Top Private MBA Colleges – AAA Graded (Management Quota)

Top Private MBA Colleges – AAA Graded (Management Quota)

When seeking Admission to Top Private MBA colleges in India, students often explore various avenues, including Management Quota seats. AAA-Graded institutions are particularly sought after for their excellence in education, robust faculty, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and impressive placement records. These colleges are recognized for providing quality Management Education and fostering industry-ready professionals. For students aiming to secure a spot in such prestigious institutions, Management Quota Seats offer an alternative pathway, albeit typically at a higher fee structure and with different eligibility criteria than the regular admission process.

For those unable to secure Admission through the standard merit-based process, Management Quota Seats offer an alternative pathway. These seats are typically reserved by institutions and allow students to gain admission through a separate set of criteria, usually involving higher fees and specific eligibility requirements.

Top Private MBA Colleges – AAA Graded (Management Quota)– Contact Ace Guru Education Services or Visit our Websites-  direct-mba.com or you can send us email at – queries@ace-guru.com Call @ 9742479101 Ankit Mishra, 9742886036 Anis, 9035556036 Mayur Gautam.

Lets understand AAA-graded MBA colleges and the Management Quota Process

Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad

The Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad is one of the leading business schools in India. While the majority of admissions are based on merit and performance in entrance exams like CAT, XAT, GMAT, etc., there may be a management quota or institutional preference seats available for admission. Here’s a general overview of how the management quota process typically works:

AAA-graded MBA colleges	Management Quota Process
Eligibility:	Candidates must meet the basic eligibility criteria set by IMT, which usually includes: A bachelor’s degree with a minimum percentage (as specified by the institute). A valid score in entrance exams like CAT, XAT, GMAT, or CMAT. Some preference may be given to those with work experience.
Application Process:	Direct Application Interested candidates must apply directly to the institute for admission under the Management Quota. This might involve submitting an application form specifically for the Management Quota.
Documents Required:	Academic transcripts (10th, 12th, and graduation). Scorecard of any management entrance exam. Work experience certificate, if applicable. Identification proofs (Aadhar, Passport, etc.).
Interview/Selection Process:	Personal Interview: Candidates may be required to appear for a personal interview or group discussion as part of the selection process. Other Evaluations: Some institutions might also consider other factors such as extra-curricular achievements, professional certifications, and personal background.
Payment of Fees:	Higher Fee Structure: Seats under the management quota usually come with a higher fee structure compared to merit-based seats. Donation or Capitation Fee: In some cases, there might be an additional donation or capitation fee required for admission under the Management Quota.
Confirmation of Admission:	Once selected, candidates will receive an offer letter. The candidate must pay the admission fee and any other required charges to confirm the seat.
Location:	Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh

Also Read: Direct Admission in IMT Ghaziabad Management Quota Seats

Xavier Institute of Management (XIMB), Bhubaneswar

Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar (XIMB) is one of India’s premier business schools. Similar to other top management institutes, admissions at XIMB are primarily based on merit through national-level entrance exams like CAT, XAT, GMAT, etc. However, there may be some seats reserved under the Management Quota. Here’s a general overview of the Management Quota Process at XIMB:

AAA-graded MBA colleges	Management Quota Process
Eligibility Criteria:	A minimum of a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with at least 50% marks (or equivalent CGPA). Final year students awaiting results may also apply, provided they complete all requirements by the specified deadline.
Application Process	Direct Application: Candidates interested in management quota seats may need to apply directly to XIMB. This might involve filling out a separate application form or mentioning interest in management quota seats in the regular application.
Documents Required:	Academic records (10th, 12th, and graduation). Scorecard of CAT, XAT, GMAT, or X-GMT. Work experience certificate (if applicable). Identification documents such as Aadhar, Passport, etc.
Interview/Selection Process:	Personal Interview: Candidates might be required to attend a personal interview or group discussion. The selection process under the management quota may include these steps to assess the candidate’s suitability for the program. Other Factors: Extra-curricular achievements, leadership qualities, and other personal attributes may also be considered.
Payment of Fees:	Higher Fees:Seats under the management quota often come with a higher fee structure compared to regular seats. Additional Charges: There may be an additional donation or capitation fee associated with the management quota, though this varies and should be clearly understood beforehand.
Confirmation of Admission:	Offer Letter: Upon selection, the candidate will receive an offer letter detailing the next steps, including fee payment. Payment: The candidate must pay the required admission and other fees to secure the seat.
Location:	Bhubaneswar, Odisha

Also Read: Direct Admission in XIMB Management Quota Seat

Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Pune

Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Pune is a top-tier business school in India, known for its rigorous admission process. While SIBM Pune primarily admits students based on merit through the SNAP (Symbiosis National Aptitude Test) score, there may be a management quota or institutional preference seats available. Here’s a general outline of the Management Quota process at SIBM Pune:

AAA-graded MBA colleges	Management Quota Process
Eligibility Criteria:	A bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST candidates) from a recognized university. Final year students who are awaiting results may also apply, provided they complete their degree by the specified deadline
Application Process:	Direct Application: Candidates interested in management quota seats may need to apply directly to SIBM Pune. This might involve filling out a separate application form or indicating interest in management quota seats during the regular application process.
Entrance Exam:	SNAP score
Documents Required:	Academic transcripts (10th, 12th, and graduation). SNAP scorecard. Work experience certificate, if applicable. Identification documents (Aadhar, Passport, etc.).
Selection Process:	Personal Interview & Group Discussion: Candidates under the management quota may be required to go through the same selection process as regular applicants, which typically includes a Group Exercise, Personal Interview, and Writing Ability Test (GE-PIWAT). Evaluation: Other factors such as leadership potential, extra-curricular activities, and overall profile may be considered during the selection process.
Fee Structure:	Management Quota seats usually have a higher fee structure compared to regular seats. Donation/Capitation Fee: There might be an additional donation or capitation fee required for admission under the management quota. This fee varies and is often negotiated privately.
Confirmation of Admission:	Offer Letter: Upon selection, the candidate will receive an offer letter, which will detail the next steps, including fee payment. Payment of Fees: The candidate must pay the admission fee, including any additional charges associated with the management quota, to confirm their seat.

Also Read: Confirmed SIBM Pune MBA Direct Admission in AY 2024

KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai

KJ Somaiya Institute of Management, Mumbai, is a reputed business school in India. Admissions are generally based on merit through entrance exams like CAT, XAT, CMAT, and GMAT. However, like other institutes, there may be a management quota available for Admissions, though details about it are often not publicly advertised. Here’s a general overview of how the Management Quota process might work:

AAA-graded MBA colleges	Management Quota Process
Eligibility Criteria:	A bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks (or equivalent CGPA) from a recognized university. Final-year students who are awaiting results can also apply, provided they complete their degree by the specified deadline.
Entrance Exam:	valid score in CAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, or NMAT by GMAC
Application Process:	Direct Application: Candidates interested in management quota seats may need to apply directly to KJ Somaiya Institute of Management. This could involve submitting a separate application form or expressing interest in the management quota during the regular application process.
Documents Required:	Academic transcripts (10th, 12th, and graduation). Scorecard of CAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, or NMAT. Work experience certificate, if applicable. Identification documents like Aadhar, Passport, etc.
Selection Process:	Personal Interview & Group Discussion: Similar to the regular admission process, candidates under the management quota may be required to participate in a Personal Interview (PI), Group Discussion (GD), and/or Written Ability Test (WAT). The institute may consider additional factors such as the candidate’s overall profile, leadership potential, extracurricular achievements, and other personal attributes.
Fee Structure:	Higher Fee Structure: Management quota seats often come with a higher fee structure compared to regular merit-based seats. Donation/Capitation Fee: There may be an additional donation or capitation fee required for admission under the management quota, though this is typically negotiated privately.
Admission Confirmation:	Offer Letter: Upon selection, the candidate will receive an offer letter detailing the steps to be followed, including the payment of fees. Payment: The candidate must pay the required admission fee, along with any other charges, to confirm the seat.
Location:	Mumbai

Also Read: kJ Somaiya Management Quota for Direct Admission in MBA

Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), Greater Noida

Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), Greater Noida, is a well-regarded business school in India. Admissions at BIMTECH are primarily merit-based, considering scores from entrance exams like CAT, XAT, GMAT, and CMAT. However, there might be a provision for management quota seats, though these are typically limited and come with specific processes. Here’s a general overview of how the management quota process might work at BIMTECH:

AAA-graded MBA colleges	Management Quota Process
Eligibility Criteria	bachelor’s degree with at least 50% marks (or equivalent CGPA) from a recognized university. Final-year students awaiting results can apply, provided they complete their degree by the specified deadline.
Entrance Exam:	score in CAT, XAT, GMAT, or CMAT is required for Management Quota seats
Application Process:	Direct Application: Candidates interested in management quota seats may need to apply directly to BIMTECH. This might involve filling out a separate application form or indicating interest in management quota seats during the standard application process.
Documents Required:	Academic transcripts (10th, 12th, and graduation). Scorecard of CAT, XAT, GMAT, or CMAT. Work experience certificate, if applicable. Identification proofs (Aadhar, Passport, etc.).
Selection Process:	Personal Interview & Group Discussion: Candidates under the management quota may need to undergo the same selection process as regular candidates, including a Personal Interview (PI), Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT). The selection may also consider the candidate’s overall profile, including academic performance, work experience, leadership potential, and extracurricular activities.
Fee Structure:	Higher Fees: Management quota seats typically come with a higher fee structure compared to regular merit-based seats. Donation/Capitation Fee: There may be an additional donation or capitation fee required for securing a seat under the management quota. The specifics of this fee are usually negotiated privately and may vary.
Admission Confirmation:	Offer Letter: If selected, the candidate will receive an offer letter detailing the next steps, including the payment of fees. Payment of Fees: The candidate must pay the admission fee, including any additional charges related to the management quota, to confirm their seat.
Location:	Greater Noida

Also Read: It’s All about BIMTECH Noida PGDM Admission – Mba-Guru

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai, is a prestigious business school in India. Admissions to NMIMS are primarily merit-based and rely on scores from the NMAT by GMAC exam. However, there may be limited seats available under the management quota, though such admissions are often not publicly advertised and are handled discreetly by the institution.

AAA-graded MBA colleges	Management Quota Process
Eligibility Criteria:	A bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks (or equivalent CGPA) from a recognized university. Final-year students who are awaiting results can also apply, provided they meet the degree requirements by the stipulated deadline.
Entrance Exam:	NMAT by GMAC
Application Process:	Direct Application: Candidates interested in management quota seats may need to apply directly to NMIMS. This often involves filling out a separate application form or expressing interest in management quota seats in the regular application process.
Documents Required:	Academic transcripts (10th, 12th, and graduation). NMAT scorecard. Work experience certificates, if applicable. Identification documents like Aadhar, Passport, etc.
Selection Process:	Personal Interview & Other Assessments: Even under the management quota, candidates are often required to participate in the standard selection process, which may include a Personal Interview (PI), Group Discussion (GD), and possibly a Written Ability Test (WAT). The institute may also evaluate candidates based on their overall profile, including academic performance, work experience, leadership potential, extracurricular activities, and other personal achievements.
Fee Structure:	Higher Fees: Management Quota seats typically come with a higher fee structure than regular merit-based seats. Donation/Capitation Fee: An additional donation or capitation fee might be required for securing a seat under the management quota. This fee is generally privately negotiated and can vary depending on the demand and the candidate’s profile.
Admission Confirmation:	Offer Letter: Upon selection, the candidate will receive an offer letter detailing the next steps, including fee payment. Payment of Fees: The candidate must pay the required admission fees, including any additional charges related to the management quota, to confirm their seat.
Location:	Mumbai

Also Read: Narsee Monjee MBA Direct Admission 2024 new session

Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai

The Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, is a well-regarded business school in India that offers several postgraduate management programs. Admissions at Great Lakes are primarily merit-based and are typically done through scores obtained in exams like GMAT, CAT, XAT, or CMAT. However, like many business schools, Great Lakes may have a few seats available under the Management Quota, although details regarding these seats are often not widely publicized and are handled with discretion by the institution.

AAA-graded MBA colleges	Management Quota Process
Eligibility Criteria:	A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized institution, with a minimum of 50% marks (or equivalent CGPA). Final-year students who are awaiting their results are also eligible to apply, provided they complete their degree requirements by the stipulated deadline.
Entrance Exams:	valid score in GMAT, CAT, XAT, or CMAT is Required for Management Quota process
Application Process:	Direct Application: Candidates interested in applying for management quota seats need to apply directly to Great Lakes. This could involve filling out a separate application form or expressing interest in management quota seats when submitting the regular application.
Documents Required:	Academic transcripts (10th, 12th, and graduation). Scorecard of GMAT, CAT, XAT, or CMAT. Work experience certificates, if applicable. Identification documents (Aadhar, Passport, etc.).
Selection Process:	Personal Interview and Other Assessments: Even for management quota candidates, the selection process typically includes a Personal Interview (PI) and may also involve a Group Discussion (GD) or a Written Ability Test (WAT) to assess the candidate’s suitability for the program. Apart from test scores and academic records, the institute may consider the overall profile of the candidate, including work experience, extracurricular achievements, leadership potential, and other personal attributes.
Fee Structure:	Higher Fees: Management quota seats usually have a higher fee structure compared to regular merit-based seats. Donation/Capitation Fee: An additional donation or capitation fee might be required for securing a seat under the management quota. This fee is typically negotiated privately and may vary based on the demand and the candidate’s profile.
Admission Confirmation:	Offer Letter: Upon selection, the candidate will receive an offer letter detailing the next steps, including the payment of fees. Payment of Fees: To confirm their seat, the candidate must pay the required admission fees and any additional charges associated with the management quota.
Location:	Chennai

Also Read: Great Lakes Management Quota Admission

Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Bangalore

Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Bangalore, is a leading business school in India that offers a range of postgraduate management programs. Admissions are primarily merit-based, determined through scores obtained in the Symbiosis National Aptitude Test (SNAP), followed by group exercises, personal interviews, and written ability tests. Like many prestigious institutes, SIBM Bangalore may have a limited number of seats available under the management quota. These seats are typically filled through a different process, and details about them are often handled discreetly by the institution.

AAA-graded MBA colleges	Management Quota Process
Eligibility Criteria:	A bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university with a minimum of 50% marks (45% for SC/ST candidates). Final-year students awaiting results may also apply, provided they complete all degree requirements by the specified deadline.
Entrance Exam:	A valid SNAP score is required
Application Process:	Candidates interested in management quota seats may need to apply directly to SIBM Bangalore. This could involve filling out a separate application form or indicating interest in management quota seats during the regular application process.
Documents Required:	Academic transcripts (10th, 12th, and graduation). SNAP scorecard. Work experience certificate, if applicable. Identification documents (Aadhar, Passport, etc.).
Selection Process:	Personal Interview and Group Exercise: Even under the management quota, candidates are often required to go through the standard selection process, which includes a Group Exercise, Personal Interview (PI), and Written Ability Test (WAT). The evaluation for management quota seats may also consider other factors like the candidate’s overall profile, including academic achievements, work experience, leadership potential, extracurricular activities, and personal attributes.
Fee Structure:	Higher Fees: Management quota seats typically come with a higher fee structure compared to regular merit-based seats. Donation/Capitation Fee: There might be an additional donation or capitation fee associated with securing a seat under the management quota. This fee is often privately negotiated and can vary based on demand and the candidate’s profile.
Admission Confirmation:	Offer Letter: If selected, the candidate will receive an offer letter detailing the next steps, including the payment of fees. Payment of Fees: The candidate must pay the required admission fees, along with any additional charges related to the management quota, to confirm their seat.
Location:	Bangalore

Also Read: Does Sibm Bangalore has management quota? – Mba-Guru

Objective Parameters

The objective parameters used for T.I.M.E.’s India’s Best B-School Categorization process are listed below.

(i) Placements

The career opportunities that an MBA provides in the short- and the long-term, the speed of growth it offers, the variety of roles it can help one can get into, etc., should be the main reasons for pursuing an MBA. Salaries are only a concomitant factor and should not be the only reason for one to get into an MBA programme. However, as the other parameters can only be visualized and objectively measured long later after one graduates from the MBA programme, salaries at the time of campus placements are used as an indirect measure to gauge the quality of the MBA programme.

The advantage with salary data is that such data are broadly objective – one can lay a finger on them and come to a general understanding about the quality of placements at a b-school. The data becomes especially important as students at b-schools invest not just two valuable years but also a considerable amount of money (in fee). To expect a commensurate return from this high investment – more of time than money – is only natural. The salary data hence reflects the ‘quality’ of return.

Many b-schools resort to statistical (and other kinds of) gimmickry while reporting the salary data. While some schools may not release any placement data, some list only the names of companies that visit the campus for recruitment without revealing other info (like salary and job profiles offered). Some carry historical data of the names of companies to create an impression as if all of them visited the campus for the recent round of placements. While inflating the salary figures is old style gimmickry, adding ‘signing or joining bonuses’ or ‘variable pay’ into the reported pay packages is becoming commonplace. Most schools do not reveal the percentage, or the number, of students who do not secure jobs. This kind of manipulation is fairly common. As such, one needs to be careful while trying to understand the placements at b-schools.

Unfortunately, there is no standard procedure for reporting placement data that b-schools are required to follow. Any such requirement could have put a stop to making false claims and would have rendered the picture on placements clear.

In 2011, the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) took the initiative of putting in place a set of reporting standards called the Indian Placement Reporting Standards (IPRS). This laudable initiative has, unfortunately and not surprisingly, found little traction among other b-schools. T.I.M.E. greatly admires the transparency that a reporting standard like IPRS can bring into the system, especially because it mandates that b-schools have their placement report audited by a third party. As one of the very few coaching institutes which gets its results audited by a third party, T.I.M.E. understands the kind of honesty and effort that goes into ensuring the quality of such an audit. We have, hence, as part of the categorization exercise, accorded positive credit to the schools that report their placements in line with the IPRS.

(ii) Cut-off in Entrance Test

Good quality of students helps strengthen the b-school brand while the b-school’s high brand value in turn helps the students get ahead faster in their career. It is only natural for the schools to select the best studentswhile the brightest students would wish to get into only the best b-schools.

It is also important to note that the quality of students directly impacts the quality of learning, especially as the amount of peer learning that happens at a top b-school is quite significant.

In this context, cutoff percentile is, therefore, a strong indicator of the quality of the students at a b-school – the higher the cutoff, the better the quality of the students.

Some b-schools give significant weightage to other important parameters like academics and work experience. However, even at these schools, the entrance test percentile cutoffs are significantly higher than some of the schools which are listed in the categories immediately below them.

(iii) Location

The location of a b-school is not a straight-forward parameter to handle. There could be an excellent school in a relatively remote location or vice versa. However, please remember that location plays not a minor role in attracting faculty and industry (for placements) to the campus.

The brand strength of an institute can counter the effect of location to a large extent. A good brand can attract faculty and industry even to a relatively less popular location. This is the primary reason why the new IIMs, despite being in so-called ‘remote’ places, have been able to earn the respect of both the academia and the industry within a short span of time. But, as one moves down the categorization list, particularly outside the top 50, the brand strength wanes, and the influence of location looms large.

(iv) Age of the Institute

While the b-school’s age may not have much to do with its performance, it is a major contributing factor to the b-school’s brand strength or the lack of it. Many b-schools, particularly those with a good pedigree, tend to perform well over time. Top b-schools like IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode, and IIM Shillong are good examples. However, at the time of their inception, a significant number of students preferred other non-IIM schools over these three schools. Of course, that’s not the case anymore. In fact, this also happened in the case of the six New IIMs. A decade after their inception, the New IIMs are giving tough competition to those schools which were preferred by some students over the former.

(v) Fee

Fee is not a direct indicator of the quality of a school. You should not rate a school high just because of its fee nor should you trash a school solely because of it. Many top schools (like the ‘Older IIMs’) charge a pretty high fee of over ₹20 lakh while a few top schools charge as low as ₹2 lakh. As fee cannot be an independent parameter to evaluate a b-school, it should be used in conjunction with parameters like placement record and brand value of the b-school.

The RoI (Return on Investment) needs to be considered carefully, particularly when the fee level is high. This would mean that unless a student gets a pay package of a certain value, the fee expense doesn’t make much financial sense. The RoI becomes a significant factor as one moves down the list of b-schools, particularly in schools beyond the top three categories.

(v) Other Factors

The quality of faculty and the quality of infrastructure are two other vital factors to be considered while evaluating a b-school. Necessary care should be taken while reading into these data points, as some things are not quite as straightforward as they seem.

Claims like the number of PhD faculty and visiting faculty should not be taken at face value as some of the persons named may not actually be teaching at those schools.

One may be tempted to consider the lack of infrastructure as a severe handicap. However, it is to be noted that some of the new b-schools, which have a good ‘parent’ brand, have been able to overcome the infrastructure handicap and have performed well. The New IIMs (Kashipur, Raipur, Ranchi, Rohtak, Trichy, and Udaipur) and IIFT Kolkata are prime examples.

What the list contains and what it doesn?t

We have considered only two-year MBA/PGDM programmes for categorization. We bring any eligible schools into consideration only after they have completed two years of operation, which would mean that their first batch would have graduated. That is because only then we can assess the school on all the parameters that we consider for our categorization.

Also, the categorization considers only the flagship programme of the schools. For example, for IIM Ranchi, the flagship PGP is considered. While PGP–HR may not be at par with the flagship PGP, it benefits significantly from the rub-off of the flagship programme. These non-flagship programmes should be evaluated in light of such factors; the brand value of the parent brand is a strong factor to be kept in mind.

India’s Best B-Schools Categorization

India’s Best B-Schools Categorization features seven broad categories.

Top 10 category features world-class institutes, like the IIMs and XLRI, where every student aspires to secure an admission. Many of these institutes are comparable with the best in the world. Indeed, some of them regularly feature in the lists released by international business magazines. These institutes invariably have a 100% placement record. Even the not-so-academically-good students at these institutes manage to get good jobs due to the ‘rub-off’ effect of the institute.

AAA+ & AAA categories of institutes make the Top 30. They offer high quality education, faculty, and infrastructure. These institutes have a 100% placement record. A significant number of the top students at these institutes secure placements that are comparable to those offered at the Top 10 institutes.

AA & & A categories of institutes offer high quality education, faculty, and infrastructure facilities. A good number of students at these schools get placements which are much better than the placements of the lower half of the categories above (Top 10, AAA+ and AAA). These institutes are successful in providing high quality placements to their top students, especially those who have effective communication skills.

BBB+, BBB, and BB categories of institutes are well regarded by the industry and are generally successful in placing their students. Some of these schools have been very strong brands earlier and have been pushed down the list only because of the addition of the New and Baby IIMs in the last few years. This shows that most of these schools have held their ground successfully and that students can rely on them to give a boost to their career.

B+ and B categories of schools enjoy a good reputation in the business world. These institutes may not provide too many national-level placement opportunities but are generally successful in providing placements to many of their students with prominent companies – local and national.

Apart from all these, we have also listed b-schools under the ‘Others’ category. These institutes may be found to be lacking in one or more of the following: (a) infrastructure; (b) industry interface; (c) faculty; (d) alumni network; (e) curriculum, and (f) placements. However, we believe that these colleges are better than the hordes of others that do not feature on our list. You are hence advised to get thorough information (by visiting the campuses and speaking with past and current students) about these institutes before making any decision.

In short, the above categorization would mean that the top 50 schools – Top 10, AAA+, AAA, AA, and A categories – would be the schools to aspire for.

How will the B-School Categorization help you?

The first question you should address is: ‘To how many b-schools should I apply?’. The answer will depend on a few factors.

The first factor is your budget. With the cost of the application for each institute being in the range of Rs.500 to Rs.3,000, you may not want to look at more than 10–12 institutes. But whatever the number of institutes you wish to apply, it is always a good practice to select institutes across categories to ensure that even if your performance in the entrance tests (like the CAT and the XAT) has been below par, you still can have a good school within your score range.

The second factor is what you are doing currently:

(a) Pursuing final year of graduation: In this case, you may be keen on getting into a management institute but can afford to try again if you do not get into an institute of your choice. So, you may apply rather selectively.

(b) Completed graduation in the last academic session, not pursuing any higher studies, and not working either: In this case, you should try get into a reasonably good institute. So, the number of institutes that you apply will be higher than in the case of the first category.

(c) Completed graduation and currently working: You can be selective unless you have been working for more than 4–5 years in which case, you may not want to lose further time in getting into a management institute.

The third factor in deciding the number of institutes to which you should apply is your performance in the entrance exams. Depending on your performance, you may want to hedge your risk by applying to more institutes – particularly, to institutes across categories.

Once you decide the number of institutes you wish to apply, let us look at how you will go about deciding the types of such institutes. Here, the cardinal principle is to safeguard your interests and reduce your risk; so, you should apply to institutes in at least three different categories.

Lastly, it is always a good idea to apply to as many b-schools as possible, based on one’s budget, to maximise your chances of making it to a good b-school as there is no certainty about the criteria that a b-school may follow to shortlist candidates (for its GWPI programme) and to admit (for the MBA programme).

Key Points to Note

The presence of a b-school in a particular category is determined by a combination of factors. You may find a school, listed in a lower category, doing better on a particular parameter. However, when all the factors are considered together, the schools listed in the higher category are better overall than the schools listed in the category below.

Within a category, the schools are listed only alphabetically, i.e., ‘in-category’ ranking has not been done. Assigning individual rank to schools is not objectively possible and is also not totally fair to the b-schools. We arrive at category sizes keeping in mind that the schools in a particular category should broadly be equal. You would observe that the grouping categories do not have uniformity about the number of b-schools per category. This was done to ensure brand homogeneity across parameters (like placement and cutoff) within a category. Also, if you wish to choose between schools within a category, we advise you to find more information about the specific schools.

Top Ten	AAA+ Graded Colleges
Faculty of Management Studies (FMS), University of Delhi	Department of Management Studies, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD)
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA)	Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), New Delhi and Kolkata
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB)	Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), Mumbai
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta (IIMC)	Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurugram
Indian Institute of Management Indore (IIMI)	Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai
Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIMK)	Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management Shillong (RGIIM)
Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIML)	Shailesh J. Mehta School of Management (SJSOM), IIT Bombay (IITB)
Indian Institute of Management Mumbai (IIMM) (formerly NITIE)	Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Pune
S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai	Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai
XLRI Xavier School of Management (XLRI), Jamshedpur	XLRI Xavier School of Management, Delhi–NCR

AA Graded Colleges	AAA Graded Colleges
BITS School of Management (BITSoM), Mumbai	Department of Industrial and Management Engineering (IME), Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT-K)
Department of Business Economics (DBE), South Campus, University of Delhi	Department of Management Studies (DOMS), Indian Institute of Science (IISc.) Bengaluru
Department of Commerce, Delhi School of Economics (DSE), University of Delhi	Department of Management Studies (DOMS), Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IITM)
Department of Financial Studies (DFS), South Campus, University of Delhi	Department of Management Studies (DOMS), Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee (IITR)
Indian Institute of Management Kashipur (IIM-Ka)	Indian Institute of Management Raipur (IIM-Rai)
Indian Institute of Management Nagpur (IIMN)	Indian Institute of Management Rohtak (IIM-Roh)
Indian Institute of Management Ranchi (IIM-Ran)	Indian Institute of Management Trichy (IIMT)
Indian Institute of Management Sambalpur (IIMS)	Indian Institute of Management Udaipur (IIMU)
Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam (IIMV)	Symbiosis Centre for Management and Human Resource Development (SCMHRD), Pune
Institute of Management Technology (IMT), Ghaziabad	Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSOM), Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT-KGP)
Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA)	MICA Ahmedabad
International Management Institute (IMI), New Delhi	Xavier Institute of Management (XIM-B), Bhubaneswar
Sydenham Institute of Management Studies and Research and Entrepreneurship Education (SIMSREE), Mumbai	Top Private MBA Colleges – AAA Graded (Management Quota)

A Graded Colleges

• Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Kharagpur (IIT-KGP)
• Faculty of Management Studies, Banaras Hindu University (FMS BHU)
• FORE School of Management, New Delhi
• Goa Institute of Management (GIM), Sanquelim (Goa)
• Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM), Chennai (PGDM Two-Year Programme)
• Indian Institute of Management Amritsar (IIM-Am)
• Indian Institute of Management Bodh Gaya (IIM-BG)
• Indian Institute of Management Jammu (IIMJ)
• Indian Institute of Management Sirmaur (IIM-S)
• Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management (LBSIM), Delhi
• NMIMS Bengaluru
• Prin. L. N. Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (We School), Mumbai
• SDA Bocconi Asia Center, Mumbai
• T. A. Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), Manipal
• University Business School (UBS), Panjab University, Chandigarh
  

BBB+ Graded Colleges

• School of Management & Entrepreneurship, IIT Jodhpur
• Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani
• FOSTIIMA B-School, New Delhi
• Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM), Gurugram (PGDM Two–Year Programme)
• K. J. Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research (SIMSR), Mumbai
• National Institute of Banking and Management (NIBM), Pune
• National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli (NITT)
• National Insurance Academy (NIA), Pune
• Nirma University Institute of Management (NIRMA), Ahmedabad
• NMIMS Hyderabad
• NMIMS Navi Mumbai
• Sri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), MBA–GBO, Delhi
• Symbiosis Institute of Business Management Bengaluru (SIBM–B)
• Symbiosis Institute of Digital and Telecom Management (SIDTM), Pune
• Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management (SIOM), Nasik

BBB Graded Colleges

• Bharathidasan Institute of Management (BIM), Trichy
• Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), Greater Noida
• Department of Business Management, Osmania University (OU), Hyderabad
• DOMS, IIT Dhanbad (formerly Indian School of Mines)
• IFMR Graduate School of Business, KREA University, Chennai
• Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management (IISWBM), Kolkata
• IMT Hyderabad
• IMI Kolkata
• Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), Chennai
• MANAGE, Hyderabad (only for those interested in Agri-Business/ Rural Management)
• National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC)
• NMIMS Indore
• SIES College of Management Studies (SIESCOMS), Mumbai
• We School (Welingkar), Bengaluru
• Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME), Bengaluru

BB Graded Colleges

• Amrita School of Business (ASB), Coimbatore
• Christ University Institute of Management (CUIM), Bengaluru
• Delhi School of Management (Delhi Technological University), Delhi
• Department of Commerce and Management Studies, University of Pune (PUMBA), Pune
• DOMS, NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad
• Hyderabad Central University (HCU), Hyderabad
• ICFAI Business School (IBS), Hyderabad
• IES Management College and Research Centre, Mumbai
• IMI Bhubaneswar
• IMT Nagpur
• Indian Institute of Forest Management (IIFM), Bhopal
• Jagdish Sheth School of Management, Bengaluru
• MDI, Murshidabad
• MET’s Institute of Management, Mumbai
• NL Dalmia Institute of Management Studies & Research (NLDIMSR), Mumbai
• School of Petroleum Management, Pandit Deendayal Petroleum University (PDPU), Gandhinagar
• SDM Institute for Management Development (SDM-IMD), Mysuru
• Symbiosis Center for Information Technology (SCIT), Pune
• Symbiosis Institute of Management Studies (SIMS), Pune
• UBS, Karjat (Mumbai)

B+ Graded Colleges

• Army Institute of Management (AIM), Kolkata
• Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Institute of Management and Research, Delhi
• Chetna’s R. K. Institute of Management Studies & Research, Mumbai
• Department of Management Studies (DOMS), Anna University Chennai
• Fortune Institute of International Business (FIIB), New Delhi
• IBS Mumbai
• Indus Business Academy (IBA), Bengaluru
• Institute of Public Enterprise (IPE), Hyderabad
• ISME Bengaluru
• Jagan Institute of Management Studies (JIMS), New Delhi
• Lala Lajpatrai Institute of Management, Mumbai
• MIT World Peace University’s Faculty of Management, Pune
• New Delhi Institute of Management (NDIM), New Delhi
• St Joseph’s College of Business Administration, Bengaluru
• Symbiosis School of Banking and Finance (SSBF), Pune
• Vivekanand Education Society’s Institute of Management Studies & Research, Mumbai
• Xavier Institute of Management & Research (XIMR), Mumbai
• Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship (XIME), Kochi
• Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi
• XIME Chennai

B

• Acharya Institute of Management Studies (AIMS), Bengaluru
• Amity Business School, Noida
• B. K. School of Business Management, Ahmedabad
• Balaji Institute of Modern Management (BIMM), Pune
• Bharati Vidyapeeth’s Institute of Management Studies and Research, Mumbai
• Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan’s Usha and Lakshmi Mittal Institute of Management, Delhi
• Globsyn Business School, Kolkata
• IBS Gurugram
• IBS Jaipur
• IBS Pune
• IILM Institute for Business and Management, Gurugram
• Institute of Management Development and Research (IMDR), Pune
• Institute of Technology & Management (ITM), Navi Mumbai
• Jaipuria Institute of Management, Jaipur
• Jaipuria Institute of Management, Lucknow
• Kirloskar Institute of Advanced Management Studies (KIAMS), Harihar
• Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology (MNNIT), Prayagraj
• National Institute of Technology (NIT), Durgapur
• National Institute of Technology (NIT), Suratkal
• National Institute of Technology (NIT), Warangal
• Pondicherry Central University (PCU), Puducherry
• PSG Institute of Management, Coimbatore
• Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, Kochi
• Ramiah Institute of Management, Bengaluru
• Rizvi Institute of Management Studies & Research, Mumbai
• School of Communication & Management Studies (SCMS), Kochi
• School of Management (SMS), Cochin University of Science & Technology, Kochi
• SIBM Hyderabad
• Siva Sivani Institute of Management (SSIM), Hyderabad
• SSN School of Management & Computer Applications, Chennai
• St Francis Institute of Management and Research (SFIMR), Mumbai
• Symbiosis Institute of Computer Studies and Research (SICSR), Pune
• Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences (SIHS), Pune
• Symbiosis Institute of Mass Communication (SIMC), Pune
• Thakur Institute of Management Studies & Research, Mumbai
• University of Petroleum & Energy Studies (UPES), Dehradun
• University School of Management Studies – Indraprastha University, Delhi
• Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management (VJIM), Hyderabad
• Vishwavishvani Institute of Systems & Management, Hyderabad
• VIT Business School, Vellore

Others

• Asia-Pacific Institute of Management, Delhi
• Badruka College – Post Graduate Center (OU-affiliated MBA), Hyderabad
• Birla Global University, Bhubaneshwar (formerly BIMTECH Bhubaneshwar)
• Birla Institute of Technology (BIT), Mesra, Ranchi
• Christ Institute of Management, Ghaziabad
• Christ Institute of Management, Pune
• Dhruva College of Management, Hyderabad
• Gitam School of International Business, Visakhapatnam
• IBS Ahmedabad
• IBS Dehradun
• IBS Hyderabad off campus at Bengaluru
• IBS Kolkata
• IIEBM’s Indus Business School, Pune
• IILM Institute for Higher Education, Delhi
• IIRM Hyderabad
• Indian Institute of Finance, New Delhi
• Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management, Gwalior
• Indira Institute of Management, Pune
• Lovely Professional University, Punjab
• Master School of Management, Meerut
• Myra School of Business, Mysuru
• R. A. Podar Institute of Management, Jaipur
• Symbiosis School of Sports Sciences, Pune
• Vanguard Business School, Bengaluru