Top MBA Colleges in Kerala 2023

MBA or Master of Business Administration is a steppingstone to the future of many people’s careers. It broadens one’s learning range and adds specific skills to one’s portfolio, such as leadership and managerial skills. This course is particularly important for people that wish to be in managerial positions. It not only imparts the students with very important theoretical knowledge about different subjects related to business administration, it also provides practical knowledge, so that the students can qualify for the professions they choose post college. MBA students can master their leadership and management skills. They learn how to create relationships with employees, partners, and other firms to remain at the top of the ladder and launch a successful company or carry out a management role efficiently. MBA is often the steppingstone to many other fields and careers, thus, making it important to study this subject.

Not only does an MBA provide great exposure and opportunities to the students, it is also a well-paid profession, so the students need not worry about the income part. However, to do an MBA that holds significance, one must do it from the top colleges to not be left behind in the race.

This article covers Kerala as the ideal state for completing your MBA. All the details regarding top colleges for MBA in Kerala, starting from fee details to the placements and future opportunities pertaining to the state of Kerala will be covered in this article. Let us look at the reasons for why one must do their MBA from Kerala: -

• Kerala is the state with the highest literacy rate in India. This is, of course, for a reason. Kerala’s good education planning and schemes have made it one of the best states to complete your further studies in. The Government of Kerala takes their education sector very seriously and works constantly to keep it at the highest levels.

• Kerala provides state-of-the-art technology for the students that complete their studies here. There is a good amount of theoretical and practical knowledge imparted in the top colleges for MBA in Kerala here. The institutions are constantly updating themselves by providing better facilities and sought-after technology to the students.

• Kerala already has metropolitan cities where students can find immense opportunities for their future careers. While it does have metropolitan areas, it does not have an extremely high cost of living, making it an affordable option for a wide range of people.

Top MBA Colleges in Kerala (Based on NIRF Ranking) 

The Ministry of Education constituted by the Government of India came up with the National Institutional Ranking Framework or NIRF to rank the best higher education colleges in the country based on several features and parameters. The Ministry of Human Resource Development approved the NIRF rankings and now announces these rankings to the public. Students can use these NIRF rankings and in making decisions about their colleges. Mentioned below are the top colleges for MBA in Kerala that are a part of the NIRF ranking of the country: -

Top MBA Colleges in Kerala (Based on Careers360 Rank/Rate/Score) 

Careers360 is an education platform that provides detailed information about several courses and colleges in India. It provides well-researched and valid information regarding the rankings of several colleges in particular fields and specializations. Students can make an informed choice about the colleges they must look out for with the help of Careers360. According to the Careers360 ranking and scores, the following are the best colleges for MBA in Kerala: -

Top MBA Colleges in Kerala (Based on Placements) 

Placements are a particularly important parameter you need to look at before applying for MBA colleges because that often becomes the first step for most people’s first career opportunity. A college with good placements can provide better and well-paying opportunities, as opposed to colleges that do not have good placements. Keeping this in mind, the following are the best MBA colleges in Kerala based on the placements: - 

Top MBA Colleges in Kerala (Based on Course Fee) 

Colleges with a variety of course fees are present in Kerala. Students of all economic backgrounds will find a college in this state. Most of the colleges in this city lie in the course fee range of Rs 1 lakh to 5 lakhs. There are some colleges that ask for less than a lakh or more than 10 lakhs as well. A total of 115 colleges offer MBA degrees to students, including public and private institutes. Out of this 115, 16 colleges are public, or government institutes and the other 99 colleges are private institutes.  

• A few of the top private MBA institutions in Kerala with their names and requisite course fees are mentioned below: -

• A few of the top public and government MBA institutions in Kerala with their names and requisite course fees are mentioned below: -

Top MBA Colleges in Kerala (Based on Average Annual Package/Salary)

MBA is still considered to be a highly valuable course, providing good career opportunities and respectable salaries. Some of the expected salaries or pay packages with different colleges are mentioned below: -

Top MBA Colleges in Kerala Based on Entrance Exams Accepted 

The most popular examinations for all MBA courses in Kerala are CAT, CMAT, and KMAT Kerala. Some other entrance examinations include MAT, XAT, GMAT, CUCET, etc. Public and private MBA colleges based on various entrance examinations are mentioned below: -

Mentioned below are the top MBA colleges in Kerala that require CAT exam scores for admission into the institution: - 

• Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi

• National Institute of Technology, Calicut

• Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, Kochi

• Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam

• St Alberts College, Ernakulam

• Institute of Management Technology, Punnapra

• Farook Institute of Management Studies, Kozhikode 

Mentioned below are the top MBA colleges in Kerala that require CMAT exam scores for admission into the institution: -

• Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi

• Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, Kochi

• Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam

• Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies, Trivandrum 

• St Alberts College, Ernakulam

• Institute of Management Technology, Punnapra

• Toc H Institute of Science and Technology, Ernakulam

Top Five MBA Colleges in Kerala Based on Most Popular Specialization Streams 

MBA degrees offer a variety of specializations in the field. Some of the most prominent specialization streams for MBA colleges in Kerala are General Management, Human Resource Management, and Travel, Tourism, and Economics.

• The five most prominent MBA colleges for students wishing to study in the General Management field located in Kerala are: - 

• College of Engineering, Trivandrum 

• Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi 

• National Institute of Technology, Calicut 

• Aligarh Muslim University, Malappuram

• Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, Kochi

• The five most prominent MBA colleges for students wishing to study in the Human Resource Management field located in Kerala are: - 

• Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, Kochi

• DePaul Institute of Science and Technology, Angamaly

• Jai Bharath Arts and Science College, Kochi

• MES College, Marampally 

• Nirmala College, Ernakulam 

• The five most prominent MBA colleges for students wishing to study in the Travel, Tourism, and Economics field located in Kerala are: - 

• Institute of Management, Trivandrum

• Kerala Institute of Tourism and Travel Studies, Trivandrum

• Holy Cross Institute of Management and Technology, Calicut

• Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod

• Rajagiri School of Management, Kochi 

Admission process for getting into the best MBA colleges in Kerala 

The admission process and criteria differ across different colleges but there are certain similarities that every MBA aspirant must keep in mind before applying to a top college for MBA in Kerala. These similarities are mentioned below: -

• Students that wish to pursue MBA for their further studies must have completed their 10+2 level from a recognized educational institution. The cutoff scores are different for various institutions, but it is important to complete the 10+2 level before applying for an MBA degree.

• It is not essential for MBA aspirants to be graduates of the commerce stream. Students belonging to any stream- science, commerce, and humanities can apply for an MBA degree and qualify.

• In most colleges, scoring a minimum of 50% in the final examinations is compulsory. This is reduced to 45% for students belonging to the SC/ST/OBC and other equivalent categories.

After qualifying these minimum criteria, students can attempt the different examinations, such as CAT, CMAT, KMAT, CUCET, MAT, GMAT, etc. and apply for MBA degrees. The further admission process will differ across various colleges.

How to select the best MBA colleges in Kerala? 

There are over 6500 colleges that offer MBA studies in India with tens of lakhs of aspirants wishing to get admitted into these colleges. Of these 6500, 115 MBA colleges are in Kerala. To select the best MBA colleges in the state, the students must go over certain parameters and then apply for MBA degrees. First, you must make up your mind about pursuing an MBA. When you are sure you want to pursue MBA, and no other similar courses, the following steps can be taken: -

• You must decide which management examination you wish to prepare for, such as CAT, MAT, GMAT, KMAT, CUCET, etc. Once you have decided on the examination, you must check which colleges accept this examination and go through their course plans and details to make an informed decision.

• If you already have a dream college in mind, then you must attempt the management examination required by them and begin preparations accordingly.

• You must also keep the location and transportation facilities of the college in mind before applying.

• Go over the fee details, course plan, placement opportunities, and median packages before applying to any MBA colleges.

• Look through the websites, faculty reviews, student reviews, alumni reviews, and facilities offered by the college before applying to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which are the overall top colleges for MBA in Kerala? 

All MBA colleges are proficient in different parameters so there is no best or overall top college as such. The best colleges depend on your areas of specialization. However, some of the leading MBA colleges include IIM Kozhikode, LEAD Palakkad, Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies Kochi, and College of Engineering Trivandrum, among several others.

2. What are the most popular management examinations for MBA? 

Some of the main management examinations for MBA courses include CAT, CMAT, GMAT, XAT, CUCET, KMAT, etc. You should check the examinations which the college of your choice accepts before applying.  

3. What is the general course fee for MBA colleges in Kerala? 

The general course fees for MBA colleges in Kerala range between 1 lakh to 5 lakhs. There are other colleges with course fees below 1 lakh or above 10 lakhs as well.

4. Is KMAT specific to the state of Kerala?

Yes, KMAT, or Kerala Management Aptitude Test is specific to the state of Kerala. Most states and colleges have certain examinations which are specific to them, such as XAT which is the Xavier Aptitude Test conducted annually by Jamshedpur.

5. What are some common job profiles or careers offered to MBA graduates?

MBA graduates are offered managerial positions in several firms and organizations. These could be any type of firms, such as banks, media companies, consultancy firms, etc. Some job profiles include finance manager, sales manager, media manager, product manager, general manager, etc.

6. Do you have to complete a BBA to take up an MBA? 

No, you do not. Students from all courses and fields can join MBA if they are ready to dedicate themselves to the course and work hard. Science, commerce, and humanities streams are all eligible for procuring an MBA.

7. What is the main difference between an MBA and an M. Com degree? 

MBA helps students gain more industrial and practical knowledge, preparing them for managerial roles. It prepares the students for roles in the business and administration sector. M.Com, on the other hand, prepares students for jobs towards the finance, accounting, and commerce fields. 

8. Is the salary for MBA graduates good? 

Yes, MBA graduates earn a good salary, provided they have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities and have graduated from a reputed college.  

9. What are some specializations offered by MBA colleges in Kerala?

Some MBA specializations offered in the state of Kerala include general management, human resources, sales and marketing, travel and tourism, retail, international business, agricultural management, etc. 

10. Is Kerala a good state to pursue an MBA? 

Yes, it is. It has quite a few well-ranking colleges, such as IIM and Rajagiri Centre for Business Studies, among many others. An MBA degree from a good college in Kerala holds a lot of significance.