The Key Numbers
₹34.5L
IIM Ahmedabad's 2025 median, the highest in the country, still the real number one on this list
#5
Where ISB Hyderabad actually lands, not the number one most people assume, and it doesn't publish an official median at all
₹2.3L
FMS Delhi's total program fee, against ₹20L plus at most IIMs here, while still placing at a ₹31L median
100%
Students placed at every single college on this list, which is exactly why placement rate can't separate them, median CTC does
Before The Ranking
Why Median CTC, and Not a Reputation List
Every "best MBA colleges" list on the internet is a reshuffled NIRF score or a gut-feel brand ranking. This one uses one number only, 2025 median CTC, because it is the number that tells you what the middle of the batch actually earned, not what one exceptional offer or one legacy reputation implies.
A handful of very high domestic or international offers can pull an average up without moving what a typical student in that batch actually received. IIM Ahmedabad's own placement report lists a top domestic offer of ₹1.10 crore against a median of ₹34.5 lakh, a gap that large is exactly why median, not average, is the number worth trusting.
The honest limitation here: ISB Hyderabad does not publish an official median or placement percentage at all. Its number on this list is a secondary-source estimate, flagged clearly where it appears, not presented as a confirmed figure. A counselling pattern I see constantly is a student assuming ISB is automatically the top brand-name option without ever checking whether it even takes their exam score, more on that below.
Myth vs Reality
Tap Each Card Before You Scroll Further
The two assumptions this ranking exists to correct. Tap or click a card to flip it.
Everyone's Guess
ISB Hyderabad Tops This List
The most recognised brand name outside the IIM system, and the default answer most aspirants give when asked for the "best" MBA in India.
Tap to see the real rank →
The Reality
ISB Lands at Number 5
And its flagship one-year PGP doesn't even accept CAT. It runs on GMAT or GRE with a 24-month work experience minimum, a detail most "best MBA" lists skip entirely.
A Common Assumption
The Priciest MBA Pays Off Most
Higher fees, better brand, better median CTC, the assumption behind most colleges being ranked purely on how expensive or exclusive they sound.
Tap to see the real number →
The Reality
FMS Delhi's ₹2.3L Fee Outperforms Schools Costing 10x More
FMS still lands a ₹31 lakh median at a fraction of the cost of the IIMs surrounding it. Fee is not a placement predictor, on this list it's nearly an inverse one.
Same 10 Colleges, Two Views
Median vs Average CTC
The ranking below is built on median. Toggle to average to see exactly how much a few high offers can shift the picture at each college, and why this list didn't use it.
The Full Ranking
All 10 Colleges, With Entry Route, Fees and Who Each One Actually Fits
Every card below has the exam and percentile you'd need, what the median and average actually were, and the pushback question this rank invites, tap "See the likely pushback" to read the answer before you ask it in the comments.
1. IIM Ahmedabad₹34.5L median
Very high, 99.5+ realistic call
Entry route: CAT, 95 overall qualifying cutoff, but realistic calls run 99.5 percentile and above. Final selection: Personal Interview 50%, CAT 25%, Academic Writing Test 10%, Application Rating 15%.
Placement data: Median ₹34.5L, average ₹35.2L, PGP 2023-25 batch, 395 of 406 students placed. Highest domestic offer ₹1.10 crore, down from ₹1.46 crore in 2023, a trend worth knowing rather than assuming the top offer only ever climbs.
Who it's right for: Candidates who can realistically clear 99.5+ and want both the single highest median in the country and the IIM brand's full weight.
Anshul's reasoning: this is the IIM most associated with "just get the CAT score right." Its own final weightage says the opposite, the interview alone outweighs CAT two to one, and the median still tops this list even after stripping out the crorepati offers.
See the likely pushback
"There's always one crorepati skewing IIM A's number." Median already strips that out, and it's still the highest median in the set, not an average inflated by outliers.
2. IIM Calcutta₹34L median
Very high, 98+ realistic call
Entry route: CAT, 85 overall qualifying, realistic calls run 98 to 99.7 and above. Final selection: Personal Interview 48%, CAT 30%, Written Ability Test 8%, Academic Diversity 6%, Work Experience 8%. Work experience under 12 months typically scores zero here.
Placement data: Median ₹34L, average ₹34.23L, 458 students placed, 196 recruiters, 536 offers, 100% placed.
Who it's right for: Candidates with a strong, consistent Class X and XII academic record, since graduation marks and work experience carry no weight at the shortlisting stage here.
Anshul's reasoning: when a single interview round is worth nearly half your final score, treating the panel as an afterthought is the single most expensive assumption a 99 percentiler can make here.
See the likely pushback
"Everyone claims 100% placement." True, that's exactly why this ranking uses median CTC, not placement rate, to separate them.
3. SPJIMR Mumbai₹32.85L median
High, 85th CAT / 93.5 XAT
Entry route: CAT at 85 overall and 75 sectional, or XAT at 93.5, or GMAT at 300 plus. The score only clears the cutoff, it carries no separate shortlist weightage. A Written Ability Test plus two rounds of group interviews decide the seat.
Placement data: Median ₹32.85L, average ₹33.75L, PGDM Class of 2026, 356 students, 100% placed.
Who it's right for: Candidates who interview and write well beyond what their percentile alone would predict, or who fall just short of a top-four IIM's cutoff but can still clear 85 percentile.
Anshul's reasoning: SPJIMR isn't an IIM and doesn't carry the same brand recall, but on this cycle's hard median it beat IIM Bangalore's. Brand and median CTC are not the same measurement.
See the likely pushback
"SPJIMR isn't even an IIM, why above IIM Bangalore?" On this cycle's hard median, it beat Bangalore's. Brand and median CTC aren't the same thing.
4. IIM Bangalore₹32.6L median
Very high, 99.7+ realistic call
Entry route: CAT, 85 overall qualifying, realistic calls run 98 to 99.7 and above. Final selection: Personal Interview 40%, CAT 25%, Academics 15%, Work Experience 10%, Written Ability Test 10%.
Placement data: Median ₹32.6L, average ₹34.88L, 602 students, 660 offers, 177 recruiters. Consulting dominates the offer mix here, which is what pulls the average meaningfully above the median.
Who it's right for: Candidates specifically targeting consulting, and those with a consistent academic transcript across Class 10, 12 and graduation, since academics alone outweighs work experience and WAT combined here.
Anshul's reasoning: this is the most evenly split scorecard on this list, which paradoxically makes it the hardest to game with one strong area. Every component needs to hold up.
See the likely pushback
"IIM B is always called number 1 or 2." NIRF and reputation rankings weigh research and faculty surveys. This is 2025 median CTC only, a narrower and more specific number.
5. ISB Hyderabad~₹32L, estimated
High, GMAT 710+ / GRE 320+ target
Entry route: The flagship one-year PGP does not accept CAT. It requires a GMAT (710+ target) or GRE (320+ target) score and a minimum of 24 months of full-time work experience, evaluated holistically with no fixed cutoff. ISB's PGP-YL, a separate 20-month program for candidates with 0 to 24 months of experience, does accept CAT.
Placement data: No official median or placement percentage published, this figure is a secondary-source estimate for the Class of 2025 (₹30 to 35L range), tagged as an estimate, not confirmed. 816 eligible students received offers, 1,164 total offers, 364+ recruiting companies, consulting, technology and BFSI made up over 75% of offers.
Who it's right for: Working professionals with 2+ years of experience and a strong GMAT or GRE score wanting a one-year MBA, or early-career candidates with a strong CAT score specifically eyeing PGP-YL, not the flagship PGP.
Anshul's reasoning: everyone assumes this one tops the list because it's the most recognised name outside the IIM system. The data disagrees, and the data itself is the weakest link on this entire ranking, which is exactly why it isn't defaulted to number one.
See the likely pushback
"ISB doesn't even publish a real median, how did you rank it?" Correct, that's our weakest data point, and it's part of why it's not assumed number one by default here.
6. IIM Lucknow₹31L median
High, 97-99+ realistic call
Entry route: CAT, 90 overall qualifying, realistic calls run 97 to 99+ and above. Final selection: Written Ability Test and Personal Interview combined carry roughly 50%, CAT carries roughly 30 to 35%.
Placement data: Median ₹31L, average ₹32.3L, 604 offers, highest domestic offer ₹75L.
Who it's right for: Candidates who write well under a strict word and time limit, since the WAT is scored as rigorously as the interview here, not folded in as a minor component.
Anshul's reasoning: WAT is the most neglected round in most CAT prep, and it's worth as much as the interview at Lucknow. Ignoring it is not a small gap, it's half the final score.
See the likely pushback
Minimal pushback expected here, this is a straightforward mid-table entry on both the ranking and the reasoning.
7. FMS Delhi₹31L median
Very high, 99+ realistic call
Entry route: CAT, roughly 99 percentile and above for General category (91+ EWS/NC-OBC, 75+ SC, 60+ ST for the current cycle). Composite score: CAT 50%, Class X 10%, Class XII 10%, SOP discussion 10%, Extempore 5%, Personal Interview 15%, plus a 45-minute written test on current affairs and reasoning on GD-PI day.
Placement data: Median ₹31L, average ₹30.6L. Total program fee is approximately ₹2.3L, run by Delhi University at a public-university fee structure, against ₹20L plus at most IIMs on this list.
Who it's right for: Candidates who want the best return relative to cost of any school on this list. This isn't a compromise pick, it's arguably the best ROI in Indian MBA education.
Anshul's reasoning: FMS's fee makes its actual return on investment almost certainly the best of any school here. That's a different ranking question than this one, and worth asking separately.
See the likely pushback
"FMS has the best ROI in India, why below Lucknow?" This ranking is on placement CTC only, not fees. FMS's ROI is real and deserves its own ranking, it just doesn't move this one.
8. XLRI Jamshedpur₹29L median
High, XAT 95-96 percentile
Entry route: XAT, not CAT, roughly 95 to 96 percentile realistically. XAT's syllabus overlaps roughly 80% with CAT's, and the Decision Making section rewards real-world judgment over pure speed, which is why many CAT aspirants who struggle on speed do noticeably better here.
Placement data: Median ₹29L, up from ₹24L in 2024, average ₹31.08L, 172 recruiters, 591 offers.
Who it's right for: Candidates whose strengths lean toward judgment-based decision making over raw calculation speed, and anyone already CAT-ready looking for a second, high-overlap exam to sit for.
Anshul's reasoning: XLRI is one of India's oldest and most respected B-schools, and its median is trending up sharply year over year, not stagnant the way its "underrated" reputation might suggest.
See the likely pushback
"XLRI is one of the oldest, most respected schools." True, and its median is actually trending up sharply year over year.
9. IIM Kozhikode₹27.5L median
High, 97+ realistic call
Entry route: CAT, 85 overall qualifying, realistic calls run 97 percentile and above with strong sectionals. Final selection: CAT 35%, Personal Interview 35%, Written Ability Test 20%, Resume Score 10%, the highest WAT weight of any IIM on this list.
Placement data: Median ₹27.5L, average ₹28.18L, highest offer ₹81L.
Who it's right for: Candidates with a resume that reads as a coherent story, since it's scored as its own separate component here, distinct from both CAT and the interview.
Anshul's reasoning: CAT and the interview are literally tied here, 35 each. A great interview fully offsets a merely good CAT score, and a weak one does the opposite just as fast.
See the likely pushback
Minimal pushback expected here, the smallest average package on this list is consistent with its position at 9.
10. IIM Indore₹27L median
High, 97+ realistic call
Entry route: CAT, 90 overall qualifying, realistic calls run 97 percentile and above. Final selection: Personal Interview 45%, CAT 40%, Academics 10%, Diversity 5%, the highest CAT weight of any IIM on this list.
Placement data: Median ₹27L, average ₹29.57L, 591 students, 225+ recruiters, 100% placed, the largest batch on this list.
Who it's right for: Candidates who want CAT itself to carry the most weight among these IIMs, and who value a larger recruiter pool spreading more opportunity across a bigger batch.
Anshul's reasoning: even here, where CAT carries its highest weight of the IIMs on this list, the interview still wins by five points. There is no college on this list where the interview doesn't matter most.
See the likely pushback
"Bigger batch dilutes the number." Correct, and that's the point, more offers spread across more students, and everyone still got placed.
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Where This Ranking Actually Comes From
Built on CAT Mentorship, Not a Blog Post
This ranking exists because reading placement reports and mapping them against real percentile cutoffs is the same work that goes into deciding which colleges a mentee should actually target. It didn't start as content, it started as counselling.
I'm Anshul Wadhwa, founder of AptiGuide and a CAT mentor for 16+ years. My own CAT record isn't a single lucky attempt, it's six exam cycles across eight years, with multiple 99-plus scores and a highest of 99.92 in CAT 2022.
| Attempt | Overall Percentile | Sectional Highlight |
|---|---|---|
| CAT 2015 | 99.57 | QA 99.65, LRDI 99.27 |
| CAT 2016 | 99.43 | QA 99.81 |
| CAT 2017 | 98.83 | QA 99.35 |
| CAT 2018 | 99.00 | QA 99.36 |
| CAT 2022 | 99.92 | QA 99.83, VA 99.92 |
| CAT 2023 | 99.43 | QA 99.57 |
1,500+ CAT aspirants mentored directly, 100+ guided to a 99-plus percentile, with recent conversions including IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Kashipur, IIM Rohtak, IIM Ranchi and FMS Delhi.
| Student | College Converted |
|---|---|
| Harshita Tandon | IIM Indore |
| Palak Sehgal | IIM Indore |
| Arshia Bhagat | IIM Kozhikode |
| Shivi Malhan | IIM Kashipur |
| Anmol | IIM Rohtak |
| Debjit Adak | IIM Ranchi |
| Harpuneet Kaur | IIM Amritsar |
| Ashish | FMS Delhi, converted 12 IIMs |
A Pattern From Actual Counselling Sessions
A recurring pattern in my mentoring sessions: a student clears 97 to 98 percentile, gets anxious that they "only" have XLRI or a newer IIM within reach, and seriously considers dropping a perfectly strong SPJIMR or FMS admit to re-attempt CAT chasing a top-four IIM they were never realistically close to. The table above is the exact thing I now show every serious student before they decide whether to re-attempt, so the decision is made on data, not anxiety.
CAT, XAT, SNAP & NMAT Coaching
CAT Coaching in Jalandhar, and Everywhere Else in India
This isn't a coaching center that hires rotating tutors. Every core module, from conceptual sessions to mock review to interview preparation, is personally led by Anshul.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Batch Size | 15 to 20 students, strictly capped, never scaled beyond this |
| Format | Offline in Jalandhar, plus live online and recorded access for students anywhere in India |
| Doubt Support | 24x7 doubt group, plus one-on-one mock review sessions |
| GD-PI & WAT | Persona building, WAT practice, SOP guidance and mock interview panels included |
| Benchmarking | TCY and TestFunda analytics across 600+ centers nationally, so your percentile prediction reflects the real national applicant pool, not just your local batch |
| Fees | Online recorded course from approximately ₹20,000, full program fee discussed after a personal profile evaluation |
Local Reach
In-Person in Jalandhar, Hybrid Across India
If you're searching for CAT coaching in Jalandhar, CAT coaching near me, or CAT coaching in Punjab, the in-person batch runs from AptiGuide's Jalandhar office. If you're anywhere else in India, the same structured program is available live online with recorded access.
Jalandhar
Phagwara
Kapurthala
Hoshiarpur
Ludhiana
Amritsar
Pathankot
Nawanshahar
Rest of India, hybrid
- 2nd Floor, Crystal Plaza, SCO-2, near P.I.M.S Hospital, Choti Baradari, Jalandhar, Punjab 144001
- Call or WhatsApp +91 70097 33841, Monday to Saturday, 10 AM to 7 PM
Prepping for XAT, SNAP or NMAT Instead of CAT?
There isn't a separate XAT, SNAP or NMAT batch at AptiGuide, and it wouldn't be honest to claim one. What the CAT curriculum covers is the syllabus overlap these exams share with CAT, and it's substantial enough that most serious CAT aspirants are most of the way ready without extra prep:
| Exam | CAT Overlap | What's Different |
|---|---|---|
| XAT (XLRI, XIMB, IMT Ghaziabad) | ~80% | Adds a Decision Making section and a General Knowledge component |
| SNAP (SIBM Pune, SCMHRD, SIIB) | ~70% | Lower overall competition than CAT, no major extra preparation needed |
| NMAT (NMIMS) | ~75% | Up to 3 attempts allowed in a single testing year, so a weak first attempt isn't final |
Ready to See if You're a Fit
Book a Structured Profile Evaluation
Anshul personally assesses your current mock level, sectional weaknesses, target colleges and realistic timeline before deciding fit, since batch size stays deliberately capped at 15 to 20 students.
💬 WhatsApp for a Profile Evaluation 📖 Read the Full CAT Coaching Program DetailsFrequently Asked
Every Question This Ranking Invites
Why does this ranking use median CTC instead of average package?
Because a handful of very high domestic or international offers can pull an average up without changing what a typical student actually earns. IIM Ahmedabad's own 2023 to 25 batch report lists a top domestic offer of ₹1.10 crore against a median of ₹34.5 lakh. The median tells you what the middle of the batch actually got, the average does not.
Why isn't ISB Hyderabad ranked number 1?
Because ISB does not publish an official median CTC or placement percentage. Its Class of 2025 numbers are drawn from secondary sources reporting an average package in the ₹30 to 35 lakh range, which is an estimate, not a confirmed figure. Ranking a school number 1 on data this thin would be the exact brand-first thinking this list exists to correct.
Does ISB Hyderabad even accept CAT scores?
Only for one specific program. ISB's flagship one-year PGP requires a GMAT or GRE score and a minimum of 24 months of work experience, it does not accept CAT. ISB's PGP-YL, a 20-month program for candidates with 0 to 24 months of experience, does accept CAT. A CAT-only aspirant with under two years of work experience should be looking at PGP-YL specifically, not assuming they qualify for the flagship PGP.
Why does SPJIMR Mumbai rank above IIM Bangalore?
On this cycle's hard median CTC numbers, SPJIMR's PGDM Class of 2026 batch cleared IIM Bangalore's. SPJIMR is not an IIM and doesn't carry the same brand weight, but median CTC and brand recognition are two different measurements, and this ranking is built on the first one.
Why is FMS Delhi ranked below IIM Lucknow when its fees are so much lower?
This ranking is on placement CTC alone, not return on fees. FMS Delhi's total program fee runs close to ₹2.3 lakh, against ₹20 lakh plus at most IIMs on this list, so its actual return on investment is almost certainly the best of any school here. That is a different ranking question, and one worth asking separately.
Every college on this list claims 100% placement, so how do they actually differ?
That is exactly why this ranking doesn't use placement rate as the differentiator. Every school here placed its full eligible batch, which makes the rate useless for comparison. Median CTC is the number that actually separates them.
What CAT percentile do I actually need for a real shot at these colleges?
The published qualifying cutoff and the percentile that realistically gets you a call are different numbers. IIM Ahmedabad's cutoff is 95 overall but realistic calls run 99.5 and above, IIM Bangalore and Calcutta qualify at 85 but realistic calls run 98 to 99.7 and above, IIM Lucknow and Kozhikode sit around 97 and above with strong sectionals. Clearing the cutoff makes you eligible, it does not guarantee a call.
Can I get into any of these colleges through XAT, SNAP or NMAT instead of CAT?
XLRI Jamshedpur is entered through XAT, not CAT, needing roughly 95 to 96 percentile. SPJIMR accepts CAT at 85 overall, XAT at 93.5, or GMAT at 300 plus, with the final decision made mostly on your profile and two interview rounds rather than the score itself. XAT overlaps roughly 80% with CAT's syllabus, so most serious CAT aspirants are already close to XAT-ready.
Where can I find real CAT coaching in Jalandhar?
AptiGuide runs a founder-led CAT program from Jalandhar, batch size capped at 15 to 20 students, hybrid format with offline classes in Jalandhar plus live online and recorded access for students anywhere in India. Full program details, fees and the enrollment process are on the CAT coaching page linked above.
Is AptiGuide's CAT coaching only for students who live in Jalandhar?
No. The in-person batch runs from Jalandhar and nearby Punjab towns, Phagwara, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Amritsar and more, but the hybrid model with live online classes and recorded access means students anywhere in India join the same structured program.
Does AptiGuide also coach for XAT, SNAP or NMAT specifically?
There isn't a separate XAT, SNAP or NMAT batch. AptiGuide's CAT curriculum covers the shared syllabus these exams overlap on, roughly 70 to 80% depending on the exam, so CAT students preparing seriously are already most of the way ready for whichever of these exams they also sit for.
How many of AptiGuide's students have actually converted IIM calls?
Over 100 students have crossed the 99 percentile mark across Anshul Wadhwa's mentoring career, with recent conversions including IIM Indore, IIM Kozhikode, IIM Kashipur, IIM Rohtak, IIM Ranchi, IIM Amritsar and FMS Delhi. On average, 6 to 7 students a year cross 95 percentile, with multiple students consistently crossing 98 plus.
What is Anshul Wadhwa's own CAT percentile record?
Multiple 99 plus percentile scores across actual CAT attempts from 2015 to 2023, with a highest of 99.92 in CAT 2022. That consistency across six different exam patterns over eight years is the basis for the mentoring program, not a single lucky attempt.
How do I start CAT, XAT, SNAP or NMAT preparation with AptiGuide?
Book a one-on-one profile evaluation through WhatsApp or the CAT coaching page linked above. Anshul personally assesses your current mock level, sectional weaknesses, target colleges and timeline before deciding fit, since the batch size stays deliberately capped.
Sources: cracku.in, hrkatha.com and shiksha.com for IIM Ahmedabad's PGP 2023-25 final placement report, including the median, average and highest domestic offer figures; careers360.com, shiksha.com and cracku.in for IIM Calcutta, IIM Bangalore, IIM Lucknow, IIM Kozhikode and IIM Indore placement data; collegedunia.com, getmyuni.com and gmatpoint.com for ISB Hyderabad's Class of 2025 placement summary, offer count and sector mix, no official median is published by ISB, flagged throughout; isb.edu, getmyuni.com and lptedtech.com for ISB's PGP and PGP-YL eligibility, work experience and test-score requirements; shiksha.com, collegedunia.com, bschool.careers360.com and tarkashastra.co.in for SPJIMR's PGDM Class of 2026 placement report and admission criteria; iquanta.in, shiksha.com and promilo.com for FMS Delhi's CAT cutoff, fee structure and selection process; sunstone.in, imsindia.com for XLRI Jamshedpur's XAT-based admission route. CAT qualifying cutoffs and realistic call percentiles, IIM final-selection weightage, and Anshul Wadhwa's documented CAT score history and student conversions are drawn from AptiGuide's own published pages, aptiguide.in/test-prep/cat/cat-coaching-in-jalandhar and aptiguide.in/ctas/iim-interview-preparation-checklist. Placement figures reflect the most recently published batch report available for each college at the time of writing and can shift year to year, always confirm the current cycle's numbers on the institute's own placement report before finalising a decision.
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Based in Jalandhar. AptiGuide runs a career counselling and CAT/MBA mentoring practice based in Jalandhar, working with students across Kapurthala, Phagwara, Hoshiarpur, Nakodar, Pathankot, and nearby Punjab towns in person, and with families anywhere in India over video. See how career counselling works in Jalandhar →