PGDM Colleges

Top PGDM Colleges 2025

In India, the demand for management education continues to grow as industries are seeking more skilled professionals with strong leadership and problem-solving capabilities. Among the most popular postgraduate options, PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) has gained quite a significant recognition. Unlike traditional MBA programs offered by universities, PGDM courses are largely offered by autonomous institutions approved by the AICTE, allowing them greater flexibility in designing industry-oriented curricula. This makes PGDM an attractive choice for students aspiring to build dynamic careers in business, finance, marketing, data analytics, consulting, and entrepreneurship.

In 2025, there are several management institutes across the country that stands out for their academic rigor, placement opportunities, and industry-driven learning environments. The top PGDM colleges in India are not only located in metro cities like Mumbai, Delhi, etc., but are also spread across tier-2 cities, offering world-class education and strong corporate linkages. Institutions such as IIM-equivalent B-schools, private management institutes, and other renowned standalone PGDM colleges are also helping students gain global exposure through internships, international collaborations, and case-based learning.

For students aspiring to pursue PGDM courses in 2025, choosing the right college is crucial for ensuring both academic excellence and career growth. Factors such as faculty expertise, specialization options, industry exposure, placement history, and networking opportunities play a vital role in making this decision.

The following table is a list of some of the top PGDM colleges/universities in India along with their cities and corresponding NIRF rankings or recognized ranking positions in management for 2025.

Top PGDM Colleges in India – NIRF Ranking 101-151

Top PGDM Colleges in India – India Today 2025

The top PGDM colleges in India for 2025 have been identified and ranked by reputed sources such as – India Today rankings, which publish annual lists based on academic excellence and industry connect. The top PGDM colleges in India for 2025 largely overlap with the top-ranked management institutes in the NIRF rankings, as many of these offer PGDM programs that are industry-oriented and autonomous. 

The ranking provided in the table below is based on data aggregated from India Today, and other reputed ranking sources – NIRF Rankings 2025, related to PGDM programs in India for 2025.

Top Trending Specializations/Branches in PGDM Offered by Top Colleges/Universities in India for 2025

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Data Science
• Digital Marketing
• Healthcare Management
• Sustainability and Environmental Management
• Cybersecurity and Risk Management
• Financial Technology (FinTech)
• Supply Chain Management
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Human Resource Management (HRM)
• Global Business and International Trade
• Marketing Management
• Finance
• Business Analytics
• Operations Management
• Retail Management

Top PGDM Colleges/Universities in India – Specialization Wise

1. Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad), Ahmedabad

• Finance and Accounting
• Marketing
• Human Resource Management
• Information Systems
• Economics
• Operations Management
• Strategic Management
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Public Policy
• Supply Chain Management
• Communication
• Food and Agribusiness Management (through a specialized MBA-FABM program)

2. Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM Bangalore), Bangalore

• Finance and Accounting
• Marketing
• Human Resources and Organizational Behaviour
• Strategy and Policy
• Operations and Supply Chain Management
• Information Systems and Data Analytics
• Economics
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Decision Sciences
• Business Communication and Leadership
• Digital Marketing
• Research and Business Analytics
• Investment Banking
• International Business

3. Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM Kozhikode), Kozhikode

• Post Graduate Programme (PGP) – General Management (2 years)
• Post Graduate Programme in Finance (PGP-Finance)
• Post Graduate Programme in Liberal Studies & Management (PGP-LSM)
• Post Graduate Programme in Business Leadership (PGP-BL)
• Executive Post Graduate Programme (Executive MBA) with specializations in Human Resources, Finance, Strategy, IT and Analytics
• PhD in Management (Doctoral Program)
• MBA for Working Professionals (offered at Kochi campus)

4. Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (Dept. of Management Studies)

• Finance
• Marketing
• Human Resource Management (HRM)
• Operations Management
• Strategic Management
• International Business
• Business Analytics and Data Science
• IT and Systems Management
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation
• Supply Chain Management
• General Management
• Public Policy and Management

5. Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow), Lucknow

• General Management (PGPM - General)
• Agribusiness Management (PGPM - ABM)
• Sustainable Management (PGPM - SM)
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation (MBA - E&I)

6. Indian Institute of Management Mumbai (IIM Mumbai), Mumbai

• Operations Management
• Analytics
• Finance
• Marketing
• Project Management
• Human Resources (HR)
• Information Technology (IT)
• Sustainability Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Data Science
• Industrial Management
• Sustainability Management (including a specialized MBA in Sustainability Management)

7. Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIM Calcutta), Kolkata

• Finance & Control
• Marketing
• Human Resource Management
• Operations Management & Supply Chain
• Management Information Systems
• Strategic Management
• Public Policy and Management
• Economics
• Entrepreneurship & Innovation
• Business Analytics and Data Science
• International Business
• Technology and Innovation Management

8. Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIM Indore), Indore

• Finance
• Marketing
• Business Analytics
• Operations Management
• Human Resource Management (HRM)
• Information Technology and Systems
• International Business
• Strategic Management
• Entrepreneurship
• Public Policy and Management
• Supply Chain Management
• Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (including offerings in PG Diploma in Management and Artificial Intelligence online)

9. Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon

• General Management
• Human Resource Management (HRM)
• International Business (IB)
• Business Analytics
• Marketing
• Operations
• Strategic Management
• Finance
• Information Management
• Economics & Public Policy
• Organizational Behavior & Human Resource Management (OB & HRM)
• Business Communications
• Energy Management
• Public Policy Management (PPM) (Executive PGDM)

10. XLRI – Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur

• Human Resource Management (HRM)
• Business Management (BM)
• General Management (GM)
• Finance
• Supply Chain Management & Logistics (through a dual degree program)
• Innovation, Entrepreneurship & Venture Creation (IEV)
• Marketing
• Strategic Management
• Production, Operations and Decision Sciences
• Economics
• Information Systems
• Organizational Behavior

Eligibility Criteria and process for admission in top PGDM Colleges in India

Eligibility Criteria

• Educational Qualification:A bachelor''s degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks (45% for reserved categories).
• Entrance Exam:A valid score in one or more of the accepted entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA, or GMAT.
• Work Experience:Usually not mandatory, but some institutes prefer candidates with relevant work experience (1-3 years).
• Age:No specific age limit, though most candidates are between 21 and 35 years.
• Additional Requirements:Some institutes may require English proficiency tests for international candidates or specific prerequisites for niche specializations.

Admission Process

• Entrance Exam:Candidates need to appear for management entrance exams like CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, or GMAT.
• Application Submission:Submit applications to institutes with valid entrance exam scores.
• Shortlisting:Institutes shortlist candidates for next rounds based on entrance scores, academic records, and other credentials.
• Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI), and Written Ability Test (WAT):Shortlisted candidates go through these rounds to assess communication skills, analytical abilities, and overall personality.
• Final Selection:Based on the combined performance in entrance exams, GD, PI, WAT, academic record, and work experience.
• Document Verification & Admission Offer:Qualified candidates submit documents for verification and receive admission offers, which they can accept or decline.

Top PGDM Colleges/Universities in India, Fees Structure and Return On Investment (ROI)

Cut off Percentile of Top PGDM Colleges/Universities, India

The cut-off percentiles for top PGDM Colleges/Universities in India generally follow the patterns that are listed below.

• IIM Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta:99-100 percentile in CAT
• IIM Lucknow, Indore, Kozhikode:91-99.5 percentile in CAT
• XLRI Jamshedpur (XAT):94-96 percentile for PGDM-BM, around 92-93 percentile for PGDM-HRM
• MDI Gurgaon:95-97 percentile in CAT
• Other reputed colleges like BIMTECH, TAPMI, Welingkar:Accept scores above 75-80 percentile in XAT or CAT

Top Recruiters

The following is a list of few major companies from leading national and multinational companies across sectors such as finance, consulting, IT, FMCG, automotive, and e-commerce, who visit top PGDM Colleges/Universities in India for campus selections:

• McKinsey & Company
• Boston Consulting Group (BCG)
• Accenture
• Deloitte
• EY (Ernst & Young)
• KPMG
• Goldman Sachs
• JP Morgan Chase
• ICICI Bank
• HDFC Bank
• Amazon
• Flipkart
• Google
• Microsoft
• P&G (Procter & Gamble)
• Nestlé
• Tata Steel
• Mahindra & Mahindra
• HSBC
• Axis Bank
• Wipro
• Cognizant
• Infosys
• HCL Technologies

Conclusion

Pursuing higher studies by choosing the right PGDM college is not about picking a brand name, it is about finding an institution that aligns with a student’s career goals, learning style, and future ambitions. India’s top PGDM colleges in 2025 stands out not only for their academic rigor but also for their industry connections, global exposure, and placement records. Whether these top PGDM Colleges are the established IIMs or emerging private players, each of them has something to offer which is their unique strengths. The key is to weigh factors like faculty, specializations, internships, and alumni network before making a decision. With the right choice, a PGDM program can become a powerful Launchpad for leadership and long-term career growth.