Karnataka is blessed with some of the top educational institutions and is a prospering business hub, with Bangalore being a leading destination for pursuing an MBA. Karnataka provides excellent scope for management education with a plethora of B-schools ranging from IIM Bangalore, TAMPI Manipal, Christ University, etc.The MBA fees in Karnataka range between INR 10 - 26.2 Lakhs.
Thousands of students apply for MBA colleges in Karnataka annually through competitive entrance tests such as Karnataka PGCET, Karnataka KMAT, CAT, etc. MBA colleges in Karnataka provide admission to freshers and working professionals. The institute shortlists the candidates based on the exam scores and further selects them based on their performance in written aptitude tests, extempore, essay writing, group discussions, and personal interviews.
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Karnataka MBA Admission Highlights
The key details of MBA admission in Karnataka state are mentioned below:
Karnataka MBA Admissions: Eligibility
To be eligible for MBA programs in Karnataka, candidates must meet the following requirements:
- Educational Qualification: A bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
- Minimum Marks: At least 50% aggregate marks in the qualifying examination (45% for reserved category candidates).
- Final Year Students: Candidates in their final year of graduation can also apply, provided they meet the eligibility criteria by the time of admission.
Karnataka MBA Admissions: Entrance Exams 2025
The admission into most of the B-schools in Karnataka is based on national or state-level entrance examinations. Some institutions may conduct their own entrance exams. Here is the list of some of the entrance exams that are considered for Karnataka MBA admissions:
Karnataka MBA Admission: Top Colleges
There are various government and private B-schools in Karnataka that offer MBA courses. Here is the list of some of the top MBA colleges located in Karnataka:
Karnataka MBA Admission Process 2025
The admission into the top MBA colleges in Karnataka is usually based on national-level entrance examinations like CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, ATMA, GMAT, etc. The institutes further select the candidates based on a written test, extempore, and a personal interview. Let’s consider the admission process of one of the top institutes, i.e T. A. Pai Management Institute, Manipal, which has been ranked 58 in the NIRF management ranking 2024.
Let’s refer to the MBA timeline at TAPMI:
The detailed admission procedure for MBA admissions at TAPMI Manipal is as follows:
- Registration - Interested candidates will have to visit the official website of TAPMI and register themselves at the admission portal of the institute. Once they have created their account, they can start filling up the application form with all the personal & academic details, their exam scores, and upload the required documents, and pay the application fees.
- Shortlisting - The candidates will be shortlisted based on the national-level entrance exam scores that the candidates have submitted in their application form. TAPMI accepts CAT/ XAT/ GMAT/ NMAT scores. The applicants can submit more than one test score. Apart from the high test scores, TAPMI also considers the overall profile of candidates.
- Admission Process - The shortlisted candidates will be called for the admission process round will consist of Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT), and Personal Interview (PI).
- Final Selection - The final selection will be based on multiple factors like entrance exam score, academic records, performance in GD/ WAT/ PI, gender diversity, and extracurricular activities. The table below shows the weightage of all these parameters
Most of the top MBA colleges will have an admission process similar to TAPMI. The institutes that accept state exams, like Karnataka PGCET or Karnataka KMAT, will also have a similar admission process.
Karnataka MBA Admission FAQs
What are the main entrance exams accepted for MBA admission in Karnataka?
The MBA colleges in Karnataka consider the scores of various national-level entrance exams like CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, and GMAT. The Karnataka domicile candidates can appear for state management exams like Karnataka PGCET, KMAT Karnataka, and get admission into state reserved seats.
Who conducts the Karnataka PGCET for MBA, and who is eligible?
The Karnataka PGCET is conducted by the Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA). The candidates who have a bachelor's degree in any discipline and have secured a minimum aggregate of 50% marks and a residents of Karnataka are eligible for Karnataka PGCET.
Can students from other states apply for MBA in Karnataka?
Yes, students from all states in India can apply to B-schools in Karnataka. All the B-Schools in Karnataka accept national entrance tests such as CAT, CMAT, XAT, ATMA, etc. But only the people of Karnataka can avail themselves of the government quota seats under Karnataka PGCET.
When does the MBA admission process in Karnataka usually start?
The MBA admissions usually start in April–May with the release of application forms for PGCET and KMAT. Entrance tests are held by June–July, and counseling or college-level admission rounds are held from August to October.
