India’s job market is changing every day and requires candidates to level up each day. In a scenario like this, a PGDM degree can provide a candidate with the edge that is required to set oneself apart from others. Students can now pursue PGDM in two different modes of education, regular and online. Candidates who wish to pursue this course in a regular format can take admission in colleges like XLRI Jamshedpur, MDI Gurgaon and S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, which is offering a regular PGDM course at a fee that costs somewhere between INR 7 lakh to INR 22 lakh. On the contrary, candidates interested in pursuing a PGDM course in online mode can take admission at IMI, XLRI Jamshedpur and S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research.
Both Online and Regular PGDM programs generally require candidates to have completed a Bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years from a recognized university with a minimum 50% marks for general category students. Some institutes also accept final-year students provisionally. The eligible candidates need to appear and qualify in national level entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, GMAT, CMAT, MAT, or ATMA. This admission selection process may also involve group discussions and personal interviews. Whereas the online PGDM programs have more relaxed criteria, focusing more on working professionals seeking upgradation. These programs may accept candidates based on graduation eligibility alone, sometimes waiving entrance test requirements, emphasizing work experience and current employment status.
What Is PGDM?
The Postgraduate Diploma in Management is a two year postgraduate program that is designed to teach students business knowledge, leadership skills, and industry-relevant expertise in areas like marketing, finance, human resources, operations, business analytics, and international business. One of the most important aspects that makes it different from an MBA is its focus on hands-on industry experience and practical business related skills. Unlike an MBA, which is awarded by universities and comes under UGC, a PGDM program is offered by autonomous institutes approved by the AICTE. Despite the difference both MBA and PGDM hold strong recognition in the corporate sector.
Candidates who want to study PGDM can take admission in XLRI Jamshedpur, MDI Gurgaon and S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research, which are some of the top PGDM colleges in India. The fees of the regular PGDM program from these colleges usually range from INR 7 lakh to INR 22 lakh. Students who want to take this course but prefer online mode can take admission in IMI, MDI and SPJIMR. These colleges offer online PGDM courses in the fee range of INR 1-10 lakhs. Both regular and online courses have the same syllabus, structure and value, so students can pursue the degree in the format that suits them.
Fees For PGDM In India
The fees for the PGDM courses in India can range from INR 1 lakh to INR 22 lakh depending on the enrolled college, mode of the program, specialization and category of the candidate. For example the fees of the regular PGDM program from the top management colleges in India usually range from INR 7 lakh to INR 22 lakh. On the other hand, the PGDM fee for the online courses is much cheaper, usually ranging from INR 1 to INR 10 lakh. The following table consists of a list of top management institutes for regular PGDM courses with their fee and offered specializations.
| College Name | Specializations Offered | PGDM Course Fees (Approx.) |
| XLRI Jamshedpur | General Management, Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation | INR 16.5 – 25.9 Lakh |
| MDI Gurgaon | General Management | INR 16.7 Lakh |
| S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai | General Management, Marketing, Finance, Operations, HR | INR 22.5 Lakh |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai | General Management, Analytics, Finance, Marketing | INR 15.36 Lakh |
| Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), Chennai | General Management | INR 3.5 Lakh |
| GL Bajaj Institute of Management & Research, Greater Noida | General Management | INR 7.85 Lakh |
According to Collegehai, when it comes to the online PGDM program, MDI, Great Lakes Institute of Management and International Management Institute are some of the top choices of students. The fees of these colleges start from INR 1.4 Lakh and go up to INR 10 Lakh from premium private colleges such as SPJIMR. More details regarding the individual fees and specializations offered by these colleges are given in the table down below.
| College Name | Fees (INR) | Specialization |
| MDI Gurgaon | INR 8.95 Lakh | Accounting & Finance Operations Management MarketingOrganisational Behaviour & Human Resource Management Information Management Strategic Management Business AnalyticsBusiness Communication Economics |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management | INR 3.7 Lakh | Data Science and AnalysisMarketingOperationsFinanceData science |
| SPJIMR | INR 10 Lakh | – |
| IMI New Delhi | – | Business analyticsMarketingFinanceOperationsHuman ResourcesDigital MarketingSecurity AnalysisPortfolio management |
| Japuria Institute of Management | INR 1.4 Lakh | Marketing Human ResourcesFinanceBusiness AnalyticsOperation |
Eligibility Criteria Of PGDM In India
To be eligible for admission in the top PGDM colleges such as MDI Gurgaon, students need to complete their undergraduate degree with at least 50% marks. Apart from that they will also need to appear in entrance exams like CAT to apply for admissions. More elements that are required to be eligible for admission in the regular and online PGDM courses are given below.
Qualification—As this is a postgraduate degree, candidates must have a bachelor’s degree from an institute that is recognized by the University Grant Commission or the All India Council for Technical Education.
Minimum Marks—Candidates are required to have scored at least 50% marks to be eligible to get admission in the PGDM courses that are offered by the top management universities of the country. Students who belong to the reserved category will get 5% relaxation in this element of the eligibility criteria.
Entrance Exam—To get admission in the regular PGDM programs, students need to appear in exams like CAT, XAT, MAT or CMAT. Based on the marks obtained in these exams, students will be called for the further rounds of the selection process. Most of the online PGDM programs don’t require candidates to appear in such entrance exams.
Work experience—Having work experience is not compulsory to be eligible and get admission to the PGDM program. But the institute will consider it while choosing candidates for admission.
Admission Process Of PGDM Courses In India
The admission process of the regular and online PGDM courses in India requires candidates to appear in entrance exams such as CAT, MAT, ATMA etc. After which selected candidates will be required to be present for further selection rounds that may involve a group discussion round and a personal interview. For example, to get admission in the online PGDM program offered by SPJIMR, candidates need to fill the application fee which costs INR 1500. The candidates who will be shortlisted will need to attend the group discussion round and personal interview. A step-by-step guide on the general admission process of the top PGDM programs is given below:
Step 1. Ensure that the candidate fulfills the eligibility criteria set by the desired university. This usually means that only candidates who have a bachelor’s degree with 50% marks scored can apply for the course.
Step 2. The eligible candidate will then be required to register and appear for the entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, MAT and ATMA. These exams are expected to be conducted between November and January.
Step 3. After the completion of these management entrance exams, candidates will need to register on the official website of the college and also fill out the application form with the required documents.
Step 4. Selected candidates will be called for either a group discussion round or interview round.
Step 5. A final merit list will be created based on all these rounds and the entrance exam marks. Candidates will need to pay the admission of the respective PGDM college to lock their seat.
Comparison Between Online & Regular PGDM
Both Regular and online PGDM courses have their own pros and cons
When it comes to the best regular PGDM colleges in India, XLRI Jamshedpur, MDI Gurgaon and S. P. Jain Institute of Management & Research are considered the best institutes to study the course. The fees of these colleges generally range from INR 7-22 lakh. These colleges require candidates to be physically present on campus which also provides students with networking opportunities. On the other hand in the online PGDM programs in top colleges such as MDI, IMI and SPJIMR, candidates will only need to pay INR 1 to INR 10 lakhs for the entire course. The online program provides candidates with according to their own schedule. Read the following table for more comparison between eligibility, highlights, placements and fees of the online and regular formats of PGDM.
| Factor | Regular PGDM | Online PGDM |
| Mode of Learning | Classroom-based | Online/Virtual |
| Duration | 2 years (full-time) | 2 years (Part-time) |
| Fees | INR 7 lakh to INR 22 lakh | INR 1 to INR 10 lakhs |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s + Entrance Exam | Bachelor’s (Entrance often not required) |
| Best For | Fresh graduates, campus learning, structured placements | Working professionals seeking upskilling with flexibility |
| Placement Support | Strong placement cell, campus drives | Limited; depends on institute/edtech platform |
| Networking | High (peers, alumni, faculty) | Moderate (virtual events, alumni groups) |
| Salary Prospects | 5–25 LPA (depending on institute tier) | Salary hike of 20–40% for professionals |
Career Scope After PGDM
The PGDM program offers many career opportunities across industries like finance, marketing, human resources, operations, and data analytics. Graduates from colleges such as MDI, IMI and XLRI can aspire to roles such as brand managers, financial analysts, HR business partners, operations managers, and business consultants. The ever-evolving business landscape in India, driven by digital transformation and data-driven decision-making, has increased demand for PGDM professionals with specialized skills. The degree also fosters entrepreneurship by equipping students with critical leadership and strategic planning skills. With competitive salaries and diverse sectors to choose from, PGDM remains a highly valuable qualification for building a successful management career in 2025 and beyond.
Although both online and regular courses have the same syllabus and curriculum, they have different results when it comes to career opportunities. The regular PGDM courses are much more trusted and credited by the recruiters. Graduates can expect a placement package of INR 5 to 25 LPA from companies such as Microsoft, Accenture and Google. Similarly, the online PGDM programs also provide a salary hike of 20–40% to the working professionals. But it’s considered more appropriate for working professionals, while the regular course can also be pursued by students after graduation and can be helpful in securing a good package.
Final Conclusion
Both regular and online PGDM programs have their own advantages and disadvantages. The regular programs have more credibility in the job market, offer an opportunity to network, provide students with many facilities and give excellent placement opportunities to students. In contrast the online PGDM courses provide candidates with a flexible timetable, lower fees and a chance to study while working full-time. Candidates are advised to carefully evaluate all these components before taking admission.
