If you aren’t sure about the field of specialization, then you should choose XLRI. It is widely reputed for its HR program. The head HR of most of the top MNCs in India are XLRI alumni. It is more reputed and has a large alumni base. XLRI placements are better than SPJIMR. The average CTC for the institute is INR 30.73 LPA.  SPJIMR has a better placement record for Information Management and Operations, compared to XLRI. 

For GEM, the CAT percentiles required to get an interview call from IIM Blackis, FMS, SP Jain, JBIMS, and MDI Gurgaon are  ABC and FMS: Both institutes required nothing less than 99.5. Those who get admission at a lesser percentile, usually don’t belong to the GEM category. There are many who don’t even get a call with 99.3. So to stay on the safer side, go for nothing less than 99.5. IIM Indore and Kozhikode: Both the institutes require percentiles around 97.5 for an interview call SPJIMR: This Institute has unique selection criteria under which CAT is given less value and calls are issued on the basis of the candidate's profile. The CAT percentile required in this case is less than the normal if you have a good academic profile along with work experience, MDI: This institute issues calls around the 96% mark. It’s important to know that these figures are based on trends and not on actual data so you will find exceptions everywhere. Moreover, it’s better you don’t waste time analyzing the CAT cutoff and start preparing for the same.

It is a close call between SPJIMR and JBIMS. NMIMS is not in the same league as these but it is a decent B-School and ranked among the top 30 in India. JBIMS has the highest rank. Indiatoday 2021 ranked the institute 12 for MBA.  JBIMS offers better ROI. Course fees for the institute are INR 6.05 Lakhs. While the average CTC for the institute is INR 27 LPA, according to JBIMS placements highlights of 2022. If you are interested in Finance, you should choose JBIMS.  If you are interested in Marketing and Ops, you should go for SP Jain. 

SPJIMR is better than IIM Indore in terms of academics, faculty, exposure, etc. The advantages of choosing SPJIMR are as follows.  The institute follows a unique pedagogy. SPJIMR stands out because of its experimental teaching methodology and outside-the-classroom learning experiences. There are some unique programs like DOCC, ADMAP, Abhyudaya, etc. which will help you get business-ready. SPJIMR batch size is smaller compared to IIM Indore. So, it’s easier for students to receive decent placement offers. SPJIMR placements 2022 had an average CTC of INR 30.10 LPA.  Students need to decide their specialization while applying at SPJIMR. As the specialization is predefined the courses are more streamlined according to the need of that specific industry. Students are better able to decide the company and job roles that want to have in the future.  These factors make SPJIMR differ from IIM Indore. As for similarities, both IIM Indore and SPJIMR have the same range of course fees. The recruiting companies are almost similar for both. The peer group is excellent at IIM Indore and SPJIMR. 

Students at IIM-A are similar to those at SP Jain, NMIMS, FMS, and JBIMS. Aptitude and intelligence are roughly comparable. IIM-A students do not have to compete as hard for placements, so they are less concerned, whereas students from other colleges are constantly concerned about placements.  You'll notice that students from other colleges perform better in competitions than IIM-A because they are generally more hardworking during MBA because the struggle is greater for them. However, because of the brand name, IIM-A students receive far more exposure than students from any other college in India, which benefits students greatly in their personal development.

For the given options, your preference order should be SP Jain>NMIMS>New IIMs. SP Jain and NMIMS offer good ROI and placements. During the 2022 placement drive, students of SP Jain received an average CTC of INR 32 LPA. NMIMS Mumbai 2022 placements ended with an average CTC of INR 23 LPA.  These two also have a locational advantage.

This year's average annual salary of SPJMIR (cost-to-company) is INR 32.05 lakhs per annum, representing a 23% increase over last year's figure. The median annual salary was INR 30.10 lakhs per year, with over 59 percent of the batch receiving offers in excess of INR 30 lakhs per year and over 87 percent receiving offers in excess of INR 25 lakhs per year. With the increasing intake of consulting firms, offers were extended to 91 students, the highest number ever reported by SPJIMR for a batch. Accenture Strategy, Alvarez & Marsal, Bain & Co., Boston Consulting Group, Deloitte, GEP, KPMG, Miebach, and PwC US Advisory were among the companies that took part. According to the Indian Placements Reporting Standards (IPRS) audited report of IIM Ahmedabad placements 2021, the average salary offered to the PGP/MBA batch 2019-21 was INR 27.54 lakh per annum. The highest annual salary offered was INR 55.00 lakh, while the highest international salary offer was INR 1.16 crore. The average annual international salary offer was INR 74.80 lakh.  Every year, SPJIMR includes some additional component in addition to the MEP (MEP already includes non-cash, long-term, and performance-linked components as per IPRS standards), whereas IIMA does not. Yes, SPJIMR benefits from NO reservation, a Mumbai location, and a smaller batch size, all of which contribute to a good placement record and a high average salary.

XAT or Xavier Aptitude Test is a national-level entrance exam conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur for admission to management programs offered by more than 150 B-schools across India, including SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), K J Somaiya Institute of Management Studies and Research, Institute of Management Technology Ghaziabad (IMT Ghaziabad), T A Pai Management Institute (TAPMI), and FORE School of Management. Each of these B-schools has its own XAT cutoff score based on factors such as the number of applicants, the difficulty level of the exam, and the availability of seats. Generally, the XAT cutoff scores for these B-schools range between the 80 to 90 percentile. It's important to note that while cutoff scores are an important factor in the admission process, they are not the only factor. Other factors, such as your academic background, work experience, extracurricular activities, and performance in other selection rounds, also play a crucial role in the admission process. So, it's always a good idea to aim for a high score in XAT and prepare well for other selection rounds to increase your chances of admission to the MBA program of your choice.

Both colleges have nearly identical fee structures. Top consulting firms such as Mckinsey, EY, and Frost & Sullivan hire from K but not SP Jain. BCG, Accenture Strategy, PWC, Deloitte, KPMG, PRTM, CBC, and others have all visited both. While consulting firms extended 41% of all offers, the median salary increased by 32.5 percent from 2021 to 2022. Consulting emerged as the top recruiting sector at SPJ, with offers extended to 38% of the 238 participants. In terms of middle office IBD and Wealth Management roles offered by JP Morgan, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, and Credit Suisse, K clearly outperforms SPJ. However, SPJain had a better scene in corporate finance, with Mondelez, GE, and Vodafone all offering corp fin. In Corporate Banking/Treasury, the number of companies visiting both is equal, with Citi, Yes Bank, ICICI, Axis, IDFC, IndusInd, and others visiting both. JM Financials and Standard Chartered are two brands that do not hire from K for corp banking. For the first time, Deutsche Bank has hired exclusively from K for their corporate banking role, rather than from SP Jain. IIM K has provided a variety of finance roles, including middle and front-office investment banking, wealth management, corporate banking, and treasury roles, whereas investment banking and wealth management roles are almost nonexistent in SP Jain. They have a higher proportion of corporate finance positions available. Going forward, with the expected growth and increasing alumni base, IIM K should be clearly a preferred choice over SP Jain for students aspiring to finance and consulting roles.

IPM does not offer a BBA degree but you will receive a BA degree for your undergrad coursework (Foundations in Management). The subjects taught at the undergraduate level are vastly different from those taught in any other BBA program. Any decision based on an assumption about the IPM curriculum can land you in big trouble. Returning to the question, I'm not familiar with the specifics of the four-year Tri-City programme, but I'm sure it entails a lot of learning from an institute like SPJ.  Having said that, IPM and the aforementioned course can be compared on the same scale. Two degrees from IIM Indore (one of which is the regular MBA that other PGP participants are entitled to) is an incredible value that cannot be matched by any other BBA programme in the country.  Other benefits include the environment and opportunities that come with being a student at an IIM. Comparisons can be made when other IIMs launch courses similar to IPM, which does not appear to be happening anytime soon. Until then, IPM would be a clear winner in terms of undergrad management education.