ISB vs IIM Calcutta are the top MBA colleges in India, known for providing excellent education opportunities, a strong alumni network and stellar placement records. Both the institutes can differ in terms of programmes offered, admission criteria, batch profile, and learning approach. Choosing between the two will depend upon the candidate's career aspirations, budget and learning opportunities that they seek. This article explores the major differences between the two.
ISB vs IIM Calcutta Comparison
Both the institutes are two of India’s most prestigious business schools offering world-class management education opportunities, yet they differ in terms of programme structure, admission process, batch profile, and placement dynamics. Here is an overview and comparison of the two institutes.
Parameter | ISB | IIM Calcutta |
Established | 1999 | 1961 |
Affiliation | Private Body | IIMs |
Accreditation | AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB | AMBA, EQUIS and AACSB |
Campus | Hyderabad, Mohali | Calcutta |
Official Site | https://www.isb.edu/en.html | https://www.iimcal.ac.in/ |
ISB vs IIM Calcutta Rankings
Rankings play an important part in helping MBA aspirants with choosing the right business school. These rankings assess institutions based on parameters like academic reputation, placement performance, faculty quality, alumni network, diversity, and global exposure. Candidates can refer to ranking systems, like NIRF, Financial Times, and QS, to understand the positions of the B-schools among the available options.
Ranking Body | ISB | IIM Calcutta |
Financial Times 2025 (Global) | 27 | 61 |
NIRF 2024 | - | 5 |
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ISB vs IIM Calcutta Placements
Placements play an important role while deciding the the B-school a candidate wants to join. Top business schools are known for their high-paying job offers, diverse roles, and global opportunities for their students across various sectors such as consulting, finance, marketing, operations, and tech. Here is a CTC comparison for ISB and IIM Calcutta for the batch of 2023.
CTC | ISB | IIM Calcutta |
Average CTC | INR 33.26 LPA | INR 32.62 LPA |
Highest CTC | - | INR 1+ CPA |
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ISB vs IIM Calcutta Fees
Fees is one of the important factors based on which candidates select a B-school. Following is the fee information for both the institutes for their regular MBA and executive MBA program.
Courses | ISB | IIM Calcutta |
Full-time MBA | PGP YL : INR 29,99,200 PGP : INR 42,00,000 | MBA : INR 27,00,000 |
Executive MBA | PGP PRO : INR 37,38,180 | MBA Ex : INR 33,50,000 |
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ISB vs IIM Calcutta Admission Process
Candidates must focus on the admission process of each of the institutes as they vary significantly as per the requirements of the MBA programs provided by them. Following are requirements for admissions at ISB and IIM C.
ISB
The admission process at ISB Hyderabad requires candidate to submit their bachelor's degree, test scores (GMAT/GRE/CAT), other track records, work experience certificates, etc. Candidates must have a qualitative work experience with significant responsibilities. The institute will also check on the candidate's motivation for the program and if they are a right fit or not.
IIM Calcutta
To be eligible for the admission process at IIM Calcutta, a candidate will need to appear for CAT exam. Candidates achieving the CAT cut off marks will then be invited for personal interview round by the college. Other factors like academic performance, work experience, co-curriculars, etc. will also play a huge part in determining candidate's selection in IIM C.
ISB Hyderabad vs IIM Admission Process | |
ISB vs IIM Calcutta Programs Offered
Both the institutes offer a variety of management education programs for candidates in different walks of their professional journeys. Here are the detailed list of programs at ISB and IIM C.
ISB Hyderabad Programs
- PGP YL : This is a 20 months MBA equivalent program for candidates with 0 to 2 years of experience. This program will be taught in Hyderabad campus and candidates can apply with GMAT/GRE/CAT scores.
- PGP : This is the 12 month flagship program of ISB, taught in Hyderabad and Mohali campus. To be eligible for this program, candidates need to submit a GMAT/GRE test scores.
- PGP PRO : This is an executive MBA program taught on weekends to industry professional with 5+ years of experience. This iprogrammesonth program taught in Delhi and Hyderabad campus.
- PGP MAX : This is an MBA 15 month MBA program for senior executives with 10+ years of work experience. This program will be taught in Mohali and Hyderabad.
- PGP MFAB : This is a 15 month MBA program for candidates who are the next generation family business owners. The program will be taught in Hyderabad and Mohali. Work experience is not mandatory but preferred.
IIM Calcutta Programs
- MBA : This is the full-time two year residential MBA Program by IIM Calcutta. To be eligible for this program candidates will need to appear for CAT exam. Work experience is not mandatory to apply for IIM Calcutta.
- MBA Ex : This is the full-time one year residential Program for candidates with 5 plus years of experience.
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ISB vs IIM Calcutta Batch Size
Batch size is an important factor that plays role while selecting a B-school, as it significantly impacts the learning experience, peer interactions, networking opportunities, and even the competition during placements. Here is the batch size data of both the institutes.
Institute | Batch Size |
ISB | 865 |
IIM Calcutta | 465 |
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ISB vs IIM Calcutta: Conclusion
In conclusion, both the B-schools provide stellar placement opportunities to the candidates. While ISB is known for inviting industry leaders as their 'visiting faculty', IIM Calcutta provides the best placement opportunities in marketing, finance, operations and consulting. If you have good work experience, like 3-4 years, then you should go for the ISB 1-year programme, but if you are a fresher or have less than 2 years of work experience, then you can consider going to IIM Calcutta.