Tools

Fee math and shortlists

Spreadsheets and forum screenshots mix definitions. These tools run one formula at a time: fee ÷ earnings for rough payback, directional CAT targets by profile, or the same fields we publish on each review lined up side by side. Use them to drop weak options fast before you lock which campus comes first.

Outputs are for planning only. They ignore tax, living costs, loan interest, and pre-MBA salary. Treat payback years as a floor, then reopen the campus review and live fee notice before you borrow or pay a deposit.

Available tools

Four helpers cover most shortlist math: a payback calculator for one fee and one salary figure, a fees-and-seats matrix across campuses, a call predictor for directional CAT percentile bands by profile, and a multi-campus compare table for scores. Pick the calculator when money is the main limit; pick the matrix to scan every campus; pick the call predictor when you are setting CAT targets; pick compare when two to four named campuses need the same fields side by side.

• MBA fee payback calculator
  Rough years-to-payback from programme fee and median first-year earnings. Directional only.
• IIM fees and seats matrix
  Sort and filter all reviewed campuses by fee, seats, NIRF, and median earnings in one table.
• IIM call predictor
  Directional CAT percentile bands by profile and campus. Planning aid, not an admission result.
• Compare IIMs
  Pick two to four institutes and compare NIRF, fees, dimension scores, and payback side by side.

How to use tools with reviews

Tools compress numbers. Reviews carry Anchal’s judgment, official tables, and fit. Follow the sequence below so a table cell never replaces a fee notice or placement PDF.

1. Build a two-to-four campus shortlist with shortlisting or a best-for page.
2. Check directional CAT targets in the call predictor against your profile.
3. Scan fees, seats, and NIRF in the fees and seats matrix.
4. Load those campuses in Compare IIMs and note fee, median, and score gaps.
5. Run payback on each realistic fee and salary pair in the calculator.
6. Open each review and the matching fee guide before you pay an acceptance deposit.

Deeper framework: IIM fees & ROI. Placement definitions: how to read placement reports. Call realism: CAT percentile for IIM calls.

Frequently asked questions

Are these tools free?

Yes. No signup. Figures are for planning only and come from published iimHQ reviews. Always check the latest institute fee notice and placement PDF before you decide.

Should I decide from the calculator alone?

No. Payback years ignore tax, living costs, loan interest, and pre-MBA salary. Treat the output as a rough floor, then read the campus review and fees guide.

Does the call predictor guarantee an interview shortlist?

No. It applies directional heuristics from category, academics, work experience, and CAT percentiles. Real shortlists use each institute’s composite formula and that year’s applicant pool. Treat bands as planning ranges, then read the selection guide and official policy PDF.

How does the compare tool relate to written compare essays?

The tool is a side-by-side table for campuses you already named. Written compares explain the story: consulting vs finance, city, fees. Use both: the essay to think it through, the tool to check numbers.

Anchal Katyal · Founder & Author

IIM Udaipur alumna (PGDM 2015–17). Founded iimHQ after navigating the new-IIM shortlist problem herself: fees, placement evidence, and campus fit over rank-table folklore. She writes the reviews; scores are her editorial judgments. See Disclosure.

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