MBA vs PGDM: Differences, Eligibility, Admission, Jobs, Salary 2024

MBA stands for Master of Business Administration whereas PGDM stands for Post Graduate Diploma in Management. Both are 2 year courses and they only differ in certain areas.  For example, an MBA is a degree but a PGDM is a diploma course. PGDM programs are more industry-oriented while MBA programs are more theoretical in approach.

UGC recognises and regulates MBA whereas a PGDM program comes under AICTE. The admission process for both courses is similar. Students will have to sit for Entrance Exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, GMAT, MAH MBA CET, etc. Top colleges like IIMs, FMS Delhi, and XLRI take GD/PI before admission. 

MBA courses are offered by recognized universities while PGDM courses are offered by autonomous institutes. The curriculum of PGDM changes rapidly depending on the industrial requirements while changes in the curriculum of MBA take around 3-7 years. According to the reports, the placement rate of PGDM candidates is higher than those having MBA degrees.

Check MoreMBA Placements

MBA vs PGDM: Highlights

Candidates may choose between PGDM and MBA based on their ranking, curriculum, fees, placements, etc. Below is the list of some general parameters showing the difference between MBA and PGDM programs.

Parameters MBA PGDM
Full Form Master in Business Administration Post Graduate Diploma in Management
Course Level Post Graduate Degree Post Graduate Diploma
Duration 2 year 2 year
Eligibility A bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks from a recognized university in any discipline. A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized institute.
Accreditation University Grants Commission (UGC) All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE)
Focus Focus on theoretical and technical aspects of business management Focus on practical knowledge and industrial orientation
Affordability More Affordable Expensive

Difference Between MBA and PGDM

Both MBA and PGDM programs teach management skills but there are a few differences between MBA and PGDM courses. The key differences between MBA and PGDM courses are discussed below:

  • MBA is a degree program whereas PGDM is a diploma.
  • MBA comes under UGC while PGDM comes under AICTE.
  • PGDM programs are more industry-oriented while MBA programs are more theoretical in approach.

See Also:

MBA vs PGDM: Eligibility

The basic eligibility criteria for MBA and PGDM courses are listed below.

  • For admission to both MBA and PGDM courses, candidates must have completed a bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks in any discipline.
  • Candidates need to qualify for the national-level or university-level entrance exam to get enrolled in popular b-schools in India.
  • Some management programs also require prior work experience before admission. 

See Also: MBA Eligibility

MBA vs PGDM: Affiliation and Accreditations

MBA programs are offered by the government or private colleges affiliated with recognized universities that are accredited by the University Grants Commission (UGC).

PGDM programs are offered by autonomous institutes that are accredited by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

MBA vs PGDM: Admission and Entrance Exam

The admission process for both MBA and PGDM are almost the same. Academic qualifications, entrance examinations, and interviews are the general steps involved in admission to MBA and PGDM programs.

See Also:

MBA and PGDM Admission Process

Admission to MBA programs is done based on various MBA Entrance Exams, including CAT, MAT, GMAT, XAT, SNAP, CMAT, etc. Some colleges also accept scores of state-level entrance exams such as MHT CET, TSICET, TANCET, and PGCET.

  • Registration and completing the application form.
  • Appear for a management entrance exam.
  • Taking GD and PI rounds.
  • Counseling for final seat allotment.

Also Check:

MBA vs PGDM: Syllabus

The Syllabus of an MBA program is designed by the university with which the college is affiliated. The MBA syllabus provides a theoretical approach and it remains the same for almost 3-7 years. Mentioned below are the general topics covered in the syllabus of the MBA.

CheckMBA Subjects

Finance Management Marketing Management
Business Statistics Organizational Behavior
Project Management Principles of Accounting
Human Resource Management Business Communication and Skills

The PGDM Syllabus is designed by the institutes. The syllabus of PGDM covers practical and more updated concepts than the MBA. The PGDM syllabus changes rapidly based on the industrial need. 

Some general topics covered in the syllabus of PGDM are listed below.

Marketing and Consumer Behavior Introduction to Information Technology
Financial Reporting and Analysis Operations Management
Strategic Management Business Law & Corporate Governance
Finance Accounting Management Information Systems

MBA vs PGDM: Fees

  • MBA courses are less expensive than PGDM because MBA courses are offered by universities and colleges, the majority of which get funds from the government.
  • PGDM courses are more expensive than MBA programs because the institutions that provide them often cover all of the expenses on their own.
  • The PGDM course fees range from INR 10,00,000 to INR 35,00,000 whereas the MBA course fee ranges from INR 10,00,000 – INR 25,00,000.

See Also:

MBA vs PGDM: Placements

The placements of MBA and PGDM offered in the top colleges are given in the following section.

MBA Placements

College Name Average Annual Salary
IIM Calcutta INR 34,00,000
ISB Hyderabad INR 34,70,000
IIM Bangalore INR 33,80,000
FMS Delhi INR 32,40,000
SP Jain Institute of Management and Research INR 32,00,000

Check:

PGDM Placements

MBA vs PGDM: Jobs and Salary

Mentioned below are the top job options available after completing MBA and PGDM courses with average annual salaries.

Jobs and Salary After MBA

Here is a list of top job profiles and the average annual salary offered after pursuing an MBA program.

Job Profile Average Annual Salary
Accounting Manager INR 7,21,000
Human Resource Manager INR 6,60,000
Marketing Manager INR 7,00,000
Business Development Manager INR 5,70,000
Senior Business Analyst INR 11,60,000

Jobs and Salary after PGDM

The top job profiles available after completing a PGDM course are listed below.

Job Profile Average Annual Salary
Business Consultant INR 9,40,000
PR Officer INR 2,50,000
Strategic Manager INR 19,88,000
Brand Manager INR 12,00,000
International Sales Manager INR 10,00,000

Top Colleges Offering MBA/PGDM

The top colleges offering MBA and PGDM courses are listed below with their average annual fees.

Top MBA colleges

Below is the list of top colleges offering MBA courses with their average annual fees.

College Name Average Annual Fees
IIM Ahmedabad  INR 23,00,000
IIM Bangalore INR 23,00,000
IIM Calcutta INR 23,00,000
IIT Delhi INR 10,40,000
IIM Kozhikode INR 9,50,000
IIM Lucknow INR 10,05,000

CheckTop MBA Colleges in India

Top PGDM Colleges

Mentioned below are the top colleges offering PGDM courses with average annual fees.

MBA vs PGDM: FAQs

Ques. What is an MBA program?

Ans. The MBA program is a two-year postgraduate degree program that provides knowledge of business management.

Ques. What is a PGDM program?

Ans. PGDM is a two-year postgraduate program that provides practical and industry-oriented skills required for managing a business.

Ques. Is PGDM equivalent to MBA?

Ans. PGDM is a postgraduate diploma program that is equivalent to an MBA program.

Ques. What is the difference between an MBA and a PGDM?

Ans. MBA is a postgraduate degree while PGDM is a postgraduate diploma program.

MBA is offered by the recognized university while PGDM is offered by the AICTE.

Ques. Is a PGDM better than an MBA?

Ans. The PGDM program is more industry-oriented than the MBA program. So a PGDM is better than an MBA in terms of job opportunities.

Master of Business Administration [MBA] : 738 answered questions

VIEW ALL

Ques. Is it worthwhile doing an MBA in UPES Dehradun?

● Top Answer By Akriti Banerjee on 03 Aug 23

Ans. Every B-school has its unique strengths and so does UPES Dehradun which is famous for its domain-specific MBA. If you are willing to pursue an MBA in oil and gas, power management, or energy trading, choosing UPES Dehradun will be the right decision. It offers a plethora of opportunities in these domains and the ROI is also great. There are some industry-specific courses too but their placements are just average. The best part about UPES is the diversity of the crowd. You will get the chance to interact with people from various backgrounds such as law, management, engineering, and design thus enhancing the learning experience manifolds.  Ultimately, I will suggest you go for UPES Dehradun only if you are planning to pursue a domain-specific MBA, else you can go for better B Schools.Read more
1
0
2 Answer
●●●

Ques. Should I go to IBS Hyderabad (ICFAI) for an MBA? Why or why not?

● Top Answer By Harshita Sinha on 30 Apr 22

Ans. IBS Hyderabad isn’t a good option for MBA. The placement record of the institute isn’t good. You won’t get a good ROI. The course fee for an MBA at IBS Hyderabad is INR 16.02 lakhs. While the average CTC offered to the students according to IBS Hyderabad placement highlights for 2022 is INR 7.97 LPA.  The student intake is huge. Batch strength for MBA is 1300. So, students don’t get equal opportunities in terms of academics and placements. Read more
0
0
2 Answer
●●●

Ques. I joined SBI as a PO in 2015 and currently a scale 2 officer. Is it wise to leave SBI for an MBA from NMIMS Mumbai, SIBM Pune or MDI Gurgaon? Also, I do not want to continue in SBI.

● Top Answer By Rahul Pandey on 17 Aug 20

Ans. Since you do not want to continue with SBI due to whatever reasons, so it would be a better option to follow what you want to and don’t continue in your job. Now, you have three options to choose what you want to do:- You can resign your current job and search for a job in a private bank. This option might not be a feasible one as the entry-level pay at SBI is much more lucrative than other banks. Your experience might not be valued in case you do not have much of it. You can go for an MBA from NMIMS Mumbai, SIBM Pune, or MDI Gurgaon. In this case, your experience will be valued during the placement process and you will be an eligible contender for middle management jobs in private banks and you may also explore new fields like corporate finance or trade finance. The other option is to wait for two more years of experience and pursue a one-year MBA provided you are ready to continue in SBI for two more years. Furthermore, there are other factors as well like GMAT score you get after two years.Read more
0
0
1 Answer
●●●

Ques. What is MBA salary in India?

● Top Answer By Disha Sinha on 27 May 22

Ans. MBA salary of a B-Schol graduate in India is proportional to their qualification and experience. It also depends on other factors like Almameter of the candidate, MBA specialization, industry, designation, etc. The MBA average salary for the topmost B-School in the country is as follows. Name of the institute  MBA salary(in INR) IIM Ahmedabad  26.13 LPA IIM Bangalore  33.8 LPA IIM Calcutta 26.24 LPA IIM Lucknow 26 LPA FMS Delhi  32.4 LPA XLRI Jamshedpur 30.73 LPA MDI Gurgaon 26.07 LPA SPJIMR Mumbai 23.6 LPA  IIFT Delhi  25.16 LPA.  MBA salary depends a lot on specialization as well. Among the specialization, Marketing and Finance offers better placements. Read more
0
0
2 Answer
●●●

Ques. How good is KJ Somaiya (SIMSR) for doing an MBA in India?

● Top Answer By Aditya Shah on 25 Apr 22

Ans. As a B-School, KJ Somaiya has certain factors which are advantageous, such as location, ROI, alumni base. Since Mumbai is the corporate hub of India, the college easily attracts many companies. SIMSR has a huge alumni base with people working at imminent positions in the corporate world.  However, it doesn’t come under the top B-Schools in India. SIMSR brand doesn’t have much recognition. Although it attracts many companies, the placement average isn’t at the same level as top B-Schools. KJ Somaiya placements 2022 had an average CTC of INR 10.95 LPA. Read more
0
0
2 Answer
●●●

Ques. Is NMIMS a good college for an MBA?

● Top Answer By Akriti Gupta on 12 Sept 23

Ans. Yes, NMIMS is considered to be the MBA college in Mumbai city and its MBA program is highly regarded among aspirants. Here are a few pros and cons of the institute that might help you  Pros The college is well-known for its state-of-the-art infrastructure. The classrooms have all modern facilities and the library too is well-stocked. Its location gives it leverage in establishing healthy industrial relations. The parity of the faculty cannot be doubted as they deliver excellent lectures. The academics are much more than just bookish language as students are made to solve Case-based studies. The food served in the canteen is quite good. Students get the chance to participate in lots of competitions and earn well, or get PPI. Cons : NMIMS fees are exorbitantly high. The first-year fee is INR 11.95 Lakhs. You also need to consider the expenses of living in Mumbai. Hostel faculties for only limited students  A few faculties have no interest in teaching.  The placement stats are inflated and thus misleading.  The MBA batch of NMIMS has a huge batch of around 600 students affecting the quality of education. There is a huge gap between the administration and the students.  Easy entrance exam affects the quality of the crowd. So, NMIMS was once a great B School but the increasing batch size has affected its reputation largely. You can go for colleges with a smaller batch size and similar fees to get better job opportunities.Read more
0
0
4 Answer
●●●

Ques. I completed my BBA two years back and now I have 2 years of work experience. I did a distant PGDM from NMIMS. If I clear the CAT this year, should I go for a regular MBA?

● Top Answer By Varsha Roy on 27 Jun 21

Ans. Since you already have a work experience of 2 years you should go for an executive program from a reputed institute rather than doing any regular program. You should never hold your career because of continuing with a regular MBA program rather than you should choose an executive program. For the executive program, you can choose a 1-year global MBA degree in collaboration with 3 B schools. They are Cardiff School of Management, UK, IIM-Indore, and Universal Business School, Mumbai. In this program, you will be able to learn from these big institutions, especially IIM’s. You will also be getting good global exposure. The curriculum of the college will be the British curriculum and all these programs will develop your skills and will help you in your career development. The executive program of IBS Hyderabad is also very good. There are several other institutes offering executive MBA programs where you can research and choose the best option.Read more
0
0
1 Answer
●●●

Ques. How is the NMIMS distance learning program in MBA?

● Top Answer By Namrata Das on 22 Jul 22

Ans. NMIMS Global MBA program is better than other distance MBA programs available. The course is designed as per the requirements of working professionals. Students get the required support from the university and the centers.  They have student portals and Whatsapp groups to keep students updated regarding course-related information. The year-wise examination is taken in an online mode at students’ convenience.Read more
0
0
1 Answer
●●●

Ques. Which is best course in MBA?

● Top Answer By Advait Joshi on 15 May 23

Ans. There are numerous top MBA programs around the world, and the program best suited for you depends on your personal and professional goals, as well as your budget and other factors. Some of the most highly ranked MBA programs include: Harvard Business School MBA program Stanford Graduate School of Business MBA program Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania MBA program Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University MBA program University of Chicago Booth School of Business MBA program MIT Sloan School of Management MBA program Columbia Business School MBA program INSEAD MBA program (based in France, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi) London Business School MBA program Yale School of Management MBA program All the above MBA programs are consistently ranked among the top MBA programs in the world by various rankings organizations, such as the Financial Times, Forbes, and Businessweek.Read more
0
0
2 Answer
●●●

Ques. How is NMIMS Mumbai for an MBA?

● Top Answer By Ankita Sinha on 31 May 22

Ans. NMIMS Mumbai offers a good MBA program. It has a brilliant faculty base. Most of the faculty members are well-experienced and cooperative. If you are interested, you can research under any professor of your choice. It follows the Harvard case studies. You can learn and participate in the case study competitions.  NMIMS Mumbai placements 2022 had an average CTC of INR 19.40 LPA. While the highest CTC offered by the institute was INR 24.84 LPA. Located in the finance capital of the country, it also offers good exposure to students. Read more
0
0
2 Answer
●●●

Comments



No Comments To Show

Master of Business Administration [MBA] Colleges IN INDIA

View All
4.46 L first year fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES
27 L Total fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES
6.62 L first year fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES
4.33 L first year fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES
1.16 L first year fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES
6.2 L first year fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES
2.54 L first year fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES
20.5 L Total fees
VIEW ALL COURSES & FEES