Rajagiri Business School MBA Review 2026: Admission Process, Fees, Placements & ROI
- Pranav Gaikwad
- 21 hours ago
- 4 min read
Rajagiri Business School (RBS), Kochi, is one of Kerala’s most visible management institutes, widely considered for its industry-aligned PGDM/MBA programmes, campus environment and strong placement outcomes in recent years. This Rajagiri Business School MBA Review 2026 examines admissions, fee structure, placement performance, program strengths & weaknesses, and the likely return on investment (ROI) for a 2026 intake — drawing on official institute material and the latest placement/fee reports.
1. Why consider Rajagiri Business School MBA
Program mix: Full-time PGDM/ MBA, PGDM–International, IMBA, and specialised management programmes with industry projects.
Placement momentum: Recent placement cycles report high placement percentages and median packages in the ₹6–7 LPA range for flagship programmes.
Location & infrastructure: Kochi campus with modern classrooms, industry interaction centres and active placement cell.
2. Admission process (step-by-step)
Rajagiri uses a single, combined application for its PGDM, MBA, IMBA and allied programmes. Applicants must register on the institute’s application portal and pay the application fee (noted as ₹1,000). Shortlisting follows a multi-stage selection process that typically includes shortlisting on entrance exam scores, GD/CET rounds (where applicable), and a personal interview. Accepted national tests include CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, KMAT and occasionally GMAT for international applicants.
Practical checklist for 2026 applicants
Minimum eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (typically 50% aggregate; refer to program-specific variations).
Entrance test: Submit scores for one of CAT/XAT/CMAT/MAT/KMAT/GMAT.
Application: Fill the combined application on Rajagiri’s Fedena portal; application fee ≈ ₹1,000.
Selection stages: Shortlist → Written/Case/Presentation (if applicable, e.g., PGDM-IEV) → Personal Interview.
Tip: If you are aiming for specialized streams (entrepreneurship, international management), check for additional selection components (CET-IE or project presentations) in the program notices.
3. Fee structure and financing
The tuition component for the flagship PGDM/MBA programme at Rajagiri is commonly reported around ₹7.5 lakh (total for two years); the institute’s fee PDF lists tuition and ancillary components (examination, industrial visits, project fees) which add to the overall cost depending on the instalment schedule. Budget for hostel, food and other living costs separately when evaluating total cost of attendance.
Breakdown (typical / indicative)
Total tuition (approx.): ₹7,50,000 (PGDM/MBA total tuition across two years).
Other fees: Examination fees, industrial visit charges, project/study tour costs — shown in the institute’s fee structure PDF and charged per term.
Living expenses: Hostel + food + local transport — vary by lifestyle and current market rates in Kochi.
Financing options
Education loans are available from nationalised and private banks; Rajagiri provides fee receipts and placement records which banks typically require for loan sanction. Consider early loan pre-approval if you need funding. Scholarships and merit concessions may be announced periodically — check official admissions notices.
4. Placements 2024–25 (what the data shows)
Rajagiri’s recent placement cycles show improving metrics: placement percentages for flagship programmes are strong, and median packages have been reported in the ₹6–7 LPA bracket in recent cycles. Several placement trackers and the institute’s placement pages cite median salaries around ₹7 LPA and high percentages of students placed in the most recent reported year. Function-wise and sector-wise hiring span marketing, finance, HR, BFSI, IT/ITES and consumer goods.
Key placement figures (indicative, from public reports)
Median salary: ~₹6.5–7.0 LPA (varied by source and cohort).
Placement rate (PGDM): High single-digit percentages of non-placed students reported in placement summaries (many sources report ~90%+ placements for some cohorts).
Top recruiters: Mix of national corporates and regional firms across banking, consulting, FMCG and services — profile diversity improves role options.
Interpretation
For a ₹7.5 lakh tuition investment, a median placement of ₹6–7 LPA puts Rajagiri in a competitive position regionally (strong ROI for students who secure campus placements and function/sector fits), but outcomes depend on individual performance, domain, and pre-placement offers.
5. Program structure, pedagogy & industry connect
Curriculum
Core management areas with electives, industry projects and internships embedded in a trimester system. The PGDM and IMBA variants emphasise experiential learning and are updated with functional electives.
Industry interaction
Regular guest lectures, company projects, live cases, and placement preparation sessions are part of the pedagogy. The institute markets strong corporate ties which help with functional placements.
Faculty & research
Mix of full-time faculty and visiting practitioners. For specialized modules (analytics, entrepreneurship), look for recent faculty listings and visiting expert schedules on the official site.
1. Strengths and differentiators
Regional brand + campus placements: RBS is well-recognised in Kerala and neighbouring states — strong recruiter presence in regional markets.
Practical curriculum & projects: Emphasis on employability through projects, internships and industry immersion.
Good median salary for regional B-school: Median packages reported around ₹6–7 LPA provide a solid ROI for many students.
2. Areas to evaluate / watch-outs
National ranking spread: While placements are strong regionally, national rankings of top IIMs and older B-schools still command significantly higher average and top packages. Students with top CAT/XAT percentiles may compare ROI with top-tier national institutes.
Program fit: Confirm specialization availability (marketing, finance, analytics, HR) and faculty expertise for the specialization you target.
Cost components beyond tuition: Industrial visits, additional certification fees and living costs can add to the total cost of attendance — check the fee PDF carefully.
6 ROI analysis: will your investment pay off?
ROI is a function of (expected first-year salary) ÷ (total cost of 2-year program including living costs). Using public median figures:
Assumption A (typical case): Tuition ₹7.5L + living costs ₹2.5L/year × 2 = Total cost ≈ ₹12.5L. Median salary ₹6.5–7.0 LPA.
First-year gross equals about half the total cost; breakeven on cash flows occurs as earnings rise and debt repayment schedules vary.
Interpretation: For students who secure on-campus roles at or above the median, ROI is reasonable within 2–4 years post-graduation. For students who move into high-growth sectors or receive PPOs, ROI improves materially.
Decision factors
Prior domain experience, internship quality, and networking can move you above the median. If you require loans, model monthly EMI against expected starting salary to confirm affordability.
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