Students who are not able to join the regular MBA classes normally prefer undergoing other forms of learning such as flexible learning, especially distance learning and online learning. As most organizations require that employees seeking to manage various positions in their agencies hold an MBA, the trend and enrollment of students in the packed MBA courses have remained quite high.
Among the services provided by different institutions, a variety of executive online MBA programs are included. Many students prefer distance MBA courses because of low costs, and distance programs do not have barriers due to the use of specific technologies. In this blog, we are covering the Top 7 Distance MBA Colleges in India providing MBA programs through online or distance education.
The benefits of doing distance MBA courses are numerous. Some of the top benefits are given below:
Benefit |
Description |
Learn At Your Own Pace |
Set the pace of learning to what you can manage without interfering with work, family and other responsibilities or making you feel anxious about fitting it all in. |
Develop Intensively |
It acquires management information and different tools relevant to top management, which will prepare you for later mastery. |
Get Affordable MBA |
Receive affordable education that will cut across the economy of pursuing an MBA via the normal and online courses. |
Study Industry-Aligned Curriculum |
Utilize current trends and developments in an up-to-date curriculum that helps to optimize your education. |
Recognized MBA Courses From Top Institutes |
Make sure to become qualified by respectable accrediting academies such as AICTE or UGC, which are useful in international job seeking. |
Get Faster Promotions And Better Compensation |
Enhance your career by obtaining the MBA credentials, which make you eligible for faster career progression, better salary packages and entry to higher managerial positions with other attendant responsibilities in the organization. |
There are many distance Learning MBA colleges available in India, however following are the top 7 MBA Universities that can help you to excel yourselves as well as provide you better opportunities:
The Symbiosis Center for Distance Learning is rooted in Pune, in addition to being the distance learning wing of Symbiosis International (Deemed University). It also organizes numerous other distance courses, including MBA. The Dean of Symbiosis CDL assures the students of the best learning opportunities possible in the industry, despite one’s pursuing education with any career objectives. At Symbiosis CDL, students get to access a distance MBA program in management that is of international standard. You can specialize in a number of different areas, enhancing your career prospects. This will include aspects of education that the student finds interesting.
An undergraduate degree from a recognized university or institute in India or a foreign country.
IGNOU is one of the oldest and well-known distance learning universities in India. The university was established in 1985, and distance education commenced in 1987. The distance MBA program is very beneficial for working people since the institute provides the right kind of support and environment to help students complete their education.
Further, face-to-face interaction via learning centers has certain advantages as well. The university offers a 2-year distance MBA course, and students can finish the course in a maximum of four years. There is no age limit to restrict its candidates, which means if someone wants to pursue an MBA degree, then he or she can do it from IGNOU.
Criteria |
Details |
Eligibility |
An undergraduate degree from a recognized university or institute in India or a foreign country. |
General Category |
50% marks |
Reserved Categories |
45% marks |
Entrance Exam |
Pass the OPENMAT conducted by NTA |
IGNOU offers more than 20 specializations in MBA. Here are some of the most popular distance MBA specializations among students:
IMT CDL, Ghaziabad, which has been providing distance education courses for more than thirty years, is one of the first to offer quality distance education courses. It provides postgraduate diploma courses that are equivalent to the Indian MBA universities. The Postgraduate Diploma in Management course offered at IMT CDL, Ghaziabad, for a duration of 2 years, helps candidates build sufficient skills and knowledge in the field of management. With the MBA program at the institute, you will have many specializations to pursue your interests.
A bachelor’s degree from any university or institute recognized in India.
Among all the distance education universities in India, Chandigarh University ODL is ranked among the best institutions. The quality of education and training offered to the students at the university has led it to achieve a great position within private universities in the QS World Ranking 2024 in India. NIRF India 2023 has also placed this University in the 27th position in its rankings and accredited it with A+ by NAAC. The university's strategies for enhancement through their MBA programs are inclined towards helping students to acquire proper managerial skills and leadership capabilities. This 2-year program has been carefully designed to achieve the above objectives. In addition, it also offers various options for students pursuing MBA courses at the university, allowing them to choose an appropriate course in accordance with their interests and wishes.
A bachelor’s degree or professional qualifications like CA or ICWA from any university or institute recognized in India.
Total Fee: INR 65,000 - INR 70,000
Andhra University ranks among the oldest institutions in the country, providing the best learning experience for its students. Through its distance education system, the university intends to help candidates who are unable to study in regular education by providing them necessary tools and resources for proper distance education. Out of many such programs, the distance MBA is something that both new graduates and working professionals tend to take up.
In order to enable students to develop adequate knowledge as well as competency in the management domain, Andhra University SDE also provides several specializations within the MBA program. This way, every student can get an opportunity to study for an MBA course with the specialization of their choice. The university also possesses a wide range of learning centers that students can reach out to for any information concerning the distance MBA at AU SDE that they wish.
An undergraduate degree from a recognized university or institute in India or a foreign country with 50% (45% for reserved categories) marks for the general category.
Specialization |
Total Tuition Fee (INR) |
Finance, HRM, Marketing |
46,000 |
Hospital Administration |
66,000 |
It is also referred to as the G. Ram Reddy Center for Distance Education. At this center, distance education courses of various kinds are offered for individuals who are wishing to broaden their skills and attain great academic qualifications. Out of these courses, the distance MBA is the most preferred choice for students for several reasons. It offers education relevant to today's businesses, so students can gain a deep understanding of business management and leadership practices. The 2 year MBA program from this institute provides students with knowledge of marketing, finance, organizational behavior, human resources and operations management, which are important parts of business management. The course curriculum is also interesting as it considers the needs of employers, leading to an employable student.
An undergraduate degree from a recognized university or institute in India or a foreign country with 50% (45% for reserved categories) marks for the general category.
Anna University Center of Distance Education is regarded as one of the best distance education universities in India. Students from different states of the country are enrolled in various courses at Anna University CDE. In particular, the MBA offered by this university is popular among working professionals and new graduates seeking to advance their careers with additional skills. There are distance MBA courses from Anna University CDE for working professionals who want to climb the career ladder and also for housewives looking to make a career move.
Pass an undergraduate course from an institute or university in India recognized by the UGC.
Fee Breakdown |
Amount (INR) |
Total Fee |
51,150 |
First Semester |
18,650 |
Semester II, III, and IV |
12,500 each |
Inevitably, with the widespread use of the Internet and the increasing popularity of distance education, more and more institutes and universities provide distance MBA programs. It is for this reason that a lot of time is spent to determine the applicable one since there are many options out there. Different promising issues should be addressed in order to promote the right selection. Following are the tips to use whenever you think of enrolling in any distance MBA college in India.
Consideration |
Description |
Accreditation and Recognition |
Find out if the college is approved by bodies such as UGC, AIC, and Alliance, in order to make the degree obtained more useful in the market. |
Course Structure and Curriculum |
Look at the breadth of the syllabus offered to confirm that it reflects all the functional areas of a business and has in-built specialization as per the needs of industry. |
Learning Resources and Support |
Establish the amount of study materials and study support services that the college is able to offer with the intention of improving the experience and effectiveness of carrying out distance studying. |
Placement Help and Industry Connections |
Pick those colleges that offer placement services, provide internship placements, or have a tie-up with good corporate organizations for better employment opportunities after completion of the course. |
Scholarships and Financial Aid |
Go ahead to look out for different college tuition fee structures and inquire if they have scholarships or flexible ways of paying off the amount so that you don’t have to spend a lot of money without compromising the quality of the education they are undertaking. |
Though, it was quite difficult to plan or choose an appropriate University for pursuing an Online MBA course. Now, thanks to these distance MBA course programs, the great majority of working professionals are able to improve their occupations by learning better skills which ultimately create great opportunities for their careers. This is especially beneficial for those who are working or have personal commitments that hinder them from attending traditional classes. Additionally, distance learning MBA programs are generally relatively cheaper, making this type of education more accessible to students. However, as there are a number of colleges providing distance or Online MBA programs, students can struggle to figure out which one is the best to choose. We hope that this blog regarding the top distance MBA colleges in India have helped you become aware of these colleges and make informed decisions.
Distance MBA courses are highly convenient and affordable for anyone looking to build their management skills and insights. You can have absolute control over your learning schedule, no matter what your professional or personal commitments are. Further, distance MBA courses are perfect for working professionals who want to get promotions or improve their salary packages.
Yes, they are. Most distance MBA courses are from recognized institutes and universities in India can help you build your career. They are focused on helping you to develop the right skills in management and build insights that are needed to lead teams. You can pursue the course even if you are currently working or are looking for new jobs. The MBA qualification also helps you get better career options and choices, which is crucial for you to grow in your career.
There are several distance MBA colleges in India, and it is hard to pick a few from them as the best since each has unique features and academic capabilities. However, we believe that Symbiosis CDL, IGNOU, Andhra University SDE, etc., can be considered as the best universities for doing a distance MBA in India.
Yes, they do. The distance MBA courses offered in India are mostly recognized and approved by statutory bodies like UGC, AICTE, etc. Hence, it is natural for foreign institutes to accept these courses as legitimate qualifications. However, checking the accreditations and recognitions of the university where you want to pursue the distance MBA is crucial.
Distance MBA and Online MBA have their benefits and limitations. It is hard to say one is better than the other. For example, distance MBA courses are more affordable than online courses, whereas online courses offer more support to students in learning through recorded classes. Hence, it is an individual choice for the student. Distance education is the way to go if your first preference is cost of learning. If you want more support and assistance in learning, online education is more suitable.
The career prospects of doing a distance MBA are pretty much like any other regular or online MBA. You can walk on various career paths with the help of a distance MBA. If you do a marketing specialization in MBA, you can become a marketing manager, sales lead, digital marketing specialist, etc. On the other hand, with an HR management specialization, you can become an HR manager, recruitment executive, compensation manager, etc. Likewise, a finance specialization helps you take up roles in the finance department of a business.