Frequently asked questions

Short answers. Where the honest answer is “it depends on the rule”, we name the rule.

Who decides these grades?

We do, editorially, using four published measures. No institution can pay to change one. The method is here.

Why do you not grade individual colleges?

Because we have no defensible basis on which to score 2,877 institutions one by one. Grading structural categories is something we can do honestly; grading every college is not.

Is an online MBA a real MBA?

Where the university held UGC-DEB entitlement for that programme and session, yes — the award is a degree like any other. Ask for the entitlement letter covering your intake year.

Is a PGDM worse than an MBA?

Not inherently; it is a different instrument. It is worse for you specifically if your target employer or examination names a degree. The full comparison is here.

What is the cheapest genuine MBA in India?

Programmes at open universities and some autonomous institutes run from about ₹32,000–38,000 in total. Below roughly a lakh, programmes differ far less than their marketing implies.

Do you charge students anything?

No. We are paid by institutions when a student enrols. Course fees are paid by you to the institution, against a receipt in its name.

Do I need to clear CAT?

Not for most programmes. CAT rations seats at the IIMs and a small number of competitive campus programmes. Most others admit on graduation marks.

Will a distance MBA be accepted for a government job?

It depends on the wording of the specific notification, not on a general rule. Where it names a degree from a recognised university, an entitled distance degree qualifies. Where it says “regular” or “full-time”, it may not.