MBA Rankings 2022: India's Top Business Schools

Comprehensive ranking of India's premier MBA institutes based on aspirant perception and brand value

The Elite: IIM ABC, FMS, XLRI

Joining IIMs ABC amongst India's leading MBA colleges are FMS Delhi and XLRI Jamshedpur. The preference for the former is driven largely by the tremendous return on investment provided, with an MBA from FMS Delhi costing (in 2022) just INR 2 lakhs for a two-year program, and placements nearly matching those at the IIMs.

XLRI Jamshedpur is one of India's oldest MBA institutes - if not the oldest. The institute's PGDM-HRM program is India's leading HR-oriented MBA program. Over the years, the institute's Business Management (BM) program has also built a strong brand for itself. XLRI's rich legacy, strong alumni base, and excellent placements are key reasons why MBA aspirants undergo a rigorous XAT-led selection process.

IIFT, SPJIMR Amongst India's Top 10 MBA Colleges

Amongst India's top 10 MBA colleges are IIMs Lucknow, Kozhikode and Indore. The difference in preference here is marginal, and IIM Lucknow is likely preferred for its relatively better placement figures, while IIM Indore is slightly lower due to its huge batch size.

SPJIMR and IIFT Delhi also feature among the top 10. SP Jain has outranked JBIMS, and IIFT has ranked ahead of MDI Gurgaon within the Delhi-NCR region.

IIM Udaipur, NMIMS, IIT Bombay Amongst India's Top 20

Institutes like MDI Gurgaon, JBIMS Mumbai, SJMSoM IIT Bombay, TISS Mumbai, and SIBM Pune are part of this league. JBIMS, often called India's CEO factory, offers excellent ROI and alumni success.

IIM Shillong and IIM Udaipur also make the cut. IIM Udaipur was recently featured in QS rankings. NMIMS Mumbai reported a 25% rise in average salary in 2022.

NITIE Mumbai, the Gem for GEMs, continues to rise in brand value — and as a soon-to-be IIM, it's poised for an even greater leap in future rankings.

All New IIMs Among Top 30 B-Schools

Most second-gen IIMs like IIM Trichy, IIM Ranchi, and IIM Kashipur make the Top 30. IIFT Kolkata, despite being young, ranks well thanks to its association with IIFT Delhi.

The rankings reflect how these institutes have managed to build their brand despite being relatively new compared to established players in the MBA education space.

Baby IIMs and IITs Amongst the Best of the Rest

For the first time, baby IIMs have been individually ranked. IIM Visakhapatnam leads, followed by IIM Nagpur and Amritsar. IITs like Madras, Kharagpur, and Roorkee also feature in the top 40.

These rankings show how newer institutes are gradually building their reputation in the competitive MBA education landscape.

Methodology

To establish these rankings, InsideIIM conducted an opinion-based survey. Aspirants rated business schools on a scale of 1 to 5. No factors like ROI, batch size, or fees were considered — this is purely a perception-based ranking.

The rankings represent how aspirants perceive the desirability and brand of various MBA institutes across India.