According to an article published by the Times of India, India is among the top 10 nations for students pursuing an MBA and other equivalent degrees. Of 150 lakh people between 20 to 30 years of age who have a Graduate Management Education (GME) master’s degree, 15.6% are Indians. Most of the students who pursue an online MBA intend to accelerate their career growth and get higher salary packages.

The qualities organisations look for range from team management, leadership skills, and business principles to futuristic approaches. These are the skills an online MBA (Master of Business Administration) education will instil in you. And as employers expect graduates to possess these skills and address complex business issues, MBA graduates receive lucrative salary packages.

With the advancing technology and the rise of the EdTech industry, pursuing MBA online has become more convenient, less time-consuming and cost-efficient. In fact, India stands at the 2nd spot after the US when it comes to the number of students pursuing online degrees. Pursuing online degrees from top universities across the country is at par with the regular courses and gives you the flexibility to enhance your career from the comfort of your home.

In this blog, we will take a look at India’s top universities that offer top-notch management education in online mode, along with other perks.

Top 10 Online MBA Colleges in India

India is known to offer outstanding management education. In fact, studies have shown that many international students opt for courses from India. According to The Print, the number of international students coming to India for studies has surged by nearly 42% in less than a decade. This shows the credibility and acceptance of Indian higher education on a global level. Here’s a list of top UGC-approved universities in India that offer online MBA programmes in various specialisations.

College/ University	NIRF Rank	Fee (INR)
1. Amity University	28	45,000 – 63,250 per semester (depending on the specialisation)
2. IIM Kashipur	19	5,40,000 – 12,00,000 full course (depending upon the specialisation)
3. ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education	40	45,000 per semester
4. DY Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune	46	1,40,200 full course
5. Bharathidasan University	41	91,000 (full course)
6. Manipal University	6	1,66,000 – 6,00,000 full course (depending upon the specialisation)
7. Jain University	68	60,000 per semester
8. Chandigarh University	27	37,500 per semester
9. UPES CCE	52	37,500 – 49,750 per semester (depending upon the specialisation)
10. Lovely Professional University	32	44,000 per semester

Let’s Discuss these online MBA colleges in detail:

1. Amity University

With a legacy of world-class education, Amity University is considered Asia’s only not-for-profit university to get US Regional Accreditation, The Gold Standard of Accreditation Globally. Since its inception, the university has built various campuses nationwide, delivering 300+ programmes in regular, distance and online modes.

The university is ranked among the top 3% universities globally by QS Rankings. Its flagship online MBA programmes hold the 1st rank in India and #37 globally. For its online programmes, Amity Online conducts on-campus orientation meets, provides placement assistance, audiobooks and physical books that are delivered at your doorstep. Leveraging from the growing technology, Amity introduced AI-Professor Ami powered by Chat-GPT 4 and Open AI technology.

Specialisations: Digital Marketing Management, HR Analytics, Data Science, Business Analytics, Digital Entrepreneurship

Course	Online MBA
College Type	Private University
Duration	2 Years
Course Fee	INR 45,000 – 63,250 per semester (this depends on the specialisation you choose)
Entrance Exam	N/A
NIRF Ranking	28
NAAC Accreditation	A+
Awards/ Recognitions	– Ranked India’s #1 Private Business College of North India  by India Today 2022 – Ranked top 2 private college (North India and NCR) in Outlook-ICARE India MBA rankings 2023

2. IIM Kashipur

Since 10 years of its inception, the Indian Institute of Management Kashipur has been excelling in providing world-class management education. As the second generation IIM established by the Government of India, the institute has been regarded as an institute of national importance. Its 200-acre campus is located 25 km away from Jim Corbett National Park in the town of Kashipur.

IIM Kashipur offers various programmes, including executive and online certificate programmes. Through its executive MBA, IIM Kashipur aims to provide working professionals with opportunities to enhance their skills and accelerate professional growth. The executive MBA program at IIM Kashipur has been designed in alignment with entrepreneurial trends and global industry practices.

Specialisations: Analytics

Course	Online MBA
College Type	Public University
Duration	2 Years
Course Fee	INR 5,40,000 – 12,00,000 full course (depending upon the specialisation)
Entrance Exam	CAT/GMAT/EMAT Score
NIRF Ranking	19
NAAC Accreditation	NA
Awards/ Recognitions	Institute of National Importance

3. ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education

The ICFAI (Deemed-to-be-University) was established in 1956 under section 3 of the UGC Act. It is one of the largest multidisciplinary universities in the country, which has a comprehensive student-centric learning approach. The Faculty of Management is one of the three main building blocks of the university. IFHE Hyderabad has a dedicated Centre for Distance and Online Education (CDOE), which offers a wide array of courses following the same structure as regular programmes.

The institution has achieved four decades of academic excellence in management education. Its online MBA programme has learner-centred design and multi-format content and assists for industry placements as well.

Specialisations: This institute offers only a general MBA programme

Course	Online MBA
College Type	Private University
Duration	2 Years
Course Fee	INR 45,000 per semester
Entrance Exam	Micro presentation and Personal Interview
NIRF Ranking	40
NAAC Accreditation	A
Awards/ Recognitions	Member of AIU, ACU, AACSB

4. Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune

Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth (Deemed to be University) has been hitting benchmarks in providing quality education for 38 years. Its academic ventures and facilities are well-renowned in the country, securing a spot in the top 50 institutions in India in NIRF Rankings 2023. With the Centre of Online Learning (DPU-COL), the university has extended the length of its academic infrastructure to a broader area.

DPU COL’s MBA programmes are UGC and AICTE approved and are delivered in online or part-time modes as suitable for the candidate. The university offers a wide range of industry-oriented specialisations to choose from. The curriculum includes interactive e-learning content and webinars with industry professionals.

Specialisations: Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, Finance Management, IT Management, Project Management, Operations Management, Hospital Administration and Healthcare Management, International Business Management, FinTech Management, Business Analytics Management, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Logistics, Materials and Supply Chain Management, Block Chain Management, Digital Marketing Management, AgriBusiness Management 

Course	Online MBA
College Type	Private University
Duration	2 Years
Course Fee	INR 1,40,200 full course
Entrance Exam	N/A
NIRF Ranking	46
NAAC Accreditation	A
Awards/ Recognitions	A prominent member of AIU, the Association of Commonwealth Universities, Assocham India, and WES

5. Bharathidasan University

Named after the great Tamil poet, Bharathidasan, the university was established in 1982. Bharathidasan University’s arms are spread over 4 faculties, 16 schools, 37 departments and 29 specialised research centres. The university offers 151 programmes including undergraduate, postgraduate, diploma, M.Phil, PhD and certificate courses.

Apart from this, the university also provides various distance and online learning programmes in various streams. The Centre for Distance and Online Education at Bharathidasan University aims to expand the scope of academics to those who are unable to pursue regular offline programmes. Through the online mode, the university has been aiding working professionals and students to fulfil other personal commitments while working on skill enhancement.

Specialisations: Bharathidasan University only offers general MBA programmes in online mode.

Course	Online MBA
College Type	State University
Duration	2 Years
Course Fee	INR 91,000 full course
Entrance Exam	N/A
NIRF Ranking	41
NAAC Accreditation	A
Awards/ Recognitions

6. Manipal University

The Manipal Group is a well-known name in the field of education, research and healthcare. It has a legacy of six decades spread all over India, with more than 3,00,000 students from 59 countries. Under the umbrella of Online Manipal, the university offers a wide range of technologically advanced online programmes from all its campuses. This self-financed university delivers a job oriented MBA programme which helps students increase their earning potential.

The online MBA programme provides the opportunity to choose from 13 different electives, such as Finance, Marketing, HR, Operations, Analytics, and International Business. Online Manipal provides full placement guidance and allows candidates to network with industry professionals.

Specialisations: Banking and Financial Services

Course	Online MBA
College Type	Self-financed University
Duration	2 Years
Course Fee	INR 41,000 per semester
Entrance Exam	N/A
NIRF Ranking	6
NAAC Accreditation	A
Awards/ Recognitions	Amongst India’s top 15 universities (Management) 2023 by Career 360

7. Jain University

Situated in Bangalore, Jain University is placed among the top universities in the country. The university is best known for its comprehensive academics and emphasis on entrepreneurship, research and sports. Over the years, the university has acquired memberships with various educational bodies such as AIU, the Association of Universities of Asia & the Pacific, the Association of Commonwealth Universities and the Network of International Business and Economics.

Apart from regular offline programmes, Jain Online, the e-learning arm of Jain (Deemed-to-be-university), offers UG and PG-level programmes. Among the other courses, the online MBA programme’s curriculum is based on the AICTE model that includes an industry-oriented choice of electives. The university helps students develop an e-portfolio and interview preparation. Microsoft, Amazon, Google, Flipkart, Cognizant, Samsung, IBM and many other MNCs have consistently recruited Jain’s students.

Specialisations: For its online MBA course, the university offers different electives but no specialisation.

Course	Online MBA
College Type	Private University
Duration	2 Years
Course Fee	INR 60,000 per semester
Entrance Exam	N/A
NIRF Ranking	68
NAAC Accreditation	A
Awards/ Recognitions	Ranked 91-95 among top Indian universities by QS World University Rankings

8. Chandigarh University

Chandigarh University is one of the youngest institutions in North India to rank highest among private institutions in the country in such a short span. The UGC & AICTE-approved Chandigarh University has a top-notch technology system for learning and a globally aligned curriculum designed by industry experts. The Institute of Distance and Online Learning at Chandigarh University provides internationally recognised postgraduate and graduate programmes at an affordable cost.

CU has 460+ international collaborators and has supported 146 startups so far. These figures reflect the quality of business and management education offered by Chandigarh Online University. In the distance mode, the university’s advanced LMS helps students access the study resources anywhere and at any time, making the learning experience more wholesome.

Specialisations: Chandigarh University provides only a general MBA programme in online mode.

Course	Online MBA
College Type	Private University
Duration	2 Years
Course Fee	INR 17,500 per semester
Entrance Exam	N/A
NIRF Ranking	27
NAAC Accreditation	A
Awards/ Recognitions	1st rank in India among private universities in QS World University Ranking

9. UPES

The University of Petroleum and Energy Studies is a top-ranked UGC-recognised institution with a #52 rank in NIRF 2023 and #39 rank in the management criteria. The university encompasses world-class academics, technology-enabled classrooms and various other amenities. UPES received a 5-star rating for its employability (placement) record by the prestigious QS Rating. Recently, the university secured the position of 3rd best private university in India by the QS World University Ranking 2023.

The Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) at UPES offers distance and online learning courses. The CCE branch started functioning in 2007 and has been delivering curriculum and academic features at par with regular programmes at UPES. The university has courses for individual learners as well as for corporations.

Specialisations: Oil and Gas Management, Power Management, Logistics and Supply Chain, Business Analytics, International Business, Operations Management

Course	Online MBA
College Type	Private University
Duration	2 Years
Course Fee	INR 37,500 – 49,750 per semester (depending upon the specialisation)
Entrance Exam	N/A
NIRF Ranking	52
NAAC Accreditation	A
Awards/ Recognitions	– QS 5 Stars Rated for Excellence – Ranked #1 in India and 28th in the world for energy programmes.

10. Lovely Professional University

LPU is counted among the leading private universities in North India that has shown consistent growth over the years. Since its inception, Lovely Professional University has grown in all spheres, from infrastructure to academic excellence. The students of this UGC-recognized university in Punjab have been receiving lucrative packages from top multinational companies across the country, such as Microsoft, Wipro, Amazon, and many others.

Among its wide range of programmes, LPU offers the option to pursue distance or online education to accelerate professional growth. Online education at LPU provides candidates with live lectures on weekends, regular sessions with industry experts, placement and recorded video content, among others. In the prestigious WURI Rankings 2023, LPU ranks 3rd in India among government and private universities.

Specialisations: In online mode, LPU only offers general MBA course

Course	Online MBA
College Type	Private University
Duration	2 Years
Course Fee	INR 44,000 per semester
Entrance Exam	N/A
NIRF Ranking	32
NAAC Accreditation	N/A
Awards/ Recognitions	Ranks #2 in India among top universities of India (both government & private) by Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2022

Eligibility for Online MBA Programmes

• Under-graduation: The student must be a graduate with 50% and above percentage from a recognised university. The minimum percentage criteria may vary for different universities.
• Entrance Exam: Most universities do not take entrance exams for online programmes, but few institutions may consider

  CAT/GMAT/EMAT scores and conduct a separate entrance test. Some of the universities also have personal interview rounds.

• Work Experience: A few universities may require one or two years of work experience, especially for Executive MBA programmes. (note: this varies as per university)

• Minimum Age Limit: There is no fixed age limit in India to pursue an MBA course. (note: this may vary as per university)

Admission process for these courses

• Registration: Fill out the online application form and pay the registration fee if applicable.
• Document Submission: Submit previous years’ academic documents, national ID proof, passport-size photo, work experience proof (if asked), and GMAT/CAT score (if applicable).
• Verification: Once submitted all the required documents, the university verifies the attachments, email ID, and mobile number.
• Fee Submission: Pay the course fee, either semester-wise, annually, for the entire course, or you can choose the EMI option.
• Admission Confirmed: A confirmation letter with study material and resources will be shared along with a login ID for online portals.

This is a general process that most universities have, so the steps may vary according to the university you choose. As some institutions may have entrance tests and personal interview criteria, the admission procedure will be modified accordingly.

Now let’s briefly discuss some top-notch universities offering online MBA programmes and their distinctive features.

Takeaway

Choosing between online and offline MBA can be daunting. Major concerns are the validity of online programmes and whether they will have the same credibility in the industry as the offline degree. But, in recent times, it has become evident that online MBA programmes are not only valid but highly beneficial over traditional courses. Cost-effectiveness, flexibility, and global networking opportunities, to have the freedom to fulfil other commitments are some of the plus points of Online MBA programmes. One of the most intriguing aspects of online education is that students worldwide enrol in programmes that help them gain a global perspective under inclusivity. Though its benefits are countless, in the end, it depends on the goal and purpose of the candidate.