amity University, Uttar Pradesh
Xavier Institute of Social Sciences
Top RecruitersAmul, NABARD, SBI, Mother Dairy
Job Profiles Rural Manager
Business Development Manager
Research Consultant
Purchase Development Manager

Benefits of MBA in Rural Management

If you are still wondering how this course may benefit your career, let’s do a quick exploration of its plus points.


  • Find diverse career paths

  • Collaborative work environment

  • Career growth and advancement

  • Helpful for various government jobs

  • Make a difference in the society

  • Work towards the country’s economic development

  • Job security

  • Personal commitment

Eligibility of MBA in Rural Management

The eligibility for an MBA in Rural Management course differs in every university. The typical criteria for this programme are as follows:


  • Must have completed a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with a minimum of 50% marks.

  • Must qualify for relevant MBA entrance exams such as CAT/MAT/CMAT or XAT.

  • In the case of an online MBA, entrance exam scores are not mandatory.

  • Some institutions may require work experience of a few years.

MBA in Rural Management Syllabus

The subjects you shall be studying in the MBA in rural management are listed below:

Semester ISemester II
Essentials of ManagementFinancial Management
Quantitative Methods in BusinessE-Commerce
Human Resource ManagementIndian Financial Systems
Computer Applications & MISNGO Management & Action Research
Rural Society and InstitutionsRural Development
Management of Social EmpowermentManagement of Sustainable Agriculture
Rural Markets and Marketing Management

 

Semester IIISemester IV
Business LawsOrganisational Effectiveness & Change
Environment and Natural Resource ManagementStrategies for Sustainable Rural Development
Energy Requirement in Agriculture & its ManagementIndustry and Agri-Business
Management of Animal Husbandry, Dairying & AquacultureRural Infrastructure
Watershed ManagementHigh Tech Horticulture
Precisions Farming

Scope of MBA in Rural Management in India and Career Opportunities

As stated earlier, India’s development depends on its rural upliftment. The government institutions focus on improving the lifestyle and infrastructure of the rural areas. This opens up varied career opportunities for rural management professionals. After your MBA in rural management, you can seek employment in NGOs, government agencies for development, co-operatives, micro-finance companies, research or consultancy work.


  • There are approximately 65% of the Indian population living in villages, making rural development crucial for inclusive growth.

  • The rural economy contributes around 46% to the national income, with sectors such as agriculture, microfinance, and rural entrepreneurship driving this growth. (NITI Aayog 2024)

  • The demand for MBA graduates in rural management is rising as organisations seek professionals to implement sustainable strategies in rural markets.

  • There are long-term demands that focus on rural development and corporate social responsibility.

Career Opportunities & Salary Structure of MBA in Rural Management

Rural management graduates are generally hired for the following job roles:

Job RoleAverage Salary (INR)
Rural Development Officer6 LPA – 18 LPA
Rural Manager7 LPA – 20 LPA
Business Development Manager6 LPA – 23 LPA
Research Consultant5 LPA – 22 LPA
Purchase Development Manager7 LPA – 25 LPA
Public Relations Officer7 LPA – 25 LPA
Public Policy Consultant6 LPA – 22 LPA
Agribusiness Manager7 LPA – 18 LPA

*The salaries listed above may vary depending on location, organisation, and level of experience

Source:Glassdoor

Top MBA Colleges for Rural Management in India

MBA in Rural Management is offered by a few colleges in India in both regular and online modes. The names of a few institutions with their fee structure are listed below:

Institution NameFee (INR)
Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya, Indore59,666 – for girls (full course)
60,422 – for boys (full course)
Amity University, Uttar Pradesh3,40,000
Xavier Institute of Social Sciences15,60,000 (full course)
Netaji Subhas University3,00,000 (full course)
Subharti University2,41,000 (full course)
KIT University8,96,000 (full course)
Chitkara University7,00,000
Xavier Institute of Rural Management6,50,000 per year

Top Recruiters for Rural Management Graduates


  • Amul

  • NABARD

  • SBI

  • Mahindra Agri Solutions

  • Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetable Pvt. Ltd.

  • Pidilite Industries Ltd.

  • ITC Ltd.

Summing Up

It is a well-known fact that a huge population of India is in rural areas. So the economic development of our country depends on rural development. It won’t be wrong to say that the rural management domain is in dire need of skilled professionals. This makes it easy for young professionals to benefit from the career opportunities this field holds. Therefore, pursuing an MBA in rural management is an ideal choice for a successful career in this field.

FAQs

Q1. What is the scope of Rural Management in India?

The scope of the rural development field in India expands to  NGOs, rural development banks, and private or government companies. You can work as a rural development officer, business development manager, research officer, national sales development manager, etc.

Q2. What can I do after my MBA in Rural Management?

After acquiring an MBA in Rural Management degree you can work as a business development manager, rural development officer, programme officer, research consultant and in other job roles.

Q3. What is the salary for an MBA in Rural Management in India?

The average annual salary as per the latest Glassdoor statistics is INR 11.4 LPA. Depending upon various factors it varies between INR 5.5 LPA to 30 LPA.

Q4. What are the typical fees for an MBA in Rural Management?

In different colleges, the fee for an MBA in Rural Management ranges between INR 5 to 10 lakhs.

Q5. Who should consider an MBA in Rural Management?

Individuals with a passion for uplifting the standards of rural regions and working on their development are ideal candidates for this course.

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