The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM Ahmedabad) is a public business school and India's top-ranked management institute, holding NIRF Management rank #1 in 2025 and every year since 2016. Founded in 1961 and an Institute of National Importance under the IIM Act, it admits its flagship two-year MBA (the PGP) through CAT, and is the most selective B-school in the country. About {{COLLEGE_COUNT}} colleges in our database are comparable institutes.
The defining feature is that it is the benchmark Indian B-school: the longest-standing #1 in management, with a CAT-driven, interview-led admission that is far more competitive than its published percentile cutoff suggests, and placement outcomes among the strongest in the country. Its Louis Kahn-designed campus and the case-method pedagogy are part of its identity.
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad |
| Founded | 1961 (Institute of National Importance under the IIM Act) |
| Type | Government, autonomous |
| Location | Vastrapur, Ahmedabad, Gujarat |
| Flagship programme | Two-year MBA (Post Graduate Programme, PGP) |
| Admission | CAT, followed by AWT and personal interview |
| CAT cutoff (shortlist, General) | 95 percentile minimum (effective bar far higher) |
| PGP fee (2025-27 batch) | ₹27,50,000 for two years |
| 2024 placements | Average ~₹35.5 LPA; highest ~₹1.1 crore (reported) |
| NIRF 2025 | Management #1 |
| Official website | iima.ac.in |
[Source: IIMA official site (fees, programmes); NIRF India Rankings 2025; reported 2024 final-placement figures.]
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| PGP programme fee (2025-27 batch) | ₹27,50,000 for two years |
| Of which tuition | ₹20,10,000 |
| Not included | Personal expenses, laptop, travel, and similar |
[Source: IIMA official MBA admissions page, 2025-27 batch.]
IIM-A offers need-based financial aid, so the effective cost can be lower for students who qualify, but the headline two-year programme fee is ₹27.5 lakh.
The Vastrapur campus combines the historic Old Campus with a newer campus across the road.
IIM Ahmedabad was established in 1961, set up with support from Harvard Business School, and pioneered the case-method approach to management education in India. It is an Institute of National Importance under the IIM Act, with the autonomy to award its own degrees.
The campus in Vastrapur, Ahmedabad, including the historic Louis Kahn-designed Old Campus, is among the most recognisable in Indian higher education. The institute runs the flagship two-year MBA (PGP), along with specialised and executive programmes and a doctoral programme (the FPM).
IIM Ahmedabad has held NIRF Management rank #1 every year since the management rankings stabilised, scoring above 90 for several consecutive years.
Four points define its standing for a CAT aspirant.
NIRF Management rank #1 in 2025 and every year since 2016
Consulting, finance, and product recruiters at the top of the market
Pioneered the case method in India, with a heavy peer-learning model
The most recognised management brand and alumni network in the country
Honest caveat: the published 95-percentile CAT cutoff is only the shortlisting gate. With sectional cutoffs and a profile-weighted process (academics, work experience, interview), the effective bar for a call and a final offer is far higher, typically a 99-plus percentile for general-category candidates without strong differentiators.
| Framework | Category | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF | Management | 2025 | #1 |
2 courses offered. Fees in INR lakhs.
| Course | Specialization | Duration | Total seats | Total fee | Avg package |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBA (Master of Business Administration) | — | 24 months | — | ₹27.5L | ₹35.5L |
| PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) | — | 24 months | — | ₹1.6L | — |
1-year placement history, latest data from 2024.
6 cutoff records across exams, courses, and categories.
| Year | R | Exam | Course | Category | Gender | Quota | Opening | Closing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | — | CAT | MBA (Master of Business Administration) | General | Gender-Neutral | AI | — | 80 pctl |
| 2024 | — | CAT | MBA (Master of Business Administration) | OBC | Gender-Neutral | AI | — | 75 pctl |
| 2024 | — | CAT | MBA (Master of Business Administration) | SC | Gender-Neutral | AI | — | 70 pctl |
| 2024 | — | CAT | MBA (Master of Business Administration) | ST | Gender-Neutral | AI | — | 60 pctl |
| 2024 | — | CAT | MBA (Master of Business Administration) | EWS | Gender-Neutral | AI | — | 75 pctl |
| 2024 | — | CAT | MBA (Master of Business Administration) | PwD | Gender-Neutral | AI | — | 60 pctl |
Campus size, faculty strength, hostel facilities, and academic infrastructure.
The published CAT shortlisting cutoff is 95 percentile for General (90 for OBC, 85 for SC, 75 for ST), with sectional cutoffs. In practice the effective bar is far higher: general-category candidates without strong differentiators usually need a 99-plus percentile for a call and offer.
The PGP (two-year MBA) fee for the 2025-27 batch is ₹27,50,000, of which tuition is ₹20,10,000. It excludes personal expenses, and need-based financial aid is available.
Reported 2024 final placements put the average around ₹35.5 LPA, with a highest of about ₹1.1 crore. IIM-A publishes audited placement reports, so these are best read as the reported cohort outcome.
Through CAT, followed by an Analytical Writing Test and a personal interview. Academics and work experience are weighted in the shortlist and final selection, so the process is profile-based, not CAT-score alone.
By NIRF, yes. IIM Ahmedabad has held the #1 Management rank every year since 2016 and scores above 90, ahead of IIM Bangalore and IIM Kozhikode in 2025.
The PGP (Post Graduate Programme in Management) is IIM-A's flagship two-year full-time MBA, admitted through CAT. It is the programme most people mean by an IIM-A MBA.
Last reviewed: May 21, 2026. Next scheduled review: August 2026, after the 2026 admission cycle and any NIRF 2026 release.
