MCA

About MCA

What is MCA (Master of Computer Application)?

MCA full form is Master of Computer Application. It is a postgraduate program with a course duration of 3-years. The MCA course aims to train students in different aspects of computer programs, computer architecture, application software, operating systems, and more. Students seeking to excel in the domain of computer and information technology can take up this master of computer applications course.

Over the years, IT industry has seen an evident growth and evolution. Due to this, more and more people are attracted and motivated to become a part of the giant IT industry. Students with a sincere inclination towards computers and technology can take up MCA course to enhance their career and salary prospects.

See Also: BCA MCA Integrated Course

MCA Course Details

Find out the Top MCA (Master of Computer Application) Colleges in your city:

Find out the Top MCA (Master of Computer Application) Colleges in your state:

Why Pursue Master of Computer Application (MCA)?

• Aspirants who want to excel and grow in the field of computers and IT technology take up this master of computer applications program to acquire expertise in this field can take up MCA course. Since this sector is booming with lucrative opportunities in both private as well as government sector, MCA Course has become a popular choice among the students.
• With 2,05,000 new job openings per year and a consistent growth rate of 7.7 percent, the MCA job market is flourishing.
• Candidates for the MCA course have countless employment options in numerous job roles across different industries in both private and government domain.
• As soon as candidates complete MCA course, they get placed with a minimum salary of INR 4 LPA.
• Successful MCA course graduates can also expect to be hired by the best MNCs and IT firms in the world, including Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc., with a starting salary of 13 LPA that will increase rapidly.

MCA Eligibility

Eligibility Criteria for MCA degree course is as follows:

• Aspirants must have graduated from a UG program in computer applications, computer science, or a closely related discipline with at least a 50% aggregate to be eligible for the MCA course.
• Aspirants must have mathematics as one of their subjects in Class 12 to be eligible for master of computer applications course. 

MCA Entrance Exams

Apart from some colleges that accept merit-score, many reputed colleges and universities grant admissions based on the MCA entrance exams score. In this section, know about the top MCA entrance exams and their important dates.

MCA Admission Process

In India, entrance exams are mostly used to determine admission to MCA courses. But some institutions grant admission based on a merit list made from the grades received at graduation. The entrance exam approach is typically followed by top MCA colleges in India.

MCA Admission 2022

There are two modes in which MCA course admission takes place. Typically, admission to MCA degree program occurs through state-level entrance tests like IPU CET, MAH CET, etc. or university-level entrance exams. However, some colleges may take up direct admissions based on merit score.

Entrance Exams Based MCA Admission

Here is a step-by-step to be followed to get admission through entrance exams into Master of Computer Application course:

• The applicants must register themselves on the college, institution, or admission exam board's website.
• The candidates must next enter their application information and upload the various documents in the appropriate size and format.
• Candidates must pay the application costs and print out their receipts after uploading their applications.
• The candidates must then print their admit cards and appear for the entrance exam.
• Qualified candidates are contacted for a Master of Computer Application counselling session after passing the entrance exam.
• Counselling is done to allocate seats at the various colleges and universities. In the counselling procedure, seats are allocated, and students are granted admissions.

Direct MCA Admission

Here is a step-by-step to be followed to get direct admission into Master of Computer Application course:

• Students are directly admitted to MCA course based on performance of prerequisite exams. Another method of direct admission offered by some institutions is management quota admission.
• There are designated seats for management in every college. However, these management quota seats cost more than regular seats.
• Private colleges like Amity University, LPU, Chandigarh University, and others provide direct MCA admissions. On the day of the interview, students must take a knowledge-based test.

MCA Syllabus

The 3-year MCA course is divided into six semesters. MCA syllabus includes everything from lectures to practicals to project work. Among all the things, Master of Computer Application (MCA) project work is the most crucial element. The last semester of the MCA curriculum is entirely devoted to project work. Moreover, students choose their specialization in this year only.

While the MCA syllabus may vary from college to college, the list of Master of Computer Application (MCA) subjects and topics taught in most colleges/universities is mentioned below to give you a glimpse into the MCA course:

MCA Specializations

As students enter the third or final year of MCA course program, they have the option to choose a particular specialization as per their preference and area of interest. These specializations give candidates the chance to develop a deeper level of expertise and skill set in a specific MCA degree to acquire better career prospects. Some of the specializations in master of computer applications offered by most colleges and universities are:

• Systems Management
• Management Information Systems (MIS)
• Systems Development
• Systems Engineering
• Networking
• Internet
• Application Software
• Software Development
• Troubleshooting
• Hardware Technology

Difference between MCA/MTech/MSc Computer Science:

Find out the differences between MCA, MTech and MSc in terms of course duration, eligibility, course fees, concepts covered, and average salary offered after the course. 

Those interested in MTech can find out the Top MTech Colleges in India

Top MCA Colleges in India

MCA degree course is provided by several colleges throughout India. This section lists the top master of computer applications colleges in India along with course fee, placements, and ratings based on student reviews.

Those interested in pursing MSc in Computer Science can find the Top MSc Colleges in India

Students can also find the best colleges that offer master of computer applications course in their own city and state. It also includes the MCA course fees and placements to help you make an informed decision. Below mentioned are the top colleges that offer MCA course in the popular cities of India:

Top MCA Colleges in Bangalore

Here is a list of the top colleges along with their course fee and placements that offer the MCA course in Bangalore:

Top MCA Colleges in Chennai

Here is a list of the top colleges along with their course fee and placements that offer the MCA course in Chennai:

Top MCA Colleges in Delhi NCR

Here is a list of the top colleges along with their course fee and placements that offer the MCA course in Delhi NCR:

Top MCA Colleges in Hyderabad

Here is a list of the top colleges along with their course fee and placements that offer the MCA course in Hyderabad:

Top MCA Colleges in Pune

Here is a list of the top colleges along with their course fee and placements that offer the MCA course in Pune:

MCA Distance Education

Many aspirants are not able to attend regular colleges due to health, work, or some other personal reasons. In such cases, MCA distance education becomes a good option to upgrade skills and knowledge in a particular domain. Many colleges and universities provide online and distance education programs for master of computer applications or MCA degree.

Some of the top colleges that offer Master of Computer Application (MCA) Distance Education Programs are:

IGNOU

The criteria to get admission into MCA course at IGNOU is as follows:

Mahabeer Institute Of Professional Studies, Amaravati

The criteria to get admission into MCA course at Mahabeer Institute Of Professional Studies, Amaravati is as follows:

IASE Deemed University

The criteria to get admission into MCA degree program at IASE Deemed University is as follows:

Madhav University

The criteria to get admission into MCA degree program at Madhav University is as follows:

Institute of Higher Studies & Management, Ranchi

The criteria to get admission into MCA degree program at Institute of Higher Studies & Management, Ranchi is as follows:

Amity University - Haryana

The criteria to get admission into MCA degree program at Amity University - Haryana is as follows:

Universal College of Computer Applications, Bangalore

The criteria to get admission into MCA course at Universal College of Computer Applications, Bangalore is as follows:

ICFAI

The criteria to get admission into MCA course at ICFAI is as follows:

Jaipur National University

The criteria to get admission into MCA degree program at Jaipur National University is as follows:

Sikkim Manipal University

The criteria to get admission into MCA degree program at Sikkim Manipal University is as follows:

Skills Required for MCA

Here is a list of the skills required for a successful career after Master of Computer Application, MCA course:

• Good communication skills
• Positive outlook
• Behavioural skills
• Sound knowledge of programming languages like C++, Java, JavaScript
• Good understanding about data structures and data base
• Technical skills
• Know about the latest trends in technology
• Excellent programming skills

Apart from the general skills, there are some sepcific skills required for MCA course as per your chosen field of work:

• Programmers: They must have a good command over programming languages like C, C++, Java, .NET, etc
• Web Designers: They must have sound knowledge of languages like PHP, CSS, JavaScript, HTML, etc
• Networking: They must be skilled in SQL, LINUX. Also, they should obtain certification in CCNA, CCNP, CCIE.

What After MCA

After completing MCA course, one can lookout for job in various industries both private and government. Due to the fast growth of the IT and software industries, the employment prospects for MCA course graduates have improved over the years. The demand for MCA graduates is expected to further grow in the coming years.

MCA graduates may be able to obtain employment with start-ups. Since start-up culture has become popular in India, it is highly beneficial for MCA freshers in the industry.  Not only do IT companies, but also start-up firms pay substantial compensation to the MCA course graduates.  

On an average, MCA starting salary ranges between 2.5 to 3.6 LPA, which is expected to increase as per the expertise level and skills. It may be noted that while the IT sector is currently experiencing growth, there are several career options open to those who complete an MCA course.

Career Prospects and MCA Salary in India

Here are the top job profiles for MCA course graduates along with their job descriptions and average salary. Based on these things, you can mark your future scope after doing MCA course:

Software Developer- The key responsibility of software developers is to design, install, test, maintain, and update software in a company.

Average Salary: INR 4,85,000 LPA

Web Developer- The role of web developers is to design and structure the look, layout, and other features of a website. These professionals must possess expertise in computer programming and graphic designing.

Average Salary: INR 2,81,000 LPA

Mobile App Developer- Mobile developers are responsible for designing the mobile apps as per user's needs and requirements.

Average Salary: INR 3,76,000 LPA

Systems Analyst- The job of a system analyst is to determine what hardware or software the company needs. They are entitled to the whole IT system, instead of only software or hardware systems.

Average Salary: INR 6,54,000 LPA

Network Administrator- The work of network administrators is to take full charge of supporting, setting up, and managing internal servers.

Average Salary: INR 3,67,000 LPA

System Administrator- The roles of system administrators include installing, supporting, & maintaining servers/computer systems. Other responsibilities may include scripting, programming, project management, and more.

Average Salary: INR 3,04,000 LPA

Hardware Engineer- They look after the hardware configurations of a computer system.

Average Salary: INR 3,78,000 LPA

Technical Writer- They write fundamental technical content in easy-to-read text. These experts are highly sought for to write about technical topics for product descriptions and blogs.

Average Salary: INR 4,93,000 LPA

Government Jobs After MCA

While there are lot of career options in private domain, there are a few choices for government jobs for MCA course graduates. Students who have interests to work in government organizations after doing master of computer applications course can check out the organizations, jobs roles, and average salary available below:

Top MCA Recruiters

Here is a list of the top recruiters that hire MCA course graduates:

• TCS
• Wipro
• Infosys
• Cognizant
• IBM
• Accenture
• HCL
• Tech Mahindra
• Hi-tech Solutions