PGDM vs MBA: A Never-Ending Battle

27 March 2024, 6:22 pm IST

The debate has been ongoing for quite some time now. Both offer valuable business education and career opportunities, but there are some critical differences between the two. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts strong growth in the overall employment of management occupations, about 8%, from 2021 to 2031.

In India, during FY22, a total of 4,03,202 students enrolled at around 3,100 institutions offering PGDM and MBA programs. This growth shows a steady increase in enrollment, indicating that either option is viable depending on individual needs and preferences.

This guide will help you if you're trying to decide between PGDM and MBA, distance MBA vs distance PGDM, or analyzing the PGDM vs MBA difference. Find all the necessary information to make an informed decision based on your career goals and preferences.

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What is MBA?

An MBA or a Master of Business Administration is among the most popular professional degrees globally. Every year, thousands of candidates apply for MBA courses, most of which are highly competitive and require strong scores.

The curriculum in most business schools includes courses in business management and operations. Specialized MBA programs have special papers in the last semester. Most management colleges and institutes worldwide offer multiple MBA programs with different specializations. After completing an MBA, your career will get a boost as you can choose from many high-paying jobs across industries.

What is a PGDM course?

AICTE (All India Council for Technical Education) accredited institutes offer the Post Graduate Diploma in Management program. Many people prefer a PGDM over an MBA degree due to the shorter course duration of the former.

Candidates get a lot of opportunities for on-job training, and they also get detailed knowledge on topics such as marketing and customer service. The curriculum of PGDM programs is slightly different from an MBA.

PGDM vs MBA: Curriculum

A PGDM program often has a more practical, hands-on approach, while an MBA program may have a more theoretical focus.

Subjects such as finance, marketing, operations, and management are part of the PGDM and MBA curricula.

Both programs may also include opportunities for internships or real-world projects. But, the exact curriculum can vary between institutions and programs.

PGDM vs MBA: Career Opportunities

PGDM vs MBA: Career Opportunities
PGDM and MBA graduates have several career options in many fields.

After completing a Specialised MBA, some common career paths include:

Career options after MBA in Human Resource Management include roles in talent acquisition, employee relations, and training and development.
Career options after MBA in Marketing include roles in brand management, market research, and advertising.
Career options after MBA in Business Analytics include roles in data analysis, business intelligence and data science.
Career options after MBA in Finance include roles in investment banking, corporate finance, and risk management.

Career opportunities for PGDM graduates include:

Entrepreneurship
International Business
E-commerce
Digital Marketing
Sales and Business Development
Investment banking
Wealth management.

An MBA degree opens many career opportunities across various industries and functional areas. It is also worth noting that PGDM and MBA graduates can pursue entrepreneurship and start their businesses.

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Difference between PGDM and MBA

Let us dive into a detailed analysis of the distinctions between MBA and PGDM. The table below lists the primary points of distinction between the two courses.

Point of Difference	PGDM	MBA
Syllabus	AICTE-approved autonomous institutes offer PGDM courses with a syllabus, which gets updated frequently. The syllabus updates as per the current requirements in the business world. PGDM programs offer candidates a hands-on approach to workplace scenarios in the business world.	The institution offering the MBA degree designs the syllabus. So it varies to some extent between B-schools. MBA has a greater emphasis on theoretical knowledge. The syllabus may not be updated frequently, and students may miss out on the latest industry trends.
Qualification	PGDM is a diploma course.	MBA is a degree course.
Fees comparison	You need to pay course fees in the range of Rs. 5 LPA and Rs. 24 LPA for a PGDM course. Pursuing a PGDM course is more expensive than an MBA. The autonomous bodies offering the course decide the course fees.	You have to pay course fees in the range of Rs. 2 LPA to Rs. 20 LPA for an MBA course. MBA fees is more affordable compared to PGDM.
Entrance exams	XAT, CAT, NMAT, SNAP, ATMA	CAT, XAT, MAT, GMAT, CMAT
Top colleges	Some of the best institutes offering PGDM courses in India are as follows: Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur International Management Institute, New Delhi Amity University Online Jaipur National University, Jaipur SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management, New Delhi Management Development Institute, Gurgaon	Here are the best colleges in India offering MBA courses: Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta Indian Institute of Management, Lucknow Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore Amity University Online Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur NMIMS School of Business, Mumbai
Eligibility	Graduates with at least 50% marks can apply for PGDM courses. Candidates must have 60% marks or a CGPA of 6.5 if they wish to apply to top colleges like the IIMs.	Candidates with 50% marks in graduation (any discipline) from an accredited university can apply for MBA courses. Candidates must have a CGPA of 6.5 or 60% marks to apply to the IITs and IIMs.

MBA and PGDM entrance exams

You can take national-level competitive exams to pursue management courses like PGDM and MBA. A few of these entrance exams are CAT, MAT, GMAT, XAT, and CMAT.

Coming to MBA courses, several B-schools and colleges even consider the results of state-level examinations such as PGCET, MAHCET, TANCET and TSICET. Top management schools even conduct their own tests to screen candidates. For example, XAT for Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur and SNAP for Symbiosis International University.

However, you must remember that you do not need to sit for these tests to apply to most online MBA courses. Even all offline business schools do not accept CAT scores, although CAT is the most widespread exam when it comes to management programs in India. Take the example of ISB (Indian School of Business), Hyderabad.

For PGDM courses, institutes consider other factors along with the entrance exam scores. A few of these are professional and academic performance and past achievements.

Admission into most MBA and PGDM programs require qualifying for entrance exams. You must also know the cut-off scores for the respective institutes.

Job roles with salary

The salary package is the primary determinant for candidates when choosing between MBA and PGDM.

PGDM

Job Role	Description	Salary
Data Scientist	A Data Scientist uses advanced analytics to develop data-driven solutions for organizations. They must have programming and statistical skills.	Rs. 3.6 LPA to Rs. 20 LPA
Tax Specialist	The job of a Tax Specialist is to ensure the proper distribution of an organization's taxes and profits, including tax audits.	Rs. 1.7 LPA to Rs. 10 LPA
Management Consultant	A Management Consultant provides expertise and advice to clients about enhancing business outcomes.	Rs. 4 LPA to Rs. 30 LPA
Project Manager	The role of a Project Manager entails planning and developing project ideas for organizations. They evaluate the performance of team members and monitor projects.	Rs. 4.9 LPA to Rs. 30 LPA
Auditor	Some duties of an Auditor consist of checking spreadsheet data, analyzing it and finding out if there is any financial risk within companies.	Rs. 1.47 LPA to Rs. 10 LPA

MBA

Job Role	Description	Salary Range
Financial Advisor	The work of a Financial Advisor involves interpreting clients’ finances and preparing performance reports. They also analyze income projections.	Rs. 1.9 LPA to Rs. 10 LPA
Business Analyst	A Business Analyst analyses information about an organization. They also determine whether the organization has been able to achieve its past goals or not. They set future goals for the organization.	Rs. 2.9 LPA to Rs. 10 LPA
Marketing Manager	A Marketing Manager handles the products and services of a company. They develop and execute strategic marketing plans for the company.	Rs. 3 LPA to Rs. 20 LPA
Investment Banker	The role of an Investment Banker involves using their finance expertise, communication skills and analytical skills to aid clients with raising capital and mergers.	Rs. 3.5 LPA to Rs. 70 LPA
HR Manager	An HR Manager is one of the pillars of any organization. They do routine work such as administering pay and leave, enforcing company practices and hiring new employees.	Rs. 2.9 LPA to Rs. 20 LPA

Salary of MBA & PGDM

PGDM vs MBA: What are the similarities?

MBA and PGDM are similar in some respects. Both impart knowledge of management skills. However, hiring an employee does not depend much on the course they have completed. Instead, what matters is what the candidate brings to the table in terms of skills and knowledge.

Candidates who wish to pursue higher studies also do not have to worry. The degree course and diploma course have similar weightage, whether you want to go for a PhD or a fellowship program.

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Bottom line

Choosing between MBA and PGDM depends on your goals and resources. MBA is a comprehensive and prestigious degree, while PGDM is more Specialized and cost-effective. The choice depends on your individual needs and preferences.

If you're interested in pursuing an MBA, Amity University Online offers a world-class online MBA with options, such as an MBA with a specialization in Digital Marketing Management. Explore the specializations available to find the right fit for your career goals.