PGDM Colleges In Kerala

Top PGDM Colleges in Kerala 2026 – Rankings, Fees, Admissions, ROI & More

Content Writer |

Dec 29, 2025 07:41PM IST

With a high literacy rate and a robust infrastructure, Kerala excels in providing an excellent education to business enthusiasts. If you're searching for the top PGDM colleges in Kerala, your search ends here with five prestigious institutions providing world-class PGDM programmes. These include IIM Kozhikode, Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, XIME, SCMS Kochin School of Business, and Atlas Ideal International College. The state features a mix of government and private institutions offering a PGDM programme to students aspiring to become business leaders.

The top PGDM Colleges in India offer a wide range of specialisations, such as business leadership, supply chain and logistics, liberal studies and management, and business analytics. These top 5 colleges offering a quality PGDM programme accept scores from exams such as CAT, XAT, MAT, and CMAT, as well as KMAT, the Kerala Management Aptitude Test. If you're exploring the best options for your PGDM education, CollegeHai is your ultimate guide to finding the right institution for you.

Some of the finest and most in-demand specialisations for a PGDM programme in Kerala are business leadership, supply chain and logistics, liberal studies and management, and business analytics. Kerala offers varying college options in terms of investment in a PGDM course. The tuition fee for a PGDM programme in the leading institutions ranges between INR 7.8 lakh and INR 23,50,000. As for the placement statistics, a management graduate in Kerala can expect somewhere between INR 5.8 LPA and INR 30.96 LPA.

Top PGDM Colleges in Kerala 2026: Highlights

Parameters	Details
No. of Top PGDM Colleges	5
Top PGDM Colleges	IIM Kozhikode Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship SCMS Kochin School of Business Atlas Ideal International College
Ownership	Private and Government
Exams Accepted	CAT, MAT, KMAT, XAT, CMAT
Specializations Offered	Business Leadership Finance Liberal Studies and Management Human Resource Management Business Analytics Supply Chain and Logistics
Fees Range	INR 7.8 lakh - INR 23,50,000
Admission Process	CAT/KMAT/MAT/CMAT/MAT + Written Test + Group Discussion + Personal Interview
Placement Range	INR 5.8 LPA - INR 30.96 LPA

Find City-Wise Details of Top PGDM Colleges Outside Kerala – Compare and Choose:

Find PGDM colleges across different cities and compare courses, fees, and placements. Explore options outside Kerala to discover institutes that match your career goals.

Top PGDM Colleges in Kerala 2026: Fees & Specialisation

The Top PGDM colleges in Kerala are reputable institutions with their print on the national top management colleges list as well. The key names among the several management institutes in Kerala include IIM Kozhikode, the government management college ranked third in the NIRF rankings, and Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, ranked 93rd in the same rankings. Other leading business schools offering a PGDM programme in Kerala include Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship, SCMS Kochin School of Business, and Atlas Ideal International College.

Among these top management institutions, the Atlas Ideal International College offers the PGDM programme for INR 7.8 lakh, making it the most affordable option. As for the most expensive management programme in Kerala, it is offered by IIM Kozhikode, for a tuition fee of INR 23,50,000. The most common specialisations offered in Kerala for a PGDM program are liberal studies and management, business analytics, HRM, and finance.

College name	Fees Range (approx.)	Specialization Offered
IIM Kozhikode	INR 23,50,000	Postgraduate Programme Postgraduate Programme in Business Leadership Postgraduate Programme in Finance Postgraduate Programme in Liberal Studies and Management
Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies	INR 9,04,000	Marketing Finance Operations Human Resource Management Business Analytics
Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship	INR 9,90,000	Analytics Human Resources Finance Marketing Operations
SCMS Kochin School of Business	INR 7,95,000	Marketing Operations Management International Business Human Resources Business Analytics Finance
Atlas Ideal International College	INR 7.8 lakh	Business Entrepreneurship Supply Chain & Logistics Information Technology Finance

Eligibility Criteria for PGDM Colleges in Kerala

Candidates applying for the top PGDM colleges in Kerala must meet the following eligibility criteria by almost all of the colleges. Check eligibility before applying to any college for a PGDM programme in Kerala.

Bachelor’s Degree

Any candidate applying to any PGDM programme/specialisation in the top institutions in Kerala must ensure that his/her graduation is from a recognized university.

The postgraduate programmes in Kerala only allow students with a degree from a UGC-approved college or university, along with all the necessary accreditations.

Moreover, the applicant must have obtained the degree with a minimum score of 50% in the bachelor’s programme.

There may or may not be any relaxation for students under reserved categories, depending on the colleges. The maximum relaxation in terms of aggregate is 5%.

The bachelor’s programme can be from any discipline

Entrance Examination

KMAT, CMAT, CAT, XAT, and MAT are the most common national and state-level exams accepted by the top management institutions in Kerala offering a PGDM programme.

Candidates are selected on the basis of their entrance exam scores. These cutoff scores can differ from college to college, and hence, students must ensure they are preparing for the right college.

GD/PI/WAT Rounds

Apart from the entrance exam scores, colleges might proceed with other evaluation rounds such as an essay writing test, a group discussion, and a personal interview round.

Top PGDM Colleges in Kerala 2025: NIRF Ranking

NIRF rankings have proven consistently to be the most advanced and researched evaluation of colleges on various parameters. 2 colleges in Kerala, one government and one private, offering a PGDM programme, have been ranked among the top 100 business institutions in India. The first business institution to make it to the top 3 is IIM Kozhikode, securing a 3rd rank in the NIRF top management schools ranking. The other institution offering a PGDM program in Kerala that is ranked by NIRF is the Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies. The private institution has secured the 91st rank in the top 100 business schools list.

College Name	NIRF 2024
IIM Kozhikode	3
Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies	91

List of Private PGDM Colleges in Kerala

There are several best private PGDM colleges in Kerala offering a PGDM programme to business aspirants. The top 4 private colleges offering a postgraduate diploma in management are the Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship, Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, SCMS Kochin School of Business, and Atlas Ideal International College. The tuition fees for the PGDM programme in the top private institutions fall within the range of INR 7.8 lakh and INR 9.9 lakh. The Atlas Ideal International College offers the same for INR 7.8 lakh, while the most expensive PGDM programme by any private university in Kerala is offered by XIME. All these top-tier private colleges accept scores from KMAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, and CAT.

College Name	Fees (Approx.)	Exams Accepted
Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship	INR 9,90,000	CAT/MAT/XAT
Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies	INR 9,04,000	CAT/MAT/XAT/KMAT
SCMS Kochin School of Business	INR 7,95,000
Atlas Ideal International College	INR 7.8 lakh	CAT, KMAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT

Also, if you are considering other management paths, check out our article on MBA vs PGDM – Which is Best in 2025? , where we explain differences, career prospects, and which course might suit your goals.

Government/Semi-Govt. PGDM Colleges in Kerala

IIM Kozhikode is the number one government institution in Kerala offering a PGDM programme. The Indian Institute of Management accepts CAT scores only for admissions to its PGDM programme. Candidates aspiring to pursue a PGDM programme from IIM Kozhikode must note that the competition for admission to the top-tier government management institution is very high. The cutoffs are generally above 90-95% for CAT. Moreover, the investment required for a PGDM programme in IIM Kozhikode is INR 23,50,000, marking a significant need to budget accordingly. However, the returns on investment for the PGDM programme from IIM Kozhikode are unmatched.

College Name	Fees	Exams
IIM Kozhikode	INR 23,50,000	CAT

Top PGDM Colleges in Kerala: Fee & Salary (ROI) 2026

The most crucial aspect of searching for the best PGDM colleges in Kerala is the return on investment. IIM Kozhikode has consistently made it to the top in terms of the highest average salary upon placements, with the highest average package going up to INR 30.96 LPA. In the list of private colleges, the Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship has the best placements, with the average package going up to INR 11.94 LPA.

College Name	Fees	Avg Salary	ROI Verdict
IIM Kozhikode	INR 23,50,000	INR 30.96 LPA	Very Good
Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies	INR 9,04,000	NA	NA
Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship	INR 9,90,000	INR 11.94 LPA	Good
SCMS Kochin School of Business	INR 7,95,000	INR 5.8 LPA	Moderate
Atlas Ideal International College	INR 7.8 lakh	NA	NA

State-Wise PGDM Colleges Guide – Explore Beyond Kerala:

The PGDM course fee structure varies by colleges and depends on multiple factors. Check out top colleges in other states to find the right fit for your career. Compare courses, fees, and placements here:

PGDM Colleges in Kerala: Admission 2026

The admission process for PGDM colleges in Kerala: Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you navigate it easily.

Step 1 - Research about colleges on parameters like fees, average salaries upon placement, infrastructure, specializations offered, national rankings, and several others.

Step 2 - Upon finalizing the college from which you want to pursue the PGDM programme, you need to know which entrance exam is accepted by this college.

Step 3 - Suppose you are aiming for IIM Kozhikode; the entrance exam accepted is CAT. Hence, you must register for the CAT exam, appear in the exam, and have your results ready before applying.

Step 4 - Wait for the cutoff notification to be released officially, and if you match or surpass the cutoff percentile, apply online to the college via the official website or the online admission link.

Step 5 - After applying to the college, you will have to go through various assessment rounds, following which the shortlisted candidates will receive an offer letter from the college.

Step 6 - Accept the offer and pay the admission fee via online payment modes to secure your seat for the programme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which is the best college for PGDM in Kerala?

IIM Kozhiode is the most prestigious and reputable college for a PGDM programme in Kerala.

Q2. Which private college offers the best return on investment for a PGDM programme in Kerala?

The Xavier Institute of Management and Entrepreneurship offers the best return on investment for a PGDM programme in Kerala.

Q3. What are the most common specializations in Kerala PGDM colleges?

The most common specializations offered in Kerala for a PGDM programme are liberal studies and management, business analytics, HRM, and finance.

Q4. What is the average tuition fee for a PGDM programme in Kerala?

The average tuition fees for a PGDM program in Kerala ranges from INR 7.8 lakh - INR 23,50,000.

Q5. What is the highest average package for a PGDM programme in Kerala?

The highest average package offered for a PGDM programme in Kerala is INR 30.96 LPA by IIM Kozhikode.