According to the latest NIRF 2025 rankings, the list of top IIMs in India includes institutes such as IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, and IIM Calcutta, among others. The average MBA fee at the top 10 IIM colleges in India ranges from 20 to 25 Lakh.
List of Top IIMs in India 2026: First established in 1961, the Indian Institute of Management, or IIMs, are some of the best MBA colleges in India. At present, there are a total of 21 IIMs in India across all the states. As per the latest IIM rankings by NIRF, the list of top 10 IIM colleges in India 2026 includes IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, etc (based on NIRF 2025 rankings). Being top-tier B-schools in the country, IIMs in India have a reputation for having excellent faculties, rich academic facilities, and vibrant campus culture, making them the dream destination for most MBA aspirants. Admission to the top IIMs, however, is highly competitive as most of them accept CAT scores above the 99th percentile. If you are aiming to build a career in management and wish to pursue your postgraduate degree from one of the top IIMs in India, it is important to be familiar with the list of IIM colleges in India, their fee structure, and placement highlights. All these details have been covered for you in the article below.
Also Read:
| Total Seats in IIMs 2026 |
|---|
Top IIMs in India 2026 Highlights
Let us first glance through an overview of the best IIM colleges in India. The IIM colleges in India have been at the forefront of management education in India for decades. Before we move on to more detailed information about them, let's take a look at the major highlights below:- There are 21 IIM campuses in India, with IIM Mumbai being the most recent addition to the list.
- According to the NIRF-MHRD ranking, 7 of the 21 IIMs are among the top 10 list of best management institutes.
- IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Bangalore are considered to be among the top 50 management institutes worldwide and are always leading the top 10 IIM colleges in India.
- Apart from full-time PGP courses, the IIM colleges in India also offer Executive, certificate, and part-time management courses.
- For admission to PGP courses at IIMs in India, the CAT exam is conducted yearly by one of the IIMs on a rotational basis.
- The diversity of courses offered by IIMs in areas such as Agribusiness, Information Technology, Human Resources, and Healthcare Management reflects their commitment to evolving with the changing business landscape.
- IIMs significantly impact the Indian economy by creating leaders who possess a deep understanding of the Indian market and a global perspective.
List of Top IIM Colleges in India 2026 - Based on NIRF 2025 Ranking
Generally, the IIM rankings are determined by NIRF ranks, which are released annually by the Ministry of Education. IIM Ahmedabad has historically been the best IIM in India, achieving the top position in the rankings for the last three consecutive years. Other notable top IIMs in India are IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, and IIM Calcutta. In the following table, we have provided the list of the top IIM colleges in India 2025 as per the latest rankings, as the 2026 rankings are awaited:
Name of IIM | NIRF Ranking 2025 |
|---|---|
1 | |
2 | |
3 | |
5 | |
6 | |
7 | |
8 | |
15 | |
16 | |
18 | |
IIM Rohtak | 19 |
21 | |
23 | |
25 | |
29 | |
31 | |
34 | |
35 | |
38 | |
51 |
Also Read: IIM CAT Cutoff 2025
NIRF Rankings of the Top 10 IIMs for 2024, 2023 & 2022
Name of IIM | Year of Est. | NIRF Ranking 2024 | NIRF Ranking 2023 | NIRF Ranking 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IIM Ahmedabad | 1961 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
IIM Bangalore | 1973 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
IIM Kozhikode | 1996 | 3 | 3 | 5 |
IIM Lucknow | 1963 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
IIM Mumbai | 1984 | 7 | 7 | 9 |
IIM Calcutta | 1996 | 8 | 4 | 3 |
IIM Indore | 2010 | 12 | 8 | 7 |
IIM Raipur | 2010 | 14 | 11 | 14 |
| IIM Ranchi | 2010 | 17 | 24 | 15 |
IIM Trichy | 2010 | 27 | 22 | 18 |
Top IIMs in India 2026 - FT Global Rankings
Add CollegeDekho as a Trusted Source
The Financial Times releases the Global Rankings for MBA colleges around the world. The FT Global MBA college rankings are highly regarded as the list of elite universities and institutions that offer excellent MBA programs, career opportunities, and overall quality of education. The FT Global rankings 2025 were released earlier this year, and in the following table, we have mentioned the list of IIM colleges in India featured on the list, as 2026 rankings are awaited till next year:
Name of the IIM | FT Global Rank |
|---|---|
IIM Ahmedabad | 31 |
IIM Bangalore | 57 |
IIM Calcutta | 61 |
IIM Indore | 69 |
IIM Lucknow | 71 |
IIM Kozhikode | 86 |
Also Read : IIM CAP 2026
List of Top 10 IIMs in India with Course Fees, Seats, Cutoff, & Placements
The IIM full form is the Indian Institute of Management, the most renowned chain of institutes for management in India. If you want to pursue an MBA/PGP program, you can find the IIM rankings along with their seat intake, cutoff, course fees, and placement statistics below.
Name of the institute | Seats | Courses Offered | Course Fees | 2025 Placement Record | Expected CAT 2026 Cutoff |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
IIM Ahmedabad | 408 |
| PGP: INR 26 Lakh | Highest CTC: INR 1.46 crore per annum Average CTC: INR 34.45 LPA | 94-100 Percentile |
IIM Bangalore | 530 |
| PGP: INR 33.71 Lakh | Highest CTC: INR 1.15 crore per annum Average CTC: INR 35.3 LPA | 94-100 Percentile |
IIM Calcutta | 480 |
| PGP: INR 33.5 Lakh | Highest CTC: INR 1.15 crore per annum Average CTC: INR 35.07 LPA | 94-100 Percentile |
IIM Lucknow | 566 |
| PGP: INR 19.25 Lakh | Highest CTC: INR 65 LPA Average CTC: INR 30 LPA | 91-99.5 Percentile |
IIM Indore | 487 |
| PGP: INR 17.30 Lakh | Highest CTC: INR 1.14 crore per annum Average CTC: INR 30.21 LPA | 91-99.5 Percentile |
IIM Kozhikode | 484 |
| PGP: INR 22.5 Lakh | Highest CTC: INR 67.02 LPA Average CTC: INR 31.02 LPA | 91-99.5 Percentile |
IIM Amritsar | 334 | Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) | INR 10.75 Lakh | Highest CTC: INR 36.25 LPA Average CTC: INR 16.51 LPA | 95+ Percentile |
IIM Nagpur | 267 | Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) | INR 21.5 Lakh | Highest CTC: INR 64 LPA Average CTC: INR 16.74 LPA | 95+ Percentile |
IIM Trichy | 378 |
| INR 19.5 Lakh | Highest CTC: INR 41.61 LPA Average CTC: INR 20.55 LPA | 95+ Percentile |
IIM Ranchi | 246 |
| PGP: INR 19.2 Lakh | Highest CTC: INR 67 LPA Average CTC: INR 35.5 LPA | 95+ Percentile |
Which is the Best IIM in India?
All of the top IIMs in India are excellent institutes for pursuing management studies. However, if you wish to know which is the best IIM, you will also have to know that this is a subjective question since everyone’s opinion is different. For instance, IIM Calcutta is considered the best because of its top-class alumni network, its credibility, etc. However, as per the IIM ranking list, IIM Ahmedabad has always been the top-ranked IIM and also the top-ranked management institute in India. IIM Ahmedabad, along with IIM Calcutta and IIM Bangalore, is one of the only triple-accredited management institutes in India, ranked among the top MBA colleges in the world.
Courses Offered at IIMs
If you have already decided to apply to IIMs, you must also check out the different types of courses offered at IIMs mentioned below:
Programme Type | Course Name | Description / Purpose |
|---|---|---|
Postgraduate (Flagship Programmes) | PGP / MBA | 2-year full-time MBA offered at all major IIMs; focuses on management fundamentals and leadership development. |
PGP-FABM (Food & Agri-Business Management) | Offered by IIM Ahmedabad, a specialised programme in agri-business and food supply chain management. | |
PGP-SM (Sustainability Management) | Offered by IIM Lucknow, focuses on business sustainability and environmental management. | |
PGP-HRM (Human Resource Management) | Offered by IIM Indore, specialises in HR strategy, organisational behaviour, and talent management. | |
PGP-ABM (Agribusiness Management) | Offered by IIM Lucknow, the agri-sector leadership training. | |
PGP-BL (Business Leadership) | Offered by IIM Bangalore, an advanced leadership-focused PGP. | |
Executive Programmes | MBA (Executive) / EPGP / PGPX | 1-year full-time executive MBA for professionals with work experience; offered at IIM A, B, C, I, L, K, etc. |
PGPEM (Post Graduate Programme in Enterprise Management) | Offered by IIM Bangalore, a part-time programme for working professionals. | |
EPGP (Executive Post Graduate Programme) | Offered by various IIMs, enhances managerial skills for mid-level professionals. | |
Doctoral Programmes | PhD / FPM (Fellow Programme in Management) | Research-based doctoral programme across all IIMs; prepares candidates for academic and research careers. |
Online & Distance Programmes | ePGP / Online MBA / Certificate Courses | Offered by several IIMs through online mode for working professionals and learners seeking flexible study options. |
Specialised Programmes | MBA in Analytics | Offered by IIM Kashipur, IIM Bangalore, focused on data analytics, AI, and decision sciences. |
MBA in Digital Management | Offered by some newer IIMs, focuses on digital transformation and technology-driven management. | |
MBA in Tourism & Hospitality | Offered by IIM Sirmaur, a specialised tourism and hospitality management programme. | |
MBA in Entrepreneurship | Offered by IIM Rohtak & others, for aspiring entrepreneurs and startup founders. |
Not all courses offered at top IIM colleges in India are for regular graduates. Many IIMs out of the total IIMs in India also offer part-time courses catered to working individuals who wish to add an IIM degree to their portfolio but can’t afford to quit their jobs in pursuit of a managerial degree.
So, if you are keen to make it to the top 10 IIM colleges in India, a six-month preparation time for CAT is ideal. Not only will you have to clear the CAT exam with a good percentile, but you will also need to excel in the other stages of admissions based on the CAT exam at the Indian Institutes of Management.
Related Links:
| IIM Waitlist Movement 2026 | |
|---|---|
| IIM Salary after 10 Years | |
| IIM Salary for Freshers 2026 |
If you have any queries regarding admissions and entrance exams, you can post your questions on the Q&A Section . For admission-related assistance, fill out our Common Application Form . Stay tuned with us for more updates related to MBA colleges and admission in India!
Are you feeling lost and unsure about what career path to take after completing 12th standard?
Say goodbye to confusion and hello to a bright future!
FAQs
As per the NIRF Management Rankings 2025, the top IIM colleges in India are IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Mumbai, securing the top five spots. They are followed by IIM Lucknow, IIM Indore, IIM Rohtak, IIM Raipur, IIM Ranchi, IIM Udaipur, IIM Tiruchirappalli, IIM Kashipur, IIM Shillong, IIM Visakhapatnam, IIM Amritsar, IIM Nagpur, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Bodh Gaya, and IIM Jammu.
Generally, all IIMs have a good reputation for having campuses with great facilities and faculty. However, IIM Bangalore, IIM Kozhikode, and IIM Ahmedabad are some of the leading IIM campuses.
As per the latest NIRF rankings, the best IIMs in India to pursue an MBA are IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, IIM Kozhikode, and IIM Indore.
The top IIM in India is IIM Ahmedabad, according to NIRF rankings and other parameters. Although IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Bangalore are among the top 3 IIMs in India, IIM Ahmedabad has consistently achieved rank 1 among IIMs over many years since its inception.
The most credible and widely accepted IIM ranking list is released by the National Institutional Ranking Framework or NIRF. NIRF ranks educational institutes across India including IIMs every year based on several parameters.
Each year the highest salary offered differs across each IIM campus in India. However, IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore and IIM Calcutta are known for offering some of the highest salary packages to candidates with CTCs crossing INR 1 CPA. IIM Lucknow, Kozhikode, and old IIMs are also known for their lucrative placement packages.
IIM rankings change every year, however, some IIM campuses are always leading the chain of premier management institutes. The top 5 IIMs as per NIRF ranking 2024 are:
- IIM Ahmedabad
- IIM Bangalore
- IIM Kozhikode
- IIM Calcutta
- IIM Mumbai
Yes, IIMs are better than IITs in terms of management education. Both IIMs and IITs are top-tier colleges in their own right, however, the Indian Institutes of Management are Tier-1 colleges focused on providing top-quality management education as opposed to IITs, which are known for their technical education.
The average salary of IIM graduates in India ranges from INR 30-38 LPA for old IIMs, while the newer IIMs record average packages between INR 13-20 LPA. The average package for an IIM can vary significantly each year since the IIMs offer various courses and placements are conducted for every batch.
The MBA fee at IIMs in India ranges between INR 13 Lakh and INR 32 Lakh depending on the course. Typically, courses like Executive MBA cost more than Regular MBA or Online MBA/Certificate courses. The old IIMs charge the highest fees, ranging from INR 20 Lakhs to INR 27 Lakhs. However, newer IIMs and baby IIMs charge lower fees, ranging from INR 13 Lakhs to INR 19 Lakhs.
The courses available at top IIMs in India include MBA/PGP, EPGP, IPM, PGPX, FPM, etc. IIMs offer both full-time and part-time postgraduate courses. Apart from MBA programmes, the institutes also offer various diploma and certificate courses.
Baby IIMs are IIM colleges that are relatively newer as compared to other IIM campuses. The baby IIMs include IIM Amritsar, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Kashipur, IIM Trichy, IIM Nagpur, IIM Sambalpur, IIM Sirmaur, IIM Visakhapatnam and IIM Jammu.
The IIMs are public management institutes and B-schools that are owned and supported by the Government of India. They are self-governing institutes within the HRD ministry of the Indian government
Was this article helpful?
Similar Articles
What's a Good MICAT 2026 Score? Target MICA Admission
How to Avoid Common Mistakes in XAT 2026 Decision Making
ATMA 2026 Preparation Tips for Analytical Reasoning
How to Prepare for ATMA 2026 Verbal Skills Section?
Your 48-Hour Crash Study Plan for IBSAT 2025 Success
How to Prepare for B-School Interviews After Scoring High in CAT