Top 10 MBA/PGDM Colleges in Punjab, Ranked on Official Data
Reviewed monthly · last reviewed 1 Oct 2026 · list last changed 19 Oct 2026
| # | College | Think Grads Rating | NIRF rank | NAAC grade (CGPA) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chandigarh University, Punjab | 4.0/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | #32 (2025) | A+ (3.28) | Mohali, Punjab |
| 2 | Lovely Professional University | 4.5/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | #44 (2025) | A++ (3.68) | Phagwara, Punjab |
| 3 | Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology | 4.5/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | #46 (2025) | A++ (3.68) | Patiala, Punjab |
| 4 | Indian Institute of Management Amritsar | 4.4/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | #64 (2025) | — | Amritsar, Punjab |
| 5 | Chitkara University, Punjab | 4.4/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | #78 (2025) | — | Rajpura, Punjab |
| 6 | Chandigarh Engineering College-Cgc, Landran, Mohali | 3.9/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | — | A+ (3.42) | Mohali, Punjab |
| 7 | Chandigarh Engineering College Jhanjeri | 3.9/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | — | A+ (3.46) | Mohali, Punjab |
| 8 | Dav Institute Of Engineering & Technology, Punjab | 3.7/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | — | A+ (3.39) | Jalandhar, Punjab |
| 9 | Chandigarh Business School Of Administration | 3.6/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | — | A+ (3.36) | Mohali, Punjab |
| 10 | Chandigarh School Of Business | 3.5/5 based on 3 of 6 factors | — | A+ (3.32) | Mohali, Punjab |
How we ranked these colleges
Colleges in NIRF's national top 100 for the management category come first, in NIRF order, and the rest follow by the Think Grads Rating. The rating uses official data only: academic standing, student demand, approvals and standing, outcomes and value, and transparency. Each college is compared with every college in India offering the same course. Punjab has 17 rated MBA/PGDM colleges. Colleges cannot pay to be listed or to change their position.
1. Chandigarh University
Chandigarh University in Mohali, Punjab is at position 1 with a Think Grads Rating of 4.0. NIRF placed it 32nd in the management category in 2025, which puts it first in NIRF order on this list. NAAC graded it A+ with a CGPA of 3.28. On official disclosures, it scores higher than 99% of the colleges it was compared with.
Good fit if you want a private university in Mohali with a NIRF management rank of 32 in 2025 and a NAAC A+ grade.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Lovely Professional University
2. Lovely Professional University
Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, is at position 2 because its NIRF 2025 management rank is 44. NAAC graded it A++ with a CGPA of 3.68, valid until 11 Aug 2028. Its Think Grads Rating is 4.5. On academic standing it scores above 97% of the colleges it was compared with.
Good fit if you want a NIRF-ranked management programme at a college holding NAAC's A++ grade.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
3. Thapar Institute of Engineering & Technology
Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology, Patiala, is at position 3 with a NIRF 2025 management rank of 46. NAAC graded it A++ with a CGPA of 3.68, valid until 28 Nov 2029. Its Think Grads Rating is 4.5, the same as Lovely Professional University. On academic standing it scores above 97% of the colleges it was compared with.
Good fit if you want an A++ NAAC grade with a NAAC validity running to November 2029.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Indian Institute of Management Amritsar
4. Indian Institute of Management Amritsar
Indian Institute of Management Amritsar, Amritsar, is at position 4 because its NIRF 2025 management rank is 64. Its Think Grads Rating is 4.4. On academic standing it scores above 94% of the colleges it was compared with, and on official disclosures above 93%.
Good fit if you want a NIRF-ranked management institute and are comfortable choosing on its NIRF rank and rating, since no NAAC grade is listed for it here.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Chitkara University, Punjab
5. Chitkara University
Chitkara University in Rajpura, Punjab is at position 5 with a Think Grads Rating of 4.4. NIRF ranked it 78th in the management category in 2025, so it is placed within the NIRF-ordered group at the top of this list. It scores higher than 92% of compared colleges on academic standing and 93% on official disclosures.
Good fit if you want a private university in Rajpura with a NIRF management rank of 78 in 2025.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Chandigarh Engineering College-Cgc, Landran, Mohali
6. Chandigarh Engineering College-Cgc, Landran, Mohali
Chandigarh Engineering College-Cgc, Landran, Mohali, is at position 6 with a Think Grads Rating of 3.9. It is outside NIRF's national top 100 for management on this list, so its place comes from the rating. NAAC graded it A+ with a CGPA of 3.42, valid until 8 Mar 2029. On academic standing it scores above 81% of the colleges it was compared with.
Good fit if you want an A+ NAAC-graded private college in Mohali with accreditation valid to March 2029.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Chandigarh Engineering College Jhanjeri
7. Chandigarh Engineering College Jhanjeri
Chandigarh Engineering College Jhanjeri in Mohali, Punjab is at position 7 with a Think Grads Rating of 3.9. NAAC graded it A+ with a CGPA of 3.46, valid until 10 Apr 2028. It scores higher than 84% of compared colleges on academic standing and 32% on official disclosures.
Good fit if you want a private college in Mohali with a NAAC A+ grade and a CGPA of 3.46.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Dav Institute Of Engineering & Technology, Punjab
8. Dav Institute Of Engineering & Technology
Dav Institute Of Engineering and Technology, Jalandhar, is at position 8 with a Think Grads Rating of 3.7. NAAC graded it A+ with a CGPA of 3.39, valid until 9 Jun 2028. On academic standing it scores above 79% of the colleges it was compared with. It is a private institute.
Good fit if you want an A+ NAAC-graded private institute in Jalandhar rather than in the Mohali area.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Chandigarh Business School Of Administration
9. Chandigarh Business School Of Administration
Chandigarh Business School Of Administration, Mohali, is at position 9 with a Think Grads Rating of 3.6. NAAC graded it A+ with a CGPA of 3.36, valid until 11 Sep 2029. On academic standing it scores above 76% of the colleges it was compared with. Its NAAC validity runs the longest among the colleges at positions 6 to 10.
Good fit if you want a business-focused private college in Mohali whose A+ NAAC grade is valid until September 2029.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Chandigarh School Of Business
10. Chandigarh School Of Business
Chandigarh School Of Business, Mohali, is at position 10 with a Think Grads Rating of 3.5. NAAC graded it A+ with a CGPA of 3.32, valid until 16 Jan 2029. On academic standing it scores above 69% of the colleges it was compared with. It is a private college.
Good fit if you want an A+ NAAC-graded private business school in Mohali and plan to compare it closely with other Mohali options.
Cutoffs · Fees · Is it genuine? · Compare with Chandigarh Business School Of Administration
How the top three compare
Chandigarh University has a Think Grads Rating of 4.0, while Lovely Professional University and Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology each have 4.5. NIRF management ranks in 2025 are 32, 44 and 46 respectively. NAAC gave Lovely Professional University and Thapar an A++ with a CGPA of 3.68, and Chandigarh University an A+ with 3.28.
How to choose, and your chances
Use this list as a starting point, then match it to your own entrance rank, category and budget. Before applying, check each college's official closing ranks, fees and approvals, because these change every year. 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 a shortlist from these colleges.
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 Punjab?
Chandigarh University, Mohali, is ranked #1 on this Think Grads list of MBA/PGDM colleges in Punjab. It has a NIRF 2025 management rank of 32 and a Think Grads Rating of 4.0 on a 1.0 to 5.0 scale.
Which are the top three MBA/PGDM colleges in Punjab?
In order, the top three are Chandigarh University, Lovely Professional University and Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology. Their Think Grads Ratings are 4.0, 4.5 and 4.5, and their NIRF 2025 management ranks are 32, 44 and 46.
How many MBA/PGDM colleges in Punjab were rated?
Think Grads rated 17 MBA/PGDM colleges in Punjab and lists the top 10 here. Each is compared with every college in India offering the same course, using official data only. The list was last reviewed in October 2026.
Is there an IIM in Punjab on this list?
Yes. Indian Institute of Management Amritsar, Amritsar, is at position 4 with a Think Grads Rating of 4.4. Its NIRF 2025 management rank is 64, which places it inside NIRF's national top 100 for management.
Which Punjab MBA colleges hold NAAC A++?
On this list, Lovely Professional University and Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology hold NAAC grade A++ with a CGPA of 3.68 each. The NAAC validity dates are 11 Aug 2028 and 28 Nov 2029 respectively.
How does Think Grads decide the order?
Colleges in NIRF's national top 100 for management come first, in NIRF order. The rest follow by the Think Grads Rating, built from official data on academic standing, demand, approvals, outcomes and transparency. Colleges cannot pay to be listed or reordered.
Which Punjab MBA colleges are in NIRF's top 100?
Five colleges on this list have NIRF 2025 management ranks: Chandigarh University (32), Lovely Professional University (44), Thapar Institute (46), IIM Amritsar (64) and Chitkara University (78).
How often is this list updated?
The list is reviewed every month, whenever new official data arrives. The current version was reviewed in October 2026. Always confirm closing ranks, fees and approvals with the college and official counselling sources before applying.