GradROI
ROI Comparison · 2026

IIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A) vs IIM Bangalore (IIM-B)

IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Bangalore are the top two Indian MBAs. IIM-A has stronger consulting + general placement; IIM-B leverages Bangalore's tech cluster for PM + startup roles. CAT scores matter more than GMAT for both — effective admit rate is ~0.5-0.6% of CAT test-takers.

Head-to-Head: Key Metrics

MetricIIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A)IIM Bangalore (IIM-B)
Tuition (per year)$36,000$34,000Better
Median Starting Salary$40,000Better$38,000
10-Year Net ROI (est.)——
Acceptance Rate0.5%0.6%Better
Duration2 years2 years

Green highlight = better on that metric. Tuition: lower is better. Salary/ROI: higher is better. Acceptance: higher = easier to get in. Duration: shorter = less opportunity cost.

Who Should Choose Which?

Indian-domestic consulting / IB career

→ IIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A): IIM-A's placement stats + alumni network = the default for McKinsey / BCG India + IB roles.

Tech PM / startup operator in India

→ IIM Bangalore (IIM-B): IIM-B + Bangalore's Silicon Valley parallel = strongest tech MBA pipeline in India.

Considering US MBA instead

Either works: If your career goal is USD-denominated in 5+ years, an IIM is likely suboptimal — look at top-25 US MBAs.

Strengths & Trade-offs

IIM Ahmedabad (IIM-A)

Two-year Indian premier MBA with highest INR-denominated median pay in the country and competitive placements.

Strengths

  • #1 MBA in India for placements — consulting, IB, product
  • Lowest tuition of any top-tier global MBA
  • India-based recruiting pipeline unmatched by any US/EU program

Trade-offs

  • INR-denominated salaries convert to lower USD than US MBAs
  • Heavy India-domestic career pull — global mobility limited
  • CAT exam + extreme selectivity — effectively top-0.1% of applicants
IIM Bangalore (IIM-B)

Bangalore-based Indian premier MBA with tech industry proximity and strongest startup + PM recruiting.

Strengths

  • Bangalore = India Silicon Valley — strongest tech + PM pipeline
  • Low tuition + low cost of living
  • Strong global linkages (1-term exchange program with 60+ schools)

Trade-offs

  • Slightly smaller median salary than IIM-A
  • Global recruiter footprint narrower than US top-14
  • Some year-to-year volatility in placement stats

Frequently Asked Questions

Cost comparison?

IIM-A is ~INR 30L (~USD 36k); IIM-B is ~INR 28L (~USD 34k). Both are dramatically cheaper than any top-50 US MBA.

Placement salaries?

IIM-A median is ~INR 34L (~USD 40k); IIM-B is ~INR 32L (~USD 38k). INR-denominated figures look high by India standards.

How selective is CAT?

IIM-A and IIM-B effectively admit the top 0.5% of ~250k CAT test-takers each year. That's more selective than HBS by raw percentage.

Global mobility?

Both primarily serve the India domestic market. Global recruiting pipelines (US/UK) are thinner than US top-14 but growing.

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