Top 20 ABM and Rural Management Colleges in India for 2026

In India, the demand for skilled professionals in the agriculture sector is steadily rising. As agribusiness continues to evolve with new technologies, policies, and market dynamics, there is a growing need for managers who understand both the business and the grassroots realities of agriculture.

Students graduating from Agriculture or related backgrounds often look to upskill themselves by pursuing an MBA in Agribusiness Management (ABM) or Rural Management, aiming for impactful careers in agri-corporates, food processing, rural development, finance, and other related fields.

This article explores the Top 20 ABM and Rural Management Colleges in India for 2026, giving you all the key details you need to know. Each college is unique in its approach, selection criteria, academic strengths, and placement outcomes. 

TIER I
(Elite — Highly competitive, excellent placement

1. IIM Lucknow

• Government
• Ranked 6 by NIRF
• Course Offered: MBA in Agri-Business and Management
• Fee:  12.6 Lakhs
• Median Salary: 32 LPA
• Exam Accepted: CAT
• IIM brand, triple‑crown accredited, 100% placement

2. IIM Ahmedabad

• Ranked 1 by NIRF
• Course Offered: MBA in Food and Agri-Business Management
• Fee:  25 Lakhs
• Median Salary: 20 LPA
• Exam Accepted: CAT
• Prestigious IIM, central hub of agribusiness consultants

3. Institute of Rural Management - [IRMA], Anand
Anand, Gujarat

• Government
• Ranked 49 by NIRF
• Course Offered: MBA in Rural Management
• Fee:  15.8 Lakhs
• Median Salary: 15 LPA
• Exam Accepted: CAT, XAT
• Considered #1 for Rural Management in India

After the setup of Tribhuvan Sahkari University (TSU), they also now offer an MBA in Agribusiness.

The Tribhuvan Sahkari University (TSU), set up in 2025 in Anand, Gujarat, is India’s first cooperative university, named after Tribhuvandas Patel. It works under the Ministry of Cooperation and follows a hub-and-spoke model, with the IRMA as its main constituent school and Centre of Excellence. IRMA keeps its autonomy but is now part of TSU. 

The university offers four MBA programs: the well-known MBA in Rural Management from IRMA, as well as three new ones in Cooperative Management, Agribusiness Management, and Cooperative Banking & Finance, along with other courses. Backed by the government and IRMA’s strong reputation, TSU aims to become a leading institute for training professionals in cooperatives, agriculture, and rural sectors, with promising growth potential in the years to come.

TIER II
(Strong niche-age ties, solid placement & reasonable ROI)

4. National Institute of Agricultural Extension Management (MANAGE), Hyderabad

• Government
• Ranked 37 by Indiatoday & 97 by NIRF 2023 (for MBA)
• Aa6 in CD Rating
• Course Offered: PGDM in Agri-Business Management
• Fee:  8.5 Lakhs
• Median Salary: 10.35 LPA
• Exam Accepted: CAT

5. XIMB, Bhubaneswar

• Xavier School of Rural Management (XSRM) in Bhubaneswar, Odisha
• Ranked 
• Course Offered: MBA‑ABM & RM
• Fee:  27 Lakhs
• Median Salary: 20 LPA
• Exam Accepted: XAT
• Ranked No. 2 in Agribusiness/Rural by Eduniversal after IIM‑A

6. SIIB, Symbiosis, Pune

• Private
• Ranked 41 by Indiatoday & 22 by The Week (for MBA)
• Course Offered: ABM
• Fee:  16 Lakhs
• Avg. Salary: 13.5 LPA
• Exam Accepted: SNAP, MAH CET

7. S.P Mandali's Prin L.N Welingkar Institute of Management Development & Research (WeSchool), Mumbai

• Private
• Ranked 84 by NIRF in 2024
• Course Offered: ABM
• Fee:  14 Lakhs
• Avg. Salary: 10 LPA
• Exam Accepted: MAH-MBA/ MMS CET/ CAT/ XAT/ ATMA/ CMAT/ GMAT

8. Institute of Management Studies, BHU

• Government
• Ranked 56 by NIRF 2023
• Course Offered: Master's Program in Agri-Business Administration MBA (Agri-Business)  (Special Course running at Rajiv Gandhi South Campus, Barkachha, Mirzapur)
• Fee: < 1L
• Avg ₹8.81 L; Highest ₹16.33 L (Source: Shiksha)
• Exam Accepted: CUET-PG, CAT, BHU PET

9. Vaikunth Mehta National Institute of Co-Operative Management - [VAMNICOM], Pune

• Ranked 70 by Indiatoday & 60 by The Week
• Course Offered: 
• Fee: ₹7.2 Lakhs
• Average Salary: Avg ₹9.12 L; Median ~₹8.6 L, Highest ~₹13.3 L (Shiksha)
• Exam Accepted: XAT, CAT & CMAT

10. Institute of Agri-Business Management - [IABM], Bikaner

• Government
• Ranked 86 by Indiatoday & 86 Business Today
• Course Offered: MBA in Agribusiness Management
• Fee: 3 Lakhs
• Avg ~₹5.5–6 LPA
• Exam Accepted: ICAR/State Level 

Tier III 
(Tier‑2 cities, smaller placement pools, viable backup options)

11. Xavier Institute of Social Service - [XISS], Ranchi

• Private
• Course Offered: PGDM‑Rural Management
• Fee:  ≈8–10 L
• Avg. Salary: Avg ₹6.42 L (Rural), Highest ₹20 L (HR wing) (Shiksha.com)
• Exam Accepted: XAT, CAT, CMAT

12. Symbiosis Institute of Business Management - [SIBM], Nagpur

• Private
• Course Offered: MBA‑FABM
• Fee:  18–20 L
• Avg. Salary: Avg ₹8.0–8.5 L; Highest ₹20 L (Shiksha, Reddit)
• Exam Accepted: SNAP

13. NIAM, Jaipur

• Ranked 
• Course Offered: MBA‑Agricultural Marketing & Business
• Fee:  ≈5–6 L
• Avg. Salary: Est. ₹5–7 L (media brigades)
• Exam Accepted: CAT, state

14. AMU Aligarh - Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh

• Government
• Ranked 55 for MBA by NIRF 2023
• Course Offered: MBA Agribusiness
• Fee: ₹18,000 for 1st Year
• Average Salary: 4.5 LPA
• Exam Accepted: CUET-PG

15. Graphic Era University, Dehradun

• Private
• Ranked 65 for MBA by NIRF 2023
• Course Offered: 
• Fee: 7.17 Lakhs
• Median Salary: ₹7.5 LPA
• Exam Accepted: CAT, CMAT, MAT, CUET-PG, XAT & NMAT

16. MIT World Peace University - [MIT-WPU], Pune

• Private
• Ranked 162 for MBA by Indiatoday 2022
• Course Offered: 
• Fee: 9.1 Lakhs
• Median Salary: 6 LPA
• Exam Accepted: MAH CET, CAT, CMAT, MAT, XAT, NMAT, PERA CET

17. Vignana Jyothi Institute of Management - [VJIM], Hyderabad

• Private
• Ranked 146  by Indiatoday &  80 by The Week
• Course Offered: 
• Fee: ₹8.6 Lakhs
• Median Salary: ₹6 LPA
• Exam Accepted: MAT, XAT, CAT, CMAT & ATMA

16. Sri Sri University - [SSU], Cuttack

• Ranked 
• Course Offered:
• Fee:  ≈5–7 L
• Avg. Salary: Est. ₹6–8 L (alumni survey)
• Exam Accepted: CAT, CMAT etc.

19. NAARM, Hyderabad

• Government
• Course Offered: PG Diploma in Agri‑Mgmt
• Fee: Govt Scholarship-based
• Median Salary: Govt placements → ₹7–10 L CTC band
• Exam Accepted: ICAR/State
• Niche College

20. State Agri‑Universities (e.g. PAU, CABM–Pantnagar)

• Colleges like- PAU, Ludhiana, CSAUAT, Kanpur, OUAT, Bhubaneswar, TNAU, Coimbatore, CABM, Pantnagar (GBPUAT) etc.
• Course Offered: MBA‑ABM, PGCM etc.
• Fee: ≈2–6 L
• Median Salary: Avg ~₹6–9 L (varies)
• Exam Accepted:  ICAR/state quota

The colleges in this list are ranked based on their name recognition, reputation, location, and average salary packages — this is not an official or government-issued ranking. While institutes like IIMs and IRMA top the list for their academic excellence and high placement packages, they are also the most competitive to get into. On the other hand, colleges toward the bottom of the list may have relatively easier admission processes and still offer solid opportunities to start your career.

The tiers under the ABM/Rural-Mgmt system are divided, and when ranked with other MBA colleges, they may rank lower and fall to the bottom tiers.

We highly recommend that you to do your own research thoroughly before making a final decision. Visit official websites, talk to alumni, look into course structures, fees, ROI, and placement records. Choosing the right college can shape your agribusiness journey — so take your time and make an informed choice.

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