The top 10 executive MBA colleges in India for 2024 are ranked by parameters like fees, placements, faculty, and ROI for working professionals seeking career advance.
An Executive MBA (EMBA) is a master’s degree program designed specifically for working professionals who want to advance their careers without putting their work on hold. EMBA programs are tailored for those with significant professional experience and leadership responsibilities, allowing them to immediately apply classroom concepts in the real world.
10 Executive MBA Colleges in India
- The Indian School of Business (ISB)
- Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
- S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research
- Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon
- Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
- Great Lakes Institute of Management
- Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
- Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras
- International Management Institute (IMI)
- WeSchool
Benefits of an Executive MBA
- Accelerated format: 1-2 years instead of 2 years
- Modules are organized around work schedules.
- Focus on leadership development.
- Peers are experienced professionals.
- Immediately applicable concepts
The rigorous EMBA curriculum covers all aspects of business and management, including finance, marketing, operations, strategy, accounting, economics, analytics, leadership, and more. The top programs also emphasize business ethics and responsible management practices
Why Choose an Executive MBA in India
India’s economic expansion and steady growth of its industries have increased the need for highly qualified managers and executives. Leading Indian business schools have recognized this demand by developing specialized EMBA programs catering to working professionals.
Compared to studying abroad, EMBA programs in India offer benefits like:
- Significantly lower tuition fees
- Alumni networks within India
- Specialized curriculum for Indian businesses
- Opportunities to study while working
The top 10 EMBA colleges in India offer globally recognized degrees aligned with international standards. Graduates earn the same credentials at a fraction of the cost.
Methodology for Rankings
This ranking of the best executive MBA programs in India is based on these parameters:
- Cost of tuition
- Experience and qualifications of faculty
- School legacy and reputation
- Strength of the alumni network
- Admissions selectivity and average work experience
- Quality of curriculum, facilities, and teaching methods
We gather data for these factors from publicly available information published by the business schools. We also consider industry surveys and perceptions.
Top 10 Executive MBA Colleges in India
1. The Indian School of Business (ISB)
| Location | Programme Fee | Duration and Format |
|---|---|---|
| Hyderabad and Mohali | ₹34-36 lakh | 1 year full-time |
Placements: ISB has one of the best placement records in India, with several senior leadership offers from marquee companies. The average salary is ₹32 lakh per annum, with the highest offer being ₹105 lakh per annum.
What Makes ISB #1
- Has earned top international accreditations (AACSB, EQUIS, and AMBA), showing worldwide excellence.
- Partners with top-ranked Kellogg and Wharton Business Schools
- The teaching method combines theory and real-world practice based on research.
- Brand new high-tech Mohali campus, plus existing Hyderabad campus
- Large network of over 5,000 successful alumni executives and entrepreneurs
2. Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
| Location | Programme Fee | Duration and Format |
|---|---|---|
| Ahmedabad | ₹ 23 lakh | 1 year modular or part-time |
IIM Ahmedabad offers a uniquely designed EMBA targeted at seasoned executives, managers, and emerging business leaders.
Participants need to attend campus only for 1 week every 2 months, minimizing disruption with work commitments. Four cohorts across Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru provide flexibility.
Placements: The average salary increased to ₹ 32.4 lakh per annum for the 2021–22 batch with top recruiters like Adani, Mahindra, IBM, Reliance, and more.
What Makes IIMA #2
- The first IIM to offer a 1-year EMBA program in India since 1996
- A highly selective class of exceptional students from diverse backgrounds
- Well-known IIMA professors give intense, interactive training.
- Strong focus on leadership skills and strategic thinking
- Large network of over 13,000 executive alumni
3. S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research
| Location | Programme Fee | Duration and Format |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai, Dubai, and Singapore | ₹ 18.5 lakh | 1 year modular |
The SPJIMR EMBA develops influencers and transformers equipped with a strategic vision and global outlook. It has a pioneering format spanning 1 week per quarter, allowing working executives to apply concepts in real time.
Participants also benefit from an international immersion at their Dubai or Singapore campus, renowned for its research and case-study pedagogy.
Placements: SPJIMR has an excellent track record of 100% placements across batches. Graduates transition into leadership roles with over 40% salary increments.
What Makes SPJIMR #3
- 32+ years of experience running EMBA programs customized for mid- and senior management
- International Immersion module at their Dubai or Singapore campus
- Strong industry connections as India’s first B-school focused on family-managed businesses
- 400+ EMBA alumni in leadership roles across sectors
- Faculty from Harvard and other global institutes
4. Management Development Institute (MDI) Gurgaon
| Location | Programme Fee | Duration and Format |
|---|---|---|
| Gurgaon | ₹ 18.5 lakh | 1 year modular |
MDI Gurgaon’s PGPX for Working Executives packs the complete MBA core curriculum into an executive-friendly format with classes once a month.
Their Heritage campus has excellent hostel facilities, allowing minimal disruption for traveling executives. The directing exposure gained through fieldwork equips participants with practical leadership skills.
Placements: Top recruiters like Amazon India, IBM, Deloitte, Aviva Life, Vodafone, Uber, etc. offered graduates senior leadership profiles with an over 40% hike in CTC.
What Makes MDI #4
- Earned three respected international accreditations (AMBA, ASBM, and SAQS) for outstanding research and education.
- A selective class of talented peers with 8–15 years of experience
- Custom housing on a scenic heritage campus
- Strong ties to industry give real-world experience.
- Emphasizes building strategic leadership skills.
5. Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta
| Location | Programme Fee | Duration and Format |
|---|---|---|
| Joka, Kolkata. | ₹ 23 lakh | 1 year modular |
IIM Calcutta’s EMBA-labeled MBAEx aims to transform experienced professionals into visionary leaders through an AACSB-accredited curriculum.
What Makes IIMC #5
- India’s only business school with the top 3 global accreditations (EQUIS, AMBA, and AACSB)
- Selective class with 10–25 years of leadership experience in diverse fields
- International trips to top global schools like SMU, ESADE, etc.
- Focuses on strategic leadership skills, including change management and transformation.
- Covers trending topics like business analytics and fintech innovations.
6. Great Lakes Institute of Management
| Location | Programme Fee | Duration and Format |
|---|---|---|
| Gurgaon, Chennai, Bengaluru | ₹ 16.5 lakh | 1 year modular |
Great Lake’s PGPM (EMBA) finds mention in positive business school reviews for its contemporary curriculum integrating analytics, AI, design thinking, and sustainability.
What Makes Great Lakes #6
- The learning program is compared to global standards.
- Earn academic credits from the Yale School of Management.
- One-week study trip to top schools in the UK, USA, or Singapore
- Strong mentoring and personal career advice
- Only Indian business schools offer a specialized 1-year MBA
7. Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies
| Location | Programme Fee | Duration and Format |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai, Bangalore, and Hyderabad | ₹ 12.5 lakh | 2 years part-time |
NMIMS offers a rigorous Executive PGDM (EPGM) spanning six terms aimed at catapulting professionals into strategic leadership roles. Participants need to attend classes only on weekends.
The experiential curriculum integrates the latest business concepts like design thinking, AI, and analytics with core management principles tailored for Indian corporations.
Placements: Top companies offered graduates senior management roles across functions like consulting, strategy, operations, analytics, etc. Average CTC increased by over 75% to ₹32 lakhs per annum.
What Makes NMIMS #7
- Management programs consistently ranked highly globally by FT and Forbes
- Custom electives allow specialization in function or industry
- International certifications with institutes like Cornell, Purdue, etc.
- Strong ties to industry as India’s top private business school
- Renowned full-time professors with extensive teaching and research
8. Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras
| Location | Programme Fee | Duration and Format |
|---|---|---|
| Chennai | ₹ 16 lakh | 2 years, part-time |
IIT Madras offers an Executive MBA branded as EMXP, uniquely crafted both for technical and non-technical executives keen to transition into leadership roles.
Classes are conveniently scheduled over weekends without disrupting work. The coveted IIT tag, great ROI, and affordable fee make this program highly attractive.
Placements: Top recruiters like Cognizant, Amazon, and Goldman Sachs are hiring graduates for senior management roles with a 60–100% increase in CTC packages.
What Makes DoMS IITM #8
- A rare weekend MBA program from an IIT, India’s pinnacle engineering institute
- Learn from world-class IIT faculty and industry experts.
- Build hard and soft skills like design thinking, which are crucial for the modern era.
- State-of-the-art A/V classroom facilities within IITM’s lush green campus
- Affordable fee offering a very high ROI for career progression
9. International Management Institute (IMI)
| Location | Programme Fee | Duration and Format |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi, Kolkata | ₹ 15.5 lakh | 15-month modular |
IMI’s distinguished faculty members teach an AMBA-accredited management curriculum to help experienced professionals seeking leadership roles transition through the IPMX program.
The program has innovative global study modules at partner institutes, allowing participants to expand their cross-cultural exposure.
Placements: The median CTC witnessed an increase of over 40% to ₹22 lakh per annum post completion, with leadership profiles offered across sectors.
What Makes IMI #9
- Established in 1981, IMI is among the first PGDM institutes in India, with over 4000 alumni.
- A globally recognized 2-year PGDM program with prestigious AMBA accreditation
- Learn anytime from anywhere with state-of-the-art LMS and video-based content.
- Opportunities for global exposure through student exchange programs
- Strong industry partnerships and renowned faculty from the corporate field
10. WeSchool
| Location | Programme Fee | Duration and Format |
|---|---|---|
| Mumbai, Bangalore | ₹ 8.75 lakh | 1 year modular |
WeSchool offers India’s first AICTE-approved PGDM (EMBA) program, designed exclusively for working executives, managers, and business leaders keen to climb the corporate ladder.
The curriculum has a higher credit requirement and rigor than full-time programs to equip graduates for a short 15-month duration. Participants need to take only 7 weeks off from work.
Placements: Top companies like Godrej, HDFC Bank, and Vodafone onboarded passed-outs onto leadership tracks, offering over 70% increments in existing CTC.
What Makes WeSchool #10
- Founded in 1977, one of Mumbai’s first private business Apply Now
- Renowned professors from Harvard, IIM, NITIE, and more
- Convenient campus location with excellent facilities
- Strong ties to industry and a large alumni network
- High return on investment with a short 15-month period and affordable fees
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Conclusion
ISB Hyderabad emerges as the clear leader for delivering a world-class EMBA degree catering specifically to high-performing executives and managers. Leading IIMs like Ahmedabad and Calcutta and private institutes like SPJIMR, MDI, NMIMS, and others also offer great alternatives based on location, specializations, and budgets.
Just like a regular MBA, take time to research different EMBA programs before deciding which one is best aligned with your career goals and priorities. While the degree offers great ROI by fast-tracking professional growth, it involves a considerable investment of time, money, and energy.
FAQ TOP 10 EXECUTIVE MBA COLLEGES
Some of the top-ranked executive MBA colleges in India are IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Bangalore, IIM Calcutta, XLRI Jamshedpur, SP Jain Institute of Management & Research, and IMT Ghaziabad. These institutes are consistently ranked among the best for EMBA programs by various ranking surveys.
Executive MBA programs in India place a strong emphasis on leadership development and strategic thinking to groom mid-career professionals for senior leadership roles. The curriculum blends functional domain expertise with cross-functional knowledge. The pedagogy relies heavily on case studies and real-world projects.
The application process for executive MBA programs focuses more on evaluating the applicants’ work experience than their academic scores. Shortlisting criteria include years of work experience, current job roles and responsibilities, career growth potential, academic diversity, and entrance test scores. Group discussions and personal interviews are an integral component.
The average course fee for premium executive MBA programs ranges from ₹15–25 lakhs in India. Top institutes offer placements with an average CTC ranging from ₹18–24 lakhs per annum, with the highest packages going up to ₹1 crore. Companies prefer candidates with over 10 years of work experience for senior-level roles.
