MBA vs PGDM: The Key Differences [Salary, Fees, Colleges]

Are you in a dilemma about whether to pursue an MBA or a PGDM course? The question of MBA vs. PGDM arises in the mind of a number of candidates seeking to pursue a career in business management. After completing graduation, students seek out management courses and this is the time when they find out the PGDM and MBA difference. While both prep students for a career in business management, there are a few points of difference between the two. 

At KnowledgeHut, you can enroll in the  CCBA Certification course, which can land you a job as a business analyst in a reputed organization. You can choose to do PGDM or MBA instead of CCBA if you want to study further, but a CCBA can get you a respectable job much earlier than either of the management courses. 

First, you need to know MBA PGDM full form – the first one stands for Master of Business Administration, while the latter is the acronym for Post Graduate Diploma in Management. 

The question of PGDM or MBA, which is better, crops up in the mind of every student looking for further study opportunities. To save you some time, we have discussed this thoroughly in this article. You can choose which one you wish to pursue after reading the last line. 

What is MBA?  

Many students choose the Master of Business Administration degree to enter the business world. This is a degree that is internationally recognized, with the curriculum in most institutes teaching candidates about topics including management and operations. Almost all management universities and colleges around the globe offer an MBA program. An MBA degree can boost your career at unprecedented speed with high-paying job roles. 

What Is PGDM?  

The Post Graduate Diploma in Management is a diploma program offered by educational universities and colleges accredited by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE). The program is preferred by some in place of an MBA degree as it is more oriented towards developing industry-ready candidates. You get an in-depth knowledge of topics like customer service and marketing with plenty of opportunities for on-job training. The curriculum is only slightly distinct from MBA. 

Difference Between MBA and PGDM  

Coming to MBA vs PGDM, we have listed the basic points of differences between the two programs in a tabular format given below.  

Point of Difference	MBA	PGDM
Fees Comparison	It is more affordable than a PGDM course. Depending on the college, it will cost you between INR 2 to 20 LPA to complete your MBA degree.	A PGDM course can cost you anywhere in the range of INR 5 to 24 LPA. It is much higher than MBA since autonomous authority provides the course.
Top Colleges	Some of the best MBA colleges in India are as follows.  Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore  Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta  Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad  Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow  Indian School of Business, Hyderabad  Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur  Indian Institute of Management, Indore  NMIMS School of Business, Mumbai	The top colleges for obtaining a PGDM degree are given below.  International Management Institute, New Delhi  MICA – The School of Ideas, Ahmedabad  SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai  Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, New Delhi  Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur  Management Development Institute, Gurgaon
Syllabus	Students get a lot more concepts about theoretical knowledge than PGDM. The syllabus of an MBA degree depends upon the university. It takes years to update the curriculum, which might be a drawback when it comes to the practical field.	This program gives students a more hands-on approach to workplace situations in the business world. Autonomous institutes approved by the AICTE provide PGDM courses with curricula more frequently updated according to the requirements in the current business world.
Eligibility	A candidate seeking an MBA degree needs to have 50% marks at graduation level in any discipline from a recognized university. Top colleges such as IIMs and IITs require a 60% or 6.5 CGPA at graduation level for MBA pursuing candidates.	Any graduate student can apply for PGDM courses having at least 50% marks. No age limit is there for candidates seeking a PGDM program. But you need a 6.5 CGPA or 60% at graduation level if you want to apply to prestigious institutions such as an IIM.
Qualification	Degree course	Diploma course
Examination	CAT, MAT, XAT, GMAT, MAT	CAT, ATMA, XAT, NMAT, SNAP

Types of Entrance Exam: MBA vs PGDM 

Business Management courses like MBA and PGDM accept outcomes of plenty of competitive exams with the likes of CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, and GMAT. When it comes to MBA courses, many colleges and universities also consider the outcomes in various state-level exams such as TSICET, TANCET, MAHCET, and PGCET. There are even tests conducted by some of the best management schools for their admission. These include SNAP for Symbiosis International University, XAT for XLRI, Jamshedpur, and IIFT EXAM for the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. 

It must be noted that not all B-Schools accept CAT scores, although it is the most widespread one when it comes to management schools in India. An example of this is the Indian School of Business (ISB), Hyderabad. In the case of PGDM, apart from the entrance exam scores, some other factors also come into play: past achievements, professional and academic performance, etc. Since the entrance exams are the first step towards admission into PGDM or MBA, it is important to gather information in advance about the particular test score that each institute accepts and whether there is any cut-off score so that you can prepare as per requirements. 

PGDM vs MBA Job Roles With Salary  

The question of MBA vs PGDM, which is better, might arise in your mind. Take a look at the various career options, and you can find out if PGDM is equivalent to MBA or not.

Source: insideiim.com

MBA

Job Role	Description	Salary
Marketing Manager	The marketing department of an organization hires a marketing manager to handle the services and products of the organization.	INR 3.73 LPA to INR 20 LPA
Business Analyst	The role of a business analyst is to analyze the information about a company and determine whether the company has achieved past goals or not and set future goals.	INR 5.34 LPA to INR 20 LPA
HR Manager	This is one of the most important jobs in any company as an HR manager takes care when a new employee joins and has to look out for the current employees as well.	INR 3.38 LPA to INR 20 LPA
Investment Banker	The role of an investment banker is to manage the various investment projects of the client organization.	INR 3.5 LPA to INR 60 LPA
Finance Advisor	A finance advisor has to interpret the financial document summaries of their clients and prepare performance reports while analyzing income projections.	INR 4.44 LPA to INR 20 LPA

PGDM

Job Role	Description	Salary
Tax Specialist	The tax specialist ensures that the profit, property, and sales tax of a company are distributed appropriately.	INR 1.79 LPA to INR 10 LPA
Auditor	An auditor has various roles to play in a company. Analyzing spreadsheet data and checking the financial records are some of them.	INR 1.38 LPA to INR 10 LPA
Project Manager	An IT company employs a project manager who is given the responsibility to handle each of the company’s projects.	INR 4.89 LPA to INR 30 LPA
Consultant	The role of a consultant is to make sure that other companies develop strategies to keep them competitive. A consultant can have specializations in fields such as Human resources, Finance, Business, Law, and others.	INR 3.98 LPA to INR 30 LPA
Data Scientist	Using advanced analytics, a data scientist finds out the probable outcomes of a company in case of particular situations.	INR 3.59 LPA to INR 20 LPA

You can find out from the above data that there is hardly any difference when it comes to PGDM vs MBA salary. Both have immense scope and offer some of the leading jobs in the management sector. 

MBA vs PGDM – Similarities  

‘Is PGDM and MBA the same?’ If you are pondering the question, then have a look at the similarities between the two. You will learn management skills in both MBA and PGDM. The industry does not differentiate when it comes to the hiring process of an employee. The companies rather view the background of the B-School of the candidate – the education quality, track record of past graduates, and whether the candidate will fit the job description or not. The recruiter hires a potential employee on the basis of their past work experience and the skill requirements for the job role. 

In the case of higher studies, you do not have to worry. When it comes to higher education, both are equally valid for either a fellowship program or a Ph.D. The PGDM vs MBA difference gets blurred if you are pursuing a PhD. The Diploma program is not inferior in any way to the Degree course when it comes to postgraduate programs; it is the institute that matters. 

What Certifications Are Available for Career Advancement Following an MBA or PGDM?  

While you are pondering upon the question “MBA or PGDM, which is best?”, it is time to think of the job opportunities in either case. Both programs are great for landing top roles in the business world, but some require extra effort. While an MBA or PGDM will get you a number of jobs, you can try out some things to give a boost to your application. 

Certification courses come in handy during these times. At Knowledgehut, we provide you with a number of certification courses to help you grab the best job you set your eyes upon. Getting a certification course in your field shows your recruiter that you are serious about your career. It will also help you hone your skills, ensuring you cross all the hurdles in your workspace. 

The  KnowledgeHut’s CCBA course can help you obtain a CCBA Certification that will surely come in handy for people wanting to pursue a career as business analyst. Some of the other certifications that you can choose to give an impetus to your career are 

1. Pay Per Click Advertising 
2. Risk Management Certifications 
3. E-mail Marketing Training 
4. Diploma in International Financial Reporting Training 

All of the above certifications is available at Knowledgehut. You can take a look and opt for any of the above and even others while you debate about MBA vs PGDM. The hands-on approach in the training sessions will not only make sure you ace a job interview but also ensure you have a successful career in your chosen field. 

MBA or PGDM - Which is Better?  

In conclusion, to answer the query “PGDM vs. MBA, which is best?”, the most important factor is the institute from where you are pursuing the management program. We have provided you with information about PGDM vs. MBA differences and similarities so that you can make an informed decision on your own. It does not matter whether you are pursuing an MBA degree or a PGDM diploma. Recruiters want candidates who can upskill themselves with changing scenarios, which is what they look for while hiring a potential employee. 

Although both MBA and PGDM are post-graduate courses in management offered by top B-Schools, PGDM focuses more on practical workplace knowledge that helps future job seekers to adjust to their work environment conveniently. MBA is more theory-based, with many institutes having outdated curricula. But in no way can we choose one or the other or give an ideal response to “Why PGDM is better than MBA?” 

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