MCA Course: Fees, Duration, Admission, Distance & Online Learning

Updated on Jul 17, 2024 11:58 IST
Diya Nihalani

Diya NihalaniContent Author

Master in Computer Application or MCA is a 2-year post-graduate program specializing in the field of computer software and its applications, computer architecture, operating systems and other IT related fields. Some institutes like NITs also offer MCA as a 3-year duration program. MCA course is a very popular choice among students interested in IT, particularly in application software, operating systems and computer architecture.

Candidates having a BCA degree or any graduate degree in Mathematics/Science can take admission in the MCA course. Many institutes also allow non-science/BCA degree students to pursue the MCA program. The course can be pursued in regular as well as distance mode. The average course fee of the MCA program ranges from INR 30,000 to 50,000.

DFP-Banner

MCA Course Highlights

Particulars

Details

Name of Course

Master in Computer Application (MCA)

Duration of Course

2 Years

3 Years

Mode of Education

Regular and Distance

Mode of Admission

Entrance Exam/Merit

Course Fee

INR 30,000-50,000

Types of MCA Courses

There are different types of MCA courses being offered by the institutes in form of regular, distance, online and part-time modes. Candidates can opt for any type depending upon their feasibility and choice.

Regular MCA Program: In this type of MCA course, candidates have to take admission in an institute and attend the classes regularly.

Distance MCA Program: Candidates opting for distance mode courses need not go to the college regularly. Candidates may be asked to attend a few important practicals and lab work at the college.

Online MCA Course: In an online course, candidates have to attend the classes through the internet and the complete course will be taught online.

Part-time MCA Course: This type of MCA course is preferred by working professionals who can not attend regular or distance programs.

Popular MCA Course Specializations

Master in Computer Application course has many specializations which students have to select in the last year of their program. Some of the popular MCA courses are

  • Application Software

  • Software Development

  • Troubleshooting

  • Hardware Technology

  • Systems Management

  • Management Information Systems (MIS)

  • Systems Development

  • Systems Engineering

  • Networking

  • Internet working

MCA Degree Course

The postgraduate degree program in computer application or MCA is the most popular and preferred course among students interested in learning software building, operating systems, hardware technology, networking etc. MCA course is a two-year degree program although many institutes also offer MCA of three years duration.

Top Institute for MCA Degree Program

S.No.

Name of Institute

1

Delhi University, Delhi

2

Banaras Hindu University, Vranasi

3

Jamia Millia Islamia University, Delhi

4

National Institutes of Technology (NITs) at Jamshedpur, Surat, Tiruchirapalli, Warangal

5

Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi

6

Jamia Hamdard, Delhi

7

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) Delhi

8

University of Hyderabad

9

Aligarh Muslim University

10

PES University Bangalore

Distance MCA Course

Students who can not attend the regular MCA degree course can opt for distance mode. There are many good institutes that offer distance MCA programs at an affordable cost. In distance MCA courses, students have to attend the classes as per the pre-decided timetable. The annual/semester exams will have to take at the institute.

Top Institutes for MCA Distance Program

S.No.

Name of Institute

1

Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Delhi

2

University of Mumbai

3

Bangalore University

4

Annamalai University, Chennai

5

University of Madras

6

Madurai Kamraj University

7

Sikkim Manipal University

Online MCA Course

Many students nowadays are opting for online MCA programs. In this type of program, candidates can complete their course and examination online from the comfort of their home. Online programs are AICTE and UGC approved and are accepted all throughout in education and career field.

Top Institutes for Online MCA Program

S.No.

Name of Institute

1

SRM University Chennai

2

Manipal University Jaipur

3

Jain University Bangalore

4

Mysore University

5

SASTRA University

6

GNDU Amritsar

7

BSAU Chennai

DFP-Banner

Entrance Exams for Admission to MCA Course

Admission to regular MCA courses is primarily through entrance exams or merit of marks in qualifying degree course. Students can appear in any of the below listed MCA entrance exam as per the college in which admission is desired.

S.No.

Name of Exam

1

NIT MCA Common Entrance Test (NIMCET)

2

Maharashtra MCA Common Entrance Test (MAH MCA CET)

3

West Bengal Joint Entrance Exam for MCA (WB JECA)

4

Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET)

5

CUET (Central Universities Entrance Test)

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. Is MCA course worth doing?

A. MCA is a very popular course in IT with a very bright career prospects. As MCA course covers the software, operating systems, networking, students can easily get jobs in IT companies.   

Q. Which is better, regular or distance MCA?

A. Candidates can select among regular or distance depending upon their feasibility or choice. The course structure of MCA program is mostly the same around the institutes. 

Q. Which institute is best for MCA degree?

A. Candidates can go for JNU Delhi, BHU Varanasi, or Jamia Milia Islamia for MCA degree programs.

Q. How can I get admission in MCA program?

A. Admission in MCA program in most institutes is through entrance exams. Many institutes also offer admission on the basis of marks in qualifying degree.

Q. Which institute is best for distance MCA program?

A. Candidates can go for IGNOU which happens to be the preferred destination for many distance courses along with MCA.
Table of contents
  • Popular MCA (Master of Computer Applications) Colleges in India
  • Popular Private MCA (Master of Computer Applications) Colleges in India
  • Popular MCA (Master of Computer Applications) Specializations
  • Most Popular Courses

Popular MCA (Master of Computer Applications) Colleges in India

Following are the most popular MCA (Master of Computer Applications) Colleges in India. Learn more about these MCA (Master of Computer Applications) colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
1.84 L - 3.85 L
3.8
1 Course
5 L
6.03 LPA
2.74 L - 10.97 L
4.5

MCA Applications open. Apply Now

1 Course
3.8 L
8.1 LPA
4.4 L
4.4 LPA
1 Course
4 L
7.5 LPA

Popular Private MCA (Master of Computer Applications) Colleges in India

2.74 L - 10.97 L
4.5

MCA Applications open. Apply Now

3.72 L - 4.04 L
4.1
1 Course
4.8 L
5.5 LPA

MCA Applications open. Apply Now

3.8 L
6 LPA
1 Course
7.08 L
4.0

MCA Applications open. Apply Now

1 Course
1.16 L
3.7

Popular MCA (Master of Computer Applications) Specializations

Following are the most popular MCA (Master of Computer Applications) Specializations . You can explore the top Colleges offering these Specializations by clicking the links below.

Popular Specializations

qna

Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered Yesterday

The GBPUAT exam is held in offline mode. The anticipated dates for the UG and MCA exam is the first week of June 2026. The exam will be held once a year. Students must prepare for the exam as per the available time. 

I

Ishita Chauhan

Contributor-Level 10

Answered Yesterday

The total tuition fee for MIT MCA course is INR 2.54 lakh. Candidates may have to pay the first semester fee at the time of admission for seat confirmation. The institute also has a well defined fee refund policy in place. It needs to be noted that the given fee is as per the official website/ sanct

...Read more

5251129
Lalit Bhandari

Guide-Level 15

Answered 2 days ago

The GL Bajaj Noida CUET PG Cutoff 2025 was announced for admission to various post-graduate courses. The GL Bajaj Noida CUET PG Cutoff 2024 for MCA course admission was 3292 in the last round for the students belonging to the General All India quota. For the OBC AI category, the cutoff was 5922 for

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

University of Lucknow has released the cutoff of CUET- PG for admission to the MCA courses. The CUET- PG cutoff 2024 ranged from 3463 to 16804 for students belonging to the General category under the All India category. The university accepts the CUET-PG cutoff for admission to the MCA course. Stude

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 3 days ago

Hi.

With a PGCET (MCA) rank of ~1493 (General category) in Karnataka, you're in a reasonable position to get admission into a number of MCA colleges — especially in and around Bengaluru — though top tier ones (like RVCE/BMSCE/PES) typically require much higher ranks.

Colleges You Are Likely to Get wit

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 18

Answered 4 days ago

Mumbai University CUET PG cutoff 2025 has been released for admission to the various post graudate courses, like MBA, MCA, etc. According to the Mumbai University CUET PG Cutoff 2023 for the MCA course was 23918 for the General AI category. For the OBC AI category, the MCA course had a cutoff of 239

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 4 days ago

The Mumbai University MAH MCA CET Cutoff 2025 was released for all rounds and categories under both the All India and Home State quota. For the General category candidates under the All India quota, the cutoff ranged from 80.54 to 99.37, according to the first and last round closing scores. VIVA Ins

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

You'll need your "Admit Card", a printout of your "Application Form", mark sheets from 10th grade through graduation, photo ID proof, and passport-size photos. If applicable, keep your category certificate ready, too.

R

Rashmi Karan

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a week ago

Hi...

University does not officially conduct dedicated campus placement drives specifically for MCA students. Many current and past students report that there is no structured placement cell or regular on-campus recruitment for MCA — especially compared to engineering or large tech colleges.

Some info

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 18

Answered a week ago

The Suryadatta College MAH MCA CET Cutoff 2025 has been released up to Round 3 for all categories under the All India and Home State quota. The MAH MCA CET Cutoff 2025 was 77.83 for students under the General AI quota. Students who want admission to the MCA course need to pass the MAH MCA CET cutoff

...Read more

N

Neerja Rohatgi

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

The seat intake of the MCA course at University Institute of Engineering and Technology, CSJM University is 120. But this is taken from official website and may vary. Candidates must contact the admission office for more details on the same. 

S

Sejal Baveja

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

Hi.

To be eligible for MCA at JNU:

You must have a Bachelor's degree in any discipline (i.e. B.A., B.Sc., B.Com, BCA, B.E./B.Tech, etc.) from a recognised university under the 10 + 2 + 3 (or equivalent) pattern. 

You must have “adequate competence in Mathematics” — i.e. mathematics should have been stu

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 18

Answered a week ago

Hi...

First, you must register for and appear in CUET‑PG via the official CUET portal (run by National Testing Agency, NTA). 

After the exam, you’ll get a CUET‑PG application / registration number and your CUET score.

Register on NEHU’s admission portal using your CUET‑PG number

If you want admission to

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 18

Answered a week ago

Hi.

Recent placement data shows MCA students at RVCE have been getting job offers: for 2025–2024 batches, there were offers and placements recorded.

Typical / recent figures: the highest package for MCA placements ~ ₹ 20 LPA, average/median ~ ₹ 8.94–9.5 LPA.

The number of recruiters visiting for MCA is

...Read more

h

heena agrawal

Scholar-Level 18

Answered 2 weeks ago

Quantum University has not shared the exact number of MCA students who got placed in the latest placement drive. The overall placement report for 2025 states that a total of 872 students from all courses were placed by 192 companies, according to sources like Shiksha. But none of the reliable source

...Read more

N

Neha Bhatt

Beginner-Level 3

Answered a month ago

ChatGPT said:

SRMU offers various opportunities for BCA and MCA students to improve their coding skills and participate in hackathons. The university conducts coding challenges, boot camps, and mini-hackathons through its tech clubs and innovation cells. Students also get to work on live projects and

...Read more

A

Akash Chaudhary

Beginner-Level 1

Answered a month ago

Yes, Shri Ramswaroop Memorial University (SRMU) is good for BCA and MCA in terms of skill development, placements, and live projects. The university focuses on practical learning through coding labs, internships, and real industry projects. Students get opportunities to improve their technical and c

...Read more

A

Akash Chaudhary

Beginner-Level 1

Find insights & recommendations on colleges and exams that you won't find anywhere else

On Shiksha, get access to

  • 66k Colleges
  • 1k Exams
  • 680k Reviews
  • 1800k Answers
Courses you may be interested in