What the table shows
Most IIM comparison threads paste NIRF ranks and highest-CTC screenshots. This table lines up the same fields we publish on each review so you can check a shortlist on one screen: fees, medians, scores, and simple payback, before you open ten PDFs at once.
| Row | In this table? | Source |
|---|---|---|
| NIRF rank | Yes | Review frontmatter (Management ranking context) |
| iimHQ overall + six dimension scores | Yes | Editorial scores; see methodology |
| Programme fee, median / typical, average CTC / MEP | Yes | Review anchors; verify latest institute PDFs |
| Editorial payback years | Yes | Same field as campus reviews; personalise in the calculator |
| Flagship programme, city, generation, best-for | Yes | Review frontmatter |
| Sector mix, batch size, loan EMI, city rent | No | Full review + your cash model |
| Written campus-vs-campus essay | No | Compare essays hub |
Caps at four campuses on purpose. If you need a twenty-row sheet, you do not have a shortlist yet; you have a research backlog.
How to run a shortlist in five steps
- Filter the picker. Use Old / New / Baby chips, or search by name or city, so you are not scrolling past campuses you already ruled out.
- Load a preset if useful. BLACKI loads the classic six (truncated to four). Top 5 NIRF loads the five best ranks in our dataset (again capped at four). Clear resets the URL.
- Select two to four campuses. The table opens once two are on. Selected chips let you remove a campus without hunting the card grid.
- Read numeric winners, then definitions. Highlighted cells flag better ranks, scores, or payback among the set; they do not override MEP vs CTC mismatches in the text rows.
- Open the review links in the column headers, then re-run personalised payback in the fee calculator with your loan assumptions.
Share the page URL after you pick campuses. The ?i= parameter keeps the same selection for
a parent, mentor, or co-applicant.
Worked example: Ahmedabad vs Bangalore
Open Ahmedabad vs Bangalore in the matrix (or pick both cards above). Using Sep 2026 review anchors:
- IIM Ahmedabad: NIRF #1, overall 4.8, programme fee ₹27.50 lakh, median MEP ₹34.59 LPA, editorial payback ~1.2
- IIM Bangalore: NIRF #2, overall 4.7, programme fee ₹26.00 lakh (mess/caution extra), median ₹34.75 LPA, editorial payback ~0.9
On raw fee vs median math Bangalore often looks slightly tighter; on brand and consulting/finance hiring Ahmedabad still wins for many people. The table shows that trade-off in one view; it does not pick for you. Written framing: IIM A vs B essay. Fee deeper dives: Ahmedabad fees, Bangalore fees.
How to read highlighted cells
When two or more campuses are selected, numeric rows with a direction mark the best value in the set:
- Lower is better: NIRF rank, editorial payback years
- Higher is better: overall and dimension scores
Text rows (fees wording, median wording, best-for) are not highlighted as winners because string length is not quality. Always read the definition inside the cell. MEP and CTC are not interchangeable. Score meaning lives in the 6-dimension methodology.
Out of scope here
Included: the review’s published ranks, scores, fee and earnings anchors, payback years, programme label, city, generation, and best-for line, aligned across campuses so you are not comparing screenshots from different years without noticing.
Not included: CAT cutoffs by category, waitlist dynamics, scholarship probability, sector histograms, alumni density by function, hostel quality narratives, or personal EMI affordability. Those belong in the full review, fee/placement companions, and your own spreadsheet. Generation context: old vs new IIMs. ROI framing: best IIMs for ROI.
Before you lock a preference
Use the table to drop campuses that lose on every limit you care about (budget, city, minimum median). Keep two to three finalists, then do the slow work.
Checklist after you shortlist here
- Re-download fee and placement PDFs for your batch year; review numbers can lag fresh notices.
- Align definitions before trusting a highlighted payback or median cell.
- Run −20% earnings in the payback calculator.
- Read career-path essays if consulting or finance is the goal (consulting, finance).
- Write down your order with one sentence per campus on why it stays.
Quick rule of thumb
If two campuses are within a few tenths on overall score, let disclosure quality, city, and debt ceiling break the tie ahead of a single highlighted NIRF cell. Offer-week process: accept or decline.
Frequently asked questions
Is this Compare IIMs tool free?
Yes. Pick two to four campuses, open the side-by-side table, and share the URL with no signup. Figures come from published iimHQ reviews and are directional. Always verify the latest institute fee notice and placement PDF before you decide.
How many IIMs can I compare at once?
Two to four. That keeps the table readable on mobile and forces a real shortlist instead of a 21-campus spreadsheet. Use generation filters or BLACKI / Top 5 NIRF presets to load a starting set, then remove campuses that do not fit.
Where do the fees, CTC, and scores come from?
Every cell is pulled from the matching review frontmatter on iimHQ, the same numbers used in campus reviews. Dimension scores are Anchal Katyal’s editorial judgments, not scraped aggregates. Click a campus name in the matrix header to open its full review.
Why are some cells highlighted?
For numeric rows with a clear “better” direction (lower NIRF rank, higher score, lower payback years), the best value among the selected campuses is highlighted. Ties keep every matching cell highlighted. Text rows such as city or best-for are not scored as winners.
Can I share my comparison?
Yes. The tool writes selected institute IDs into the URL (?i=…). Copy the address bar to send someone the same table. Clearing the selection removes the query parameter.
Should I decide only from this table?
No. Use it to drop weak options fast, then read the reviews, fee guides, and placement PDFs. Run personalised payback in the fee calculator, and use written compare essays when you care about consulting, finance, or a similar career path.
Next: browse the compare essays hub, run the fee payback calculator, or open a campus review.
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