Full Breakdown
Indian IIMs Slip in QS Global Master of Business Administration (MBA) Rankings 2027 Amid Expanding National Presence
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Rankings Shift for Top Indian Institutes
The QS Global MBA Rankings 2027, released on September 16, 2026, placed no Indian business school in the global top 50. The three IIMs that remained in the worldwide top 100 all fell: IIM Bangalore to joint 64th, IIM Ahmedabad to joint 70th, and IIM Calcutta to joint 95th.
Background & Context
India’s representation in the QS Global MBA Rankings has more than tripled since 2020, rising from five institutions to 19 in 2027. Five new entrants—O.P. Jindal Global University, Jaipuria Institute of Management, the School of Business and Management at CHRIST (Deemed to be University), the School of Leadership and Management at Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, and Vikrant University Gwalior—joined the list, while six existing Indian schools kept their spots. Across the broader QS MBA and Business Master’s Rankings, India recorded 28 entries, the fourth-most represented country after the United States, United Kingdom and France.
Data & Statistics
- Overall Indian presence: 19 MBA providers in 2027 (up from 5 in 2020).
- Top-100 IIMs: Bangalore 64th, Ahmedabad 70th, Calcutta 95th.
- Employability scores: Bangalore 29th, Ahmedabad 35th, Calcutta 39th globally.
- Value-for-money scores: Bangalore 57.4 (down from 91), Ahmedabad 60.5 (down from 88.9), Calcutta 53.3 (down from 78.9).
- RoI bands: Bangalore 181-190, Ahmedabad 171-180, Calcutta 201-250.
Official Statements & Responses
QS President Nunzio Quacquarelli said intensified competition from global peers drove the downward movement, noting Indian schools were being outperformed in return-on-investment, entrepreneurship and alumni outcomes. He highlighted that ten Indian entries improved in the thought-leadership lens.
Verbatim Quotes
- “For Indian institutions this year, global peers are outpacing in key areas such as RoI, entrepreneurship, and alumni outcomes. While 10 entries from India improve in the thought leadership lens in 2027, it is key that providers continue to serve MBA students and help them to achieve their career ambitions,” — Nunzio Quacquarelli, QS president
- “Students who go to IIMs are happier getting a job than creating a job.” — Syed Sultan Ahmed
Why It Matters
The slip of India’s flagship IIMs underscores challenges in converting strong employability scores into broader performance metrics such as RoI, entrepreneurship and alumni impact. As Indian business schools expand globally, the rankings suggest a need to balance high tuition and placement expectations with outcomes that resonate across all QS assessment criteria.