XLRI Jamshedpur vs IIM Lucknow ROI: Check Placement, Fee and Average Package Comparison
Preparing for MBA admission 2026? Don't know which business school will be best for finance and other specialization? Check comparison between the industry's renowned colleges like XLRI Jamshedpur and IIM Lucknow for MBA admissions in 2026. The comaprison details the key factors like Return on Investment (ROI), placement rates, fees, and average packages. It provides a detailed analysis to help candidates make an informed decision between these top management institutions.
MBA Admission 2026: Comparing XLRI Jamshedpur vs IIM Lucknow for management programs would require candidates to review factors such as return on investment (ROI), placement rate, fees and average package comparison to draw the best option. Through financial perspective XLRI Jamshedpur and IIM Lucknow put MBA, one is a private institution while the other is a government institution. Both the manegement colleges offers flourishing management career, while offering average salary between ₹31–33 LPA range. However, one must check courses and other factors to choose the suitable college for your management career.
Whether you are comparing IIM Lucknow’s fee system and XLRI's private university tuition, the detailed comparison shared here will help candidates make informed decision.
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XLRI Jamshedpur vs IIM Lucknow: Key Details
The table shares key details comparing Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, and IIM Lucknow based on its establishment, courses offered etc. This is an overview of all the necessary details candidates must know to draw comparison between the top nstitution for management courses.
| Parameter | XLRI Jamshedpur | IIM Lucknow |
| Institutional Typology | Private Business School (Society of Jesus) | Public Business School (Government of India) |
| Year of Establishment | 1949 | 1984 |
| National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) Rank | Rank #10 (Management, 2025) | Rank #5 (2025), Rank #4 (2026) |
| Global Accreditations | AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS (Triple Crown) | AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS (Triple Crown) |
| Flagship Programme Architecture | 2 Years (PGDM-BM & PGDM-HRM) | 2 Years (PGP) |
| Primary Entrance Examination | XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) | CAT (Common Admission Test) |
| Average Placement Package (2025-2026 Cycle) | INR 31.40 LPA | INR 32.30 LPA - 33.20 LPA |
| Total Flagship Fees (Approximate) | INR 30.60 Lakhs | INR 20.75 - 21.04 Lakhs |
| Primary Campus Location | Jamshedpur, Jharkhand | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh |
| Secondary/Executive Campus Location | Delhi-NCR (Jhajjar, Haryana) | Noida, Uttar Pradesh |
Establishment and Historical Milestones
The table shares history and establishment details of both XLRI Jamshedpur, and IIM Lucknow.
| Parameter | XLRI Jamshedpur | IIM Lucknow |
| Founding Year | 1949 | 1984 |
| Founders | Fr. Quinn Enright, SJ, with the support of Tata Steel leadership | Government of India, Ministry of Education |
| Historical Status | India's Oldest Business School | Fourth Indian Institute of Management |
| Geographical Origin and Ecosystem | Jamshedpur, Jharkhand (India's primary Steel City) | Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (Northern Administrative Hub) |
| Initial Institutional Focus | Trade unionism, labor laws, collective bargaining, and industrial welfare | Advanced general management education, public policy, and institutional research |
| Key Early Milestones |
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| Modern Expansions |
| Expansion into niche sectors (Agribusiness, Sustainable Management) |
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Courses and Seat Matrix 2026-27
While appearing for XAT and CAT 2026, candidates should also check the management courses offered at these institutions. Along with number of seats available for each course. The management courses offered at both the institutions include, two year PGDM, MBA and Executive MBA programs. Check the detailed breakdown provided below.
| Course Category | XLRI Jamshedpur | IIM Lucknow |
| 2-Year Program | PGDM - Business Management (BM) PGDM - Human Resource Management (HRM) (180 seats) | Post Graduate Programme in Management (PGP) (Approx. 405-500+ seats) |
| Niche 2-Year Programs | XLRI-Rutgers Double Degree (Supply Chain & Global Strategy) (30 seats) | PGP in Agribusiness Management (PGP-ABM) PGP in Sustainable Management (PGP-SM) |
| Full-Time Executive MBA (1-Year) | PGDM - General Management (GM) - 15 Months (120 seats, requires 5+ years work ex) | International Programme in Management for Executives (IPMX) - 1 Year (Noida Campus) |
| Working Professionals/Part-Time | Online PGDM (2 Years with campus immersions, 300 seats, requires 3+ years work ex) | PGP for Working Executives (PGPWE) - Weekend format Blended MBA (bMBA) |
| Doctoral Programs | Fellow Programme in Management (FPM) Executive FPM (EFPM) (4-5 years) | Doctoral Programme in Management (DPM) Executive Fellow Programme in Management (EFPM) |
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Fee Structure for Courses Offered (2024-2027)
After reviewing the courses and admission options, candidates must check for fees required for different programs.
For two year MBA Program, candidates have to pay INR 30.60 Lakhs at XLRI Jamshedpur, and around INR 20.75 - 21.04 Lakhs to IIM Lucknow. Similarly, for one year executive level program, the fees will range from INR 24.50 Lakhs to INR 27.50 Lakhs for both the colleges.
| Program Type | XLRI Jamshedpur | IIM Lucknow |
| 2-Year MBA Program | INR 30.60 Lakhs (PGDM BM & HRM) | INR 20.75 - 21.04 Lakhs (PGP, PGP-ABM, PGP-SM) |
| First Year Breakdown | Not explicitly granulated in sources; aggregate is 30.60L | INR 10.75 - 10.95 Lakhs (includes Tuition, Infra, Admission fees) |
| Second Year Breakdown | Part of total | INR 9.75 - 9.80 Lakhs |
| 1-Year Executive Program | INR 24.50 Lakhs (PGDM-GM, 15 months) | INR 26.00 - 27.50 Lakhs (IPMX) |
| Double Degree | INR 48.00 Lakhs (XLRI-Rutgers Double Degree) | INR 14.95 Lakhs (bMBA) |
| Part-Time / Online Programs | INR 14.50 Lakhs (Online PGDM) | INR 11.15 - 15.00 Lakhs (PGPWE) |
| Doctoral Stipend | Fully funded, tuition waiver | INR 35,000 to 40,000/month stipend (DPM) |
Admission and Selection Process (2026-2027)
The admission metrics and selection framework for both the college is derived from the provided details by each institution.
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To get into XLRI Jamshedpur, candidates must have qualified for XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) while for IIM Lucknow, they have to appear for CAT (Common Admission Test).
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The test involves categories like VALR (Verbal/Logical), QADI (Quant/Data), Decision Making (DM), GK, DILR (Data/Logical), QA (Quantitative)
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After qualifying for the exams, candidates have to appear for rounds like Qualitative Assessment Rounds, Written Analytical Essay (WAT/AEW), Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI)
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The general category cutoff is expected between 94-96%- to 90-93%.While in CAT candidates should have 98-99%+ required for general category conversion.
Find complete admission process and details provided below.
| Selection Parameter | XLRI Jamshedpur | IIM Lucknow |
| Primary Aptitude Test | ||
| Entrance Test Weightage (Final) | 60% of final composite score | Variable (Test Score historically 30% for executive programs, heavily weighted in phase 1 for PGP) |
| Test Design / Core Sections | VALR (Verbal/Logical), QADI (Quant/Data), Decision Making (DM), GK | VARC (Verbal/Reading), DILR (Data/Logical), QA (Quantitative) |
| General Category Cutoffs | BM: 94-96% HRM: 90-93% | Minimum qualifying 90% (effectively 98-99%+ required for general category conversion) |
| Qualitative Assessment Rounds | Written Analytical Essay (WAT/AEW), Group Discussion (GD), Personal Interview (PI) | Writing Ability Test (WAT), Personal Interview (PI) |
| Group Discussion Format | 8-10 candidates, 15-20 minutes duration, tests collaboration over dominance | GD generally omitted in favor of intense WAT-PI |
| Final Selection Weightages | XAT (60%), GD/PI (25%), Academics (10%), Work Ex/Diversity (5%) | CAT Score, PI, WAT, Academic Profile, Work Experience (Updated annually) |
Macro Placement Statistics (2024-2026 Reporting Cycles)
During 2024 to 2026 academic cycle, XLRI Jamshedpur, and IIM Lucknow is reported to displayed 100% placement record. A total of 576 students participated in XLRI and 559-583 in IIM Lucknow.
The highest international package was offered at XLRI Jamshedpur, which was worth INR 1.10 Crore while IIM Lucknow bagged INR 65.00 LPA. However, the average salary for both the institutions ranged between INR 31.40 LPA to 33.20 LPA in which IIM Lucknow stood at top for its average salary.
| Placement Metric | XLRI Jamshedpur (Batch 2024-2026) | IIM Lucknow (Batch 2024-2026) |
| Batch Size (Participating) | 576 (combined Jamshedpur & Delhi-NCR) | 559 - 583 Students |
| Placement Rate | 100% | 100% |
| Total Participating Recruiters | 145 (including 25 first-time recruiters) | 200+ Recruiters |
| Total Offers Made | 576+ Domestic, 2 International | 580+ to 604 Offers |
| Average Salary (CTC) | INR 31.40 LPA | INR 32.30 LPA - 33.20 LPA |
| Median Salary (CTC) | INR 29.00 LPA | INR 31.00 LPA - 32.90 LPA |
| Highest Domestic Package | INR 59.00 LPA (PGDM); INR 75.00 LPA (PGDM-GM) | INR 75.00 LPA - 1.00 Crore |
| Highest International Package | INR 1.10 Crore | INR 65.00 LPA |
| Pre-Placement Offer (PPO) Rate | 42.5% (up from 34.17% in 2025) | Highly significant (exact % integrated into final process) |
| Top 10% Average Salary | INR 49.20 LPA | Not explicitly isolated in provided data |
| Top 25% Average Salary | INR 44.18 LPA | Not explicitly isolated in provided data |
Sectoral Placement Breakdown (2025-2026)
The sectoral placement breakdown lists the comparison of two institution since 2025-26. It offers a detailed statistical report exhibiting the percentage of graduates hired into specific industries.
As per the official data, XLRI Jamshedpur offered 36% placement in Management Consulting/Strategy, the most numbers in the industry, followed by BFSI (Banking, Finance, FinTech) offering 18% - 20% and IT & Analytics / ITES showing 15% - 17% placement percentage during the 2025-26 cycle. Whereas, IIM Lucknow offered placement in Management Consulting / Strategy between 35% - 38%.
| Sector/Domain | XLRI Jamshedpur (% of Batch) | IIM Lucknow (% of Batch) |
| Management Consulting / Strategy | 36% | 35% - 38% |
| BFSI (Banking, Finance, FinTech) | 18% - 20% | 15% - 18% |
| IT & Analytics / ITES | 15% - 17% | 14% - 15% |
| Sales & Marketing / FMCG | 12% - 15% | 10% (Product Mgt & Marketing) |
| General Management / Operations | 12% (includes Manufacturing) | 12% - 21% |
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Alumni Power and Global Influence
To determine the credibility and long term legacy of institutions, checking Alumni power and Global influence offers a clear insight for evaluation. The comparison made below between XLRI Jamshedpur, and IIM Lucknow, details total alumnus across each institution, also listing famous vertical and entrepreneurial leaders that are creating name, and spreading the legacy of the management colleges. XLRI Jamshedpur holds the edge here, providing bigger alumni network and renowned names in banking, and global entrepreneurship.
| Parameter | XLRI Jamshedpur | IIM Lucknow |
| Network Size & Reach | 23,000+ alumni across 50+ countries | Massive network integrated with the broader Pan-IIM ecosystem |
| Dominant Global Verticals | Global HR Leadership, FMCG CEOs, Banking Chiefs | Strategy Consulting, Public Policy, FinTech Founders, Tech C-Suite |
| Notable Alumni (Corporate Leaders) |
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| Notable Alumni (Policy/Govt) | Vikram Misri (Foreign Secretary of India, Ex-Ambassador to China) | Deep integration into Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and economic advisory councils |
| Entrepreneurial Leaders |
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The factors provided here is essential in comparing the two institutions to pursue management programs. Knowing which business school offers best return on investment under an affordable fee structure, while also providing alumni network will help make better decision.
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Jaya Gupta is an Education Content professional with over four years of experience in writing marketing and academic content, alongside a year of experience working with an indie publishing house. Currently, she is covering higher education content for Jagran Josh (Jagran New Media), leveraging her academic knowledge. She specializes in covering management, engineering, law, medical colleges, study abroad and GATE exams. She holds a Master's degree in English Literature, successfully qualified the 2024 UGC NET, and has guided more than 100 students in framing effective study-abroad academic essays. Her writing interests vary across education, creative expression, and digital culture.
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