IIM Lucknow (Indian Institute of Management Lucknow) is a public business school established in 1984 by the Government of India. It operates as an Institute of National Importance under the IIM Act 2017 and is accredited by AACSB. IIM Lucknow has two campuses: the main residential campus in Lucknow and an executive education campus in Noida.
As per NIRF Management Ranking 2025, IIM Lucknow is ranked 5th in Management and 4th among all IIMs, with a score of 77.97, improving from 7th in 2024. In the FT Global MBA Ranking 2025, it is placed at 57th globally.
The Lucknow campus spans over 200 acres on Sitapur Road, Lucknow. The fully residential campus houses PGP and PGP-ABM students in separate hostel blocks for men and women, with a central library, sports complex, and dedicated placement centre.
- MBA (PGP) - 2 years, flagship programme at the Lucknow campus with around 430 seats per batch
- Specialisations through electives: Finance, Marketing, Strategy, Operations, Human Resources, IT Management, Agri-Business
- MBA-ABM (Agri-Business Management) - 2 years, 60 seats at the Noida campus
- MBA-SM (Sustainable Management) - 2 years, approximately 50 seats, requires 24 months work experience
- IPMX (International Programme in Management for Executives) - 1 year, for senior professionals with 5+ years experience
- BPGP (Blended PGP) - 2 years, for working professionals in hybrid mode
- BS Business Analytics - 4 years, the only undergraduate programme at IIM Lucknow
- FPM / EFPM - Fellow Programme in Management (Doctoral) and Executive FPM
- Executive education: 10+ short certificate and executive programmes at the Noida campus
The total fee for the MBA (PGP) is INR 20,75,000 over two years. The IPMX executive MBA is INR 26,25,000 for one year. The BPGP for working professionals is INR 14,95,000. The BS Business Analytics is INR 20,00,000 over four years.
IIM Lucknow offers merit-based fellowships and the Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship for SC, ST, and OBC (NCL) students. Need-based bank loan facilitation is also available.
In the 2026 placement season, IIM Lucknow recorded an average package of INR 33.2 LPA, a median of INR 32.9 LPA, and a highest domestic offer of INR 1 Crore. A total of 559 students received 580+ offers.
IIM Lucknow Admission Dates 2027
IIM Lucknow admissions for the 2027-29 batch are anchored by CAT 2026, with registration currently open through September 15, 2026. The 2026-28 batch joined in June 2026 and admissions for that cycle are complete. IPMX (1-year Executive MBA) accepts rolling applications throughout the year.
| Event | 2027-29 Batch (CAT 2026) |
|---|---|
| CAT 2026 Registration | August 3, 2026 to September 15, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Exam | November 29, 2026 |
| CAT 2026 Result | December 24, 2026 (Tentative) |
| IIM-L WAT-PI Shortlist | January 2027 (Tentative) |
| WAT-PI Rounds | February to March 2027 (Tentative) |
| Final Offers and Joining | April to June 2027 (Tentative) |
The table below shows the entrance exams accepted across IIM Lucknow’s main programme families for the current admission cycle.
| Course | Exam Accepted | Registration Window |
|---|---|---|
| MBA (PGP), MBA-ABM, MBA-SM | CAT | August 3 to September 15, 2026 |
| IPMX (Executive MBA, 1 year) | GMAT / GRE / CAT | Rolling admissions at iiml.ac.in |
| BPGP (Blended PGP) | CAT / GMAT | Check iiml.ac.in for current window |
| BS Business Analytics | CUET / SAT / JEE Main | As per conducting body schedule |
| FPM (Doctoral) | CAT / GMAT / GATE / UGC NET | Annual cycle, check iiml.ac.in |
IIM Lucknow Courses and Fees
IIM Lucknow offers 15+ programmes across MBA, executive education, doctoral, and undergraduate tracks. Total fees range from INR 2,50,000 for short executive certificates to INR 26,25,000 for the one-year IPMX. The flagship PGP (MBA) costs INR 20,75,000 over two years.
| Course | Duration | Eligibility | Total Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| MBA (PGP) | 2 years | Any graduation with 50% aggregate + CAT | INR 20,75,000 |
| MBA-ABM (Agri-Business Management) | 2 years | Any graduation with 50% aggregate + CAT | INR 20,75,000 |
| MBA-SM (Sustainable Management) | 2 years | Any graduation with 50% + 24 months work experience + CAT | INR 20,75,000 |
| IPMX (Executive MBA) | 1 year | Graduation with 50% + 5 years management experience + GMAT/GRE/CAT | INR 26,25,000 |
| BPGP (Blended PGP) | 2 years | Working professional + CAT/GMAT | INR 14,95,000 |
| BS Business Analytics | 4 years | Class 12 + CUET/SAT/JEE Main | INR 20,00,000 |
| FPM (Fellow Programme in Management / Doctoral) | 4 to 5 years | Master’s degree + CAT/GMAT/GATE/UGC NET | INR 7,50,000 |
| GMPE (General Management, Executive) | Short duration | Working professional | INR 5,01,500 |
| Executive Programmes (Sales, FinTech, AI/ML, HR, Healthcare, Sustainability, Operations) | 6 to 12 months | Working professional | INR 2,50,000 to INR 3,43,500 |
The MBA-ABM is offered at the Noida campus and is suited to candidates from agriculture, food systems, or rural business backgrounds. No specialisation premium applies: MBA-ABM carries the same fee as the flagship PGP. No category-based tuition waiver exists for the PGP: all candidates pay the same INR 20,75,000 fee regardless of caste category.
IIM Lucknow Admission Process
IIM Lucknow’s flagship MBA programmes admit students through a three-stage CAT-driven selection process. All seats in PGP, MBA-ABM, and MBA-SM are filled on merit. No management quota or direct admission exists.
MBA (PGP) and MBA-ABM Admission
Eligibility requires any bachelor’s degree with a minimum 50% aggregate (45% for SC/ST/PwD). Final year students may apply provisionally. A valid CAT score is the primary qualifier. The minimum qualifying cutoff for the General category is 90 percentile overall and 85 percentile in each section (VARC, DILR, QA). MBA-ABM carries a 85 percentile overall cutoff for General candidates.
Shortlisting for WAT-PI uses a composite: CAT (60%), Class 12 marks (10%), graduation marks (10%), work experience (10%), academic diversity (5%), and gender diversity (5%). Female candidates receive a 5-mark bonus. The final selection composite weights the Personal Interview most heavily at 40%, followed by CAT at 30%, WAT at 10%, academics at 10%, work experience at 5%, and diversity at 5%. Candidates must score a minimum of 12 out of 40 in the PI to remain in contention. Historical cutoffs for General category have hovered in the 98 to 99 percentile band at the offer stage.
MBA-SM (Sustainable Management) Admission
MBA-SM requires a minimum of 24 months of work experience as of March 31 of the admission year. The qualifying CAT cutoff for General category is 80 percentile overall. Selection follows the same WAT-PI structure as the flagship MBA. Work experience carries 10% weight in shortlisting and 5% in the final composite. The lower entry cutoff relative to the flagship MBA reflects the mandatory experience requirement.
IPMX (Executive MBA) Admission
IPMX targets candidates with at least 5 years of significant management experience. A valid GMAT, GRE, or CAT score is mandatory. Selection is through a personal interview at IIM Lucknow. Admissions are rolling through the year. The programme includes an international module and is benchmarked against global one-year executive MBA programmes.
Other Programmes
The BS Business Analytics (4-year UG degree) admits through CUET, SAT, or JEE Main scores. The BPGP (Blended PGP for working professionals) uses CAT or GMAT. The FPM doctoral programme accepts CAT, GMAT, GATE, or UGC NET qualifiers. Executive certificate programmes admit working professionals directly with no entrance exam requirement.
IIM Lucknow Placements
IIM Lucknow placements for the 2026 season saw 559 students receive 580+ job offers. The average domestic package stood at INR 33.2 LPA and the median at INR 32.9 LPA. The highest domestic offer was INR 1 Crore Per Annum.
| Metric | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Package | INR 33.2 LPA | INR 32.3 LPA | INR 30 LPA |
| Median Package | INR 32.9 LPA | INR 31 LPA | - |
| Highest Domestic Offer | INR 1 Crore | INR 75 LPA | INR 65 LPA |
| Total Offers | 580+ | 604 | 634 |
| Students Placed | 559 | 570 | - |
Consulting is consistently the top recruiting domain at IIM Lucknow, accounting for around 38% of placements. Key recruiters span consulting, finance, FMCG, technology, and analytics. Confirmed recruiters include Accenture Strategy, Deloitte, PwC, BCG, EY, McKinsey, American Express, and Kotak Mahindra Bank. The summer internship season for the incoming 2025-27 batch saw 572 students placed with an average monthly stipend of INR 1.67 Lakhs and a highest domestic stipend of INR 3.95 Lakhs per month.
IIM Lucknow Rankings
IIM Lucknow holds a strong position across national and global management rankings. In NIRF Management 2025, it ranks 5th, up from 7th in 2024, making it the 4th highest-ranked IIM. Globally, the FT Global MBA Ranking 2025 places it at 57th.
| Ranking Body | Category | 2025 Rank | 2024 Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF | Management | 5 (Score: 77.97) | 7 |
| FT Global MBA | MBA (Global) | 57 | - |
IIM Lucknow’s improvement in NIRF from rank 7 to rank 5 in a single year reflects gains across research output, placements, and peer perception scores. The FT ranking positions it among the top 60 business schools globally, which supports IPMX’s positioning in the international executive education market.
IIM Lucknow Scholarships
IIM Lucknow does not offer a category-based tuition waiver for the PGP. However, several scholarships and financial aid options are available to eligible students.
| Scholarship / Aid | Eligibility | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Post-Matric Scholarship (GoI) | SC, ST, OBC (non-creamy layer) students admitted to IIM Lucknow | Fee reimbursement as per Government of India norms |
| FPM / EFPM Doctoral Fellowship | FPM and Executive FPM doctoral candidates | Monthly fellowship and research support |
| Need-Based Bank Loan Facilitation | All admitted students | Loan assistance through partner banks at preferential rates |
| Corporate / Alumni Scholarships | Selected PGP students, varies by donor | Partial tuition support, contact Student Affairs Office |
IIM Lucknow does not publish a centralised scholarship portal. Eligible candidates should contact the Student Affairs Office at iiml.ac.in for the current scholarship list and application process after receiving a provisional admission offer.
IIM Lucknow Campus and Infrastructure
The main campus is located on Sitapur Road, Lucknow, and spans over 200 acres. It is a fully residential campus for PGP and PGP-ABM students. Separate hostel blocks are available for men and women. Hostel and mess charges are embedded in the programme fee, with the combined two-year component amounting to INR 8,15,000.
Key facilities on campus include a central library, a dedicated placement centre, computer labs, seminar halls, sports infrastructure covering cricket, football, badminton, and a swimming pool, and a student activity centre that supports the annual management fest Manfest-Varchasva. The Noida campus houses the MBA-ABM programme and the executive education division, with proximity to corporate headquarters in the NCR region.
Alumni widely note that the residential format fosters a strong peer network, particularly valuable for the consulting and finance sectors where relationship-building during the two-year programme translates into placement outcomes. The class size of around 480 students per batch across the three CAT-based programmes is among the larger PGP intakes among the old IIMs.
IIM Lucknow vs IIM Indore vs IIM Kozhikode
IIM Lucknow competes directly with IIM Indore and IIM Kozhikode for CAT candidates targeting the old IIM cluster. The three institutions share a similar admission framework but differ on cutoff thresholds, WAT policy, campus location, and placement averages.
| Parameter | IIM Lucknow | IIM Indore | IIM Kozhikode |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF 2025 Management Rank | 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Total MBA Fees | INR 20,75,000 | INR 22,00,000 (approx) | INR 21,00,000 (approx) |
| CAT Cutoff (General) | 90%ile overall, 85%ile sectional | 90%ile overall, 80%ile sectional | 85%ile overall |
| WAT Round | Yes (30 min) | No WAT | Yes |
| Final Selection PI Weight | 40% | 45% | 55% (WAT-PI combined) |
| 2026 Average Package | INR 33.2 LPA | INR 28 to 30 LPA (approx) | INR 29 to 31 LPA (approx) |
| Campus Location | Lucknow (UP) | Indore (MP) | Kozhikode (Kerala) |
| MBA Intake | ~436 seats (PGP + ABM + SM) | ~600 seats (including IPM) | ~420 seats |
IIM Lucknow leads on placement averages and NIRF rank among the three. IIM Kozhikode’s NIRF rank of 4 is slightly stronger, but IIM Lucknow records a higher average package in recent placement seasons. IIM Indore has a more permissive sectional cutoff and skips the WAT round, making it a viable choice for candidates who prefer an interview-focused selection. IIM Lucknow’s WAT round rewards analytical writing. No single institute dominates across all parameters.
IIM Lucknow FAQs
Ques. What is the CAT cutoff for IIM Lucknow MBA 2027?
Ans. The minimum qualifying CAT cutoff for IIM Lucknow PGP (MBA) for the General category is 90 percentile overall and 85 percentile in each section (VARC, DILR, QA). EWS and NC-OBC candidates need 82 percentile overall. SC candidates need 65 percentile. ST and PwD candidates need 60 percentile. The actual cutoff at offer stage is typically in the 98 to 99 percentile range for General category.
Ques. What is the total fee for IIM Lucknow MBA?
Ans. The total fee for the IIM Lucknow PGP (MBA) is INR 20,75,000, split as INR 10,95,000 in Year 1 and INR 9,80,000 in Year 2. This fee includes hostel and mess charges for the fully residential programme. All students pay the same fee regardless of caste category.
Ques. What is IIM Lucknow’s NIRF ranking in 2025?
Ans. IIM Lucknow is ranked 5th in the NIRF Management category in 2025 with a score of 77.97. This is an improvement from rank 7 in 2024. It is the 4th highest-ranked IIM in NIRF Management 2025.
Ques. What was the average package at IIM Lucknow in 2026?
Ans. IIM Lucknow reported an average domestic package of INR 33.2 LPA and a median of INR 32.9 LPA in the 2026 placement season. The highest domestic offer was INR 1 Crore. A total of 559 students received 580+ offers.
Ques. Is work experience required for IIM Lucknow MBA?
Ans. Work experience is not mandatory for the flagship MBA (PGP) or MBA-ABM. However, it carries weight in the shortlisting composite (10%) and final selection composite (5%). For MBA-SM (Sustainable Management), a minimum of 24 months of work experience is mandatory as of March 31 of the admission year.
Ques. When is CAT 2026 registration for IIM Lucknow admission?
Ans. CAT 2026 registration is open from August 3, 2026 to September 15, 2026 at iimcat.ac.in. The CAT 2026 exam is on November 29, 2026. Scores from CAT 2026 will be used for IIM Lucknow’s 2027-29 batch admission.
Ques. Does IIM Lucknow offer direct admission or a management quota?
Ans. No. IIM Lucknow does not offer a management quota, donation-based seat, or direct admission. All PGP seats are filled through the CAT-based WAT-PI merit process. No backdoor admission route exists.
Ques. What is the IPMX programme at IIM Lucknow?
Ans. IPMX (International Programme in Management for Executives) is a one-year residential Executive MBA at IIM Lucknow for senior professionals with at least 5 years of management experience. It costs INR 26,25,000 and requires GMAT, GRE, or CAT scores. The programme includes an international immersion module and admits on a rolling basis.
Ques. Is hostel compulsory at IIM Lucknow?
Ans. Yes, the Lucknow campus is fully residential for PGP and PGP-ABM students. Hostel and mess charges are bundled into the programme fee under "Other Charges" and amount to INR 4,65,000 in Year 1 and INR 3,50,000 in Year 2. Separate blocks are available for male and female students.
Ques. Is IIM Lucknow better than IIM Indore?
Ans. IIM Lucknow ranks higher in NIRF Management 2025 (rank 5 vs rank 7) and reported a higher average placement package in 2026. IIM Indore has a lower sectional CAT cutoff (80%ile vs 85%ile) and skips the WAT round. Both are strong choices. The better fit depends on your profile, location preference, and whether you prefer a written-ability test in the selection process.





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The fees for the courses are mentioned below:
PG Program
PG Program
Fellowship
PGP
Blended Master of Business Administration - (bMBA)
You can regsiter and download the brochure for the detailed information about the course.
BA LLB COLLEGE LIST IN LUCKNOW
Click on the below link to get the list of top and prestigious colleges in Lucknow offering the BALLB Course to the students.
Link: BALLB Colleges in Lucknow
MBA fees in IIM Lucknow
The MBA fee structure of IIM Lucknow is given below:
Admission into most of the courses is based on entrance exams like CAT / GMAT / GRE / GATE / JRF. The candidates for the executive courses can also appear for the PGPWE Entrance Test, conducted by IIM Lucknow if they have not yet appeared for any exam. The final selection into these courses is based on the exam score, Written Ability Test, Personal Interview, and academic and professional profile.
Need-based scholarships are offered by the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow) to students whose household income is less than INR 4 LPA (lakhs per annum). The collective income of the student's income as well as that of their parents and spouse is taken into account. The scholarship can be taken away if the student doesn't do well academically. The need-based scholarship at IIM Lucknow pays for the student's tuition for the entire year, irrespective of caste, religion, or gender.
IIM Lucknow PI is considered one of the toughest thing in selection process of MBA. You need to consider the mentioned below points at the time of preparing of the PI (personal interview):
You need to have passed PG degree in relevant discipline with 55% or more to be eligible.
IIM Lucknow does not offer the MBA in Human Resources course. Check here for the IIM Lucknow Courses.
IIML has not yet released the cutoff for session 2023. You may check here to see the previous years’ cutoff. IIML Cutoff
IIM does not offer B.Pharm. course. You can check here to see the courses offered. IIML Courses
Yes, you can get a rebate on your fees if your family income is below INR 200000 per annum. Also, with good academic performance, you can avail scholarships which will reduce your fees effectively.
Yes, IIM Lucknow provides top-notch faculty members. The faculty of this institute are well-educated and highly qualified in their particular fields. There are a total of 97 faculty members, Out of which 95 hold a Ph.D. degree and the other two have master’s awards in MBA.
To know more, refer to this link: IIM Lucknow Faculty
In the placement drive of 2022, IIM Lucknow has recorded the highest international salary package of Rs 61.59 LPA. Apart from that, the highest domestic salary package stood at Rs 58 LPA. You can check the placement record in detail.
For more information, refer to this link: IIM Lucknow Placements 2022 Report
To be eligible for the MBA course at IIM Lucknow you must have passed your Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 50% marks or BE/ B.Tech/ Post B.Sc/ Post Diploma degree from the recognized institute. You are not eligible to apply for the course.
For more information, refer to this link: IIM Lucknow PGP Eligibility