SAGE University Bhopal News & Updates 2025: Notifications, Notice, Result

When you graduate from an IIM, your career growth in the first 5 years is usually very rapid. Most IIM graduates see their compensation double or almost double their initial package. By that time, it is typical to move into leadership roles in consulting, product management, finance, or senior management. For example, IIM graduate consultants and investment bankers earn between INR 32 and INR 46 lakhs annually on average after five years. Top non-IIM MBA colleges’ graduates, like FMS Delhi, MDI Gurgaon, or XLRI Jamshedpur, also achieve higher salary levels, generally ranging from INR 20 to INR 35 lakhs, depending on the work and firm. Let’s find out if your degree matters after 5 years for IIM vs non-IIM employees. 

If you are eager to learn if PGDM is valid for Indian government jobs, the answer is yes, but with exceptions. The PGDM from an All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)-approved institution is acceptable for the majority of government jobs. Public Sector Undertakings, banks, and civil service enrollment processes are acceptable for candidates with a PGDM equivalent to an MBA degree. However, the acceptability is dependent on the university from which you have done PGDM, eligibility for the job, among other factors like marks from entrance exams or work exposure. Knowing this information will come in handy to make the most out of PGDM to have the best pathway for government jobs.

In 2026, deciding whether to pursue a PGDM or an MBA in India mainly depends on your goals and preferred institution. As such, PGDM courses are costly, most notably the good PGDM colleges like the IIMs, the XLRI, and SPJIMR, where the fees are from INR 15 to INR 35 lakh. Govt.-funded MBA colleges or university-affiliated colleges like FMS Delhi and JBIMS Mumbai are relatively reasonable with fees from INR 2 to INR 5 lakh, but are worth spending on. The placement from the good PGDM colleges is always over INR 30 lakh, but good MBA programs also have great placement records with good pay. Your choice will only depend upon the cost, placement possibility, and quality of the courses to be good for the desired career objective the best.

If you are torn between pursuing an MBA or a PGDM in India, knowing the difference between the two will guide you to an informed decision. The MBA course is provided by universities and is approved by the government and the education sector. The PGDM course is provided by standalone institutes and is industry-experience based. Both degrees are equally valued by employers in 2025, but premier business schools such as IIMs and XLRI offer PGDM courses with contemporary curricula to cater to the corporate sector. Placement percentage and compensation packages are equal for both in quality institutions. Lastly, your decision should be guided by the institute's reputation, flexibility of courses, placement record, and career goals, and not only the degree title.

If you are looking to do an MBA in India, then you will be confused about whether to opt for a program approved by AICTE or one approved by UGC. Both are government agencies that govern higher education, but they have different functions. While AICTE governs technical and management colleges, UGC governs universities and educational standards. Today, most top MBA colleges in India, such as IIMs and top private B-schools, adhere to AICTE and UGC norms, respectively. Knowing these variations allows you to determine which suits your professional aspirations more, whether you're looking for industry-specific learning or a research-based academic path.