Updated: 9 Nov 2026 · By IGNOU Education editorial team
Independent guide, not affiliated with IGNOU, Amity, LPU or NMIMS. IGNOU’s official site: ignou.ac.in.
Short answer: IGNOU is by far the cheapest of the four. Its online MBA costs ₹66,000 for the whole programme, against about ₹1.96 lakh at NMIMS and ₹2 lakh or more at Amity and LPU. The trade-off is how you study: IGNOU is built around self-study material, while Amity, LPU and NMIMS advertise live classes and their own career services. Which is right depends on your budget and how much structure you need.
Quick comparison
| IGNOU MBA (Online) | Amity Online MBA | LPU Online MBA | NMIMS MBA (Online) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 2 years minimum, 4 years maximum | 2 years | 2 years, 4 semesters | 2 years, 4 semesters |
| Fee as published | ₹16,000 per semester for semesters 1, 2 and 4, ₹18,000 for semester 3 (₹66,000 in total), plus registration and development fees as applicable | ₹56,300 per semester; ₹2,07,000 one-time payment | ₹50,000 per semester; ₹40,400 per semester with LPU’s 20% Student Grant (terms apply) | ₹55,000 per semester; ₹1,05,000 per year; ₹1,96,000 full programme; plus ₹1,200 admission processing fee |
| Eligibility | Bachelor’s degree (3 years) with 50% marks (45% for reserved categories) | See Amity’s page | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline, or CA, CS or CMA | Bachelor’s degree with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD) |
| Work experience needed | No | See Amity’s page | No | No |
| Recognition (as stated by each university) | Programme recognised by AICTE (per IGNOU’s handbook) | “UGC Entitled” | UGC-entitled, AICTE approved, NAAC A++ (3.68) | UGC-entitled |
| Next intake | January 2027, not open yet | Amity shows “Admissions Open for Jan’27 Session” | Batches every 6 months | Admissions listed from 24 Sep 2026 to 16 Mar 2027 |
Fees and facts checked on each university’s official pages on 9 Nov 2026. They can change, so confirm with the university before you pay.
Fees compared
| Per semester | Whole programme | |
|---|---|---|
| IGNOU MBA (Online) | ₹16,000 (semesters 1, 2, 4); ₹18,000 (semester 3) | ₹66,000, plus registration and development fees as applicable |
| NMIMS MBA (Online) | ₹55,000 | ₹1,96,000 if paid in full; ₹1,05,000 per year if paid annually |
| LPU Online MBA | ₹50,000 actual; ₹40,400 with the 20% Student Grant | ₹1,61,600 at the grant rate (4 × ₹40,400); ₹2,00,000 at the actual fee. LPU’s registration fee (₹1,000) is extra |
| Amity Online MBA | ₹56,300 | ₹2,07,000 if paid in one go, as shown on Amity’s page |
For LPU, the semester fee includes an exam fee of ₹2,000 per semester. For NMIMS, exam fees are ₹800 per subject per attempt and the project fee is ₹800 per attempt, charged separately.
A note on IGNOU’s fee. The Common Prospectus for July 2026 lists ₹16,000 per semester for semesters 1, 2 and 4 and ₹18,000 for semester 3 (₹66,000 in total). The amount shown on the official IGNOU portal at admission is binding. For the full breakdown, see our IGNOU online MBA fees guide.
Online vs distance: a common mix-up
Some comparisons call IGNOU a “distance” MBA. IGNOU runs two routes: the MBA (Online), known as MBAOL, and separate open and distance learning (ODL) MBA programmes. This page is about the online MBA. If you’re choosing between the two IGNOU routes, read our IGNOU online vs distance MBA guide.
Eligibility and entrance tests
- IGNOU: a bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years with 50% marks (45% for reserved categories). IGNOU lists no entrance test for the online MBA.
- LPU: a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, or completed CA, CS or CMA.
- NMIMS: a bachelor’s degree (10+2+3) with 50% marks (45% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD). NMIMS says work experience isn’t necessary.
- Amity: check the eligibility section on Amity’s programme page for the current criteria and any test-score requirements.
How you study and are assessed
| How it works | |
|---|---|
| IGNOU | Self-learning material, available as soft copy as well as print. Assessment is 30% assignments and 70% term-end examination |
| Amity | Amity says its online MBA includes live and recorded classes |
| LPU | Live lectures on weekends plus recorded lectures, as stated by LPU; LinkedIn Learning access (terms apply) |
| NMIMS | Live and recorded sessions; NMIMS says recordings are available within 24 working hours of a live session |
If you learn well on your own and want to keep costs down, IGNOU’s format can work. If you want scheduled live teaching and faculty interaction, the three private universities are built around that.
Recognition and validity
Every university here describes its online MBA in recognition terms, and the wording differs:
- IGNOU: its handbook says the programme is recognised by AICTE and refers to the UGC’s 2020 notification on recognition of open and distance learning and online degrees.
- Amity, LPU and NMIMS: each describes its online programme as UGC-entitled. LPU also states AICTE approval and a NAAC A++ grade (3.68 on a 4-point scale).
Before you enrol anywhere, check the university’s entitlement for the programme on the UGC-DEB website, and keep your DEB-ID once you get it. Our IGNOU MBA (Online) page covers IGNOU’s recognition in more detail.
Career support
Amity, LPU and NMIMS each describe career services for online learners. For example, NMIMS says its Career Services are for existing students and alumni and include coaching, practice interviews, profile development and a job portal. None of the four publishes a guaranteed placement or an average salary for the online MBA that we could verify, so treat any figure you see elsewhere with caution.
Which one should you choose?
| If you… | Look at first |
|---|---|
| Want the lowest total fee | IGNOU |
| Prefer a government university’s degree | IGNOU |
| Want live weekend classes | LPU, Amity or NMIMS |
| Are comfortable with self-study and a limited live component | IGNOU |
| Want a university’s own career services | NMIMS, LPU or Amity (check what each includes) |
| Need to start now | LPU, Amity or NMIMS. IGNOU’s next intake is January 2027 and isn’t open yet |
What Amity’s comparison gets wrong about IGNOU
Amity published a blog post comparing its online MBA with IGNOU’s. Two points are worth checking against IGNOU’s own documents. It describes IGNOU’s learning method as “Distance”, but IGNOU’s MBA (Online) is a separate online programme from its distance MBAs. It also quotes a single IGNOU fee; confirm the current amount on IGNOU’s admission portal before you apply.
FAQs
Is IGNOU MBA better than Amity Online MBA? Neither is better for everyone. IGNOU costs far less. Amity says it offers live and recorded classes and its own career services. Compare fees, how you like to study and what your employer values.
Which is cheaper: IGNOU or LPU online MBA? IGNOU. Its programme fee is ₹66,000 on the latest prospectus, against ₹1,61,600 at LPU’s 20% Student Grant rate or ₹2,00,000 at LPU’s actual fee.
Is IGNOU online MBA valid? IGNOU’s handbook says the programme is recognised by AICTE. Check the programme’s entitlement on the UGC-DEB website before you enrol.
How much does IGNOU MBA cost? ₹16,000 per semester for semesters 1, 2 and 4 and ₹18,000 for semester 3 on the July 2026 Common Prospectus (₹66,000 in total). Confirm the amount on the admission portal.
Is IGNOU MBA admission still open? No. The July 2026 session is closed. IGNOU hasn’t opened January 2027 admissions yet.
Is an online MBA from IGNOU worth it? It can be, if cost and a government university’s degree matter most to you. Read our IGNOU online MBA worth-it guide.
Do IGNOU, Amity, LPU and NMIMS need a DEB-ID? NMIMS says candidates who studied through distance or online mode must submit date-of-admission or DEB approval documents to verify the earlier university’s approval. For anything else about DEB-ID, ask the university you’re applying to.
Independent guide, not affiliated with IGNOU, Amity, LPU or NMIMS. Fees, dates and rules come from each university’s official pages and documents and can change. Always confirm on the university’s website and on the IGNOU Samarth admission portal before you apply or pay.