The Indian School of Business retains the number one position among Indian colleges in the Financial Times 2025 Global MBA Ranking. Find out the top colleges for an MBA in India
Wed Feb 19 2025
The Financial Times (FT) 2025 Global MBA Ranking has been released, featuring several top Indian business schools. The ranking indicates the top MBA colleges to study for an MBA in India.
Once again the Indian School of Business (ISB) emerged as India's premier management institution, securing the top position nationally for the fifth year running. Globally, ISB climbed to the 27th spot, marking a notable advancement from its previous standing (31st).
Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs), including Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Calcutta, and Lucknow maintained their presence in the 2025 FT MBA ranking, as did XLRI - Xavier School of Management. However, joining the list of the world's top 100 business schools this year were the Indian Institutes of Management Kozhikode and Indore.
Overall, eight Indian business schools were featured in the 2025 ranking, an increase from six the previous year—highlighting the rising quality of business education in India.
So, here's a breakdown of this year's list.
Top colleges for an MBA in India: FT ranking
8. Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode | FT rank: 86
Established in 1996, through a collaboration between the government of India and the State government of Kerala, the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode enters this year's ranking claiming the 86th position overall.
For the batch of 2022-24, IIM Kozhikode secured placements for all its students—a notable milestone for the school. Altogether, 537 students from the school’s Post-Graduate Program in Management (PGP), Post-Graduate Program in Finance (PGP Finance), and Post-Graduate Program in Liberal Studies and Management (PGP Liberal Studies and Management) participated, earning positions with 156 recruiters.
Consulting was the most popular sector for IIM Kozhikode grads, with 33% of the offers, followed closely by finance (28%).
7. XLRI - Xavier School of Management | FT Rank: 83
XLRI - Xavier School of Management secures the 83rd spot in the FT Global MBA Ranking, marking a sharp increase from the previous year when it held the 99th position.
For its flagship two-year programs—the Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management and Postgraduate Diploma in Business Management—XLRI successfully achieved 100% summer placements for the batch of 2024-26.
An impressive 576 students from both the Jamshedpur and Delhi-NCR campuses participated, securing 604 total offers from 133 firms. Among these recruiters were 37 new companies, including Barclays, Sony Pictures, Mastercard, Blockseed Ventures, and Rothschild.
6. Indian Institute of Management Lucknow | FT Rank: 71
Indian Institute of Management Lucknow holds the 71st Rank in the FT Global MBA Ranking for 2025. For the batch of 2022-24—which was the largest batch in the school's history—IIM Lucknow secured 100% placements.
A total of 600 offers were extended to 576 students, encompassing a diverse array of roles in consulting, finance, general management, IT & analytics, sales and marketing, operations, and retail e-commerce. The placements at IIM Lucknow featured opportunities from leading global recruiters.
The institute achieved strong average and median annual Cost to Company (CTC) figures, reaching Rs. 30 lakh and Rs. 27 lakh, respectively. Both domestic and international CTC packages attained remarkable figures, underscoring the quality of placements and the caliber of students at IIM Lucknow.
The significant accomplishment of achieving 100% placements for the batch of 2022-24 at IIM Lucknow was made possible through the active participation of over 200 recruiters in the final placement process.
5. Indian Institute of Management Indore | FT Rank: 69
The Indian Institute of Management Indore made a grand re-entrance into this year's FT Global MBA ranking, usurping IIM Lucknow from its fifth-place position nationally and securing the 69th spot overall.
For the batch of 2022-2024, IIM Indore achieved 100% placement. Over 150 recruiters participated, extending offers to 594 students from the two-year PGP and five-year Integrated Program in Management (IPM), marking the largest outgoing batch in the school’s 27-year legacy.
The season witnessed the participation of 40+ new recruiters, such as Accenture Tech Consulting, Barclays, EY-Parthenon, Samsung Research, and Vector Consulting. With 24% of the total offers, sales and marketing took the lead in terms of functions, followed closely by consulting and general management, both with 23%.
IIM Indore also belongs to the exclusive ‘triple crown’ club, with accreditations from AMBA, AACSB, and EQUIS.
4. Indian Institute of Management Calcutta | FT rank: 61
Indian Institute of Management Calcutta claimed the 61st rank in this year's FT MBA ranking, cementing its position as one of the top colleges for an MBA in India. IIM Calcutta rose from 67th position in last year's FT list.
IIM Calcutta offers a diverse array of postgraduate programs tailored to meet the needs of aspiring business professionals and executives, including an MBA program and an MBA for executives.
The placement report for the 61st batch of IIM Calcutta MBAs showcases an exceptional 100% summer placement rate, demonstrating the institute's strong industry ties and the caliber of its students.
A total of 175 reputable firms actively participated in the placement process, extending a commendable 564 offers to the 475 students comprising the 61st batch of its flagship MBA program.
Students received offers from recruiters spanning a variety of industries, including consulting, technology, pharmaceuticals, finance, and education.
With a median stipend of Rs. 2 lakh per month, equivalent to just over $2,300, IIM Calcutta set a new record, highlighting the strong market demand for its students.
3. Indian Institute of Management Bangalore | FT rank: 57
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore achieved the 57th rank in the FT Global MBA Ranking for 2025, dropping 10 spots from last year's position.
For admissions to its postgraduate courses, the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore accepts CAT, GMAT, and GRE scores from prospective candidates. Among its offerings, the Post Graduate Program (PGP) stands as the most sought-after two-year degree program offered by the college. While the Executive Post Graduate Program in Management (EPGP) remains the most popular one-year degree program.
In the 2024 placement year, a total of 517 IIM Bangalore students from the school’s PGP and PGPBA programs participated, garnering an impressive tally of 572 offers from 163 national and multinational companies. Top recruiters included BCG, Tata Consultancy Services, Microsoft, IBM, PwC India, JP Morgan, Accenture Strategy, and HSBC.
2. Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad | FT rank: 31
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad achieved the 31st spot globally in the Financial Times 2025 ranking, affording it the second highest rank nationally.
The premier offering at the institution, the two-year Post-graduate Program in Management (PGP), stands out as its most sought-after program. Prospective candidates vying for admission to the highly competitive degree are required to present a valid CAT or GMAT score.
IIM Ahmedabad recorded 100% placement for the PGP class of 2025. Firms from a diverse array of sectors, such as consulting, technology, banking, private equity, and analytics, participated in the recruitment process.
Notable IIM Ahmedabad recruiters included Boston Consulting Group (BCG), McKinsey & Company, PwC, Accenture Strategy, EY-Parthenon, Everstone, Moelis, and Goldman Sachs.
With 35 offers, BCG led MBA recruitment at IIM Ahmedabad, followed by Accenture Strategy with 30 offers. In the investment banking sector, Goldman Sachs was the largest recruiter, making 9 offers.
1. Indian School of Business | FT rank: 27
In 2025, the Indian School of Business (ISB) secures the prestigious title of the 'Top Business School in India' after achieving the 27th position globally, up from 31st last year. Additionally, at the Asia level, the school maintained its fifth-place position for another year.
With a strong commitment to sustainability, the Indian School of Business ranked 23rd globally for its carbon footprint, the best among Indian institutions.
Located in Hyderabad, the Indian School of Business provides a range of programs, including its flagship Post Graduate Program in Management, among others. Established in 2001, ISB stands as a beacon of research-driven excellence in the realm of business education.
Aspiring candidates seeking admission to ISB are required to present a valid GMAT/GRE score, ensuring a competitive selection process for entry into this esteemed institution.
Notably, ISB has garnered accreditation from the Association of MBAs (AMBA), a recognition that places it among an elite group of business schools globally. ISB has also achieved the distinguished 'triple crown' of accreditations from AMBA, EQUIS, and AACSB, making it the 100th school worldwide to attain this prestigious distinction.
