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An Online MBA is one of the popular choices that every professional at a certain career point looks to enrol in. Graduates choose an Online MBA to earn a degree while pursuing another college degree or while working. Among several online universities in India, LPU and Manipal University Jaipur are the two popular names for Online MBA.
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Both LPU and Manipal University are private universities and entitled by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to offer an Online MBA programme. Since both universities hold recognition and follow UGC norms, choosing the best between them often makes students hard to pick. This article explores the key comparison between LPU and Manipal Online MBA, such as reputation and recognition, duration, fees, specialisations, and placement support.
Before choosing the one, let us have a quick look at the key differences between LPU and Manipal University for Online MBA.
| Factors | LPU Online MBA | Manipal Online MBA |
|---|---|---|
Duration | 2 years (4 semesters) | 2 years (4 semesters) |
University Accreditation | NAAC A++ | NAAC A+ |
Total Fee | Rs 2,00,000 (Rs 1,61,600 with Student Grant) | Rs 1,80,000 (Rs 1,53,000 with a discount) |
Specialisations | 12 (Single/Dual) | 13 (Super/Dual) |
Programme Approval | UGC-entitled | UGC-entitled |
Programme Accreditation | AICTE approved | AICTE compliant + NBA accredited |
International Recognition | WES (Canada, USA) | WES, ICAS, IQAS, ACU, Zambia QA |
Credits | 102 | 90 |
Programme Features | Live classes, Master Classes, guest lectures | Live classes, Campus immersion (Bloomberg, Power BI), Coursera access |
Placement Support | Placement drives, Professional Enhancement Program | Placement drives, AI-powered placement portal, alumni network |
Also Read: IGNOU vs Private University Online MBA: Which is Really Worth Pursuing?
Both LPU and Manipal University offer the UGC-entitled Online MBA programme.
Both universities' online MBA programmes require an average study commitment of 11-5 hours per week.
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In terms of fees, the Manipal Online MBA (Rs 1,80,000) costs less than the LPU Online MBA (Rs 2,00,000). Both universities also offer fee waivers and discounts that students can avail to reduce their online MBA fees.
LPU Online MBA is offered in 12 specialisations, including finance, marketing, data science, operations management, business analytics, IT, international business, banking & financial services, digital marketing, hospital & healthcare management, HRM, and logistics and supply chain management.
Manipal Online MBA is available in 13 specialisations, including finance, marketing, HRM, project management, international business, analytics & data science, operations management, supply chain management, BFSI, IT & FinTech, information system management, retail management, and digital marketing.
In terms of online MBA specialisations, Manipal University is ahead slightly with one additional specialisation in niche domains like IT & FinTech and Information System Management. On the other hand, LPU Online MBA covers specialisations in hospital and healthcare management that students generally look for. So, targeting a niche specialisation also differentiates both universities.
Both Manipal University Online MBA and LPU Online MBA are structured across four semesters covering core business management subjects and specialisation electives. However, they differ in terms of credit requirements. Manipal Online MBA has 90 credits, whereas LPU Online MBA has 102 credits.
Both universities’ MBA programmes include a Capstone Project in the final semester. But Manipal Online MBA sets apart as it provides access to Coursera courses, Bloomberg Market concepts, Business Visual Analytics, and Derivatives & Portfolio Management.
Thus, if you look at the curriculum part, LPU's Online MBA curriculum leans slightly more credit-heavy with a weekend live class format and industry guest sessions. Conversely, Manipal Online MBA differs with tech-forward electives baked into the core programme and optional in-person immersion certifications.
Both LPU and Manipal University offer dedicated placement support to help their students to pursue desired careers. LPU Online offers a Professional Enhancement Program, interview preparation support, with hiring partners across sectors including HDFC Bank, Axis Bank, Bajaj Finserv, Amazon, and several IT/ITeS and EdTech companies.
Manipal University Online offers an AI-powered placement portal through which students can do unlimited mock interviews, employability skill assessments, placement drives, and access to the Manipal alumni network. Hiring partners include LTIMindtree, Accenture, EY, Goldman Sachs, and Diageo.
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If you want to pursue an Online MBA degree from a university with the highest NAAC grade (A++) and prefer a higher credit-load curriculum at a competitive fee, LPU Online MBA is for you.
You can choose Manipal Online MBA if you want NBA-accredited programme-specific recognition, a wider set of specialisations with niche electives, campus immersion certifications (like Bloomberg Market Concepts), and access to global learning platforms like Coursera.
Also Read: Online Manipal vs BITS WILP: Which One to Choose for MBA?
Thus, before choosing a University for an Online MBA degree, it is important to compare reputation, accreditation and recognition, fees, scholarship benefits, placement support, and flexibility that fits a student’s learning style and career goals.
On Question asked by student community
Dear Student,
When choosing a college for an MBA, compare the university based on recognition and accreditation status, fees, curriculum, placements, faculty, location, and entrance requirements. Both institutes offer the best MBA programme, but the choice depends on your interest and career goals. You can compare these institutes on different
Hello, you can check the Karnataka MBA seat matrix for college-wise and category-wise seat details through Karnataka PGCET counselling. You can find the latest Karnataka PGCET MBA seat matrix and counselling details here: https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/karnataka-pgcet-mba-counselling
Hey there,
If your TG/TS ICET rank is 11,156 and you want an MBA college in Hyderabad, you still have several realistic options. Your category matters a lot.
Based on recent cutoff trends:
| College | Recent closing rank/trend | Chance at 11,156 |
|---|---|---|
| AV College of Arts, Science & Commerce | ~11,332 | Borderline–Good |
| Dr. |
Hey there,
If you mean free online MBA-level courses with certificates in India, the best legitimate option is SWAYAM, especially courses offered by IIM Bangalore. SWAYAM courses are free to learn; you generally pay only if you want the proctored certificate.
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