CA vs MBA: Know the differences- Looking at the present competitiveness, the importance of having a professional degree cannot be denied. On one hand, we have professional courses like Chartered Accountancy (CA), CS, and on the other side, we have a postgraduate degree like Master of Business Administration (MBA) through CAT 2025, which has its own benefit label. Usually, students are searching for CA vs MBA, which is better, Check out this article to know all the details pertaining to CA vs MBA in India, such as CA vs MBA salary, CA vs MBA career opportunities, CA vs MBA from IIM, MBA vs CA: which is tough etc.
The selection process for MBA admissions to IIMs is mainly based on CAT cut-offs percentile. However, several IIMs carry out their own selection criteria, constituting performance of Class 10 and 12 board exams.
Here is the institute-wise selection criteria for MBA admissions.
IIM Amritsar
CAT score
50%
Class 10
10%
Class 12
10%
Graduation
5%
Gender diversity
10%
Work experience
15%
Post- Personal interview
PI = 70%
Work experience = 10%
Gender diversity = 10%
Academic diversity = 10%.
Aggregate score
0.6 x Pre-PI Score + 0.4 x Post-PI Score
I IM Bangalore
Pre-PI selection criteria
CAT score
55%
VARC = 19
DILR = 21 points
QA = 15 points
Class 10
10%
Class 12
10%
Bachelor’s score
10%
Work experience/ professional course
10%
Gender diversity
5%
Post-PI selection criteria
Personal interview
40%
WAT
10%
CAT
25%
VARC = 8.75 points
DILR=10 points
QA=6.25 points
Class 10
5%
Class 12
5%
Bachelor’s degree
5%
Work experience/ professional course
10%
IIM Calcutta
Pre-PI weightage
CAT score
56
Class 10 marks
10
Class 12 marks
15
Gender Diversity Factor
4 points will be awarded for female and transgender candidates only
F inal selection
CAT score
30
Personal Interview (PI)
48
Writing Ability Test (WAT)
08
Academic Diversity
06
Work experience
08
I IM Lucknow
Pre-PI criteria
CAT score
60%
Class 12 marks
10%
Graduation
10%
Work experience
10%
Academic diversity
5%
Gender diversity
5%
Final score calculation
MBA & MBA-SM
MBA-ABM
CAT score
30
35
Class 12 + Graduation
5+5
5+5
Diversity factor (academic + gender)
5+5
5+5
Work experience
5
-
Writing Ability Test (WAT)
10
10
Personal Interview (PI)
40
40
IIM Mumbai MBA final selection
Rating score for Class 10
Class 10th multiplication factor=0.7
Rating score for Class 12
Class 12th multiplication factor=0.7
Graduation
Bachelor’s degree multiplication factor = 0.7
Work experience
Less than 12 month = 0
>= 12 and <= 36 months = Multiplication Factor (0,20) x (number of months of work
There is a vast career scope for an MBA in several areas of business, along with effective knowledge in management, analysis, and business strategy. On the other hand, chartered accounting deals with specialisation in all fields of business and finance. If a candidate has a specific interest in the finance domain, then choosing between CA and MBA finance can be a tough decision to make.
Careers360 brings you clear details on CA vs MBA, course structure, scope after CA and scope after MBA, career path, MBA vs CA salary in India in comparison between the two courses, and much more.
MBA or CA Which is Better? Overview
Check out below the differences between CA and MBA based on various factors.
Particulars
CA
MBA
Investment
Economical. The overall money invested in a CA certification is less compared to an MBA degree.
It is highly expensive if you are planning to do it from Top B-Schools like IIMs, XLRI, etc.
Pass %
Out of 100, only 3–5% of candidates are able to qualify and get certified as CA.
90–95% of candidates who opt for an MBA course end up getting good jobs.
Career options
A few options are available. For a qualified CA, ample options are not available.
Wider options are available.
Exposure
3 years internship
few months internship, ranging from 3 to 6 months
Difficulty Level
Tough
Moderate to Difficult (80% of candidates crack the exam and pass.)
If one wants to pursue CA, then he/she has to think in advance. Whereas an MBA course can add additional value to existing professions. Nowadays, even executive MBA courses for working professionals are also available.
Chartered Accountancy is an international and professionally recognized course. In India, the CA course is conducted by ICAI, i.e., the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India. A person who qualifies for the Chartered Accountancy course is known as CA. To be recognized as CA, candidates need to appear for the CPT (Common Proficiency Test) after clearing 10+2.
If any candidate does not wish to give the CPT level, then he or she can register for IPCC on the condition that they have a graduation degree. Keeping in mind the track record of passing candidates in the CA course, it is always advisable for candidates to have at least a graduation degree. The main objective of the CA Course - To provide exposure to the Financial and Accounting sector.
Browse Top MBA Colleges Accepting CAT Score: Location-Wise
What is an MBA or Master in Business Administration?
In the investigation of MBA vs CA, one of the quests is why MBA and not CA. A Master’s in Business Administration commonly called an MBA is a postgraduate degree that is widely recognized all over the world. Candidates with an MBA degree are open to vast opportunities. Bachelor’s degree from any background like Science/ Humanities/ Commerce etc. is acceptable to pursue an MBA course.
To take admission in MBA courses, many national, state, and university exams are conducted, like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, BMAT, ATMA, MAH CET, and many more.
Four years (only if candidates clear in the first attempt)
Two-year degree programme
CA vs MBA: Eligibility Criteria
Once you know what CA and MBA basically are! The next step in MBA vs CA is to know the CA and MBA eligibility criteria. CA and MBA both occupy popular positions under top professional courses. Below mentioned eligibility criteria can be checked by candidates if they are planning to either take up the CA profession or pursue an MBA course degree.
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A Chartered Accountancy (CA) is way tougher than an MBA course. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is not that tough as compared to a CA. While pursuing CA, students have to study subjects like financial accounting, business environment, auditing, reporting, general management, taxation, etc.
Career Scope and Job Prospects After CA and MBA
Take a look at the career opportunities after doing a CA or MBA from below.
CA career scope and prospects
Although many professional and diploma courses have emerged in recent times, the importance of CA courses cannot be overlooked. A well-qualified CA is in demand in all industries. As a CA, an individual can work with the government, public undertakings, or private sector companies as well. If one does not wish to work under someone, then CA has the option to practice individually.
The choice is yours—whether you are comfortable working in a small or midsize private practice, auditing and consulting firms, banking, or the corporate sector. You may get a chance to work with the Big 4 or join any multinational organisation (MNC). Almost every huge organisation has an accounting or finance department, and it’s up to you to decide where to apply. Related Article- How to become a CA in India
Job Prospects After CA Course
Auditing firms, Taxation
Management Consultancy Services
Practicing Individually
Corporate law
Scope of an MBA program
Apart from the lucrative MBA salary in India package, a person having an MBA degree will have uplifted career opportunities. The importance of having an MBA degree can not be neglected. MBA can be pursued as a part-time MBA, full-time, or as a distance MBA. Candidates having MBA degrees have a demand in every industry. If you wish to know more about what an MBA is all about.
The international exchange programs give you networking opportunities and a chance to spend time at an international campus, get insights into another culture and their business scenario. The electives are the various specializations offered by the school. Some of the schools offer a wide range of electives that you can choose from as per your interests. The internships give you an opportunity to try your hand at some new area you wish to familiarize yourself with. It would be a good idea to check the placement statistics including the recruiting companies of the various schools while you apply. Read More- All about the MBA
Salary Comparison between CA and MBA Professionals
Before taking any decision to pursue CA or MBA, check out the CA vs MBA salary one can after the completion of the course.
CA vs MBA Salary in India
Some of the good companies offer an attractive starting salary for the right candidate. The average starting salary may range between Rs 6,00,000 to 7,00,000. Though bigger companies may pay a much higher compensation package, smaller firms would not be able to match this range.
Note- It must be noted that the above-mentioned table only shows the approximate values. The salary may vary.
What is Difference Between CA vs MBA?
It’s purely based on your interest and the area you wish to work in. The scope of work for a CA is mainly in the field of finance and accounting area whereas MBAs have more diversity to choose from. There are CAs as well as MBAs who have climbed up the ladder and reached higher positions, though we may say that in certain areas like investment banking, financial consulting, or mergers, and acquisitions, an MBA would be preferred over a CA.
On the other hand, there are instances of CAs who have picked new skills while on the job and handled greater responsibilities than someone who has an MBA degree. There are also CA professionals who apply to international MBA programs to have a shot at a global career. So, we can sum up that a lot depends on the nature of your job, the related responsibilities, and the learning involved.
What is CA? What is MBA?
A Chartered Accountant (CA) is a financial professional qualified to perform certain accounting procedures. A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a graduate degree that provides theoretical and practical training in business or investment management.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Is MBA equal to CA?
A:
In the field of business and finance, both MBA and CA are popular degrees and career options.
Q: Is MBA hard than CA?
A:
CA is considered to be tougher than MBA by most experts.
Q: Is MBA earn more than CA?
A:
Both CA and MBA have the possibility of having a high amount of salary depending on the role and employer of candidates.
Q: Who is better, CA or MBA?
A:
It’s purely based on your interest and the area you wish to work in. The scope of work for a CA is mainly in the field of finance and accounting area whereas MBAs have more diversity to choose from fields such as HR, finances and other.
The results for the CAT 2025 entrance, which is conducted on November 30, 2025, were declared on December 22, 2025. Candidates can download and see their results on the official IIM CAT website. On the website, click on the "CAT 2025 Result/Scorecard" link to download the result by entering the required details.
The link to the website where you can check the published result is attached herewith. The result will be out soon. You can also check the cutoffs on the website of Careers360.
CAT does not restrict eligibility based on stream. Candidates from commerce, arts, science, engineering or any other background can appear for CAT and apply to MBA programmes offered by IIMs and other top B-schools.
The basic eligibility criteria for CAT are:
You must hold a bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognised university with at least 50 percent marks (45 percent for SC, ST and PwD categories). Final-year graduation students are also eligible to apply.
Being a commerce graduate can actually be an advantage in areas such as accounting, finance, economics and business studies, especially during MBA coursework in finance, marketing and operations.
After qualifying CAT, admission depends on multiple factors including CAT percentile, academic background, work experience (if any), performance in GD, WAT and personal interview rounds. Many IIMs and B-schools follow a diverse academic background policy, which means non-engineering candidates, including commerce graduates, often receive additional weightage.
Apart from IIMs, several reputed institutes such as FMS Delhi, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, and many state and private universities also accept CAT scores for MBA admissions.
So, as a commerce graduate, you are fully eligible to appear for CAT and pursue an MBA, provided you meet the minimum academic requirements and perform well in the selection process.
If you want, I can also help you with realistic CAT percentile targets based on your academic profile or suggest suitable MBA colleges.
With a CAT 2025 raw score of 84 and strong sectionals, your expected percentile may fail in the high 98 range , depending on scaling. Your excellent academics and 2 years of work experience strengthen your profile .IIM Lucknow calls are possible but competitive for EWS engineers , while FMS Delhi looks mainly at CAT score and VARC , so you have a reasonable chance there . Final calls depend on cutoffs and composite score.
For MANAGE Hyderabad MBA , the OBC cutoff in CAT 2024 was generally around 85-90 percentile for shortlist consideration , tough exact figures vary by section and profile . For CAT 2025, if fewer candidates appeared , the cutoff might slightly adjust , but percentile based cutoffs dont change drastically year to year. A minor decrease is possible , but you should still aim for 90+ percentile to be competitive. Factors like VARC, QA-LRDI and overall profile influence the final shortlist.
400+ Recruiters | Highest CTC 21 LPA | Average CTC 8 LPA | 92% Placements in 2025 | Ranked as Platinum Institute | Awarded Best Business School of the Year
A career as Marketing Director is also known as a marketing expert who is responsible for the overall marketing aspect of the company. He or she oversees plans and develops the company's budget. The marketing Director collaborates with the business team to plan and develop the marketing and branding strategies for the company's products or services.
A Business Development Executive identifies and pursues new business opportunities to drive company growth. They generate leads, build client relationships, develop sales strategies, and analyse market trends. Collaborating with internal teams, they aim to meet sales targets. With experience, they can advance to managerial roles, playing a key role in expanding the company’s market presence and revenue.
Content Marketing Specialists are also known as Content Specialists. They are responsible for crafting content, editing and developing it to meet the requirements of digital marketing campaigns. To ensure that the material created is consistent with the overall aims of a digital marketing campaign, content marketing specialists work closely with SEO and digital marketing professionals.
A Sales Manager leads a sales team to meet targets, formulates strategies, analyses performance, and monitors market trends. They typically hold a degree in management or related fields, with an MBA offering added value. The role often demands over 40 hours a week. Strong leadership, planning, and analytical skills are essential for success in this career.
A marketing manager is a person who oversees a company or product marketing. He or she can be in charge of multiple programmes or goods or can be in charge of one product. He or she is enthusiastic, organised, and very diligent in meeting financial constraints. He or she works with other team members to produce advertising campaigns and decides if a new product or service is marketable.
A Marketing manager plans and executes marketing initiatives to create demand for goods and services and increase consumer awareness of them. A marketing manager prevents unauthorised statements and informs the public that the business is doing everything to investigate and fix the line of products. Students can pursue an MBA in Marketing Management courses to become marketing managers.
An SEO Analyst is a web professional who is proficient in the implementation of SEO strategies to target more keywords to improve the reach of the content on search engines. He or she provides support to acquire the goals and success of the client’s campaigns.
Digital marketing is growing, diverse, and is covering a wide variety of career paths. Each job function aids in the development of effective digital marketing strategies and techniques. The aims and objectives of the individuals who opt for a career as a digital marketing executive are similar to those of a marketing professional: to build brand awareness, promote company services or products, and increase conversions. Individuals who opt for a career as Digital Marketing Executives, unlike traditional marketing companies, communicate effectively through suitable technology platforms.
Individuals who opt for a career as a business analyst look at how a company operates. He or she conducts research and analyses data to improve his or her knowledge about the company. This is required so that an individual can suggest the company strategies for improving their operations and processes.
In a business analyst job role a lot of analysis is done, things are learned from past mistakes and the successful strategies are enhanced further. A business analyst goes through real-world data in order to provide the most feasible solutions to an organisation. Students can pursue Business Analytics to become Business Analysts.
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