MBA in Marketing : Eligibility, Entrance Exams, Admission 2025, Colleges, Jobs, and Salary

Updated on 6 Sept, 2025 by Asmita Verma

MBA in Marketing is a 2-year postgraduate program that focuses on developing strong marketing, branding, communication, and strategic decision-making skills. It is one of the most popular MBA specializations in India, preparing students to understand consumer behavior, market trends, digital marketing strategies, and business growth techniques.

Candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognized university with a minimum of 45–50% marks to be eligible for admission. Selection is primarily based on entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, CMAT, NMAT, MAT, or university-level exams, followed by group discussions and personal interviews in most institutions.

Top colleges offering an MBA in Marketing include IIMs, XLRI Jamshedpur, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, Jain University, and Presidency University (Bangalore).

The average course fee typically ranges from INR 2,00,000 to INR 30,00,000, depending on the institute.

Graduates with an MBA in Marketing can work in various sectors such as FMCG, Retail, E-commerce, Banking, IT, Consulting, and Media. Popular roles include Brand Manager, Marketing Executive, Sales Manager, Digital Marketing Strategist, Business Development Manager, and Product Manager.

The average salary ranges from INR 4–15 LPA, depending on the candidate’s institute, experience, and skill set.

MBA Marketing Course Highlights

Particulars Details
Course Name MBA in Marketing
Level of Study Postgraduation
Duration 2 Years
Eligibility Criteria Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with 45–50% aggregate marks
Entrance Exams CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, NMAT, SNAP, CUET PG, MAH CET, TANCET, and others
Admission Process Entrance-Based / Merit-Based
Course Fee INR 2,00,000 – 30,00,000
Colleges / Universities IIMs, XLRI, SPJIMR Mumbai, MDI Gurgaon, IMT Ghaziabad, Jain University, Presidency University (Bangalore), etc.
Average Salary INR 4 – 15 LPA (depending on institute and experience)
Job Roles Brand Manager, Marketing Executive, Business Development Manager, Digital Marketing Strategist, Sales Manager, Product Manager, Relationship Manager

IIM CAT Exam Date 2025

CAT registration 2025 has started from 1st August, 2025 . CAT 2025 Registration Last Date is 20th September, 2025 . CAT exam for 2025 will take place on 30th November 2025. Candidates can check out the dates for CAT this year:

Events Dates
CAT Registration 2025 1st August, 2025 to 20th September, 2025 (extended)
CAT Form Correction Last week of September 2025
CAT 2025 Admit Card Download 5th November 2025
CAT 2025 Exam Date 30th November, 2025
CAT Answer Key Release Date 1st week of December 2025
CAT 2025 Result Declaration 1st week of January 2026

What is the Purpose of CAT Exam 2025?

CAT exam, or Common Admission Test, is a national entrance exam in India. It is conducted annually to select candidates for management courses, such as MBA programs, at top business schools, particularly the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs). CAT exam assesses skills in areas such as mathematics, reading, and logical reasoning. Individuals seeking to build a career in business or management typically take this exam. Good scores in CAT help candidates get admission to top institutes. Many other colleges in India also accept CAT scores for their management programs.

Courses Offered Through IIM CAT

Candidates who secure valid scores in the CAT 2025 exam can gain admission to reputed IIMs for various programs, including MBA, Executive MBA, MBA-HRM, and others. Listed below are the IIMs with seat capacity for the courses offered, along with MBA:

IIM Name Courses Offered Through CAT MBA/PGP Seats
IIM Ahmedabad PGP, PGP-FABM, ePGD-ABA, PhD 385
IIM Amritsar MBA, MBA-Business Analytics, MBA-HRM, EMBA, M.Sc. (Data Science with IIT Ropar), PhD 240
IIM Bangalore PGP, PGPEM, PGPBA, PhD 430
IIM Bodh Gaya MBA, MBA (Digital Business Management), MBA (Hospital and Healthcare Management), PhD 120
IIM Calcutta MBA, PhD 462
IIM Indore PGP, PGP-HRM, MSDSM 451
IIM Jammu MBA, MBA (Hospital Administration & Healthcare Management), Executive MBA, PhD, PhD (Working Professionals) 350
IIM Kashipur MBA, MBA (Analytics), EMBA, EMBAA, PhD 321

MBA in Marketing

MBA Marketing is a postgraduate program that focuses on understanding consumer behavior, creating marketing strategies, and managing brands effectively.

Program Highlights

  • Duration: 2 years (full-time)
  • Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline
  • Core Subjects: Marketing Management, Digital Marketing, Consumer Behavior, Sales & Distribution
  • Skills Gained: Strategic marketing, Brand management, CRM, Digital marketing
  • Career Opportunities: Marketing Manager, Brand Manager, Digital Marketing Specialist

Why Pursue an MBA in Marketing?

An MBA in Marketing equips students with the skills to understand markets, influence consumer behavior, and drive business growth.

  • Career Growth: High demand for skilled marketing professionals and managerial roles.
  • Diverse Opportunities: Roles in Brand Management, Digital Marketing, Advertising, Product Management, and Market Research.
  • Skill Development: Learn strategic thinking, consumer behavior analysis, and creative campaign planning.
  • Global Exposure: Marketing skills applicable across industries worldwide.
  • Entrepreneurial Advantage: Understand branding, customer acquisition, and market strategy for startups.
  • High Earning Potential: Competitive salary packages in top companies.

MBA Marketing Eligibility Criteria

To pursue an MBA in Marketing, candidates must meet the following requirements:

  • Educational Qualification: Bachelor’s degree in any discipline from a recognized university.
  • Minimum Marks: Usually 50% (relaxation for reserved categories).
  • Entrance Exams: CAT, MAT, XAT, CMAT, SNAP, or institute-specific exams.
  • Work Experience: Optional; preferred by some top colleges.
  • Age Limit: No upper or lower age restrictions.

MBA Marketing Entrance Examinations

The national, state, and university-level entrance exams that are considered for admission into the MBA Marketing course are as follows:

National Level Entrance Exams

Entrance Exams Date of Registration Exam Schedule Registration Fees
CAT 2025 Aug 2025 30 Nov 2025 (Tentative) INR 1,250 (SC/ST/PWD)
INR 2,500 (others)
MAT 2025 June 2026 (CBT) (Tentative) June 2026 (Tentative) INR 2,100
CMAT 2026 14 Nov - 25 Dec 2025 (Tentative) 25 Jan 2026 (Tentative) INR 2,500 (M)
INR 1,250 (F)
XAT 2026 15 July - 10 Dec 2025 (Tentative) 5 Jan 2026 (Tentative) INR 2,200
ATMA 2026 24 Dec 2025 - 11 Feb 2026 (Tentative) 23 Feb 2026 (Tentative) INR 2,000
INR 1,500 (F)

State-Level Entrance Exams

Entrance Exams State Date of Registration Exam Schedule Registration Fees
MAH-CET 2026 Maharashtra Feb 2026 (Tentative) Apr 2026 (Tentative) INR 1,000 (MS)
INR 1,200 (OMS)
TANCET 2026 Tamil Nadu 24 Jan - 26 Feb 2026 (Tentative) 22 Mar 2026 (Tentative) INR 1,000 (UR)
INR 500 (Res)
KMAT 2026 Kerala 1 - 14 Feb 2026 (Tentative) 23 Feb 2026 (Tentative) INR 1,000 (UR)
INR 500 (Res)
AP ICET 2026 Andhra Pradesh Mar 2026 (Tentative) May 2026 (Tentative) INR 650 (Gen)
INR 600 (OBC)
INR 550 (SC/ST)

University-Level Entrance Exams

Entrance Exams Date of Registration Exam Schedule Registration Fees
IBSAT 2025 July - Dec 2025 Dec 2025 INR 1,800
CUCET 2026 June 2026 (Tentative) June 2026 (Tentative) INR 1,000
SNAP 2025 Aug - Nov 2025 Dec 8, 15, and 21, 2025 (Tentative) INR 2,250 + INR 1,000 for each college or course selected
JET 2026 Apr 2026 (Tentative) Apr 2026 (Tentative) INR 600

Top MBA Marketing Colleges and Fees

Below is the list of top colleges in India offering MBA in Marketing, along with their total course fees and accepted entrance exams. This will help candidates choose the best college as per their preference and budget.

College Total Course Fee Accepted Entrance Exams
Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad INR 25,00,000 CAT
SP Jain Institute of Management and Research (SPJIMR), Mumbai INR 20,42,000 CAT, XAT, GMAT
Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon INR 24,17,400 CAT
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management (SIBM), Pune INR 23,00,000 SNAP
NMIMS School of Business Management, Mumbai INR 20,84,000 NMAT
Christ University, Bangalore INR 8,20,000 CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, ATMA
Amity University, Noida INR 12,00,000 CAT, MAT, XAT, NMAT

MBA Marketing Admission Process 2025

The admission process for MBA in Marketing is generally similar across top B-Schools in India:

  • Register and appear for national-level entrance exams such as CAT, XAT, NMAT, SNAP, CMAT, or MAT.
  • Apply separately to the colleges offering MBA in Marketing through their official admission portals.
  • Shortlisted candidates are called for further selection rounds such as Group Discussion (GD), Written Ability Test (WAT), or Personal Interview (PI).
  • Final selection is based on entrance exam score, academic performance, work experience (if any), and performance in GD-PI-WAT rounds.
  • Selected candidates receive admission offers and must pay the initial fee to confirm their seat.

MBA Marketing Syllabus

The MBA Marketing curriculum focuses on core business concepts along with advanced marketing strategies, consumer behavior, digital marketing, and branding. Below is a sample semester-wise syllabus structure:

Semester 1 Semester 2
Principles of Management Consumer Behaviour
Managerial Economics Sales & Distribution Management
Business Communication Marketing Research
Quantitative Techniques Operations Management
Accounting for Managers Brand Management
Marketing Management Digital Marketing
Semester 3 Semester 4
Integrated Marketing Communications Strategic Marketing
International Marketing Entrepreneurship Development
Rural Marketing Marketing Analytics
Retail Management Project Work / Dissertation
Summer Internship Electives / Industry Certifications

MBA Marketing Jobs & Salary

MBA Marketing graduates can work in diverse sectors like FMCG, IT, Banking, E-commerce, and Media. Some of the top job profiles and their average salaries are:

Job Title Top Recruiters Experience Level Average Salary (per annum)
Marketing Executive Hindustan Unilever, Deloitte, Infosys 0–2 years INR 4–6 LPA
Brand Manager Nestlé, P&G, PepsiCo 3–6 years INR 8–15 LPA
Digital Marketing Manager Amazon, Flipkart, TCS 3–5 years INR 7–12 LPA
Sales & Business Development Manager ICICI Bank, Byju’s, Airtel 2–6 years INR 6–10 LPA
Product Marketing Manager Google, Microsoft, Zomato 5+ years INR 12–20 LPA

FAQs

Q1. Is MBA Marketing a good career option?

Yes, it offers diverse job opportunities, good salary growth, and roles in both creative and strategic domains.

Q2. Do engineers pursue MBA Marketing?

Yes. Many engineers transition to marketing roles to work on product strategy, analytics, and business development.

Q3. Is Digital Marketing included in MBA Marketing?

Yes, most B-schools include Digital Marketing, SEO, SEM, and Analytics as part of the curriculum.

Q4. What is the average starting salary after MBA Marketing?

Fresh graduates can expect INR 4–7 LPA on average, depending on the institute and role.

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