Integrated MBA vs Regular MBA: How is Integrated MBA different from Regular MBA?

Integrated MBA vs Regular MBA: How is Integrated MBA different from Regular MBA?

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Updated on 18 Feb 2025, 12:04 PM IST

Integrated MBA vs Regular MBA - Choosing between doing an MBA or an Integrated MBA can be difficult at times as both come with their significant advantages and disadvantages. Candidates can choose either one depending on their career goals, educational background, and personal preferences in terms of long-term career aspirations. The one significant thing to note about an Integrated MBA is that candidates do not have many options to choose from while candidates wanting to pursue an MBA have a lot more options. This article provides a comparative analysis of MBA and Integrated MBA for candidates to help make a more sound decision.

This Story also Contains

  1. MBA or Integrated MBA
  2. MBA or Integrated MBA Key Differences
  3. MBA or Integrated MBA Pros and Cons
  4. MBA or Integrated MBA Which one to choose
Integrated MBA vs Regular MBA: How is Integrated MBA different from Regular MBA?
Integrated MBA vs Regular MBA

MBA or Integrated MBA

An Integrated MBA is a combined undergraduate and postgraduate program that typically has a duration of 5 years. Out of the total 5 years duration, the first three years are for the undergraduate part while the latter two years are for the postgraduate management part of the program. On the other hand, a regular or traditional MBA is a postgraduate management program with a duration of two years. It can be either part-time or full-time. Integrated MBA can be pursued right after school but a traditional MBA requires the candidate to finish a Bachelor’s degree first.

MBA or Integrated MBA Key Differences

The key differentiating factors between a regular MBA and an Integrated MBA are presented in the table given below.

Differentiating Factor

MBA

Integrated MBA

Duration

2 Years

5 Years

Program Structure

A standalone postgraduate program in management and business administration.

Combines an undergraduate program along with a postgraduate management program.

Eligibility Criteria

A Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university.

10+2 schooling in any stream.

Focus

Focuses on advanced business concepts and specializations.

Broad business education. Specialization comes in the later part.

Cost

Varies from college to college.

Generally lower cost due to being a combined program.

Financial Aid

Scholarships and educational loans are readily available.

Have fewer scholarship options.

Work Experience

Not mandatory but often having significant work experience might prove better.

No work experience is required.

Career Path

Typically leads to advanced role leveraging prior work experience.

Entry into the workforce with an MBA directly after.

Program Examples

MBA program by IIM Bangalore.

Integrated Program in Management (IPM) by IIM Rohtak

Entrance Exams

CAT, XAT, CMAT, GMAT, and GRE

IPMAT, JIPMAT

MBA or Integrated MBA Pros and Cons

The pros and cons of each MBA and integrated MBA are given in the table below.

MBA

Pros

Cons

Offers Flexibility

Higher Cost

Gives Specialization

Ultra competitive entrance exams

Networking Opportunities

Can create a gap between the UG and PG

Practical Experience

Lower number of seats in top colleges

Work Experience

High Cutoff

Great Placements

Integrated MBA

Pros

Cons

Seamless transition from UG to PG

Limited Flexibility

Cost Efficient

Lack of Industry Experience

Early start to career

Fewer specializations

Focused Curriculum

Big lock-in period

Easier to get into

Fewer options for financial aid

Fewer college options

MBA or Integrated MBA Which one to choose

The decision to choose between an MBA or an integrated MBA will largely depend on how a candidate wants to address their respective career path. Candidates with a firm decision to build a career in the management space right after school should go for an integrated MBA as it will save them from all the hassle later on. But, candidates who are still figuring out their career stream can explore while their graduation goes on they can keep the traditional MBA as their go-to choice in case they wish to finally go into the field of management.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What is the salary after integrated MBA?
A:

After completion of the Integrated MBA, Average salary ranges from Rs 4.5 Lakhs to Rs 10 Lakhs per annum or above. 

Q: What is the salary for an integrated MBA in India?
A:

The salary for an integrated MBA in India ranges anywhere between Rs. 15 to Rs. 20 lakhs per annum. The salary for an integrated MBA depends on factors like job role, job location, specialization, etc.

Q: Which IIM offers an integrated MBA?
A:

IIM Indore, IIM Rohtak, IIM RanchiIIM Jammu, and IIM Bodh Gaya offer an integrated program in management. Interested candidates can take the IPMAT or JIPMAT entrance test to seek admission to the IPM programs designed for candidates who have just passed the 12th standard.

Q: What is the IIM 5-year course after the 12th?
A:

The 5-year course offered by IIM after the 12th is the Integrated Program in Management (IPM). Admission to these courses is based on the JIPMAT and IPMAT exams. Both are management entrance examinations that can be given right after school.

Q: Which is best, an MBA or an integrated MBA?
A:

Both MBA and integrated MBA have their pros and cons. Candidates can look out for both programs and decide which suits them better as per their career goals and interests.

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Questions related to CAT

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to CAT ?

The three key formulas that can solve almost all Profit & Loss problems are:

  1. Profit/Loss % = (Profit or Loss / Cost Price) × 100%, where CP is the cost price.

  2. Discount % = (Discount / Marked Price) × 100%, where MP is the marked price.

  3. Mark up % = (Mark up Value / Cost Price) × 100%, where CP is the cost price.


These formulas can be adapted for problems involving discounts, marked price, or successive gains/losses.

For detailed examples and variations, you can from the article

https://bschool.careers360.com/articles/profit-and-loss-for-cat-2025-only-3-formulas-needed-for-all-variations

With a 70 percent in CAT Examination, you can go for various B-Schools or private collages. The S. K. Patel Institute of Management in Gandhinagar is an option for those who score 70-80 percent in their CAT examination or The Gujarat Institute of Management (GIM) in Goa with a cutoff of 60-80 percentage. These are the collages you can look for in Gujarat or nearby.

Collage in other regions: BA Colleges Accepting 70-80 Percentile in CAT 2025

Thank You.

Hello dear candidate,

NO. your application for CAT will not rejected for wrong gender small mistake in the OBC NCL certificate. You will be considered as an OBC candidate.

you just need to get your OBC certificate corrected and need to inform the CAT helpdesk about this error.


Hello,

Here are some top MBA colleges in India with fees under Rs. 2 lakh and their exam/cutoff details:

  • SIMSREE, Mumbai – Fee around Rs. 1.3–1.4 lakh for 2 years. Accepts CAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, MAT, ATMA. Cutoff is very high, usually 99+ percentile in CAT/CMAT.

  • PUMBA (Dept. of Management Sciences, Savitribai Phule Pune University) – Fee around Rs. 1.2–1.3 lakh. Accepts CAT, CMAT, MAH-CET, ATMA. Cutoff approx. 75+ percentile in CAT, 90–95+ percentile in CMAT, high scores in MAH-CET.

  • TISS, Mumbai (MA HRM & other management-related programmes) – Fee around Rs. 1.7–1.9 lakh. Accepts CAT for some courses. Qualifying cutoff is around 60–70 percentile, but final selection cutoffs are higher.

These are the main government institutes where the full MBA/PG programme fee is within Rs. 2 lakh. Cutoffs vary slightly each year and by category, but SIMSREE and PUMBA generally need high scores, while TISS has its own process along with CAT shortlisting.

Hope it helps !

Hey! With a NEET score of 344 in the ST category, it is highly unlikely to get admission in any government BDS college in Delhi through the All India Quota. The cutoff for government BDS seats in Delhi usually falls around 400–450 for ST category, so your score is below that range.

You can consider private dental colleges, state quota seats in other states, or reattempt NEET next year to improve your chances.