Mba Colleges In Punjab

Top MBA Colleges in Punjab 2025 – Rankings, Fees, Placements & Admission Details

Default_Name

Tanya Verma

Content Writer

author

Master of Business Administration is one of the most popular courses among the Indian students. It provides high ROI and the opportunity to uplift one’s career. Candidates interested in pursuing MBA should consider Punjab as one of their top options. With colleges like IIM Amritsar, LPU, and Chandigarh University. Punjab gives a wide range of top MBA colleges to choose from. The fee for these courses usually ranges from INR 1.8 lakh to INR 20 lakh, varying depending on the institution.

Candidates seeking admission to these colleges are required to register and appear in exams like CAT, CMAT, PU MET and LPUEST. After which qualified candidates would be called for the next rounds, which include a group discussion, a written assessment test, and a personal interview. After completing the MBA program, candidates can expect a placement package of 4-7 LPA. Which can go as high as 58 LPA (IIM Amritsar) depending on the institute, specialization, skillset, and experience.

Top MBA Colleges in Punjab Highlights 2025 

Feature

Details

Total Number of MBA Colleges

Approximately 200+

Government vs Private vs Semi-private

The majority of colleges are privately owned, with some government and semi-government colleges being available.

Entrance Exams Accepted

CAT, CMAT, MAT, PU MET, LPUNEST, Institute-level tests

Average Fees

INR 1.8 Lakh – INR 6 Lakh

Highest Fees

Up to INR 20-25 Lakh (IIM Amritsar, Premier institutes)

Average Salary

INR 4-7 Lakh per annum

Highest Salary

INR 58 Lakh per annum (IIM Amritsar)

ROI Insights

Government colleges offer good ROI due to low fees

Private colleges offer higher packages but higher fees

Top Cities

Mohali, Amritsar, Jalandhar, Patiala, Chandigarh, Ludhiana


Top MBA Colleges in Punjab with Rankings 2024 

NIRF and Business Today are India’s most trusted ranking authorities when it comes to management institutes. Among the Top MBA colleges in Ambala, Ludhiana and Punjab. The Indian Institute of Management, which is located in Amritsar, ranks the highest in both NIRF and Business Today rankings. These rankings are based on the infrastructure, faculty, academic resources, and placement packages provided by the respective college/institute. 

NIRF Rankings 2024 

Institute Name

City

State

Score

Rank

Lovely Professional University

Phagwara

Punjab

56.44

32

Chandigarh University

Mohali

Punjab

55.98

36

Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology (Deemed-to-be-university)

Patiala

Punjab

51.67

49

Indian Institute of Management

Amritsar

Punjab

51.30

51

Chitkara University

Rajpura

Punjab

49.80

64


Business Today Rankings 2024 

Rank

Institute Name

City

Type

Overall Score (out of 1000)

146

Chandigarh Business School of Administration

Mohali

Pvt

533.5

193

Chandigarh School of Business

Jhanjeri

Pvt

504.0

33

Indian Institute of Management Amritsar

Amritsar

Govt

715.4

90

Punjab College of Technical Education

Ludhiana

Pvt

594.3


Top  MBA Colleges in Punjab Admissions 2025

To secure admission to the Top MBA colleges in Ludhiana and Punjab, candidates need to go through multiple stages of the selection process. Which includes appearing in entrance exams such as CAT, CMAT, MAT and university-level exams like LPUNEST. After the entrance exam, candidates will be called by the respective college to attend further rounds like group discussion, written ability test, and interview. Let's take IIM Amritsar for example. The admission process of IIM Amritsar is divided into two stages.

Step 1. Appearing in CAT Examination

1. Candidates need to appear in the CAT 2025 examination, which will be held on 30 November 2025. To apply for the examination, candidates must ensure that they fulfill the official eligibility criteria. 

2, The eligibility criteria of the examination required candidates to have a graduation degree from a nationally recognized university with at least 50% marks scored. Candidates from reserved categories such as SC, ST and PWD will get 5% relaxation. 

3. Once the CAT 2025 results are released, candidates will need to contact IIM Amritsar to seek admission to their MBA program. 

Step 2. Post CAT Exam  results

1. Candidates who have scored equal to or more than the CAT 2025 cutoff for IIM Amritsar will be called for the next round of the selection process.

2. A group discussion round will be conducted in the official center. Where candidates will be given a random topic to discuss and will be closely observed by the panelist. 

3. After GD, candidates will need to give a personal interview where they will be asked questions to test their general awareness, personal goals, reasoning abilities, and other qualities. 

4. Once all the rounds are over, a merit list will be created based on the candidate’s CAT score and performance in the other selection rounds. Here is a table of CAT 2025 section-wise minimum requirements:

Category

Quantitative Aptitude (Percentile)

Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (Percentile)

Verbal & Reading Comprehension (Percentile)

Total Overall Percentile

General

80

75

75

90

EWS

80

75

75

90

Non-Creamy OBC (NC-OBC)

65

60

60

80

Scheduled Castes (SC)

55

50

50

55

Scheduled Tribes (ST)

35

35

35

40

Persons with Disabilities (PwD)

35

35

35

40

5. Apart from the CAT score, the candidate’s graduation score will also be considered while creating the merit list. Each candidate will receive a certain score based on their graduation results. Here is a table explaining how the graduation score will be calculated:

Range of Marks (in %)

Graduation Score

<= 55

0

55.01 to 65

1

65.01 to 70

2

70.01 to 80

3

80.01 to 90

4

90.01 and above

5

6. A final merit list will be created based on the candidate’s score in CAT, graduation, GD, PI and the candidate’s category. 

7. Selected candidates will be required to pay the IIM Amritsar admission fee to confirm and finalize their respective seats. 

Top MBA Colleges in Punjab Exam Schedule 2025 

Candidates aspiring to take admission to the top MBA college in Punjab need to register and appear in the required entrance exam. This includes CAT, which is the most accepted score all over India, and other entrance exams such as CMAT, MAT, NMAT etc. Many universities conduct their own entrance exams, like LPU NEST by the Lovely Professional University and PU MET which is conducted by Punjab University. Candidates can go through the table mentioned below for more information, such as date and accepting college:

Exam

Tentative Date

Colleges

CAT

30 November 2025

IIM Amritsar, Thapar School of Management, Lovely Professional University, Chandigarh University

PU MET (Panjab University)

27 April 2025

University Business School (UBS), Panjab University

LPU NEST

4 August 2025*

Lovely Professional University

CMAT

25 January 2025

Chitkara University, LM Thapar School of Management, Rayat Bahra University

MAT

CBT—21 September 2025 

PBT—28 September 2025

Chitkara University, GNA University, Rayat Bahra University

NMAT

November–December 2025*

LM Thapar School of Management, Chitkara University, Amity University, LPU


Entrance Exams Accepted by Top Colleges 

Exam

Typical Cutoff Percentile

Top Institutes 

CAT

90–95 or above

1. IIM Amritsar

2. Thapar School of Management

3. LPU

4. Chandigarh University

PU MET

As per university guidelines

1. Panjab University

LPU NEST

As per university guidelines

1. Lovely Professional University 

CMAT

80–95+ (varies by college)

1. Chitkara University

2. LM Thapar School of Management

3. LPU

4. Chandigarh University

MAT

70–80+ (varies, usually lower than CAT)

1. LPU

2. Chandigarh University

NMAT

65–75

1. LM Thapar School of Management

2. LPU


Top Private MBA Colleges in Punjab

The majority of Top MBA colleges in Amritsar are private. It includes institutes like Lovely Professional University, Thapar School of Management, and Chandigarh Business School of Administration, also commonly known as CBSA. Unlike private MBA colleges in other states, colleges such as CBSA provide MBA programs at low fees, which cost approximately INR 1.8 lakh. Here is a list of top private MBA colleges in Punjab along with their location, fees, placement, and approvals:

College

City

Approximate Fees 

Average Package (INR Lakhs)

Approvals / Affiliations

Lovely Professional University (LPU)

Jalandhar

INR 2-8 Lakh

INR 6-8 Lakh

UGC, NAAC, AIU

LM Thapar School of Management

Derabassi

INR 10 Lakh 

INR 5-7 Lakh

AICTE, UGC

Chandigarh University (CU)

Chandigarh

INR 6.28 Lakh

INR 6-8 Lakh

UGC, NAAC

Chandigarh Business School of Administration (CBSA)

Chandigarh

INR 1.8 Lakh

INR 3-5 Lakh

AICTE, UGC


Top Government MBA Colleges in Punjab

Punjab is home to some of the best government MBA colleges, like the Indian Institute of Management, Punjab University, and Dr. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology. These colleges offer MBA in the fee range of INR 1 lakh to INR 20 lakh. And have a great reputation all over India. Making them the ideal choice for pursuing an MBA. For an aspirant’s reference, a list of top government MBA Colleges in Ludhiana, Punjab with their respective fee, salaries, and entrance exams is mentioned below:

College

City

Fees (Approx.)

Average Salary 

Entrance Exam Accepted

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Amritsar

Amritsar

INR 20-25 Lakh

INR 18-28 LPA

CAT

Panjab University (PU)

Chandigarh

INR 5 Lakh

INR 5-7 LPA

PU MET, CAT

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT)

Jalandhar

INR 1-2 Lakh

INR 4-6 LPA

GATE (for some courses), CAT

Central University of Punjab

Bathinda

INR 6 thousand

-

CAT, MATCMAT


Top MBA Colleges in Punjab Eligibility Criteria

There is a certain eligibility criterion that a candidate must fulfil to get admission to the top MBA colleges in Punjab. This criteria is set by the universities and may slightly differ from each other. But largely all the colleges require candidates to have a bachelor’s degree in any field from a recognized college with a minimum of 50-55% marks scored. Candidates belonging to minorities such as SC and ST will get 5% relaxation in graduation marks. Read the details mentioned in the table down below to know the basic eligibility for admission to top MBA colleges in Punjab:

Eligibility Criteria

Details

Educational Qualification

Candidate must have completed a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized university, either recognized by UGC or AICTE. 

Minimum Marks Requirement

General category candidates—50% marks

 Reserved categories—45% marks 

Final-year Students

Candidates in the final year of graduation can also apply to get admission to the MBA program. But they must fulfill the eligibility criteria on the time of the admission.

Entrance Exams

CAT, CMAT, MAT, PU MET, or institute-level entrance tests

Admission Process

Generally entrance exam score + GD & PI rounds

 (This is subject to vary based on the institute.)

Special Notes

Some institutes may have slightly varied criteria or additional requirements


MBA Colleges in Punjab Fees vs Salary (ROI) 

To calculate the ROI of any MBA college, students need to compare the fees that they have to pay for the program and the salary offered after completing the program. Lovely Professional University gives the best ROI among the Top MBA colleges in Chandigarh,Punjab. It's because of its low fees, which range from 2 lakh to 8 lakh, and decent placement packages that on average range from 6 LPA to 8 LPA and can go up to 29 LPA. Here is a list of top MBA colleges in Punjab along with their fee and average salary for candidate’s reference:

College

City

Approximate Fees (INR)

Average Package

Approvals

Lovely Professional University (LPU)

Jalandhar

INR 2-8 Lakh

INR 6-8 Lakh

UGC, NAAC, AIU

LM Thapar School of Management

Derabassi

INR 10 Lakh

INR 5-7 Lakh

AICTE, UGC

Chandigarh University (CU)

Chandigarh

INR 6.28 Lakh

INR 6-8 Lakh

UGC, NAAC

Chandigarh Business School of Administration (CBSA)

Chandigarh

INR 1.20 Lakh

INR 3-5 Lakh

AICTE, UGC

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Amritsar

Amritsar

INR 20-25 Lakh

INR 18-28 Lakh

CAT, Premier IIM

Panjab University (PU)

Chandigarh

INR 5 Lakh

INR 5-7 Lakh

PU MET, CAT

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT)

Jalandhar

INR 1-2 Lakh

INR 4-6 Lakh

GATE (some courses), CAT

Central University of Punjab

Bathinda

INR 6 Thousand

Data Not Widely Published

CAT, MAT, CMAT


Highest Salary Offered by MBA Colleges 

MBA is known for its high placements and great career opportunities. Most of the candidates pursue MBA to boost their careers and increase their current packages. IIM Amritsar is known for providing the highest placement packages to MBA graduates among the top MBA colleges in Punjab. In their last placement drive, a student was offered an INR 58 LPA package after finishing the MBA program. Here is a list of other top MBA colleges in Punjab with their highest placement packages and top recruiters:

College

Highest Package (INR)

Offered By (Companies / Recruiters)

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Amritsar

INR 58 lakh

Amazon, Deloitte, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Adani, Axis Bank

Chandigarh University (CU)

INR 18 lakh

Cognizant, IBM, Deloitte, Accenture

Lovely Professional University (LPU)

INR  lakh

Infosys, TCS, Capgemini, Cognizant, BOSCH

Panjab University (PU)

INR 13 lakh

HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Infosys

Chitkara University

INR 8 lakh

Wipro, Tech Mahindra, IBM

Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology

INR 7 lakh

Infosys, TCS, Accenture


Cost of Studying MBA in Punjab

MBA is one of the most expensive degrees in India. It demands the highest financial investment compared to other master’s degree programs. On average, most of the premium MBA colleges in Punjab charge between INR 8 LPA and INR 21 LPA. Apart from the tuition fee, candidates also need to pay for the accommodation, food, travel, and books, increasing the total cost of studying MBA in Punjab. In the table mentioned below, the average cost is broken down and explained in detail:

Cost Component

Approximate Range (INR)

Notes

Tuition Fees

INR 1.2 Lakh – INR 25 Lakh

Varies widely from government to premium private institutes

Hostel & Mess

INR 50,000 – INR 1.5 Lakh

Depends on facilities; typically per year

Books & Study Materials

INR 10,000 – INR 30,000

Approximate cost over the course duration

Total Estimated Cost

INR 2 Lakh – INR 30 Lakh

Covers 2-year MBA including tuition & living expenses

EMI Availability

Widely available

Offered by most private and government institutes through education loans or bank tie-ups

Scholarship Availability

Merit-based, category-based

Many colleges and government institutes offer scholarships for SC/ST/OBC, merit, or need


Top MBA Specializations in Punjab

Business administration requires people with different specialties and skill sets to run any business/organization. Each organization has different departments, such as HR, operations, marketing, sales, etc., all having a specific function. Before enrolling in the top MBA college in Punjab, candidates need to figure out which of these specializations will suit them the best. Here is the list of top MBA specializations in Punjab and colleges that offer those specializations for the candidate’s reference.

Specialization

Top Colleges in Punjab

Finance

IIM Amritsar, Chandigarh University, LPU, Panjab University

Marketing

Chandigarh University, LPU, Panjab University, Desh Bhagat University, LM Thapar School of Management

Human Resource Management (HR)

IIM Amristsar, LPU, Desh Bhagat University, Panjab University, Chandigarh University, LM Thapar School of Management

Operations & Supply Chain

Desh Bhagat University, Chandigarh University, LPU

Business Analytics & Data Science

Thapar school of management, Chandigarh University, LPU

International Business

LPU, Punjab college of technical education

Entrepreneurship

Desh Bhagat University, LPU

Digital Marketing

LPU, Chandigarh University

Healthcare & Life Sciences

LPU


Top MBA Colleges in Punjab Cutoff 2025 

MBA is one of the most competitive programs to get into. Most of the IIMs require candidates to have a 95+ percentile to be qualified for further selection processes. Candidates from different fields register for entrance examinations such as CAT, CMAT, MAT and LPU to get admission to the top management institutes of the nation. Over 2 lakh candidates take the CAT alone each year. That's why it's important to know the cutoff of the desired college to prepare accordingly. Here is the expected cutoff of Top MBA colleges in India.

College

Exam

Cutoff Percentile (General Category)

Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Amritsar

CAT

95–99+

Panjab University (PU)

PU MET, CAT

PU MET: Around 85–90

CAT: 90+

Chandigarh University (CU)

CMAT, CAT

CMAT: 85–90

CAT: 90+

Lovely Professional University (LPU)

CMAT, CAT

CMAT: 80–90

CAT: 85–90

LM Thapar School of Management

CAT, MAT, CMAT

CAT: 85–90

MAT: 70–80

CMAT: 80–90

Chitkara University

CMAT, MAT

CMAT: 80+

MAT: 70–80

Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU)

CAT, MAT, CMAT

CAT: 85+

MAT: 70+

CMAT: 80+

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology (NIT) Jalandhar

CAT

CAT: 85+

Central University of Punjab

CAT, MAT, CMAT

Expected around CAT 80+, varies annually

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which university is best for an MBA in Punjab?

IIM Amritsar and LPU are the best MBA colleges in Punjab. They have great facilities, specializations, and placement packages.

Q2. What are the rules for MBA admission?

To get admission to top MBA colleges in Punjab, candidates are required to appear in the entrance examination, GD, PI and WAT.

Q3. What is the criteria for MBA at Punjab university?

Candidates need to have a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with a 50% score. Only candidates who fulfill this criterion will be allowed to take admission in the MBA program run by the Panjab University.

Q4. Which are the highest-paying specializations?

Finance is the highest-paying specialization in MBA. But the package also depends on the skillset of the candidate and the enrolled college.

Q5. Which is the best private MBA college in Punjab?

Lovely professional University is considered one of the best MBA colleges in Punjab. They have a wide range of specializations and good placements.

Showing 20 Colleges
Ludhiana Group of Colleges Logo

Ludhiana Group of Colleges, Ludhiana

Ludhiana| AICTE Approved| Private
Chandigarh University Online Logo

Chandigarh University Online, Mohali

Mohali| UGC Approved| Private

11-12 LPA - Avg Package

Eligible exams -

10 LPA - Avg Package

Eligible exams -
UEI Global Jalandhar Logo

UEI Global Jalandhar, Jalandhar

Jalandhar| UGC Approved| Private
Gulzar Group Of Institutes Logo

Gulzar Group Of Institutes, Ludhiana

Ludhiana| AICTE Approved| Private
Panjab University Logo

Panjab University, Chandigarh

Chandigarh| NAAC Approved| Private