Top 10 MBA/PGDM Colleges in Karnataka, Ranked on Official Data
Reviewed monthly · last reviewed 1 Oct 2026 · list last changed 19 Oct 2026
| # | College | Think Grads Rating | NIRF rank | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indian Institute of Management Bangalore | 4.6/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | #2 (2025) | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| 2 | T A Pai Management Institute | 4.5/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | #39 (2025) | Udupi, Karnataka |
| 3 | Christ University | 4.4/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | #57 (2025) | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| 4 | Alliance University | 3.0/5 based on 4 of 6 factors | #71 (2025) | Bangalore Urban, Karnataka |
| 5 | Jain University | 4.4/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | #73 (2025) | Bengaluru, Karnataka |
| 6 | Manipal Academy Of Higher Education | 4.5/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | #14 (2025) | Udupi, Karnataka |
| 7 | Jss Academy Of Higher Education And Research | 4.5/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | #38 (2025) | Mysore, Karnataka |
| 8 | R.V. Institute Of Management | 4.3/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | — | Bangalore Urban, Karnataka |
| 9 | RV University | 4.3/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | — | Karnataka |
| 10 | PES University, Bengaluru | 4.3/5 based on 4 of 6 factors | — | Bangalore Urban, Karnataka |
How we ranked these colleges
Colleges in NIRF's national top 100 for this course's category are listed first, in NIRF order, and the rest follow by the Think Grads Rating.
The rating uses official data only. It looks at academic standing, student demand, approvals and standing, outcomes and value, and transparency.
Each college is compared with every college in India that offers the same course. Karnataka has 235 rated MBA/PGDM colleges.
Colleges cannot pay to be listed or to change their position.
1. Indian Institute of Management Bangalore
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore is at position 1 in Bengaluru, Karnataka, with a Think Grads Rating of 4.6. NIRF 2025 ranked it 2 in the management category.
On the factors we could score, it is above 99% of rated colleges on academic standing and above 93% on official disclosures. On approvals and standing it is above 54% of colleges.
Good fit if you want a college with a NIRF 2025 management rank of 2 and very strong academic standing.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with T A Pai Management Institute
2. T A Pai Management Institute
T A Pai Management Institute in Udupi, Karnataka, is at position 2 with a Think Grads Rating of 4.5. NIRF 2025 ranked it 39 in the management category.
It is above 96% of rated colleges on academic standing and above 93% on official disclosures. On approvals and standing it is above 54% of colleges.
Good fit if you want a private institute with a NIRF 2025 management rank of 39 and strong academic standing.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Christ University
3. Christ University
Christ University in Bengaluru, Karnataka, is at position 3 with a Think Grads Rating of 4.4. NIRF 2025 ranked it 57 in the management category.
It is above 95% of rated colleges on academic standing and above 93% on official disclosures. On approvals and standing it is above 54% of colleges.
Good fit if you want a Bengaluru university with a NIRF 2025 management rank of 57 and strong academic standing.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Alliance University
4. Alliance University
Alliance University in Bangalore Urban, Karnataka, is at position 4 with a Think Grads Rating of 3.0. NIRF 2025 ranked it 71 in the management category.
NAAC graded it A+ with a CGPA of 3.26, valid until 7 Nov 2029. Its Karnataka PGCET 2025 round 3 closing rank for General, rest-of-Karnataka seats in the MBA programme was 26690.
Good fit if you want a private university with a NIRF 2025 management rank of 71 and an A+ NAAC grade.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Jain University
5. Jain University
Jain University in Bengaluru, Karnataka, is at position 5 with a Think Grads Rating of 4.4. NIRF 2025 ranked it 73 in the management category.
It is above 93% of rated colleges on academic standing and above 93% on official disclosures. On approvals and standing it is above 54% of colleges.
Good fit if you want a Bengaluru university with a NIRF 2025 management rank of 73 and strong academic standing.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Manipal Academy Of Higher Education
6. Manipal Academy Of Higher Education
Manipal Academy Of Higher Education in Udupi, Karnataka, is at position 6 with a Think Grads Rating of 4.5. NIRF 2025 ranked it 14 in the overall category.
NAAC graded it A++ with a CGPA of 3.65, valid until 30 May 2027. It is above 98% of rated colleges on academic standing.
Good fit if you want a deemed university with a NIRF 2025 overall rank of 14 and an A++ NAAC grade.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Jss Academy Of Higher Education And Research
7. Jss Academy Of Higher Education And Research
Jss Academy Of Higher Education And Research in Mysore, Karnataka, is at position 7 with a Think Grads Rating of 4.5. NIRF 2025 ranked it 38 in the overall category.
NAAC graded it A++ with a CGPA of 3.61, valid until 17 Oct 2029. It is above 97% of rated colleges on academic standing.
Good fit if you want a deemed university outside Bengaluru with a NIRF 2025 overall rank of 38 and an A++ NAAC grade.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with R.V. Institute Of Management
8. R.V. Institute Of Management
R.V. Institute Of Management in Bangalore Urban, Karnataka, is at position 8 with a Think Grads Rating of 4.3. Its Karnataka PGCET 2025 round 2 closing rank for General, rest-of-Karnataka seats in the MBA programme was 173.
On student demand it is above 99% of rated colleges. On official disclosures it is above 44% of colleges.
Good fit if you have a strong Karnataka PGCET rank and want a private institute with very high student demand.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with RV University
9. RV University
RV University in Bengaluru, Karnataka, is at position 9 with a Think Grads Rating of 4.3. Its Karnataka PGCET 2025 round 3 closing rank for General, rest-of-Karnataka seats in the MBA programme was 2963.
It is above 98% of rated colleges on official disclosures and above 90% on student demand.
Good fit if you have a Karnataka PGCET rank near 2963 and want a private university that publishes plenty of official information.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with PES University, Bengaluru
10. PES University
PES University in Bangalore Urban, Karnataka, is at position 10 with a Think Grads Rating of 4.3. NAAC graded it A+ with a CGPA of 3.34, valid until 5 Oct 2028.
Its Karnataka PGCET 2025 round 3 closing rank for General, rest-of-Karnataka seats in the MBA programme was 656. It is above 98% of rated colleges on student demand.
Good fit if you have a strong Karnataka PGCET rank and want an A+ NAAC graded private university.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with RV University
How the top three compare
The top three differ mainly in NIRF position and academic standing. NIRF 2025 ranked Indian Institute of Management Bangalore 2, T A Pai Management Institute 39 and Christ University 57 in management.
On academic standing they are above 99%, 96% and 95% of rated colleges respectively. Their ratings are 4.6, 4.5 and 4.4.
T A Pai Management Institute is in Udupi, while the other two are in Bengaluru.
How to choose, and your chances
Use this list as a starting point, then match it to your own entrance rank, category and budget. Colleges that admit through Karnataka PGCET publish closing ranks by category, seat type and round, so check the official figures for your category before applying.
Also confirm the college's approvals and accreditation, such as its NAAC grade and validity date.
Each college on Think Grads has its own cutoff, fees and "is it genuine?" pages. The Think Grads college finder and compare tool help you build and compare a shortlist.
What changed this month
- No changes this month: the latest official data did not change the order.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the top MBA/PGDM college in Karnataka?
Indian Institute of Management Bangalore in Bengaluru is ranked #1 on the Think Grads list, with a Think Grads Rating of 4.6. NIRF 2025 ranked it 2 in the management category.
Which colleges are in the top three for MBA/PGDM in Karnataka?
The top three are Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (4.6), T A Pai Management Institute (4.5) and Christ University (4.4). The ratings use official data only and the list is reviewed every month.
How many MBA/PGDM colleges were compared for this list?
The Think Grads list covers 235 rated MBA/PGDM colleges in Karnataka. Each one is compared with every college in India that offers the same course, and only official data is used to score them.
How is the Think Grads Rating calculated?
It scores colleges on academic standing, student demand, approvals and standing, outcomes and value, and transparency, using official data only. Each college is compared with all colleges in India offering the same course, on a scale of 1.0 to 5.0.
Can a college pay to move up this list?
No. Colleges cannot pay to be listed or to change their position. Colleges in NIRF's national top 100 for the category come first in NIRF order, and the rest follow by the Think Grads Rating.
Which MBA colleges in Karnataka have an A++ NAAC grade?
Manipal Academy Of Higher Education has an A++ NAAC grade with a CGPA of 3.65, valid until 30 May 2027. Jss Academy Of Higher Education And Research also has A++ with a CGPA of 3.61, valid until 17 Oct 2029.
What was the Karnataka PGCET closing rank for MBA at PES University?
Its Karnataka PGCET 2025 round 3 closing rank for General, rest-of-Karnataka seats in the MBA programme was 656. Closing ranks change every year, so check the latest official counselling data before applying.
How often is this list updated?
The list is reviewed every month when new official data arrives. This version was reviewed in October 2026. The ranking comes from code applied to official data, not from editorial opinion.