Are new IIMs worth the fees given placement outcomes?
Is a New IIM Worth the Fees?
The honest answer: value-positive for candidates with no stronger alternatives, but a real ceiling exists for consulting, IB, and MBB career tracks. Here is how the math and the career logic actually work.
The ROI Calculation
New IIMs (Trichy, Udaipur, Kashipur, Raipur, Rohtak, Ranchi and the others) charge approximately Rs 14-17L in fees.
Average placement outcomes for recent batches land in the Rs 15-18 LPA range. That math produces a payback window of roughly 3-4 years - reasonable by most standards, and better than several Tier 2 private colleges at similar or higher fee points.
Comparison Across Comparable Colleges
| College | Approx. Fees | Avg Package (recent batches) | Approx. Payback |
|---|---|---|---|
| New IIMs (range) | Rs 14-17L | Rs 15-18 LPA | 3-4 years |
| MDI Gurgaon | ~Rs 23.6L | ~Rs 26 LPA | ~3-4 years |
| IMT Ghaziabad | ~Rs 21L | ~Rs 14 LPA | ~4-5 years |
| TAPMI Manipal | ~Rs 17.3L | ~Rs 13-14 LPA | ~4-5 years |
| FORE School Delhi | ~Rs 23.5L | ~Rs 16 LPA | ~5+ years |
On a pure ROI basis, new IIMs outperform IMT Ghaziabad, TAPMI, and FORE. MDI Gurgaon offers a comparable payback window but with a stronger Delhi NCR placement ecosystem and better recruiter access for certain roles - fees are higher though.
Where New IIMs Work
For candidates whose realistic alternatives are IMT, TAPMI, FORE, or smaller private colleges, a new IIM admit is the clearly better option.
The IIM brand also has a compounding effect: after 5-7 years of job changes, the IIM tag carries recognition weight even from newer campuses, in ways that a FORE or IMT degree typically does not.
Among new IIMs, Udaipur, Trichy, and Kashipur have built noticeably stronger placement reputations relative to the rest of the cohort, with some students from recent batches reportedly crossing Rs 25 LPA. If you are choosing between new IIMs, these three tend to be the higher-probability options for better outcomes.
AACSB accreditation progress, NIRF rankings, and QS BRICS placements are now accommodating several new IIMs in the top 30 nationally - which matters for employer brand recognition over time.
Where New IIMs Fall Short
Consulting (MBB and second-tier strategy firms), investment banking, and PE/VC recruitment are effectively minimal at most new IIMs. Students who enter with those career targets often exit disappointed.
That is not a branding problem you can work around through networking alone - the firms simply do not recruit from most new IIM campuses with any meaningful frequency.
If consulting or IB is your primary target, a new IIM is the wrong bet. Retaking CAT and targeting IIM L, K, I, or older IIMs, or pivoting to XLRI BM, SPJIMR, or MDI Gurgaon (depending on your entrance exam profile), will get you significantly closer to those outcomes.
The Decision Framework
- 01If you hold a call from IIM L, K, I or any older IIM alongside a new IIM offer, always take the older IIM.
- 02If your alternatives are IMT, TAPMI, FORE, or no MBA, the new IIM is the better path.
- 03If your target is consulting or IB and your only offer is a new IIM, seriously consider a CAT retake before committing.
- 04Among new IIMs specifically, Udaipur, Trichy, and Kashipur have shown stronger placement consistency and are worth prioritising if you have the choice.
You can compare colleges side by side or run an eligibility check to map your current CAT score and profile against which of these realistic options are actually in play for you.