Top MBA Colleges in Pune 2026: SNAP, CAT and MAH CET Options Compared

Quick Answer: SIBM Pune is the best MBA college in Pune, followed by IMED and PIBM, which have been ranked 101- 125 according to the NIRF ranking. The lowest-cost government college is PUMBA, which takes admission based on MAH-CET score and MIT WPU takes CAT score.

Key Takeaways:

• SIBM Pune: NIRF Rank 11, ₹26.20 lakh fees, ₹28.18 LPA average package, and admission through SNAP.
• IMED Pune (Bharati Vidyapeeth): NIRF Rank Band 101-125, ₹4 lakh fees, ₹7.4 LPA average package, and admission through BMAT/CAT/MAH CET.
• PUMBA: Not ranked in NIRF Management, ₹1.30 lakh fees; average package of ₹11.23 LPA and admission through MAH CET.
• MIT-WPU: Not ranked in NIRF Management, ₹5.25–₹7.10 lakh fees, Average package of ₹6.30 LPA and admission through CAT/XAT/CMAT/MAT/NMAT/MAH CET.
• PIBM: NIRF Rank Band 101-125, ₹9.25 lakh fees, average package of ₹8.83 LPA.

In this blog, we will help you explore the NIRF Rankings, fees and placements for the top MBA colleges in Pune, and explain what entrance exams such as SNAP, CAT and MAH offer.

NIRF-Ranked MBA Colleges in Pune

NIRF, or the National Institutional Ranking Framework, is the Ministry of Education’s ranking system to evaluate Indian colleges yearly on the basis of teaching quality, research, placements and a few other factors. Here are Pune’s MBA colleges and where each one stands.

Quick Fact: NIRF gives exact ranks only to the top 100 in Management and groups the rest into bands, which is why IMED Pune and PIBM are shown as 101-125.

MBA Fees in Pune: College-Wise Comparison

MBA college fees in Pune vary widely between the government and the private colleges. The table below mentions the total program fees for the full 2-year program:

Placements at Pune’s Top MBA Colleges

Among the top MBA colleges of Pune, SIBM leads in terms of placements and best packages. Moreover, the best ROI is offered by PUMBA, which offers a higher average package than PIBM and IMED, despite having lower fees than those two.

SNAP vs CAT vs MAH CET: Which Exam Do You Need for MBA in Pune?

Each of Pune’s top MBA colleges includes different entrance exams in their eligibility criteria, so your target college decides which exam you need to prepare for.

• MBA colleges in Pune accepting SNAP include SIBM Pune, which also runs a group exercise and personal interview after SNAP. SIBM Pune needs a SNAP percentile of around 97 or higher.
• MBA colleges in Pune accepting CAT include MIT-WPU, PIBM and IMED Pune, alongside other exams like XAT, CMAT and MAT. However, for SIBM Pune, CAT isn’t the primary route. IMED Pune also runs its own entrance test, BMAT.
• MBA colleges in Pune accepting MAH CET are mainly PUMBA, along with MIT-WPU and IMED Pune. MAH CET is a state-level exam, so it’s only open to candidates who meet Maharashtra’s domicile or eligibility rules.

Quick Tip: A 97th percentile score on the SNAP test seems high; however, SNAP is limited to only three sections within an hour. Thus, it’s better to spend that much time preparing for SNAP rather than CAT.

Conclusion

SIBM Pune has the highest NIRF rank and average package among Pune’s top MBA colleges, but it also has the highest fees and needs a strong SNAP score to get admission. PUMBA has the most affordable fee structure and admits through MAH CET, while IMED Pune, PIBM and MIT-WPU accept CAT Scores. 

If you want help figuring out which exam and which college fit your budget and score, CollegeSathi offers free counselling to guide you through the options.