Jagpreet
24 September, 2024
Table of Contents
Is an MBA course relevant? Is the MBA degree too expensive? The moment you start planning for an MBA, various questions come to your mind. But the most daunting one is; is an MBA worth it? Depending on what you want to do with your career, the cost of this degree is decided. So yes, MBA is more relevant than ever. The prestige of an MBA degree has always been high for aspiring business professionals.
In today’s global economy, the value of MBA courses remains significant and surely offers a myriad of benefits. Provided you pursue it for all the right reasons. The challenges and opportunities businesses face today need leaders who are thinkers and communicators. In the current times, an MBA has become more like a prerequisite to becoming eligible to sit in the higher management chair. That is why the number of students enrolling in different types of MBA courses has increased substantially.
For some students, an MBA Degree is a way to access better job opportunities, get a higher paycheck, expand their professional network, or develop business acumen with leadership skills. Those who are accepted into the right college get these benefits early in their career. Therefore, choosing the right college is the first step that will take you closer to your dream.
Here are a few things you must consider while choosing the right college:
Identify Your Goals – Before you start the research, ask yourself why you want to pursue an MBA degree. Maybe to get a hike in salary, enhance your expertise in a particular field, or add this qualification to your profile. This reason will act as a base to choose the college that aligns with your career goals.
Accreditations – Some colleges and universities offer MBA degrees, what sets them apart is national and international accreditations from reputed regulatory bodies. Many bodies offer accreditation and approvals, such as UGC, NAAC, AICTE, AACSB, and WES among others. If you are planning for an online MBA then do check for UGC Distance Education Bureau approval.
Reputation – The brand name or college’s reputation adds high credibility to your degree. You can see the reputation of an institution by its place in prestigious rankings, including NIRF, QS Rankings, etc., and the number of students placed in top MNCs.
Cost of the Programme – Set a budget for yourself and accordingly study the fee structure of the potential institutions. Many colleges/universities have EMI options as well which can reduce the financial burden.
Location of the Institution – Especially when you are going for a regular or part-time MBA, the location of the institution matters a lot. If your college is far from your home, it will cost you time and money. Moreover, an institution in a prime location attracts good companies for placements and collaborations.
Curriculum – Check for the availability of the specialisation you are interested in. Then, thoroughly review the course work and learning methodology adopted by the institution. You should compare the modules, electives, assignment types, and examination methods different colleges have, to get a clear picture of the complete programme.
Student Services – For regular offline students, it is important to visit the campus and see the facilities and assistance offered to the students. If you are an online learner, then go through the student feedback to know whether the college is responsive to student queries and what kind of assistance they provide.
Placements – One of the primary reasons why candidates pursue an MBA is to get better job opportunities and that is what they expect from their college. Thus, an institution should have a good placement record, tie-ups with leading companies, and should offer career guidance facilities.
You can check the general course details. It is the same for every specialisation. However, there may be some changes that depend on the college/university and MBA specialisation.
Course Level: Post Graduate
Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
Entrance Exams: CAT, MAT, GMAT, CMAT, XAT, NMAT
Admission Process: Entrance Exams followed by Group Discussions, Written Analysis Tests, and Personal Interviews (vary as per institution)
1. MBA in General Management | 13. MBA in Business Analytics |
2. MBA in Marketing Management | 14. MBA in Entrepreneurship |
3. MBA in Digital Marketing | 15. MBA in International Business |
4. MBA in Human Resources | 16. MBA in Leadership |
5. MBA in Finance | 17. MBA in Project Management |
6. MBA in Operations Management | 18. MBA in Banking and Finance Management |
7. MBA in Healthcare Management | 19. MBA in Finance and Accounting |
8. MBA in Information Technology | 20. MBA in Hospitality Management |
9. MBA in Rural Management | 21. MBA in International Trade Management |
10. MBA in Logistics & Supply Chain Management | 22. MBA in Retail Management |
11. MBA in Event Management | 23. MBA in Business Management |
12. MBA in Accounting |
Let’s discuss these courses of MBA in detail:
An MBA in General Management offers an in-depth view of all the core business areas including HR, finance, marketing, and finance. This expands your knowledge base and strengthens your basics if you are from a different background. As this is a general programme, the fee structure is also very less and almost every institution offers this programme.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 10,00,000 – 30,00,000
Career Prospects: Finance Manager, HR Manager, Product Manager, Project Manager, Business Operations Manager, Logistics Manager, etc.
A Marketer’s job is to understand and discover the needs of the customers to provide them with a product or service that meets those demands. The courses familiarise students with the way to compete and outperform competitors in the same market. In keeping with traditional marketing, an MBA in Marketing concentrates on the 4P – Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. Understanding customer behaviour, creating relationships with them, and a little bit of internet marketing are all covered in this MBA specialisation.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 3,00,000 – 25,00,000
Career Prospects: Brand Manager, Sales Manager, Business Development Manager, Marketing Analyst, Marketing Manager, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Marketing
We are all aware of the growing relevance of digital marketing which is why several universities have begun to offer an MBA in Digital Marketing. An MBA in Digital Marketing is one of the rapidly trending courses of MBA. It equips you with diverse skills that are highly relevant in today’s marketplace, including SEO, SEM, SMM, website development, content management, email marketing, and more, as well as managerial abilities. As a digital marketer, you will have to design effective campaigns applying marketing principles relevant to the digital world.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 3,00,000 – 15,00,000
Career Prospects: Digital Marketing Manager, Social Media Manager, Content Writer, Campaign Manager, SEO Manager, Paid Media Manager, etc.
A company’s human resources department is in charge of hiring, training, and developing a team of skilled workers. Therefore, an HR Professional must keep track of the employee’s performance regularly, manage their salaries and promotions, and develop a strong employee policy to promote a healthy work environment. An MBA in Human Resources will provide you with all of the essential information and training to carry out the functions listed above. Crisis management abilities, clear communication skills, leadership traits, sensitivity, and coordination skills are the things you will learn in this programme.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 5,00,000 – 20,00,000
Career Prospects: HR Manager, HR Analytics Specialist, Talent Acquisition Manager, Training and Development, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in HR
This two-year postgraduate programme is one of the most popular streams of MBA in India. You should have a strong background in Mathematics and Accounting. MBA in Finance will provide you with the knowledge of management, control, and review of investment and other financial resources of an individual or organisation. It can be pursued in full-time, part-time, online and distance modes of education. Owing to its high demand in the market, companies pay lucrative packages to capable candidates.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 5,00,000 – 25,00,000
Career Prospects: Finance Manager, Financial Analyst, Personal Finance Advisor, Budget Analyst, Account Manager, Credit Manager, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Finance
This MBA in Operations Management emphasises on planning, organising, supervising and launching products or services. The course work covers the complete process of sourcing raw materials and manufacturing procedures which requires analytical and organisational skills. The career opportunities in this field have drastically increased.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 4,00,000 – 20,00,000
Career Prospects: Supply Chain Manager, Logistics Manager, Operations Manager, Manufacturing Consulting Manager, Plant Manager, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Operations Management
MBA in Healthcare trains you to manage the healthcare system, with a focus on how to deal with daily operations at a healthcare facility. The COVID-19 pandemic created a need for well-trained and skilled professionals to fill the shortage of manpower in the healthcare sector. All individuals interested in the fields of pharmaceuticals, insurance, and hospitals can pursue an MBA in Healthcare Management.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 2,00,000 – 10,00,000
Career Prospects: Hospital Administrator, Pharmaceutical Project Manager, Health Informatics Manager, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Healthcare Management
Aspiring candidates who are looking forward to learning about business and information systems can pursue this MBA specialisation.
MBA in IT courses will develop their skills to combine business strategies with advanced technology practices including concepts of information security, project management and telecommunications. The programme consists of topics like software quality assurance, information system management, e-business, and many others.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 10,00,000 – 23, 00,000
Career Prospects: System Software Manager, IT Management Consultant, Business Analyst, IT Manager, Product Manager, Information Security Analyst, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in IT
This field includes the study of rural economy, agribusiness, planning, organising and maintaining co-operatives in rural areas. An MBA in Rural Management will teach you the application of management principles and these specialists work in the CSR wings of micro-finance institutions, and small finance banks among others.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 2,00,000 – 17,00,000
Career Prospects: Rural Development Officer, Research Officer, National Sales Development Manager, etc.
This two-year MBA in Logistics & Supply Chain prepares you to develop new and effective logistics management strategies, lowering time and cost while raising production levels. The proposed course will build your knowledge base about the entire supply chain process including the flow of products from dealer to producer to wholesaler to retailer and ultimately to the consumer.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 4,00,000 to 15,00,000
Career Prospects: Supply Chain Manager, Supply Chain Analyst, Operations Manager, Purchasing Manager, Business Manager, Transport officer, Quality Manager, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Supply Chain Management
Event management has grown in popularity in recent years and is an excellent career choice. An MBA in Event Management teaches you how to identify and segment a specific target audience for an event, select themes that are relevant to them, plan logistics, promote the event extensively, provide an anticipated budget, and successfully manage the event. Crisis management and heavy coordination are two significant features of event management, and you will learn these skills in this course.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 2,00,000 to 15,00,000
Career Prospects : Conference Centre Manager, Event Manager, Public House Manager, Restaurant Manager, Hotel Manager, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Event Management
As the name of the specialisation suggests, this two-year MBA in Accounting will teach you subjects like Accounting, Taxation, Marketing, and Finance among others. Apart from this, you will be able to build expertise in Auditing, Financial Reporting, and Acquisitions & Mergers. As an Accounts Professional is required in every organisation, this career field has always been a popular choice among MBA graduates.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 1,40,000 – 7,00,000
Career Prospects: Accounts Manager, Accounting Analyst, Controller, Chief Compliance Officer, Finance Advisor, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Accounting
The Business Analytics MBA specialisation provides comprehensive knowledge of business principles and analytical techniques. Generally, the programme includes subjects like Database Management, Data Mining, Big Data Hadoop, Data Visualisation and others. The business analytics field is in high demand and career opportunities in this field are immense.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 7,00,000 – 15,00,000
Career Prospects: Big Data Analyst, Business Analyst, Predictive Modeller, Data Architect, Statistician, Data Scientist, Application Architect, Market Research Analyst, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Business Analytics
MBA in Entrepreneurship is an ideal choice if you wish to start your own venture. The curriculum of this degree will cover the standard MBA coursework along with venture capital, asset management and other entrepreneurial modules. This course focuses on helping you create and run start-ups.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 6,00,000 – 18,00,000
Career Prospects: Business Owner, CEO, Director, Development Officer, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Entrepreneurship
International Business specialisation of MBA incorporates the procedure and documentation for export and import. You will learn about the concepts of raising capital from the international market and an understanding of the distribution market. An MBA in International Business is a pathway to your career in global business.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 4,00,000 – 20,00,000
Career Prospects: Global Project Manager, Regulatory Affairs Manager, Risk Manager, Investment Banker, Exports Manager, International Marketing Manager, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After International Business Management
MBA in Leadership teaches how managers can develop their skills to become leaders by addressing the human side of the enterprise. Through case studies, students can examine the legal, ethical and economic responsibilities of corporate leaders. This specialisation emphasises on developing critical thinking skills, decision-making skills, and teamwork and helps build an effective management aptitude.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 5,00,000 – 25,00,000
Career Prospects: Project Manager, Business Development Manager, Strategic Planning Manager, Corporate Strategy Manager, General Manager, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Leadership
This course trains candidates to become decisive and think strategically in the dynamic business world. It covers the concepts of project planning, execution, project control system, risk management, project contracting and clearance and topics related to the project life cycle. An MBA in Project Management graduate is eligible to work in sectors like IT, Construction, Healthcare and many others.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 3,00,000 – 10,00,000
Career Prospects: Project Manager, Programme Manager, Scrum Manager, Project Portfolio Manager, Project Consultant, Project Head, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Project Management
MBA in Banking & Finance covers and imparts knowledge on management, control, review of the collected data, investment resources, and information about money. It is an ideal fit for students with a good command of mathematics and accounting. It’s a 2-year postgraduate programme and opens many career options for you.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 1,00,000 to 12,00,000
Career Prospects: Investment Banker, Financial Analyst, Chief financial officer, research analyst, accounting manager, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Banking & Finance
Finance & Accounting MBA offers students knowledge about finance and accounting. It teaches the students the core of accounting and imparts knowledge about industry trends and needs. Accounts are the backbone of every organisation. The students interested in critical thinking, evaluation, and analysis should go for this.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 4,00,000 to 25,00,000
Career Prospects: Financial analyst, accounts manager, investment banker, credit manager, consultant, etc.
Related: Complete Guide to MBA in Finance & Accounting
This specialisation of MBA deals with the overall working and administration of hotels, resorts, or any other welcoming business. It’s suitable for students who are good at communication, arrangement, and cooking. Hospitality management opens doors to many reputed hotels and resorts like The Taj, The Umrao, etc.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 1,00,000 to 17,00,000
Career Prospects: Restaurant manager, food and beverage manager, assistant sales manager, cabin crew, head chef, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Hospitality Management
An MBA in International Trade Management gives the students a thorough knowledge of business administration, including operations and working outside the national border. With the help of this course, students learn about international borders, purchasing, global advertisement, etc.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 1,00,000 to 14,00,000
Career Prospects: Foreign trade zone analyst, market research executive, global trade manager, policy analyst, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in International Trade Management
MBA in Retail Management covers topics like training and knowledge of the key managerial skills mandatory in the retail industry. Retail management involves managing and controlling chains of stores commonly known as retail stores. Students who graduate with this specialisation often land a job with a decent package.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 50,000 to 4,00,000
Career Prospects: Marketing manager, senior operations manager, store manager, brand manager, etc.
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Retail Management
MBA in Business Management is one of the most in-demand courses that offer knowledge about business procedures, demands, trends, and control in business processes. It’s an ideal fit for those aspiring to start anything new and also for those looking to upscale their current venture.
Course Highlights:
Course Fee: ₹ 2,00,000 to 25,00,000
Career Prospects: Marketing manager, management analyst, HR manager, etc
Related: High Paying Jobs After MBA in Business Management
Different Types of MBA Programmes
Full-time MBA: In this type of MBA, students need to be present in class physically and should not hold any employment during the course. A full-time MBA is of two types: one-year and two-year programmes.
Part-time MBA: It is a flexible learning format compared to the full-time course and does not require you to stop working. They are less competitive and take longer than 18 to 24 months to complete. Depending upon the institution, this MBA course can have in-person classes on weekends or online.
Executive MBA: This MBA is specifically designed for executives or professionals with more than 5 years of experience. Mostly, there are considered a subset of part-time MBA because the classes are sometimes conducted on weekends, thus allowing you to continue with your job.
Distance/Online MBA: It is the most flexible format of MBA where you do not require any offline classes and exams are also conducted via online mode, especially in online learning. Distance MBA degrees and online MBA courses are much more affordable compared to other formats.
Specialised MBA: An MBA with a specialisation allows you to build expertise in a particular field while acquiring business acumen. It is also a preferred way to change your career path from one sector to another.
Here’s a list of top regular MBA colleges with their NIRF Rankings in Management Category
Institution Name | Rankings/ Accreditation | Fee Structure |
IIM Ahmedabad | NIRF: 1 EQUIS accredited | ₹ 33,00,000 (full course) |
IIM Bangalore | NIRF: 2 EQUIS accredited | ₹ 24,50,000: 28,50,000 (for working professionals) |
IIM Indore | NIRF: 8 EQUIS, AMBA, AACSB accredited | ₹ 20,11,800 (depends upon the specialisation) |
IIM Calcutta | NIRF: 4 EQUIS, AMBA, AACSB accredited | ₹ 31,00,000 |
IIM Lucknow | NIRF: 6 EQUIS, AMBA, AACSB accredited | ₹ 19,25,000 |
IIT Bombay | NIRF: 10 | ₹ 3,63,100 |
SVKM’s Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies | NIRF: 21 NAAC, AACSB, AICTE | ₹ 6,52,000 |
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management | NIRF: 17 NAAC A++ | ₹ 1,469,500 |
Great Lakes Institute of Management | NIRF: 31 AACSB, AMBA, SAQS accredited | ₹ 14,77,000 |
Chandigarh University | NIRF: 36 NAAC A+,AICTE, IAU, UGC | ₹ 139900 |
UPES | NIRF: 39 NAAC A, UGC, BCI, DSIR | ₹ 4,24,300 to 4,78,242 per semester (Depending on the specialisation) |
Amity University | NIRF: 28 NAAC A+, AICTE, AIU, ACU, UGC | ₹ 3,36,00 to 3,89,000 (Depending upon the specialisation) |
Check out the list of colleges offering online MBA with their fee structure, recognitions and accreditations. The NIRF Ranking is based on the management category 2024.
Institution Name | Rankings/ Accreditations | Fee Structure |
Manipal University | UGC, AICTE, NAAC A+, NIRF 73 | ₹ 2,80,000 (full course) |
Jain University | UGC, NAAC A++, NIRF 77 | ₹ 1,50,000: 2,61,000 (full course) |
Symbiosis International University | – | ₹ 1,50,000 |
Amity University | UGC, NAAC A +, NIRF 29 | ₹ 1,95,000 (full course) |
Chandigarh University | UGC, NAAC A+, NIRF 36 | ₹ 1,50,000 (full course) |
UPES Online | UGC-DEB, AICTE, NAAC A, NIRF 41 | ₹ 1,50,000 – 2,00,000 (full course) |
Dr. DY Patil Vidyapeeth | UGC-DEB, AICTE, NAAC A+ | ₹ 1,40,200 (full course) |
Uttaranchal University | UGC-DEB, NAAC A+ | ₹ 82,000 (full course) |
ICFAI Foundation of Higher Education | UGC-DEB, ACU, NAAC A+, NIRF 39 | ₹ 2,00,000 (full course) |
Related: Top 10 Online MBA Colleges in India
Multiple learning formats and specialisation options for an MBA degree allow you to design your course according to your needs. While some prefer a regular full-time MBA course, others decide to continue with their jobs and complete their degree simultaneously. Therefore, it depends entirely upon the candidate’s personal goals and interests to choose from the above-mentioned list of MBA courses.