Top MBA Colleges in Chennai 2026: Fees, Admissions Process, Exam

Kanishk Rahi

Updated on May 1, 2025

11 Topics Guide

Chennai, formerly known as Madras, is the capital of Tamil Nadu, the southernmost state of India. Chennai today is a model of education that attracts students from all over India and abroad. According to the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) 2023 states that Chennai has 7 colleges/universities among India's top 100 colleges/universities for education, with IIT Madras topping the list. Chennai has become a top destination to pursue an MBA degree, attracting students from all over India and abroad.

The city is home to some of the best MBA Colleges in Chennai, offering world-class education and excellent career opportunities. With over 149 MBA Colleges in Chennai, students have a wide range of options to choose from. Of these, there are around 24 government MBA Colleges in Chennai and 125 private MBA Colleges in Chennai. Students can choose from a variety of MBA program specialisations such as finance, marketing, HR, operations, and many more, allowing them to tailor their curriculum to their career goals.

MBA Colleges in Chennai: Highlights 2026

The MBA Colleges in Chennai offer a two-year regular MBA professional degree program in the field of management. The best MBA Colleges in Chennai offer specializations in the fields of Marketing, Finance, HR or Human Resources, Operations Management, E-commerce, Information systems, and more. The best MBA Colleges in Chennai accept admission of candidates based on the national-level entrance exams such as CAT, MAT, XAT, TANCET, GMAT, and CMAT. Here are some of the key highlights related to the best MBA Colleges in Chennai.

City	Chennai
Course	MBA
Total MBA colleges	149
Private MBA colleges	125
Government MBA colleges	24
MBA Specializations	Marketing Finance HR or Human Resource Operations management E-commerce Information system International Business
Entrance exams	CAT / XAT / MAT / TANCET / GMAT / CMAT
Types of MBA program	Two-Year Full-Time MBA One-Year Full-Time MBA Part-Time MBA Online MBA International MBA Executive MBA Specialized MBA

Top 10 MBA Colleges in Chennai 2026

Multiple best MBA Colleges in Chennai offer a master's degree program for 2 years that is subdivided into 4 semesters. With a total of 150+ best MBA Colleges in Chennai, there are around 24 MBA government Colleges in Chennai and 122 private MBA institutes. The top MBA Colleges in Chennai are UGC and AICTE approved, these universities are ranked by the NIRF ranking body and also NAAC accredited. With an affordable and reasonable fee structure, these MBA colleges are becoming quite the preferable option for candidates. Here are the top 10 MBA Colleges in Chennai along with other related factors.

S.No	Institute Name	Types of Colleges	Fees	Exam Accepted
1	IIT Madras - [IIT Madras], Chennai	Government	INR 6,53,450	CAT
2	Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	Private	INR 17,95,000	CAT / XAT CMAT
3	Anna University - [AU], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	Government	INR 41,000	TANCET
4	SRM Institute of Science and Technology - [SRMIST], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	Private	INR 4,25,000	CAT / SAT / MAT / GMAT / NMAT / CMAT / TANCET
5	Loyola Institute of Business Administration - [LIBA], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	Private	INR 9,78,800	CAT / XAT
6	Indian School of Science and Management - [ISSM], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	Private	INR 6,75,000	CAT / XAT / MAT / TANCET
7	Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	Private	INR 4,05,000	CAT
8	Saveetha Institute of Medical And Technical Sciences - [SIMATS], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	Private	INR 3,50,000	CAT / TANCET / XAT
9	VIT Business School - [VITBS], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	Private	INR 3,51,500	CAT / MAT / XAT/ GMAT
10	Rajalakshmi School of Business- [RSB], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	Private	INR 8,75,000	CAT / XAT / MAT / CMAT / NMAT / ATMA / TANCET / GMAT

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Eligibility Criteria For Best MBA Colleges in Chennai

The top MBA Colleges in Chennai accept candidates to appear and gain valid scores in the national-level entrance examinations and meet the basic eligibility criteria set by these MBA universities. These MBA Colleges in Chennai list conduct online admissions of the candidates and shortlist candidates based on their previous graduation scores. Candidates must appear for nationally accepted entrance exams like CAT, XAT, MAT TANCET and many others. Here are some of the basic eligibility criteria that interested candidates must follow to get admission to the top MBA Colleges in Chennai.

Candidates must first qualify for entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, MAT, TANCET, or GMAT, which assess their aptitude in areas such as quantitative ability, verbal ability and logical reasoning.
Candidates should complete their 10+2 with a minimum of 60 percent marks in any stream from a recognized board.
The candidate must have a bachelor's (UG) degree in any discipline from a recognized university with a minimum of 50% aggregate marks.
Candidates from the SC/ST reserved category need a minimum of 45% as they get a 5% concession from the general category.
The selection process typically involves a series of group discussions, personal interviews, and written aptitude tests.
Work experience, although not mandatory for all programs, can be an added advantage.

Admission Process For Top MBA Colleges in Chennai

The list of top MBA Colleges in Chennai accepts online admission of the candidates as the universities conduct their admission process through their official website. The MBA institutes release their exam cut-off list and shortlist all the eligible candidates based on their entrance exam scores. MBA aspirants who meet the cutoff for MBA courses in any of the exams will be shortlisted for the next level of the admission process. Here are some of the basic admission processes the candidates can follow to get admitted to the top MBA Colleges in Chennai.

Appear for the national level accepted entrance exam like CAT, XAT, MAT, TANCET or GMAT.
Register for the MBA admission process and then log in to the panel.
Enter all the required details such as personal information, educational details, and more.
Scan and upload all the required documents, photograFphs, and signatures.
Submit the required admission application fees.
Submit the filled-up application form online.
Download and keep the admission form for future reference.
Shortlisted candidates must appear for the group discussion or personal interview rounds.
Finally, the seat is confirmed only after the verification of academic and personal documents.

Popular Entrance Exams for Best MBA Colleges in Chennai

To get admission into MBA courses in Chennai, the candidate must clear one or more than one accepted competitive entrance exam. These entrance examinations are designed to examine the candidate's aptitude and skills required in areas like quantitative ability, verbal ability, data interpretation, and logical reasoning. Some of the most popular MBA entrance exams accepted by colleges in Chennai are as follows:

CAT (Common Admission Test)

Registration Date: 01-Aug-2024
Last Date: 13-Sep-2024
Exam Date: 24-Nov-2024

The CAT exam is conducted by the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) and is one of the most prestigious and widely accepted entrance exams for MBA programs across India. Many top MBA colleges in Chennai, including IIT Madras and Hindustan Institute, consider CAT exam scores for admission of the candidates.

XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)

Registration Date: 15 Jul 2024
Last Date: November 30, 2024
Exam Date: 5 Jan 2025

The XAT exam is conducted by the Xavier School of Management (XLRI), the XAT is another popular exam for MBA admissions. Several colleges in Chennai accept XAT scores.

MAT (Management Aptitude Test)

Registration Date: 20 Feb–18 Aug 2024
Last Date: 19 May - 28 May 2024
Exam Date: 24 Feb–25 Aug 2024

The MAT examination is organized by the All India Management Association (AIMA), the MAT is conducted several times a year and is accepted by many management colleges in Chennai.

TANCET (Tamil Nadu Common Entrance Test)

Registration Date: 10 Jan 2024
Last Date: February 15, 2024(Extended)
Exam Date: March 10, 2024

The TANCET exam is organized by Anna University, as it is a state-level exam specifically for MBA admissions in Tamil Nadu. Many public and private MBA colleges in Chennai accept TANCET scores.

GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)

Registration Date: 3 months before
Last Date: 1 Feb 2024
Exam Date: 1 July - 30 August 2024

An internationally recognized exam, GMAT scores are accepted by several business schools in Chennai for their MBA programs, especially for Executive and Global MBA courses.

CMAT (General Management Admission Test)

Registration Date: 29 March 2025
Last Date: 18 April 2025
Exam Date: 15 May 2025

The CMAT exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), CMAT is another exam accepted by several MBA schools in Chennai. Each of these exams has its pattern, syllabus, and scoring method. Preparing for these exams requires dedicated effort and a strategic approach to score high, which is essential for getting admission into the desired MBA program in Chennai.

Top MBA Colleges in Chennai Without Entrance Exam

MBA is a popular master's degree program that accepts online admission of the candidates. These MBA institutes accept entrance-based admission and the candidates have to gain valid scores to get admitted to these universities but still, there are MBA Colleges without entrance exams in Chennai that offer merit-based admission to the candidates. The MBA Colleges in Chennai without entrance exams accepts candidates’ previous examination scores. Here is the list of top MBA Colleges in Chennai without entrance exams along with their fee structure.

S.No	College Name	Fee Structure
1	Vel Tech Chennai - Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R and D Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 1,60,000
2	Natesan Institute of Co-Operative Management, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 79,000
3	Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 11,76,000 to INR 15,86,000
4	Indian Institute of Logistics, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 4,30,000
5	Crescent School of Business, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 7,14,000

Top Private Best MBA Colleges in Chennai

With around 135 private MBA institutes offering master's programs in the field of management. These private colleges offer facilities to the candidates such as quality education, modern facilities, hi-tech classrooms and more. The best MBA Colleges in Chennai with fee structures are generally higher, ranging from INR 4,00,000 to INR 20,00,000 due to modern and exceptional facilities, international exposure and a wide range of specializations. Here are some of the top private MBA colleges along with their fee structure.

S.No	Institute Name	Fees
1	Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 17,95,000
2	SRM Institute of Science and Technology - [SRMIST], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 4,25,000
3	Loyola Institute of Business Administration - [LIBA], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 9,78,800
4	Indian School of Science and Management - [ISSM], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 6,75,000
5	Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 4,05,000

Top Government Best MBA Colleges in Chennai

The MBA in Government Colleges in Chennai offers a postgraduate professional degree program in the field of management and business administration. These MBA govt Colleges in Chennai have experienced faculty members who offer training and education in the management field with better placement opportunities for the career building of the candidates. The government Colleges in Chennai for the MBA program are generally more on the affordable side, ranging between INR 50,000 to INR 2,00,000 for the entire course. Here are some of the government MBA Colleges in Chennai with low fees.

S.No	Institute Name	Fees
1	IIT Madras - Indian Institute of Technology - [IITM], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 4,46,400
2	Anna University - [AU], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 41,000
3	Guru Nanak College, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 1,52,000
4	College of Engineering, Anna University - [CEG], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 97,320
5	Institute of Hotel Management Catering Technology and Applied Nutrition - [IHM], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 33,358

Placement For Best MBA Colleges in Chennai

The best placement MBA Colleges in Chennai provide some of the best placement opportunities to aspiring candidates. This helps the students work positively towards the betterment of their future and careers. These renowned companies recruit candidates and provide them with the opportunity to boost the placement record of the top MBA Colleges in Chennai with placement and offer high and competitive salaries. Let’s have a look at some of the MBA Colleges in Chennai with placement along with other related details.

S.No	University	Highest Package	Average Package	Recruiters
1	Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras - [DoMS IIT Madras], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 29,65,000 Per Annum	INR 16,93,000 Per Annum	Amazon Deloitte TCS Accenture
2	Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 37,00,000 Per Annum	INR 15,10,000 Per Annum	Accenture Dell Deloitte Amazon
3	Anna University - [AU], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 36,50,000 Per Annum	INR 6,93,000 Per Annum	Persistent Wipro TCS CISCO Salzer
4	SRM Institute of Science and Technology - [SRMIST], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 52,00,000 Per Annum	INR 7,50,000 Per Annum	Microsoft Google Amazon HCL
5	Loyola Institute of Business Administration - [LIBA], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 21,00,000 Per Annum	INR 11,00,000 Per Annum	Asian Paints JP Morgan Chase & Co
6	Indian School of Science and Management - [ISSM], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 20,00,000 Per Annum	INR 13,60,000 Per Annum	BIG Four Auditing Firms EY Deloitte
7	Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 53,00,000 Per Annum	INR 5,40,000 Per Annum	Amazon Accenture Bank of America Capgemini
8	Saveetha Institute of Medical And Technical Sciences - [SIMATS], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 20,00,000 Per Annum	INR 6,00,000 Per Annum and INR 5,40,000 Per Annum	Tech Mahindra Deloitte Pentagon Space
9	VIT Business School - [VITBS], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 72,00,000 Per Annum	INR 8,50,000 Per Annum	Aditya Birla Capital Mahindra Finance Bajaj Finserv
10	Rajalakshmi School of Business- [RSB], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 12,00,000 Per Annum	INR 7,80,000 Per Annum	Airtel VIVO ICICI Bank Forbes ITC

ROI For Best MBA Colleges in Chennai

MBA Colleges in Chennai have a high ROI as these MBA universities help students boost their career prospects and gain multiple opportunities. ROI helps the candidate know how good and profitable it gets to enroll into an MBA program from a university. This helps compare the average placement package a student would gain by getting admitted into the university. Here are the top MBA Colleges in Chennai with fees and average placement offered.

S.No	Institute Name	Fees	Average Package
1	Department of Management Studies, IIT Madras - [DoMS IIT Madras], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 6,53,450	INR 16,93,000 Per Annum
2	Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 17,95,000	INR 15,10,000 Per Annum
3	Anna University - [AU], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 41,000	INR 6,93,000 Per Annum
4	SRM Institute of Science and Technology - [SRMIST], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 4,25,000	INR 7,50,000 Per Annum
5	Loyola Institute of Business Administration - [LIBA], Chennai, Tamil Nadu	INR 9,78,800	INR 11,00,000 Per Annum

Comparison Of Best MBA Colleges in Chennai

Comparison of top MBA Colleges in Chennai helps the students decide on a better option for them in terms of multiple factors and those colleges are Great Lakes Institute of Management and IIT Madras.

Here is a comparison table of the top MBA colleges in Chennai.

Colleges	Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai, Tamil Nadu	IIT Madras - Indian Institute of Technology - [IITM], Chennai, Tamil Nadu
About	The Great Lakes Institute of Management is a private business school in India. It was founded in 2004 and the university is approved/recognized by, the NBA. Great Lakes offers a range of courses including full-time and executive MBA programs, and postgraduate management programs.	The Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras or IITM) is a public engineering university located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Established in 1959, IIT Madras is an autonomous institution recognized by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).
NIRF ranking	31st in the Management Institutes Category.	15th in the Management Institutes Category in 2023.
Infrastructure	32 acres	617 acres
Fees	INR 17,95,000	INR 4,46,400
Placement Package	INR 15,10,000 Per Annum	INR 16,93,000 Per Annum

Admission Advisory FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

There are around 149 MBA institutes and the fee can range anywhere between INR 1,00,000 to INR 21,00,000 annually. The candidates can check the top 10 MBA institutes listed above along with their program fees and accepted entrance examination(s).