MBA and PGDM are two of the most popular course choices for students foreseeing a career in the domain of management. As a result, students always get confused about finding a suitable option in "MBA vs. PGDM". If you also want to know "What is the key difference between PGDM and MBA", then read this article.
While PGDM is a diploma, MBA is a degree course. Although both courses have similar curricula, there are key differences between the PGDM and MBA. Read this article to learn “Which is better, MBA or PGDM?”. Some of the factors that students can consider while choosing between MBA and PGDM are fees, career goals, academic background and performance in entrance exams, ranking and placement record of the college, and salary.
All about MBA:
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Know about both courses in detail:
Difference Between PGDM and MBA
| Parameters | PGDM | MBA |
| Full Form | Post Graduate Diploma in Management | Master of Business Administration |
| Approving Authority | AICTE, Ministry of HRD, Government of India. | AICTE, Ministry of HRD, Government of India, UGC Approval (for university level) |
| Validity | Valid and equivalent to Post Graduate Degree. | Valid Post Graduate Degree. |
| Eligibility | bachelor's degree in any stream with a minimum of 50% score from a recognized university | graduation in any subject or equivalents with a minimum of 50% from a recognized university |
| Admission Process | Entrance Exam/ Direct Admission | Entrance Exams Based |
| Entrance Exams | ||
| Placements | PGDM institutions mostly have better placement records as compared to MBA institutions. | Few MBA institutions like FMS, and JBIMS have better placement records. |
| Course Syllabus | Regularly updated as per the dynamic needs of the industry. Approved by AICTE. | Prepared by universities and updated less regularly. |
| Teaching Pedagogy | Multidimensional training with case studies, simulations, presentations, short-term training, etc. | Limited scope as the syllabus if prepared by the university. |
| Examinations | PGDM examinations are approved by AICTE | MBA Examinations are conducted by the university |
MBA Specialization Courses:
What is an MBA?
MBA Full Form is Master of Business Administration. It is a two-year postgraduate course that aims to prepare students for management management-level positions. It is a degree course. MBA admissions are based on entrance exams like CAT, XAT, etc.
What is PGDM?
PGDM full form is a Post Graduate Diploma in Management. It is a two-year industry-focused management course. It is a diploma course and mostly the course admissions are based on entrance exams. However, some colleges grant direct admissions, which is mostly followed by private institutions.
Key Differences Between MBA and PGDM
Now, we will look at the detailed differences between PGDM and MBA courses based on various factors such as qualification type, syllabus, course fees, colleges, etc.
MBA vs PGDM: Affiliation and Accreditations
The primary distinction between the two programs is that while the PGDM is a diploma course, MBA is a degree course. Any public or private college affiliated with the university may provide an MBA course. Degrees can only be granted by certain institutions, which are administered by the University Grants Commission (UGC).
PGDM courses are offered by AICTE-approved B-schools that come under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (HRD), which is independent of the UGC. It must be noted that the corporate world does not differentiate between the two. Both MBA as well as PGDM graduates are qualified for similar managerial positions.
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MBA vs PGDM: Eligibility
The basic eligibility criteria for MBA and PGDM courses are listed below.
- Eligibility Criteria for MBA: Candidates must have earned a bachelor's degree in any discipline with a minimum cumulative GPA of 50% to be admitted to MBA programs. To join well-known MBA colleges in India, applicants must pass the entrance exam at the national or university level.
- Eligibility Criteria for PGDM: Candidates must hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university with a minimum of 50% in any discipline to be eligible for the PGDM program. A few prestigious PGDM schools grant admission based on the results of the entrance exam.
MBA vs PGDM: Syllabus
The curriculum for MBA courses is typically created by the university. In two MBA colleges within the same university, the core curriculum (and occasionally even the elective subjects) will be essentially the same. Universities fail to regularly update their curricula. However, each institute chooses its own PGPM or PGDM course syllabus. This allows the course program some flexibility. Every year is modified by business and industry needs.
Given below is a list of common topics that are found in the syllabus for MBA and PGDM:
MBA Syllabus:
| Finance Management | Marketing Management |
| Business Statistics | Organizational Behavior |
| Project Management | Principles of Accounting |
| Human Resource Management | Business Communication and Skills |
PGDM Syllabus:
| Marketing and Consumer Behavior | Introduction to Information Technology |
| Financial Reporting and Analysis | Operations Management |
| Strategic Management | Business Law & Corporate Governance |
| Finance Accounting | Management Information System |
MBA vs PGDM: Course Fees
It has been noted that most MBA programs charge lower tuition fees than PGP or PGDM programs. This may be the case because most MBA programs are offered by government-approved universities. Government subsidies and financial aid are provided to certain colleges, making degrees more affordable for students. Students are responsible for covering the whole cost of a PGP or PGDM diploma program. Nonetheless, this rule is not stagnant; some MBA colleges also charge expensive tuition fees.
- MBA Fees: INR 2 – 20 LPA
- PGDM Fees: INR 4 – 24 LPA
MBA vs PGDM: Admission 2024
MBA Admission Process:
- Registration and completing the application form.
- Appear for the MBA entrance exam.
- Taking GD and PI rounds.
- Counselling for the final seat allotment.
PGDM Admission Process:
- Registration and completing the application form.
- Taking PGDM entrance exams.
- Shortlisting of candidates based on entrance exam scores and academic records.
- Counselling round for seat allotment.
MBA vs PGDM: Entrance Exams
Both courses accept results from a range of competitive exams, including the CAT, MAT, GMAT, XAT, etc. Many institutions and colleges accept grades from state-level exams, including the MAHCET, TSICET, PGCET, and TANCET for MBA courses. A few elite colleges also administer their entrance exams, such as the XAT (XLRI), SNAP (Symbiosis), and IIFT EXAM (IIFT).
Regarding entrance exams, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all theory. For instance, the CAT, the most popular entrance exam in India, is not approved by the Indian School of Business (ISB). In the case of the PGDM course, there is no specific admission score cut-off because admissions depend on many variables, such as past academic and professional performance, achievements, diversity of background, etc.
MBA vs PGDM: Placements
Given below is a list comparing the placements offered to MBA and PGDM graduates:
MBA Placements:
| College Name | Location | Average Annual Salary |
| Indian Institute of Management | Calcutta | INR 34,00,000 |
| Indian School of Business | Hyderabad | INR 34,70,000 |
| Indian Institute of Management | Bangalore | INR 33,80,000 |
| Faculty of Management Studies | Delhi | INR 32,40,000 |
| SP Jain Institute of Management and Research | Mumbai | INR 32,00,000 |
PGDM Placements:
| College Name | Location | Average Annual Salary |
| Institute of Management Technology | Ghaziabad | INR 17,35,000 |
| XLRI: Xavier School of Management | Jamshedpur | INR 32,70,000 |
| Birla Institute of Management Technology | Noida | INR 11,25,000 |
| SP Jain Institute of Management and Research | Mumbai | INR 33,02,000 |
| Great Lakes Institute of Management | Gurgaon | INR 14,50,000 |
| Jaipuria Institute of Management | Jaipur | INR 11,49,000 |
MBA vs PGDM: Jobs and Salary
Jobs and Salary After MBA:
Given below is a list of the top job profiles and the average annual salary offered after an MBA:
| Job Profile | Average Annual Salary |
| Accounting Manager | INR 7,21,000 |
| Human Resource Manager | INR 6,60,000 |
| Marketing Manager | INR 7,00,000 |
| Business Development Manager | INR 5,70,000 |
| Senior Business Analyst | INR 11,60,000 |
Jobs and Salary After PGDM:
Given below is a list of the top job profiles and the average annual salary offered after PGDM:
| Job Profile | Average Annual Salary |
| Business Consultant | INR 9,40,000 |
| PR Officer | INR 2,50,000 |
| Strategic Manager | INR 19,88,000 |
| Brand Manager | INR 12,00,000 |
| International Sales Manager | INR 10,00,000 |
MBA vs PGDM: Top Colleges
In this section, we have listed the top colleges for both courses along with the course fees.
Top MBA Colleges in India
Here is a list of the top colleges that offer MBA courses in India:
| Name of the College | MBA Course Fees |
| IIM Ahmedabad | INR 23 lakhs |
| IIM Bangalore | INR 23 lakhs |
| Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Pune | INR 9.6 lakhs |
| Indian Institute of Management, Ranchi | INR 7.8 lakhs |
| IIT Madras, Chennai | INR 4 lakhs |
| FMS Delhi - Faculty of Management Studies, Delhi | INR 20.9 lakhs |
| Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi | INR 11.6 lakhs |
| IIT Kanpur, Kanpur | INR 1.58 lakhs |
| NIT Trichy, Tiruchirappalli | INR 97,280 |
Top PGDM Colleges in India
Here is a list of the top colleges that offer PGDM courses in India:
| Name of the College | PGDM Course Fees |
| IIM Ahmedabad | INR 22 lakhs |
| IIM Calcutta | INR 19 lakhs |
| IIM Bangalore | INR 23 lakhs |
| SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai | INR 16 lakhs |
| XLRI Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur | INR 15 lakhs |
| IIM Lucknow | INR 14.16 lakhs |
| MDI | INR 21.32 lakhs |
| NMIMS | INR 11.20 lakhs |
| IMI New Delhi | INR 16.49 lakhs |
MBA vs. PGDM: Which is Better?
While both MBA and PGDM have their pros and cons, it is up to your personal goals in life to decide on a suitable course for yourself. We have listed the parameters that differentiate between the two courses. You can measure both courses against your preferences and choices to find suitable course options for yourself. While the course curriculum is quite similar, course fees, entrance exam scores, and college reputation can be major areas of concern. Students must give extra preference to the college repute and placement record of the company to land better job prospects.