There is a growing trend towards GMAT accepting colleges in India. Hari Om, one of our students who aimed to study at the Indian School of Business (ISB), decided to take the GMAT test. After scoring 98th percentile in this exam, Hari Om feels pleased with his decision. The GMAT has opened up more college options both within India and abroad for him, creating opportunities he once thought were out of reach.
A common question many students in India ask is: “Can I take the GMAT to study in India without applying to foreign universities?” If you have the same doubt, here is the answer: Yes, you can take the GMAT to apply to colleges in India only. In fact, taking the GMAT is recommended so that you have the option to apply to both Indian and international institutions.
In this article, we'll explore the top 10 colleges in India that accept GMAT scores.
If you're wondering whether Indian institutes accept the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test), the answer is yes.
Many business schools in India accept the GMAT for admission. As per mba.com, over 200 programs at 140+ institutions in India accept GMAT scores. These GMAT colleges in India include the Indian School of Business (ISB) and executive programs at the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). Also, GMAT candidates often face less competition than CAT candidates. As a result, the GMAT exam has become a considerable choice for aspirants.
GMAT accepting colleges in India also consider other factors. These include academic records, years of work experience, and group discussions and interview performance. Specific admissions requirements may vary across colleges. So, do not forget to do your research before applying.
Below is a list of top MBA colleges in India accepting GMAT score:
S. No. |
University/College |
Location |
Programs |
Average GMAT Score* |
Total Fees* |
1. |
Indian School of Business (ISB) |
Hyderabad & Mohali |
Post Graduate Programme in Management (12 months) Post Graduate Programme in Management for Young Leaders (20 months) Post Graduate Programme in Management for Working Professionals (18 months) Post Graduate Programme in Management for Senior Executives (15 months) |
710 |
Rs. 29,500 + taxes and other estimated expenses of around INR 6 lakh Rs. 29,99,200 Rs. 31,96,000 + GST Rs. ₹ 41,78,000 + taxes |
2. |
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad |
Ahmedabad |
MBA (2 years) MBA-PGPX (1 Year MBA) |
700+ |
Rs. 26,50,000 Rs. 33,00,000 |
3. |
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore |
Bangalore |
MBA (2 years) MBA in Business Analytics (2 Years) |
690+ |
Rs. 26,00,000 Rs. 26,00,000 |
4. |
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Calcutta |
Kolkata |
MBA for Executives Programme (MBAEx) |
691 |
INR 31,00,000 |
5. |
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Lucknow |
Lucknow |
MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (2 Years) PGP (2 Years) |
690+ |
Rs. 9,80,000 |
6. |
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode |
Kozhikode |
PGP (2 Years) PGP in Business Leadership (PGP-BL) (1 Year) |
700 |
Rs. 20,50,000 Rs. 22,50,000 |
7. |
Xavier School of Management (XLRI) |
Jamshedpur |
Postgraduate diploma in Business Management (PGDBM) (2 Year) Postgraduate diploma in General Management (PGDGM) (18 months) |
680-700 |
Rs. 14.3 lakh per annum Rs. 24.20 lakh |
8. |
SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR) |
Mumbai |
Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM) (2 Years) |
660 |
Rs. 22.50 lakhs Rs. 22.50 lakhs Rs. 7,25,000 plus taxes for 6 months |
9. |
TA Pai Management Institute (TAPMI) |
Manipal |
MBA (BKFS, HRM, IB, Marketing) MBA Tech |
630 |
Rs. 8,67,000 per year Rs. 8,00,000 per year |
10. |
Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai |
Chennai |
PGPM (1 Year) PGDM (2 Year) |
600-760 |
Rs. 21,80,000 Rs. 2080000 |
*Please note, these figures are indicative and subject to change.
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As can be seen from the table given above, some of the best colleges in India accept the GMAT Score for some program or the other. While these are top 10 colleges, there are more like IMT Ghaziabad and Xavier Institute of Management in Bhubaneswar that accept GMAT scores.
It is important to note that most Indian B-schools accept GMAT scores for admission to their Executive Programs and favor applicants who have job experience.
The Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) rank among top B-schools in India. Many students across India want to enroll in this prestigious group of management schools. To get into IIMs, the Common Admission Test (CAT) is the main entrance exam. However, a common question that arises is, “Does IIM accept GMAT score?”
The answer to this question is that while CAT remains the primary admission test at IIMs, some campuses, like IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, and IIM Lucknow, do accept GMAT scores for some of their programs. Most IIMs accept GMAT scores for their executive management programs.
Below is a list of some IIMs that accept GMAT score:
IIM Campus |
Programs that Accept GMAT |
IIM Ahmedabad |
MBA-PGPX (one year MBA) |
IIM Indore |
Executive Post Graduate Programme in Management (EPGP) |
IIM Bangalore |
MBA |
IIM Lucknow |
MBA in Entrepreneurship and Innovation (2 Years) |
IIM Calcutta |
MBA for Executives (MBAEx) |
IIM Kozhikode |
PGP (Post Graduate Program) in Finance |
IIM Shillong |
Post Graduate Program for Working Executives |
Some IIMs, like IIM Ahmedabad, consider GMAT for full-time MBA programme for international students.
Here's a step-by-step guide to help you apply to GMAT colleges in India:
The GMAT score needed for MBA colleges in India varies from institution to institution. Generally, a score of 600 is acceptable, and a score of 650 or more is considered competitive for admission to leading graduate business schools. To ensure that you have accurate information, it is advisable to research the particular admission criteria for the MBA programs you're interested in. Furthermore, some colleges accepting the GMAT may have a minimum score prerequisite, so it's necessary to prepare a study plan to score above the required limit.
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With the bountiful opportunities available through GMAT in terms of GMAT Accepting Colleges in India, several candidates are looking to take advantage of this opportunity and get into the best Business Schools in India.
Keeping this in mind, you should be looking to start your GMAT Preparation as soon as possible to ensure that you stand a good chance of getting into these top GMAT accepting colleges in India. Some of the information that you could find useful during your GMAT preparation is given below:
Yes, IIMs accept GMAT for their PGP programs. However, it is best to check with individual IIMs for their exact admission criteria.
There is no exact count of business schools in India that accept GMAT scores from freshers. The GMAT helps professionals get into executive programs and other advanced management courses in India. This means people with no experience might not have many chances to use their GMAT scores when applying to business schools in India. So, if you're thinking about taking the GMAT, it is a good idea to look at what each school wants on their respective official website.
Yes, GMAT can be used to get admission into many Indian B-schools. Over 200 programs at more than 140 institutions in India accept GMAT scores.
No. The GMAT need not necessarily make it easier to get into Indian business schools. You just have more opportunities with the GMAT exam.