IIM Bangalore has reclaimed the top position of Indian business schools in the QS Executive MBA Rankings 2025 at the global 50th position. Though it has declined a bit from the 41st position of 2024, IIM Bangalore is the sole Indian business school included in the top 100 of this highly competitive international list released by UK-based education analytics firm QS Quacquarelli Symonds.
QS assessed 233 Executive MBA (EMBA) programs globally for the 2025 edition. They are made to facilitate working professionals in furthering their careers alongside enhancing their business and leadership competencies. The rankings point towards rising worldwide acknowledgment of business schools serving mid- and senior-level managers.
Seven Indian schools have made it to the list this year. Three are IIMs (Bangalore, Kozhikode, and Indore) and four are private business school institutions. They are the Indian School of Business (ISB), Institute of Management Technology (IMT) Ghaziabad, Woxsen School of Business, and the Goa Institute of Management (GIM), which has made it to the QS EMBA list for the first time.
The seven Indian schools are ranked as follows:
- IIM Bangalore – Rank 50
- Indian School of Business (ISB) – Rank band 111–120
- IIM Kozhikode – Rank band 161–170
- IIM Indore – Rank band 181–190
- IMT Ghaziabad – Rank band 181–190
- Woxsen School of Business, Hyderabad – Rank band 191–200
- Goa Institute of Management (GIM) – Rank 201+
In comparison to last year, a few Indian institutions have fallen in rank. IIM Bangalore dropped by nine ranks, and ISB dropped from the 101–110 category to 111–120. IMT Ghaziabad dropped from the 171–180 category to 181–190, and Woxsen dropped from the 181+ category to 191–200. IIM Kozhikode, however, improved, coming up from 171–180 to 161–170. IIM Indore held last year's position.
Globally, the University of Oxford's Said Business School was ranked first for a second consecutive year, followed by HEC Paris, IESE Business School, MIT Sloan School of Management, and London Business School. These institutions are consistently ranked for global reputation, quality alumni networks, and influential executive education offerings.
It's led by the United States with 68, then France (13), the UK (11), and Spain and Canada (9 each). Both India and China have seven representatives this year, showing the growth of Asia as a presence in executive education.
IIM Bangalore's performance was mixed according to QS's measurement criteria. It was rated 87.1 on Career Outcomes, a small fall from 90.8 in the previous year, but still comfortably within the global top 25 in this category. It scored 70.4 on Employer Reputation, compared to 73.9 previously. On other parameters, it scored 36.8 on Executive Profile, and 24 on Diversity, both dimensions where there is room for improvement in having an international student profile and gender proportion in numbers.
QS rankings are derived from surveys of employers and academics as well as institutional data. Career growth of students, recognition by the employer, reputation of academics, and diversity and experience levels among enrolled executives are the most important areas to be assessed. The rankings are especially helpful for those who wish to advance in leadership positions without having to stop working.
Overall, although IIM Bangalore remains the Indian pace-setter in international Executive MBA rankings, the inclusion of other Indian schools—in fact, new entrants such as the Goa Institute of Management—is evidence of increasing international adoption of the country's business school community. Nevertheless, the temporary fall in ranks by some institutions is a test of ongoing improvement in global competitiveness, diversity, and industry linkage.
