In addition to the widely recognized CAT Exam, the GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test) offers another pathway to admission in premier business schools. This article covers everything essential that an aspirant should know to excel in the GMAT and apply to their target B-schools. GMAT Colleges in India Accepting GMAT Scores Before we delve into the top 12 GMAT-accepting colleges in India, let’s first understand the basics:

What is GMAT?

The GMAT, or Graduate Management Admission Test, is a standardized test administered by the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC). While traditionally popular for international B-school admissions, the GMAT has increasingly become a favored option for Indian B-schools as well.

GMAT Exam Pattern

The GMAT exam is structured into four sections:

The exam consists of multiple-choice questions and an essay, lasting a total of 187 minutes. The maximum score is 800, with scores above 700 considered strong. Candidates can take the GMAT up to five times a year and eight times in total.

Top 12 GMAT Colleges in India

Here’s a list of top Indian colleges accepting GMAT scores:

1. Indian School of Business (ISB)

• Location: Hyderabad and Mohali
• Fees: ₹34 Lakh
• Average Package: ₹34.08 LPA
• Program: PGP
• Details: ISB’s Post Graduate Program (PGP) is a 12-month full-time residential course, requiring at least 24 months of work experience.

Top Recruiters: Microsoft, Google, Landmark Group, HCL Technologies, Bain & Company, Electronic Arts, Honeywell, ZS Associates.

2. Indian Institute of Management (IIMs)

Several IIMs accept GMAT scores for their executive MBA programs, which are typically one-year full-time courses.

IIM Ahmedabad

• Location: Ahmedabad, Gujarat
• Fees: ₹30 Lakh
• Average Package: ₹38.64 LPA
• Program: PGPX
• Details: Requires a minimum of 4 years of work experience.

Top Recruiters: Accenture, Adani Group, Amazon, Google, Genpact, HSBC, Infosys, McKinsey, Microsoft, OYO, Uber.

IIM Bangalore

• Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka
• Fees: ₹29 Lakh
• Average Package: ₹30.9 LPA
• Program: EPGP
• Details: Requires a minimum of 5 years of work experience.

Top Recruiters: Accenture, BCG, Bain & Co., AWS Consulting, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, McKinsey & Co., Kearney, TCS, PwC.

IIM Calcutta

• Location: Kolkata, West Bengal
• Fees: ₹31 Lakh
• Average Package: ₹36.79 LPA
• Program: PGPEX
• Details: Requires a minimum of 5 years of work experience.

Top Recruiters: BCG, McKinsey & Co., Bain & Co., Kearney, PwC, Accenture, Barclays, Goldman Sachs.

IIM Lucknow

• Location: Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
• Fees: ₹26 Lakh
• Average Package: ₹24.66 LPA
• Program: IPMX
• Details: Requires a minimum of 5 years of work experience.

Top Recruiters: Accenture, Amazon, Deloitte, Flipkart, BCG.

IIM Indore

• Location: Indore, Madhya Pradesh
• Fees: ₹21.12 Lakh
• Average Package: ₹25.4 LPA
• Program: EPGP
• Details: Requires a minimum of 5 years of work experience.

Top Recruiters: Accenture, Aditya Birla Group, Amazon, American Express, AstraZeneca, Deloitte, Deutsche Bank, Flipkart, GE, GMR Group.

3. SP Jain Institute of Management & Research (SPJIMR)

• Location: Mumbai, Maharashtra
• Fees: ₹17.88 Lakh
• Average Package: ₹32.05 LPA
• Program: PGDM
• Details: Two-year full-time residential program. Admissions consider overall profile along with GMAT/CAT scores.

Top Recruiters: Accenture, Amazon, Loreal, Mondelez International, BCG, Bain & Company, General Mills, HCL, Unilever, Aditya Birla Group, P&G, PwC.

4. Xavier School of Management (XLRI)

• Location: Jamshedpur, Jharkhand
• Fees: ₹23.15 Lakh
• Average Package: ₹17.8 LPA
• Program: PGDM (GM)
• Details: 15-month full-time residential program, requiring a minimum of 5 years of work experience.

Top Recruiters: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Flipkart, Uber, Ola, Udaan, Swiggy, Star Disney, Times Internet.

5. Management Development Institute (MDI)

• Location: Gurgaon, Haryana
• Fees: ₹23.47 Lakh
• Average Package: ₹23.80 LPA
• Program: PGDM, PGDM-HRM, PGDM-IB
• Details: Admissions via CAT or GMAT scores.

Top Recruiters: Microsoft, Johnson and Johnson, Asian Paints, Amazon, Flipkart, Barclays, Accenture, Deloitte, BCG, McKinsey & Company, Udaan, Reliance, Godrej, KPMG.

6. Xavier Institute of Management (XIMB)

• Location: Bhubaneswar, Odisha
• Fees: ₹17.3 Lakh
• Average Package: ₹17.54 LPA
• Program: MBA BM, EMBA BM
• Details: Two-year full-time MBA and one-year Executive MBA BM program, requiring at least 3 years of work experience for the latter.

Top Recruiters: ICICI Bank, Natwest Group, Deloitte, Accenture, Nestle, Titan, IBM, Bank of America, Vedanta, Mindtree, GE Healthcare.

7. Institute of Management Technology (IMT)

• Location: Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh
• Fees: ₹19.53 Lakh
• Average Package: ₹15.28 LPA
• Program: PGDM
• Details: Accepts CAT, XAT, and GMAT scores.

Top Recruiters: Google, BCG, Blackrock, Cisco, Bank of America, American Express, Amazon, Abbott, Goldman Sachs, ITC, Infosys Consulting, Accenture, Vedanta.

8. Great Lakes Institute of Management (GLIM)

• Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu
• Fees: ₹18.75 Lakh
• Average Package: ₹12.5 LPA
• Program: PGDM, PGPM
• Details: The PGDM is a two-year full-time program for those with less than 3 years of work experience, while the PGPM is a one-year full-time program.

Top Recruiters: Microsoft, Zoom, ZS Associates, Bain, McKinsey, JP Morgan Chase, Adobe, Nestlé, EY India, HP, ITC, PayU, Accenture, Cognizant, ICRA, Crisil, TAS, Société Générale, Deloitte, Swiggy.

These GMAT-accepting colleges in India offer a range of programs tailored to different career stages and professional backgrounds. Aspirants should consider their work experience, career goals, and preferred learning environment when choosing the right program. Good luck with your preparations and applications!