KSOM: Fees, Admission 2026, Courses, Cutoff, Ranking, Placement

KSOM Admission Dates 2026

Admissions for the 2026 to 2028 MBA batch at KSOM have concluded. The next admission cycle for the 2027 to 2029 batch opens with CAT 2026 in November 2026. KIITEE Management 2027 (KSOM’s in-house entrance exam) applications are expected to open from October 2026.

The next admission cycle for the 2027 to 2029 MBA batch is expected to follow the timeline below. Dates are tentative and subject to KSOM’s official notification.

KSOM Courses and Fees

KSOM offers a focused portfolio of management programmes at the postgraduate, undergraduate, and doctoral levels. The MBA is a fully residential programme with an all-inclusive fee covering tuition, accommodation, meals, a laptop, and study materials.

The INR 18.00 Lakhs MBA fee is all-inclusive, covering INR 1.00 Lakh (one-time admission fee) plus INR 3.22 Lakhs in academics per semester and INR 1.02 Lakhs in hostel per semester across four semesters. This bundled model eliminates hidden charges during the programme. Full-time Ph.D. researchers are eligible for a fellowship of INR 20,000 per year for up to four years.

KSOM Admission Process

KSOM follows a multi-stage selection process for MBA admissions. The process is competitive, with candidates evaluated on entrance score, written ability, group discussion, personal interview, and academic track record.

MBA Admission

Eligibility requires a minimum of 50 percent aggregate in any bachelor’s degree from a recognised university. Candidates must also have a minimum of 50 percent each in Class 10 and Class 12 board exams. Final-year graduates may apply, with qualifying documents required by September 30 of the admission year.

The following entrance exams are accepted for MBA at KSOM.

• CAT (Common Admission Test)
• XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test)
• CMAT (Common Management Admission Test)
• MAT (Management Aptitude Test)
• GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
• KIITEE Management (KSOM’s own entrance exam, conducted at 16 centres across India)

The selection process runs in four stages: entrance exam score evaluation, Writing Ability Test (WAT), Group Discussion (GD), and Personal Interview (PI). Interview centres are available in Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, and Jamshedpur.

Ph.D. Admission

Eligibility requires an MBA or equivalent postgraduate degree with 60 percent or above, or M.Sc/MA/M.Com with 55 percent or above. B.Tech graduates with 60 percent and a valid GATE score are also eligible. Admission is through KIITEE or UGC-NET scores (NET holders are exempt from KIITEE). Selection involves a written test, academic record assessment, and a personal interview.

BBA Admission

Eligibility for BBA is Class 12 pass from a recognised board with a minimum of 50 percent aggregate. Selection is merit-based on qualifying exam scores, with admission managed through the KIIT University central admissions process.

KSOM Placements

KSOM reports close to 100 percent placement for eligible MBA students each year. In the 2025 to 2026 placement season, the highest domestic offer stood at INR 35 LPA and the highest international offer was INR 23 LPA. The average CTC across the batch was INR 9.50 LPA.

Key recruiters include TCS, Cognizant, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Deloitte, EY, PwC, HCL, and Tech Mahindra, spanning BFSI, consulting, IT services, and FMCG sectors. The school’s Bhubaneswar location, combined with KIIT’s Institution of Eminence status, attracts recruiters from across eastern and southern India. The alumni network of 8,500 plus professionals across sectors supports both placement outreach and mentorship for current students.

KSOM Rankings

KSOM is ranked 68th among management institutions in India by NIRF 2025 (score: 50.68). The school has also featured in Times B-School and Outlook rankings.

KSOM’s NIRF Management rank of 68 places it in the second tier of nationally ranked B-schools, below XIMB (NIRF around 35) and IIM Sambalpur (NIRF around 34) among Odisha-based institutions. Its Outlook rank of 11th among private B-schools reflects stronger positioning within the private institution segment.

KSOM Scholarships

KSOM offers merit-based, need-based, and research fellowships. The flagship merit scholarship can cover up to 50 percent of tuition fees for top entrance exam performers.

External fellowships facilitated by KSOM include the PM Special Scholarship, Maulana Azad National Fellowship, Pragati and Saksham scholarships, and state SC/ST government schemes. Students from Jharkhand may apply for e-Kalyan scholarships through the state government portal.

KSOM Campus and Infrastructure

KSOM is situated on Campus-7 of KIIT University, a dedicated 35-acre management campus within the larger KIIT multi-campus ecosystem in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The MBA programme is fully residential, with air-conditioned hostels, dining facilities, a dedicated library, digital classrooms, seminar halls, and case-study rooms all on campus.

The central library holds 21,000 books, 180 print periodicals, and access to over 10,000 e-journals. Students share access to KIIT University’s broader infrastructure, which includes sports complexes, medical facilities, an international students’ hostel, and tech parks across adjacent campuses. The KIIT campus is located in the Patia area of Bhubaneswar, approximately 15 km from the city centre and close to the Bhubaneswar airport.

KSOM vs XIMB vs IIM Sambalpur

Management aspirants targeting Odisha and eastern India frequently compare KSOM with XIM University (XIMB), Bhubaneswar and IIM Sambalpur. All three are recognised MBA programmes in Odisha, with different fee levels, NIRF ranks, and institutional profiles.

IIM Sambalpur and XIMB both carry higher NIRF ranks and higher average CTCs than KSOM, making them the first choices for competitive MBA candidates in the region. KSOM’s competitive advantages include its NAAC A++ institutional accreditation (KIIT as IoE), the all-inclusive residential fee model, a broader range of accepted entrance exams (CMAT, MAT, KIITEE), and a placement rate close to 100 percent. KSOM is the strongest choice for candidates who prefer an Odisha-based residential MBA without the extremely high CAT cutoffs of IIM Sambalpur or XIMB.