- Four Kolkata programmes have verified data on our site: IIM Calcutta (Rs 27 lakh), IIFT (Rs 19.73 lakh, Delhi and Kolkata campuses), IMI Kolkata (Rs 14.83 lakh) and the government-run IISWBM (Rs 8.2 lakh).
- IIM Calcutta's 2024-26 batch had an average package of Rs 36 lakh and a median of Rs 35 lakh; our cutoff estimate is about 97 percentile.
- IIFT's 2027-29 MBA (IB) admission uses CAT 2026 only, and applications close on 25 Nov 2026, before the exam on 29 Nov.
- IMI Kolkata accepts CAT, XAT or CMAT, with applications closing on 19 Dec 2026.
- IISWBM is the lowest-fee option of the four, with a 2024-25 average package of Rs 8 lakh.
The MBA colleges in Kolkata that we hold verified fee and placement data for are IIM Calcutta, IIFT (Kolkata campus), IMI Kolkata and IISWBM, a government-run institute. Total fees range from about Rs 8 lakh to Rs 27 lakh, so the choice comes down to budget and percentile more than to city.
Quoted totals for these colleges differ between pages, usually because of the batch year, whether hostel and mess are added, or which placement report is read. Every figure below carries its batch, and all of it was checked on 6 Nov 2026.
Which four MBA colleges in Kolkata make up the shortlist?
The four are IIM Calcutta, IIFT, IMI Kolkata and IISWBM. In the NIRF 2025 Management list, IIM Calcutta is ranked 7, IIFT 17 and IMI Kolkata 42. IISWBM has no row in that top 100.
Other Kolkata institutes exist, but we hold no verified fee or package data for them, so they are left out rather than guessed at. Treat this as a shortlist of what we can check, not the full list of every MBA in the city.
IIM Calcutta: fee, package, cutoff and class profile
The two-year MBA costs Rs 27 lakh in total (2026-28 in our table). IIM Calcutta's own schedule for the 2024-26 batch shows the same Rs 27 lakh as tuition over six terms, paid term by term, plus a refundable caution deposit of Rs 20,000. Hostel and mess are extra. The 2024-26 batch reported an average package of Rs 36 lakh and a median of Rs 35 lakh. That class had 458 students, 542 offers from 202 firms and 100% placement.
Consulting took 38% of the batch, general management 21%, finance 18.6%, IT and product management 13.3% and sales and marketing 9%. The average work experience in that class was 22.6 months, and 32.8% came from IITs, NITs and BITS.
For 2027-29, shortlisting uses the CAT 2026 score, Class 10 and 12 marks and a gender diversity factor. Final merit gives CAT 30 points, the personal interview 48, the writing test 8, academic diversity 6 and work experience 8, out of 100. No minimum work experience is required. Our cutoff estimate is about 97 percentile for a 50% chance of an interview call (General category, average profile), which is an estimate and not an official cutoff.
IIFT: why is 2027-29 CAT-only, and what does 'Delhi / Kolkata' mean?
IIFT no longer runs its own entrance test for its MBA. For the 2027-29 MBA (International Business), it shortlists on the CAT 2026 score and other parameters, then holds a group discussion and personal interview. Applications close on 25 Nov 2026, four days before CAT. The fee is Rs 3,000 (Rs 1,500 for SC, ST, PwD and transgender applicants).
The programme runs on four campuses: 240 seats each at Delhi and Kolkata, 120 at Kakinada and 120 at GIFT City. A fee of Rs 19.73 lakh (2026-28 batch) and a placement report cover the Delhi and Kolkata campuses together, so you cannot read a Kolkata-only figure from them. Hostel and mess are extra, and IIFT says the 2027-29 fee will be announced later.
The 2023-25 report shows an average package of Rs 31.3 lakh, a median of Rs 26 lakh and a highest domestic package of Rs 72 lakh, with 135 recruiters. No final report for 2024-26 was listed on 6 Nov 2026. Our cutoff estimate is about 97.5 percentile.
IMI Kolkata: CAT, XAT or CMAT?
The PGDM, which the AIU treats as equivalent to an MBA, takes CAT 2026, XAT 2027 or CMAT scores, plus GMAT for foreign nationals. It shortlists on score and academics, then holds an individual assessment in January or February 2027 (tentative). Applications close on 19 Dec 2026, the fee is Rs 2,500 and no work experience is needed. The programme is AMBA accredited for 2022-2027.
Our table lists a fee of Rs 14.83 lakh (2026-28). For 2027-29, IMI's proposed course fee is Rs 15.03 lakh, or Rs 19.93 lakh with hostel and food, and hostel is mandatory. Compare the larger number.
The average package was Rs 12.75 lakh and the median Rs 12.54 lakh (2024-25). IMI's own admissions page shows a higher average of Rs 13.69 lakh without naming a batch, which is one reason averages for this college vary from page to page. The median is the same in both. Our cutoff estimate is about 72 percentile.
IISWBM: the low-fee government option
The Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, founded in 1953, offers a full-time MBA (Day) approved by AICTE. The total fee is Rs 8.2 lakh (2026-28 batch). The average package was Rs 8 lakh and the median Rs 9 lakh (2024-25), so a tail of lower offers pulls the average below the median.
It admits through CAT, and our cutoff estimate is about 70 percentile. That makes it the most affordable of the four, but its package is close to the fee. If you are borrowing, check the numbers in the ROI calculator before you commit.
Fee versus package, with batch years
| Programme | Total fee (lakh, batch) | Average / median (lakh, batch) | CAT cutoff estimate | Fee divided by average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Calcutta | 27 (2026-28) | 36 / 35 (2024-26) | about 97 | 0.75 |
| IIFT Delhi / Kolkata | 19.73 (2026-28) | 31.3 / 26 (2023-25) | about 97.5 | 0.63 |
| IMI Kolkata | 14.83 (2026-28) | 12.75 / 12.54 (2024-25) | about 72 | 1.16 |
| IISWBM | 8.2 (2026-28) | 8 / 9 (2024-25) | about 70 | 1.03 |
The last column divides the fee by the average package, so 1.0 means one year of the average package pays the fee. It ignores tax, hostel, interest and salary forgone. IIFT's batch is older than the others, and its gap between average and median is wide, which points to a few very high offers. See fees and placements across all colleges for more comparisons.
Which exams and deadlines apply to each Kolkata college?
| College | Exam accepted | Date to note |
|---|---|---|
| IIM Calcutta | CAT 2026 | CAT on 29 Nov 2026, results expected in the first week of January 2027 |
| IIFT | CAT 2026 only | Applications close 25 Nov 2026 |
| IMI Kolkata | CAT, XAT or CMAT | Applications close 19 Dec 2026; XAT on 3 Jan 2027 |
| IISWBM | CAT | 2027 dates are not in our files, so check the official page |
XAT registration closes on 6 Dec 2026. You can test your preparation with the free CAT Compass mock before the 29 Nov exam.
How should you choose by budget and percentile?
- Estimates near 97 and above point to IIM Calcutta and IIFT. Apply to both if your score allows, and note that IIFT's form closes before CAT.
- Estimates in the 70s suit IMI Kolkata and IISWBM. IMI costs more and pays slightly more; IISWBM costs the least.
- If you plan to borrow, divide each fee by its average package and add hostel, living costs and the salary you give up.
These percentiles are modelled estimates. Put your own score into the MBA Predictor to see how each college fits your profile, and confirm every date on the official page.