- Fees are close: Rs 27.5 lakh at IIM Ahmedabad (2025-27 batch), Rs 26 lakh at IIM Bangalore and Rs 27 lakh at IIM Calcutta (both 2026-28).
- The 2024-26 medians are Rs 37 lakh (Ahmedabad), Rs 35 lakh (Calcutta) and Rs 34.75 lakh (Bangalore). Dividing median by fee gives 1.35, 1.30 and 1.34, which is very close.
- Our CAT cutoff estimates for a roughly 50% chance of a call are 98.3, 98 and 97. They are not official cutoffs.
- Batch averages of work experience are 24 months (Ahmedabad, 2026-28), 27 months (Bangalore, 2026-28) and 22.6 months (Calcutta, 2024-26).
On published numbers, IIM Ahmedabad vs IIM Bangalore vs IIM Calcutta is a close call. Fees sit within Rs 1.5 lakh of each other, the 2024-26 medians span Rs 34.75 to 37 lakh, and the ratio of median to fee is almost the same at all three.
This post lines them up on fee, placements, batch profile, sector mix and selection, with batch years beside each figure. Where a comparison needs data we do not hold, it says so. Remarks about fit are marked as opinion.
IIM Ahmedabad vs IIM Bangalore vs IIM Calcutta side by side
| IIM Ahmedabad | IIM Bangalore | IIM Calcutta | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total fee | Rs 27.5 lakh (2025-27) | Rs 26 lakh (2026-28) | Rs 27 lakh (2026-28) |
| Average package, 2024-26 | Rs 37.97 lakh | Rs 35.35 lakh | Rs 36 lakh |
| Median package, 2024-26 | Rs 37 lakh | Rs 34.75 lakh | Rs 35 lakh |
| CAT cutoff (our estimate) | 98.3 | 98 | 97 |
| NIRF 2025, Management | 1st | 2nd | 7th |
| Established; campus | 1961; Ahmedabad, 102 acres | 1973; Bengaluru, 100 acres | 1961; Kolkata |
| Accreditation | EQUIS | EQUIS | AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS |
IIM Ahmedabad reports its package on a different basis from most colleges (maximum earning potential for domestic offers), so compare its average with care. The cutoff is our estimate of the percentile for about a 50% chance of an interview call, General category, average profile.
How do fee and placement compare, with batch years?
Bangalore's fee is the lowest, by Rs 1 lakh against Calcutta and Rs 1.5 lakh against Ahmedabad. Ahmedabad's fee is for the 2025-27 batch, a year older than the other two.
- IIM Ahmedabad: 37 divided by 27.5 is 1.35.
- IIM Bangalore: 34.75 divided by 26 is 1.34.
- IIM Calcutta: 35 divided by 27 is 1.30.
Answer: All three are within 0.05 of each other. A gap that small can reverse with the next batch.
- IIM Ahmedabad: 402 students were eligible and 392 accepted offers through the institute.
- IIM Bangalore: 665 offers from 177 companies for the PGP and PGPBA, 283 of them pre-placement offers.
- IIM Calcutta: 542 offers to 458 students from 202 firms, with 100% placed.
How do the batch profiles differ?
| IIM Ahmedabad (2026-28) | IIM Bangalore (2026-28) | IIM Calcutta (2024-26) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students | 414 in the PGP | 541 in the PGP, plus 77 in the PGPBA | 458 |
| Average work experience | 24 months | 27 months, PGP and PGPBA combined | 22.6 months |
| Engineers | 60.87% | 67% of the PGP | Not published as a share; 32.8% from IITs, NITs and BITS |
| Women | 30.92% | 42% of the PGP | Gender ratio published as 64:36 |
Calcutta's profile is a batch older than the other two, so differences in work experience partly reflect timing.
What does the sector mix show?
Only part of the sector picture is in our data, so these are bullets and not a full table.
- IIM Ahmedabad (2024-26): consulting accounted for 155 of 392 accepted offers, about 39.5%. No fuller split is in our data.
- IIM Bangalore (2024-26): shares as printed in its report are consulting 45%, IT software, analytics and product management 14%, and finance, banking and investments 11%.
- IIM Calcutta (2024-26): consulting 38%, general management 21%, finance 18.6%, IT and product management 13.3% and sales and marketing 9%.
Consulting is the largest block wherever a split is published. The categories are grouped differently, so compare large gaps only.
What do the cutoff estimates and selection weights say?
Our estimates are 98.3, 98 and 97, and they are not official. Put your own section scores and profile into the IIM call predictor, and see IIM cutoffs for 2026 for the shortlists that have been published.
- IIM Ahmedabad (2027-29): the final score is 0.50 times the normalised PI, 0.10 times the normalised AWT and 0.40 times the normalised composite score. No minimum work experience is stated.
- IIM Bangalore (2026-28): the first shortlist uses CAT 55 and Class 10, Class 12 and bachelor's marks at 10 each. The post-interview score uses PI 40, WAT 10 and CAT 25.
- IIM Calcutta (2027-29): final merit is CAT 30, PI 48, WAT 8, academic diversity 6 and work experience 8, out of 100.
The interview counts for at least as much as CAT in each. CAT 2026 is on 29 November 2026, with results expected in the first week of January 2027.
Which differences in city, campus and curriculum can you verify?
- City and campus: Ahmedabad (Vastrapur, with buildings by Louis Kahn), Bengaluru (Bannerghatta Road, designed by B V Doshi) and Kolkata (Joka, on Diamond Harbour Road).
- Curriculum, IIM Ahmedabad: compulsory courses across Terms 1 to 3, area-wise electives in year two, and an eight-to-ten-week summer internship after year one.
- Rankings: NIRF 2025 is the common one, at 1st, 2nd and 7th. The other rankings in our files use different publishers and categories, so they do not compare cleanly.
When is the choice between the big three real?
Each IIM has its own selection weights, so a call from one does not predict the others. Most people end up choosing between two, and the practical question is which pair you hold.
At this stage the choice is hypothetical, since calls come after CAT results. Use the IIM call predictor to see which calls your profile makes likely before you spend effort on a comparison.
How do you decide when you hold two offers?
These are decision rules, not a ranking.
- Compare medians from the same batch year. The three sit within Rs 2.25 lakh of each other, about 6% of Ahmedabad's median.
- Compare total cost. Add hostel, mess and loan interest. Bangalore's published fee is lowest.
- Match the sector split to your target role, using the shares above and the sectors the college publishes.
- Compare class profile. Work experience, engineer share and women's share describe your peer group.
- Visit or call students. Ask what they wish the fee sheet had said.