Top PGDM Colleges in Maharashtra 2026 – Rankings, Fees, Admissions, ROI & More
Tanya Verma
The Maharashtra educational system is known to have the best schools and colleges which provide the courses of the PGDM. S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, N.L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research, SIES College of Management Studies and Chetana Institute of Management and Research are some of the greatest private colleges. The best government college in PGDM is the National Institute of Bank Management. All these colleges rank high up the list and they have reputed acclaims in the area of academics and placements.
The cost of the PGDM course here would cost between INR 80,000 and 22.5 lakhs based on the college, course, and specialisation. The admission is based on a bachelor degree with a minimum of 50 percent marks. The requirements can be different depending on the college that the candidate has selected. Also, they have to pass entrance tests like GMAT, CAT, MAH-CET, XAT, ATMA or CMAT in order to be admitted to one of the finestPGDM colleges in Maharashtra.
Moreover, these colleges are also providing Post Graduate Diplomas in Management (PGDM) having many specialisations such as Business Management, Marketing, Human Resources, and Biotechnology. Graduates of their PGDM when offered by these colleges stand a chance of getting an impressive remuneration package ranging to INR 9.2 lakhs, up to 32 lakhs per year. These colleges are also visited by the top companies such as Deloitte, EY, HCL, Microsoft and Amazon in their regular recruitment drives.
Top PGDM Colleges in Maharashtra: Highlights
Top PGDM Colleges in Maharashtra 2026
Maharashtra can be referred to as one of the best institutions of PGDM in India. The state also enjoys an extensive network of the finest management institutions, experienced faculty and good industry contacts. SP Jain Institute of Management and Research is one of the best PGDM colleges in Maharashtra. It provides course programs in Business Management, Finance, Marketing and Analytics at the level of PGDM based on research-oriented courses in industries.
The N.L. Dalmia Institute of Management Studies and Research is another leading college of the PGDM that is characterized by the focus it has on Finance, Marketing, and Human Resources.SIES College of Management Studies also a well-rounded institution with comparatively affordable fees (Pharmaceutical management, Biotechnology etc.) National Institute of Bank Management is a government institution that one can consider as a low fee provider of PGDM Colleges in Maharashtra.
To be able to enter these colleges, students must have at least 50% of the marks in their bachelor. In addition, depending on the college, the candidates are supposed to achieve good results in entrance exams at national or state level like GMAT, CAT, MAH-CET, etc. The total fees of these best colleges begin with INR 80,000 at NIBM and go to the highest of INR 22.60 Lakh at SPJIMR.
Top PGDM Colleges in Maharashtra Eligibility Criteria
A bachelor's degree with at least 45%-50% is the ideal qualification for the candidate. But the criteria may vary from one institute to another. Besides this, they must also provide a legitimate score of a permissible entrance test for the college chosen. Basically, the admissions to the best PGDM colleges in Maharashtra are as follows:
Entrance Exams Accepted by Top PGDM Colleges in Maharashtra
Top PGDM colleges in Maharashtra accept scores from several entrance exams for admissions. These include both state-level and national-level entrance exams. The Maharashtra Common Entrance Test (MAH CET) is one of the most widely accepted state-level exams.
At the national level, CAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT, MAT and ATMA are some of the entrance tests accepted by PGDM colleges in Maharashtra. The Indian Institute of Materials Management also accepts the GRE. Essential details about these entrance exams are provided below:
Top PGDM Colleges in Maharashtra with Ranking
Maharashtra is home to two best PGDM colleges that have been placed in the top management NIRF ranking for the year 2025. Two such institutes are namely the S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research and IMT Nagpur. SPJIMR has moved up to the 20th position in India with a NIRF score of 62.06. On the other hand, IMT Nagpur is identified with the focus on business analytics and operations management besides its close industry ties and is at 99th position with a score of 44.93.
List of Private PGDM Colleges in Maharashtra
Some of the best private PGDM colleges in Maharashtra are SPJIMR in Mumbai, IMT Nagpur, NLDIMSR, SIES College of Management Studies and CIMR. These colleges provide PGDM programs and they accept entrance test such as CAT, XAT, GMAT and CMAT. These colleges have different fees which are approximately INR 9 lakh to INR 22.5 lakh. Additionally, these colleges have varying cutoff scores regarding entrance exams with an average of 60-95 th percentiles across colleges. They help students gain skills and find good jobs after completing their PGDM course.
List of Government PGDM Colleges in Maharashtra
National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM) is a Government college in Maharashtra that provides a one-year PGDM course in Post-Graduate Diploma in Management of Education. The fee for the complete course duration is INR 79,900. For admission to NIBM, candidates need to clear the CAT or GMAT exam and fill out the application form through its official website.
Top PGDM Colleges in Maharashtra: Fee, Salary & ROI Analysis
Top PGDM colleges in Maharashtra offer good education with different fees and salaries. For example, SPJIMR charges about INR 22.5 lakhs but gives an excellent return with average salaries of INR 32 lakh per year. N. L. Dalmia and IMT Nagpur have moderate fees around INR 15-16 lakhs and decent average salaries of 7-9 lakhs. SIES College offers good value with fees around INR 8-10 lakhs and average salaries between 7-9 lakhs.
Chetana’s Institute and IIMM have lower fees and average salaries, resulting in moderate returns. National Institute of Bank Management stands out with low fees (INR 79,900) and high salaries (INR 14 lakh average), giving excellent ROI. Students should select their college after a thorough comparison of fees, salaries, and ROI as given below:
PGDM Admission Process in Maharashtra Colleges
PGDM admission in Maharashtra colleges is a complex step by step process which aims at getting the most suitable students in management education. The following are the steps involved in the admission procedure of the leading colleges of PGDM in Maharashtra:
Phase 1: Meeting Eligibility: Satisfying eligibility: The applicants should have a bachelor's degree with approximately 45 to 50 percent marks in a recognized university. In most cases, students in their last year are eligible to apply on the condition that they complete their degree before the program starting date.
Phase 2: Application Form: The applicants are required to complete the application form either online or offline on the official college website. The application form is like a questionnaire that includes the candidate's academic background, the results of the entrance exam, work experience, and some personal information. There is an application fee to be paid with the submission which varies with the college.
Phase 3: Entrance Exams: Admission to the programs of the PGDM in Maharashtra must have valid marks in such national level exams as CAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA or MAH-CET exam. Applicants are expected to provide these scores in addition to application.
Phase 4: Shortlisting and Selection: Short listing is done based on the performance in the entrance exams, and the shortlisted candidates undergo an additional selection process. Shortlisting cutoffs vary based on the college’s competition and the program’s intake. The selection process includes Written Ability Tests, Group Discussions and Personal Interviews. Colleges evaluate candidates based on various factors which include:
Entrance Exam Scores: The main criterion by which the candidate will be evaluated and the decision will be largely based on this factor (50%+).
Academic Background: The performance in 10th, 12th, and graduation, with the inclusion of various weightage classes around 10-15%.
Work Experience: A number of schools have in their minds the relevant professional experience of candidates as a source of 5-10% weightage.
Group Discussions and Interviews: These rounds determine the candidate's interpersonal skills, ability to solve problems and quick adaptation to the program's culture, generally helping to score 30-40% of the selection.
Other factors: Leadership roles, success in extracurricular activities, and diversity are additionally taken into account.
Phase 5: Final Merit List and Counseling: Lastly, the Colleges prepare a final merit list by combining scores from all components. Selected candidates receive admission offers and are required to confirm their seats by paying the admission fee. Some colleges conduct counseling sessions or orientation programs after final admission.
Top Cities in Maharashtra for PGDM Colleges
Besides Maharashtra, Mumbai and Pune are two top cities that students can explore for top PGDM colleges. Mumbai which is known as the financial capital has renowned institutes like S. P. Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), JBIMS, and Welingkar Institute of Management. Pune is another major city recognized for quality management education, offering institutes such as Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Cooperative Management and PIBM Pune.
