Best MBA Colleges in Kerala: Ranking, Fees, Admissions 2026, Courses, Placements
Best MBA Colleges in Kerala: Ranking, Fees, Admissions 2026, Courses, Placements
This list of 180+ MBA colleges in Kerala has 120+ private, 15+ government, and more than 2 public-private ownerships. Kochi has the largest number of Kerala's management schools, followed by Thiruvananthapuram. Kozhikode has one of the IIMs, among the top-ranking B-schools in India. There are many more across the state offering promising leadership education and executive career opportunities at lower total tuition costs (~INR 36,000) and good placements (~INR 3+ LPA). The best private MBA colleges in Kerala with excellent placements are Rajagiri Business School, Amrita School of Business, SCMS Cochin School of Business, and Saintgits Institute of Management. If considering MBA admissions without CAT, you can find 130+ B-schools in Kerala that accept KMAT. Most of them also accept valid scores from CMAT and XAT. These are the primary entrance exams for a majority of Kerala
This list of 180+ MBA colleges in Kerala has 120+ private, 15+ government, and more than 2 public-private ownerships. Kochi has the largest number of Kerala's management schools, followed by Thiruvananthapuram. Kozhikode has one of the IIMs, among the top-ranking B-schools in India. There are many more across the state offering promising leadership education and executive career opportunities at lower total tuition costs (~INR 36,000) and good placements (~INR 3+ LPA). The best private MBA colleges in Kerala with excellent placements are Rajagiri Business School, Amrita School of Business, SCMS Cochin School of Business, and Saintgits Institute of Management. If considering MBA admissions without CAT, you can find 130+ B-schools in Kerala that accept KMAT. Most of them also accept valid scores from CMAT and XAT. These are the primary entrance exams for a majority of Kerala's management institutes.
Know about fees, rankings, placements, and admissions for all MBA colleges in Kerala below.
- Best MBA Colleges in Kerala: Highlights 2026
- Top MBA Colleges in Kerala with NIRF Ranking 2025
- Eligibility for Admissions at Best MBA Colleges in Kerala in 2026
- Entrance Exams at Best MBA Colleges in Kerala in 2026
- 10 Best Private MBA Colleges in Kerala
- Best Distance MBA Colleges in Kerala: Admission and Fees
- MBA Colleges in Kerala with Low Fees
- ROI of Best MBA Colleges in Kerala
- Best Government MBA Colleges in Kerala
- Best Cities for MBA in Kerala
- 10.1 Best MBA Colleges in Kochi
- 10.2 Best MBA Colleges in Thiruvananthapuram
- Compare the Best MBA Colleges in Kerala in 2026
Best MBA Colleges in Kerala: Highlights 2026
Going for a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Kerala can help in your career. The best MBA colleges in Kerala offer programmes within INR 50,000 total tuition fees, where you won't have to rely on loans. Other than that, there are prestigious private B-schools in Kerala with premium fees but they have stronger industry ties with domestic and international companies. If you're planning to decide on the college, location, and specialisation within your budget, this table of the MBA colleges in Kerala will give you an idea.
| Parameters |
Statistics |
|---|---|
| No. of MBA Colleges in Kerala |
180+ |
| Fee Ranges and Number of MBA Colleges in Kerala |
~ INR 36,000 - INR 14 Lakh |
| Top Specialisations |
Finance, Human Resources, Sales and Marketing, IT & Systems, Operations, etc. |
| Accepted Entrance Exams |
KMAT Kerala, CMAT, CAT, MAT, XAT, etc. |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Top MBA Colleges in Kerala with NIRF Ranking 2025
The annual NIRF ranking parameters for institutes in the management category can be good benchmarks to determine which MBA college is best in Kerala. These rankings are based on institutes offering the best resources to learn, the best and most diverse student intake, placements, as well as the industry reputation of each. Also, NIRF is not just analysing and ranking the colleges in the state against each other. It's benchmarking the institutes all over India. IIM Kozhikode is the clear winner with a high Graduation Outcome, with a score of 95. Overall, you will find two institutes in Kozhikode and two in Cochin that have made it to the top 100 list of management schools surveyed by NIRF. Except for Rajagiri Business School, the rest are all government institutes.
| College Names |
NIRF 2025 |
|---|---|
| 3 | |
| 82 | |
| 85 | |
| 91 |
Source: Official NIRF report. India Rankings 2025: Management. The rankings for 2026 are yet to be out.
Eligibility for Admissions at Best MBA Colleges in Kerala in 2026
Before MBA Admission in any of the colleges in Kerala, one has to meet these:
- Graduation from a recognised university, with 45-60% total score.
- Appeared and have met cutoffs for KMAT, CAT, MAT or similar entrance exams.
Entrance Exams at Best MBA Colleges in Kerala in 2026
These are the entrance exams for the best MBA colleges in Kerala to check.
| Exam Name |
Exam Schedule |
|---|---|
| KMAT Kerala |
|
| CMAT |
|
| CAT |
|
| MAT |
|
| XAT |
10 Best Private MBA Colleges in Kerala
The private MBA colleges in Kerala are the best when you consider fees, competitiveness, infrastructure, and ROI. They are much more affordable than those of private ownership of the best MBA colleges in India across states of Maharashtra and Karnataka, and in regions like Delhi NCR. That alone can make Kerala a good destination to pursue an MBA. Here are some of the best management colleges in Kerala with tuition fees.
| College Names | Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
| INR 7.5 Lakh |
|
| INR 8 Lakh |
|
| Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship MBA Course |
INR 10 Lakh |
| INR 8+ Lakh |
|
| INR 3.6 Lakh |
|
| INR 7.95 Lakh |
|
| Amrita School of Business MBA Course | INR 8.2 Lakh |
| Nehru College of Engineering and Research Centre MBA Course | INR 80,000 |
| Sahrdaya Institute of Management Studies MBA Course | INR 3 Lakh |
| Bhavan's Royal Institute of Management MBA course | INR 2.8 Lakh |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Best Distance MBA Colleges in Kerala: Admission and Fees
For working professionals in the state or nearby regions, there are some good distance MBA colleges in Kerala that UGC has approved. Some of them also provide part-time MBAs at very low fees. A few can also offer direct admissions, where only a graduation score of 50% total is the required eligibility.
| College Names | Average Course Fees |
|---|---|
| ICFAI University – Distance Education Admission | INR 65,000 |
| Indian School of Business Management and Administration, Kochi Admission | INR 29,900 - 59,800 |
| School of Distance Education, University of Kerala | INR 82,350 |
| Mastermind Institute of Management, IT and Engineering (MIMIE Kochi) Admission | INR 51,000 - 75,000 |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
MBA Colleges in Kerala with Low Fees
Some of the most budget-friendly MBA colleges in Kerala, between INR 40,000 and INR 1 Lakh, are in this table. Note that while most government colleges for MBA in Kerala can be inexpensive, they may have higher cutoffs. Going for private institutions, which are affiliated to state universities, including APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University, Mahatma Gandhi University, and University of Calicut, can also be a good choice. Also, these are either general MBA programmes or equivalent to an MBA. Check the 5 best MBA colleges in Kerala low fees and their locations.
| College Names | Tuition Fee Ranges | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Rajagiri College of Social Sciences MBA | INR 46,000 | Kochi |
| Jawaharlal College of Engineering and Technology MBA | INR 60,000 | Palakkad |
| Nehru College of Engineering and Research Centre MBA | INR 80,000 | Thrissur |
| Holy Cross Institute of Management and Technology Master of Business Economics | INR 84,000 | Calicut |
| KMCT College of Engineering MBA | INR 1 Lakh | Kozhikode |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
ROI of Best MBA Colleges in Kerala
IIMs all over India have good placements. Their industry reputation is too high. But there are other good MBA colleges in Kerala, which have excellent to moderate average packages, making them worth the investment. You can review the MBA course links offered by different colleges here, the fee ranges, and the average packages MBA graduates make.
| College Names |
Total Tuition Fee |
Median Package |
|---|---|---|
| INR 21 Lakh - INR 23 Lakh |
INR 25 LPA - INR 27 LPA |
|
| INR 3 Lakh |
INR 9 LPA |
|
| INR 8.2 Lakh |
INR 8.11 LPA |
|
| Cochin University of Science and Technology Kochi MBA Placement | INR 1.22 Lakh | INR 7.5 LPA |
| Saintgits College of Engineering MBA Placement | INR 4.2 Lakh | INR 7.4 LPA |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Best Government MBA Colleges in Kerala
Based on the NIRF rankings above, there are 3 top government MBA colleges in Kerala - IIM, NIT, and Cochin University of Science and Technology. The other two in the table also are great offering full-time MBAs within INR 1 -2 Lakh.
| College Names | Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
| INR 21 Lakh - INR 23 Lakh |
|
| INR 3 Lakh |
|
| INR 67,000 - INR 2.8 Lakh |
|
| INR 84,000 - INR 8 Lakh |
|
| INR 1.8 Lakh |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Best Cities for MBA in Kerala
Some of the best places to go for an MBA in Kerala.
Best MBA Colleges in Kochi
Kochi has a large number of MBA colleges. Among the best MBA colleges in Kochi, beyond the known ones like Rajagiri Business School or SCMS School of Business, there are a couple more.
| Kochi MBA College Names | Total Tuition Fees for MBA/PGDM |
|---|---|
| Kochi Business School | INR 4 Lakh |
| Amity Global Business School | INR 6+ Lakh |
| Indian Maritime Unirvesity (IMU) | INR 4.1 Lakh |
| INR 4.3 Lakh | |
| INR 60,000 - INR 2.4 Lakh |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Best MBA Colleges in Thiruvananthapuram
The capital of Kerala has fewer MBA colleges than Kochi. While you can check the best MBA colleges in Thiruvananthapuram, see the essential options in the city below.
| College Name | Total Tuition Fees |
|---|---|
| INR 4 Lakh | |
| INR 2 Lakh |
|
| INR 2.6 Lakh |
|
| INR 4 Lakh |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
To further analyse your choices, go through the comparison links.
Best MBA Colleges in Kerala: Ranking, Fees, Admissions 2026, Courses, Placements
Commonly asked questions On Best MBA Colleges in Kerala: Ranking, Fees, Admissions 2026, Courses, Placements
There are about 190 of the best MBA colleges in Kerala. Among them, 126 colleges are privately owned, 19 colleges are owned by public/government organisations, and public-private entities own 3 MBA colleges. CMAT, CAT, KMAT, MAT, and XAT are some of the most accepting entrance exams in top MBA colleges in Kerala. IIM Kozhikode, NIT Calicut, Rajagiri Business School, Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, Saintgits Institute of Management, etc. are some of the popular MBA colleges in Kerala.
The No. 1 MBA college in Kerala is IIM Kozhikode, which is above all business schools in the state in terms of industry reputation and placements. According to NIRF 2025, IIM Kozhikode ranking is in the 3rd position among the top 100 MBA colleges in India.
The 10 best B-schools in Kerala are private and government institutes. Their MBA degrees are much valuable for jobs and entrepreneurships.
| College Name | Total Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
INR 20+ Lakh | |
INR 7 lakh | |
INR 7 lakh | |
INR 8 lakh | |
Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship Admission | INR 9 lakh |
INR 4 lakh | |
INR 4 lakh | |
INR 1 lakh | |
INR 70,000- INR 1 lakh | |
INR 8+ Lakh |
Note: All info. is from official sites and can change.
Joining an MBA colleges in Kerala can be worthwhile for you. For that, you need to check its ROI. Listed below are some of he colleges along with their total tuition fees and average placement package:
College Names | Total Course Fee | Annual Median Package |
|---|---|---|
INR 21 lakh – INR 23 lakh | INR 25 LPA - INR 27 LPA | |
INR 1 lakh | INR 9 LPA | |
| Cochin University of Science and Technology MBA | INR 1 lakh | INR 8 LPA |
| Rajagiri Business School MBA | INR 8 lakh | INR 7 LPA |
| SSTM MBA | INR 7 lakh | INR 6 LPA |
Disclaimer: The above statistics are based on the latest data.
Hope this answer your query!
Commonly asked questions On Best MBA Colleges in Kerala: Ranking, Fees, Admissions 2026, Courses, Placements
IIM kozhikode offered the highest placement package ranging between INR 25 LPA - INR 27 LPA. Prominent recruiters include Amazon, EY, Capgemini, Myntra, Abbott, Infosys, Microsoft, Ola, etc.
Listed below are the top college for MBA in Kerala along with their placement package and prominent recruiters:
College Name | Annual Placement Placement | Top Recruiters |
|---|---|---|
INR 25 LPA - INR 27 LPA | Amazon, EY, Capgemini, Myntra, Abbott, Infosys, Microsoft, Ola, etc. | |
INR 9 LPA | Accenture, L&T Infotech, Bain & Company, IBM India Private Limited, etc. |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website.
READ MORE: MBA Syllabus 2024
It is estimated that joining MBA colleges in Kerala can be affordable. Listed below are some of the colleges having their total tuition fee of less than INR 1 lakh:
| Low-cost Colleges | Total Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Institute of Management in Kerala Fees | INR 70,000 |
| MGU Kerala Fees | INR 38,000 - INR 49,000 |
| University of Calicut Fees | INR 99,000 |
| Rajagiri College of Social Sciences Fees | INR 53,000 |
| Nehru College of Engineering and Research Centre Fees | INR 80,000 |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website.
There are only 2 Government Colleges in India that provide PGDM Courses and accept MAT Scores, others provide MBA, which is similar to PGDM. The colleges are -
Joining Online MBA colleges in India can be worthwhile for you. For that, you need to check its ROI. Listed below are some of the colleges along with their total tuition fees and average placement package:
College Names | Total Tuition Fee | Annual Average Package |
|---|---|---|
| Great Lakes Institute of Management MBA | INR 4 lakh | INR 12 LPA |
INR 2 lakh | INR 8 LPA | |
| Birla Institute of Management Technology MBA | INR 3 lakh | INR 11 LPA |
INR 2 lakh | INR 8 LPA |
Disclaimer: This information is sourced from the official website/ sanctioning body and may vary.
The university has been ranked 31 among top universities in India in the NIRF 2023 rankings by Ministry of Human Resource Development, Govt. of India under the “university” category. It also provides placement support to the candidates. Many reputed companies recruit its students. Moreover, as per a consolidated report, the median package offered to PG 2-year candidates in 2022 stood at INR 5 LPA.
Commonly asked questions On Best MBA Colleges in Kerala: Ranking, Fees, Admissions 2026, Courses, Placements
The best online MBA college would depend on various factors of learning and career growth. But, if you must choose by curricula and global employer appeal, IIM Ahmedabad has advanced blended online MBA programmes. It's also NIRF’s no. 1 management college in India, for the last two years. IIM Ahmedabad offers two online MBA programmes in blended mode. One is a general course, MBA- BPGP (Blended Post Graduate Programme in Management). The other one is the Blended MBA in Business Analytics & AI.
MBA in Digital Marketing is primarily centered on digital marketing strategies. It includes social media marketing, search engine optimization (SEO), content marketing, email marketing, and data analytics.
Candidates can check the table below to see the comparison between the two.
Particulars | MBA in Digital Marketing | MBA in Marketing |
|---|---|---|
Degree Name | MBA in Digital Marketing | MBA Sales and Marketing |
Degree Type | Postgraduate | Postgraduation |
Course duration | 2 years | 2 years |
Education modes | Full-time, part-time, online, and distance learning | Full-time, Part-time, Online, Distance |
| Entrance Exams | NMIMS, CMAT, Symbiosis Entrance Test, MAH CET, etc.. | CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, SNAP etc. |
Course Fees | INR 1 Lacs to INR 15 Lacs and above | INR 3 to INR 25 Lakh |
Average Salary | INR 8 LPA | INR 5 to INR 20 LPA |
Job Profiles | Digital Marketing Manager, Social Media Manager, Paid Media Manager/Specialist, Content Writer, Campaign Manager and SEO Manager | Marketing Manager, Sales Manager, Head Of Digital Marketing, Market Research Analyst etc. |
Top recruiters | Sweans Technologies, EZ Rankings IndeedSeo, Webmaxed, ThatWare LLP, etc. | ITC, Flipkart, Coca-Cola, Marico, Godrej, Nestle, etc. |
Top Colleges | IMT Institute of Business Management, IMT Ghaziabad, Lovely Professional University, IIM, Bodh Gaya etc.. | IIM Calcutta, IMT6 Lucknow, XLRI, NMIMS, Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, etc.. |
Note - The information is taken from external sites and may vary.
Know more about -
Almost every MBA course has some sort of Mathematics in its curriculum. In the MBA in Digital Marketing, you'll get to study Management Accounting, Business Analytics, etc., subjects that may contain some amount of mathematical aspects.
Know more about -
No, work experience is not mandatory for atraditional PG Diploma in management. But, there are some niche and specialised PGDM courses that require 1 to 5+ years of experience.
Students are advised to check college website for more details and eligibility criteria.
Candidates must have completed their professional degrees from State Agricultural Universities or ICAR-recognised deemed universities and have a minimum OGPA of 7.0 out of 10 (or 6.5 for SC/ST candidates). OR at least 60% marks (55% for SC/ST) in all classes starting from SSLC (Class 10) onwards under the traditional system. Additionally, the selection is based on KMAT/ CMAT/ CAT scores, followed by a GD and PI.
Commonly asked questions On Best MBA Colleges in Kerala: Ranking, Fees, Admissions 2026, Courses, Placements
Yes, Rajagiri Business School offers scholarships under the title of Rajagiri Scholarship for Excellence (RiSE). Under this scheme, students are offered scholarships in two categories, namely Diversity Scholarship and Career & Talent Scholarship. To avail the scholarships, candidates must be a non-Keralite and must have fulfilled all the eligibility requirements to get admission to PGDM courses.
The total tuition fee for Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies MBA ranges between INR 1.8 lakh and INR 7 lakh. This information is sourced from official website/ sanctioning body and is subject to change. Candidates who are selected have to pay the course fee to confirm their seat in the institute. Besides, aspirants also have to pay an application fee to register for the MBA course.
For the forthcoming academic year, the most recent PGDM cutoff information at SCMS Cochin School of Business is not yet available. Nevertheless, as a reference, you might use the deadlines from the prior year 2023: These are the percentiles: CAT (60-70), XAT (60-65), CMAT (60-65), ATMA (50-60), and KMAT (60-65). The cut-off and the admission is decided on the factor of number are students filling the application form and the number of students applying in the year. Once they are decided, the new cut-offs for the forthcoming academic year will be posted on the SCMS Cochin School of Business website. To stay informed about the SCMS cut-off marks, candidates should frequently check the websites of the aptitude test management company and the college.
Its always a mixed bag when it comes to interview rounds for MBA admissions. There is a panel that takes XIME Kochi PGDM admission interviews. Candidates are generally questioned around the information mentioned on their CV, educational background, and work experience (if any). Hence, it is necessary that the participant is well-versed with his/her educational details and terms used in the line of work.
On the day of the interview, the first step is the document verification followed by a group discussion and interview round. Candidates are advised to ensure that they carry the necessary documents and the attested copies on the day of the interview.
Commonly asked questions On Best MBA Colleges in Kerala: Ranking, Fees, Admissions 2026, Courses, Placements
According to the reviews and ratings provided by verified users on shiksha. com, Amrita School of Business have received an overall rating of 4.1 stars out of 5.
Find below the reviews provided by the verified current students/ alumnis of Amrita School of Business, Coimbatore:
"The teaching faculty are more than what we have enjoyed during school and under graduate degree days, they teach us things practically as being a manager is more an art than science. They give us practical learning for every aspects we cover in syllabus."
"Students are provided with a single room in the hostel. Rooms are good with a balcony overlooking the Elephant hills. Common toilets available are cleaned daily. Food served to the students is pure vegetarian, and the quality varies. Our college provides facilities like Wi-Fi, a library with a huge collection, swimming pool, grass court for football, gym, etc. Our college also provides 24x7 medical assistance."
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- Top MBA Colleges in Kerala 2026
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