Nowadays, students prefer Kolkata for an MBA because of the increasing corporate presence, cheap education and excellent placement facilities. Kolkata is one of the key business and financial cities of eastern India with top companies in banking, finance, IT, manufacturing and FMCG industries. All top companies such as Tata Steel, ITC, PwC and Deloitte have a prominent presence in Kolkata where MBA graduates receive great career prospects.

Another benefit of studying MBA in Kolkata is its affordability. In contrast to the metro cities of Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi Kolkata has lower fees for tuition, more affordable accommodation and a low cost of living. Moreover, numerous business schools also offer scholarships and financial support which enable students to study quality management education without any financial pressure.

Kolkata also has a lively educational and cultural life with high-grade libraries research institutes, corporate conferences and networking activities that enable students to build industry networks. The city's cultural heritage, cosmopolitan environment and geographical positioning in eastern India make it an excellent choice for MBA aspirants who want a good education, exposure to the industry and professional development.

With its top-ranked management schools, close corporate connections, low-cost education and high-quality placement opportunities Kolkata is still a successful hub for MBA students seeking a prosperous career in management.

Some of the top management institutes in Kolkata are IIM Calcutta, IMI-International Management Institute, Management Development Institute Murshidabad, IIFT Kolkata-Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Kolkata etc. CAT, ATMA, MAT, XAT, JEMAT, CMAT, GMAT, GRE etc are popular management entrance exams organised for providing admission to leading business schools in Kolkata.

Highlights of the Top MBA/PGDM Colleges in Kolkata

Kolkata has some of the best MBA colleges which have good quality education and solid career opportunities. Topmost colleges like IIM Calcutta, IMI Kolkata, MDI Murshidabad and IIFT Kolkata offer a range of MBA programs. They conduct admissions on the basis of entrance exams like CAT, ATMA, MAT, XAT, JEMAT, CMAT, GMAT and GRE. 

The salary package varies between ₹4.89 Lakhs to ₹27.00 Lakhs while average salary packages of ₹4.50 Lakhs to ₹35.07 Lakh per annum. The key highlights of the top MBA/PGDM colleges in Kolkata are given below: 

Why Choose Kolkata for an MBA?

Kolkata is one of the favourite places among MBA aspirants due to its quality education, robust industry exposure and bright career prospects. Being a rising business and financial centre the city exposes students to practical knowledge of banking, finance, IT and manufacturing industries.

• Industry Exposure: There are top banking, IT, consulting and manufacturing firms based in Kolkata providing sufficient opportunities for internships and networking with industry experts.

• Varied Specialisations: MBA colleges in Kolkata have specialisations including Finance, Marketing, HR, Business Analytics, Operations and Entrepreneurship in order to match different career ambitions.

• Budget to High-End Choices: From cost-effective government MBA colleges to high-end B-schools such as IIM Calcutta, IMI Kolkata and MDI Murshidabad students have budget and career ambitions-based choices available.

• Excellent Placement Track Record: Leading recruiters in BFSI, IT, FMCG, consulting and manufacturing industries recruit MBA graduates with good compensation packages and high return on investment (ROI).

• Student-Friendly Ambiance: Given its strong scholastic past, low lifestyle cost and vibrant corporate ecosystem Kolkata presents a perfect atmosphere for personal as well as professional development.

Top MBA/PGDM Colleges in Kolkata with NIRF Ranking 

Kolkata is blessed with premier MBA institutions with IIM Calcutta placing 5th in NIRF 2024 and being a consistent top performer. IMI Kolkata also improved its ranking from 70 in 2023 to 56 in 2024 presenting itself as a quality option for business education. The list of colleges in Kolkata for MBA/PGDM with NIRF ranking 2024 is given below: 

Top Government MBA/PGDM Colleges in Kolkata with IIRF Ranking

Some of the top government MBA colleges are in Kolkata with IIM Calcutta being ranked 3rd in the IIRF rankings year after year. IIFT Kolkata and IBMNCE (Jadavpur University) are also among the top options providing high-quality management education. University of Calcutta's Department of Business Management is yet another well-known college for aspiring MBAs. The list of the top Government MBA colleges in Kolkata in the IIRF ranking 2025, 2024 and 2023 is given below: 

Top Private MBA/PGDM Colleges in Kolkata with IIRF Ranking

Kolkata has some of the best private MBA colleges with IMI Kolkata at the top followed by Globsyn Business School and Adamas University. Some other well-known institutes are Amity Business School, IISWBM, Army Institute of Management and Brainware University providing quality management education with good industry links. The list of the top private MBA colleges in Kolkata in the IIRF Ranking for the years 2025, 2024 and 2023 is given below: 

Best MBA/PGDM Colleges in Kolkata Accreditations Wise

A few of the best MBA colleges in Kolkata are highly accredited thus providing quality education. IIM Calcutta is distinguished with EQUIS, AACSB and AMBA accreditations. IMI Kolkata is accredited by AACSB and NBA whereas IIFT Kolkata and Army Institute of Management are accredited by NAAC. 

Some colleges such as Globsyn Business School, Adamas University, Amity Business School and Brainware University have AACSB or UGC approvals which adds to their credibility. A list of MBA colleges in Kolkata based on accreditation is given below: 

Top MBA/PGDM Colleges in Kolkata Placement Wise

Kolkata houses the best MBA/PGDM colleges with excellent placement records. IIM Calcutta tops the list with an average package of ₹35.07 Lakhs per annum followed by IIFT Kolkata ₹27.3 Lakhs per annum and IMI Kolkata ₹12.02 Lakhs per annum. Other colleges such as IISWBM, Globsyn Business School and Army Institute of Management provide comparable salaries between ₹7.39 Lakhs per annum to ₹8.5 Lakhs per annum. 

With fees of ₹6.50 Lakhs to ₹27.00 Lakhs students can opt for institutions that fit their budget and career objectives. The list of the best MBA colleges in Kolkata placement-wise is given below: 

Top Online MBA/PGDM Colleges in Kolkata

Reputed online MBA/PGDM courses in Kolkata are available for working professionals and students looking for flexible learning. IMI Kolkata offers a 2-year online PGDM for ₹2.50 Lakhs while Amity University Online offers an MBA course at ₹1.99 Lakhs. The courses enable students to develop management expertise without giving up their existing jobs or commitments. Top online MBA/PGDM colleges in Kolkata are given below: 

Top Part-time MBA/PGDM Colleges in Kolkata

Kolkata provides part-time MBA courses for working professionals to advance their careers. IIFT Kolkata offers a 2.6-year MBA in International Business for ₹9.95 Lakhs and an 18-month Executive PG Diploma in International Business for ₹5.60 Lakhs so that working professionals can enhance their skills and remain at work. A list of the top MBA/PGDM colleges in Kolkata if given below: 

Top Executive MBA/PGDM Colleges in Kolkata

Kolkata provides the best Executive MBA courses for working executives who are interested in career advancement. IIM Calcutta offers the 1-year MBAEx course at ₹31.00 Lakhs whereas IIFT Kolkata provides an 18-month Executive PG Diploma in International Business at ₹5.60 Lakhs enabling executives to improve their leadership and global business capabilities. The top executive MBA/PGDM colleges in Kolkata are given below: 

Specialisations Offered by the Top MBA Colleges in Kolkata

IIM - Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta

IIM Calcutta provides various MBA and Executive MBA courses to aspiring managers and professionals. The MBA course gives a solid business management base and the CEMS MIM is a global management special course. 

For experienced managers the MBAEx is designed to focus on areas such as Economics, Finance, Marketing and Operations Management and the PGPEX is meant for leadership development.

IMI-International Management Institute, Kolkata

IMI Kolkata provides PGDM and Online PGDM courses with specialisations in Finance, Marketing, Operations, HR, Economics and Analytics. The PGDM is on leadership and business strategy whereas the Online PGDM is designed for working professionals in fields such as IT & Analytics, HR and Operations.

Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Kolkata 

The Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Kolkata provides specialised courses in International Business. Its flagship product is the MBA in International Business which includes topics such as Strategy, Finance, Marketing, HR, IT and Trade Operations. The emphasis in all the programs is on readiness for international trade and management positions.

Admission Process for the Top MBA/PGDM Colleges in Kolkata

The admission process for MBA/PGDM programs in Kolkata involves the following:

1. Eligibility Check: MBA admission in Kolkata eligibility includes a bachelor's degree with 50% marks (45% for reserved categories). Some programs require work experience like the Executive MBA program.

2. Entrance Exams: Register and appear for MBA entrance tests like CAT, XAT, TANCET, GMAT, CMAT, MAT, GRE etc.

3. Shortlisting: Colleges shortlist candidates based on entrance exam scores.

4. Selection Rounds: After the entrance exam the selected candidates are called for further rounds of the selection process i.e. GD & PI. Academic scores, work experience and diversity are also taken into account.

5. Final Admission: Colleges release merit lists on the basis of candidate’s scores and performance in selection rounds. After the full payment including document verification and orientations candidates are admitted to the MBA program.

The MBA admission criteria given above clearly ensure that only eligible and competent candidates get admission into the best management college in Kolkata.

Top 10 MBA/PGDM Colleges in Kolkata With Fee Structure

Kolkata has a number of best MBA colleges with quality education at different price ranges. Best colleges such as IIM Calcutta, IMI Kolkata and IIFT Kolkata have world-class programs while others such as IISWBM, Globsyn Business School and Adamas University have good academic and industry exposure. 

With fees between ₹4.89 Lakhs to ₹27.00 Lakhs students can select according to their budget and career aspirations. The list of the top 10 MBA/PGDM colleges in Kolkata with fee structure is given below: