10 Most Cheapest and Affordable Distance MBA Colleges in India

10 Most Cheapest and Affordable Distance MBA Colleges in India

Studying for an MBA degree can significantly enhance your career prospects. Nowadays, the demand for distance learning MBA programs has seen a surge because they provide great flexibility to students to study on their own time and the fees of these programs are very affordable compared to the regular on-campus MBA courses. A distance MBA is a great choice for working professionals who want to study a business management degree without neglecting their jobs and work. With the innovation of the latest technology and higher learning infrastructure by Indian universities and colleges, many universities and colleges are now providing distance education MBA or distance PGDM programs in various specializations. However, with so many universities and colleges providing distance MBA in India, finding the best distance MBA course can be challenging. While deciding on a distance learning or correspondence MBA course, students must consider factors like university reputation, course syllabus & structure, faculty expertise, accreditations, placements, alumni network, program flexibility, and program fees.

In this blog, we have shared an important researched distance MBA ranking compared based on such parameters for India’s top 10 affordable distance MBA colleges in India based on the 2024 ranking. The list includes only those colleges that are UGC (University Grant Commission) /AICTE (All Indian Council of Technical Education) approved and provide 2-year distance education MBA or PGDM courses in in-demand specializations. Whether you are a working professional looking to advance your career a fresh graduate or a housewife seeking an affordable and flexible way to grow your management education, this distance MBA ranking will surely help students to decide which college is best for them.

The list features colleges like IGNOU, Annamalai University, Amity University, IMT Ghaziabad, and Symbiosis that have decades of experience in providing distance MBA or PGDM programs.

List of top 10 affordable distance MBA colleges in India

This list contains various distance MBA colleges with the fees and eligibility details.

1. Institute of Management Studies, Ghaziabad

IMT (Institute of Management Studies) is one of the best business schools in India. This university provides distance learning programs under its centre for distance learning (IMT-CDL). IMT Centre for Distance Learning, Ghaziabad provides a large range of distance education programs in the field of management and information technology. All the programs provided by IMT CDL are recognized by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Being an Institution and not a university, it offers the MBA (Master of Business Administration) which is 2 years postgraduate course in the field of management. The 2-year MBA offered by IMT Ghaziabad is ​one of the best distance MBAs in the Delhi NCR region. Apart from the 2 years PGDM course, it also provides a one-year PG diploma in the field of business administration in the fields of Financial Management, Operations Management, Marketing Management, Human Resource Management, and Information Systems.

2. Amity University Distance Education

Amity is one of the top-ranked private universities in India with over 350000 students. Besides its regular programs, Amity also provides distance education through the Amity Directorate of Distance and Online Education. The distance learning MBA program provided by Amity University is a top-ranked management degree program in India.  The distance education MBA course has been ranked #1 in India and #37 globally by QS Rankings. The online MBA program provided by Amity University is the first online MBA course in India that got UGC approval for online MBA programs. The two-year (4 semesters) course provides 13 specializations. Amity University Distance MBA program is a complete online course. Anyone with a graduation degree with 50% marks can join this course.

Apart from these specializations, Amity University also offers a specialized distance MBA course in a particular field of management. The names of these specialized distance MBA courses are

• MBA with specialization in Digital Marketing Management
• MBA with specialization in HR Analytics
• MBA with specialization in Data Science
• MBA with specialization in Business Analytics
• MBA with specialization in Digital Entrepreneurship
• MBA with specialization in International Finance

3. Symbiosis Centre of Distance Education
Symbiosis Center for Distance Learning (SCDL) Pune is another award-winning and one of the largest prestigious distance education colleges in India. It was started in the year 2001 and provides Post Graduate Diploma, Diploma and Certificate programs. The 2-year Distance MBA course is one of the most popular management programs in India. You can opt for a specialization out of the six specializations available i.e. Finance, HR, Operations, Marketing, Customer Relationship Management and Management Accounting. If you wish to choose two specializations, the Dual (additional) Specialization opportunities are also available for the PGDBA course. Symbiosis also provides 2 2-year PG diploma programs in the fields of International Business, IT Management, Human Resource Management, Banking and Finance, Insurance Management, Retail Management, Customer Relationship Management, Supply Chain Management & Export and Import Management.

Eligibility Criteria for Distance MBA course
To be eligible for these MBA programs student should be a graduate in any discipline, from a recognized University with a minimum of 50% of aggregate.

4. Manipal University Online
Manipal University Online is a NAAC A+ accredited, UGC-entitled university that provides a 2-year Online MBA in India. The University started providing the Online MBA course in the year 2021, and in a short period, the program has gained a lot of popularity among students who are seeking the best Online MBA course in India. The Online MBA from Manipal University is a 2-year degree course.
Eligibility Criteria for Manipal University Online MBA Course
Students who have completed their bachelor’s degree can apply for admission. There is no work experience required to be admitted to this course.
Apart from the Online MBA course, Manipal University also provides a special MBA course for working professionals called Online MBA for Working Professionals. The Online MBA for working professionals is also a 2-year (24-month) degree course. To join this course, 1 year of working experience is required.

5. DY Patil University Distance Education
DY Patil Distance MBA course has the latest syllabus that is at par with the MBA course provided by the best universities in India. The study material has been designed with the help of students of the leading publishers worldwide. The Distance MBA course provided by DY Patil University 2 year course is divided into 4 semesters and each semester has 6 subjects. The course is provided through online learning sessions, recorded video lectures, and personal contact courses. This course focuses on assignment-based study that helps students study the concepts of management and apply the theoretical knowledge from the course. These are the executive MBA courses offered by DY Patil University.

• Executive MBA in Marketing Management
• Executive MBA in Human Resource Management
• Executive MBA in Healthcare Management
• Executive MBA in Finance Management
• Executive MBA in Information Technology Management
• Executive MBA in Operation & Production Management

6. Indira Gandhi National Open University
When we think about distance education, the first name that comes to our mind is IGNOU. IGNOU full form is Indira Gandhi National Open University is the world’s largest university in terms of several students enrolled. It provides a variety of distance learning programs. MBA is one of the best distance learning programs provided by Indira Gandhi National Open University. The minimum duration to complete the MBA course provided by IGNOU is 2.5 years. There is no age bar to join the course.
Eligibility Criteria for the IGNOU MBA Program
To be eligible for the program, students should graduate with at least 50% marks for the general category and 45% for the reserved category and 3 years of managerial/supervisory/professional experience. You can also join the course if you have a professional degree with 50% marks. 

Besides this general MBA course that we have mentioned above, IGNOU also provides a specialized MBA program i.e. Master of Business Administration (Banking & Finance) (MPB). To be eligible for this program, students should be a members of the Indian Institute of Bankers. Some special requirements need to be met to get admission in MBA Banking & Finance.

7. Lovely Professional University Distance Education
Lovely Professional University is one of the top-ranked private universities in India. This university is located in Punjab and provides both regular and distance learning programs. Under the distance education mode, the university provides a Degree and Diploma course. The distance learning MBA course is one of the top-ranked degree programs in the field of business management. The minimum duration to finish the course is 2 years and the maximum is 5 years. Students should have a graduation degree from a recognised university to be eligible for the course. 

Students may choose fundamental Specialization or Major-Minor Specializations from the specializations available i.e

• Marketing
• Finance
• Information Technology
• Human Resource Management
• Operations Management
• International Business
• Retail Management

8. ICFAI University
ICFAI University is a renowned name in distance education. For 3 decades ICFAI has been providing higher education in India and has won many awards for its quality of education. ICFAI provides many degrees, post-graduate diploma programs and certificate programs in the field of business management. It’s a popular distance learning MBA degree course that is divided into 5 modules.
Eligibility Criteria for ICFAI University Distance Education MBA Program
A student must have a bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum of 50% aggregate from a recognised university.
Fee Structure for ICFAI University Distance Education MBA Program
As mentioned above, this university provides a cost-effective distance MBA program and the total fee of the program is INR 80000.

9. NMIMS Distance Education
In the year 1981, the Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS) was established by Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal. NMIMS ranked among the top 10 Business Schools in India for regular MBA programs. Under distance and online learning platform, NMIMS provides MBA (Distance), MBA (Executive), diploma programs, and certification courses in management through its NMIMS Global Access School for Continuing Education (NGA -SCE). All the programs provided by NMIMS are approved by UGC-DEB (University Grant Commission and Distance Education Bureau).
Eligibility Criteria for NMIMS University Distance Education MBA Program
A student must have a bachelor’s degree in any field with a minimum of 50% aggregate from a recognised university.
Fee Structure for NMIMS University Distance Education MBA Program
As mentioned above, this university provides a cost-effective distance MBA program and the total fee of the program is INR 196000.

10. Jain University Distance Education
A distance degree in MBA from Jain University Distance Education makes you think on your own feet, build innovative and creative answers to drive organizational impact, study the art of functional collaboration and hone leadership traits. This postgraduate degree program is at your convenience with its different specializations and offers a deep picture of how an MBA can influence the global business situation. Choose a distance MBA specialization to grow up the professional ladder.
Eligibility Criteria for NMIMS University Distance Education MBA Program
A student must have a bachelor’s degree in any field from a recognised university with a minimum of 50% aggregate.
Fee Structure for NMIMS University Distance Education MBA Program
The total program fee for the distance MBA from NMIMS University Distance Education is INR 70800.

Conclusion
An MBA is not only a degree but a proof of professionalism of a candidate. An MBA degree is always a trend and hence working professionals involve it in their CV. There are many reasons why people prefer a distance MBA course and want to grow their careers. An MBA course is often regarded as a flexible and affordable choice that allows students not to follow a tight schedule and regular classes. Some Distance MBA colleges are there that are entitled by UGC-DEB/AICTE to offer you a degree or diploma.
We have provided information on the top 10 affordable distance MBA colleges in India that cost-effectively offer distance MBA programs. Read the blog and learn about the various colleges that provide an online MBA degree to enhance your career. To claim your admission with these colleges, you can fill out the form available at the right side of the blog and get a free consultation call today with our leading expert counsellors.