Indian Institute of Management Lucknow

What is Indian Institute of Management Lucknow?

Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow or IIM-L) is a government-owned, autonomous public business school established in 1984 as the fourth IIM set up by the Government of India. It is located at Prabandh Nagar on the outskirts of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, with a satellite campus in Noida. An Institute of National Importance under the IIM Act 2017, it is empowered to award degrees and is best known for its flagship two-year MBA (PGP) admitted through CAT. IIM Lucknow holds the rare triple international accreditation - AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS - alongside NAAC recognition, placing it among India's elite B-schools. In NIRF Management 2024 it was ranked #3 (score 85.90) and in NIRF Management 2025 it placed #5 (score 77.97).

The institution's reputation rests on its consistent top-5 standing nationally, 100% placements year after year, and a wide programme portfolio that now extends from doctoral research down to a brand-new undergraduate degree. In 2026 IIM Lucknow made history by announcing its first-ever UG programme, a 4-year BS in Artificial Intelligence and Business Analytics admitted through JEE Advanced.

Indian Institute of Management Lucknow Key Facts (2026)

The table below is a quick-reference snapshot of IIM Lucknow's founding, status, scale and accreditations as they stand in 2026. It answers the most common first questions an aspirant asks - when was it founded, who approves it, how big is the campus, and where it ranks. Read each row as a single parameter mapped to its current verified detail; the deeper programme, fee and placement numbers follow in later sections.

The takeaway: IIM Lucknow is a mature, fully government-backed institution with national-importance status and globally benchmarked accreditation - a combination very few Indian B-schools can claim. Its top-5 NIRF position confirms it sits firmly in the elite IIM tier, and the 2026 launch of an undergraduate AI degree shows it is actively expanding beyond its traditional postgraduate base.

Why Choose Indian Institute of Management Lucknow?

IIM Lucknow stands out for specific, verifiable strengths rather than reputation alone. Here is what differentiates it for a 2026 applicant:

• Consistent elite ranking: NIRF Management #3 in 2024 (85.90) and #5 in 2025 (77.97), with QS India MBA #4 in 2024 (80.60) and #5 in 2025 (80.30) - it rarely leaves the national top five.
• 100% placements, every year: IIM Lucknow recorded full placement in 2023, 2024 and 2025, with 650 offers across 260 recruiters in 2025 and 634 offers across 250 recruiters in 2024.
• Strong and rising packages: the average package climbed from ₹30.00 LPA in 2024 to ₹32.30 LPA in 2025 and ₹33.20 LPA in 2026, with the highest reaching ₹1.00 Cr in 2026.
• Triple international accreditation: AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS together - a global mark of quality held by only a handful of Indian schools.
• Top-tier recruiters: consulting and finance leaders such as Accenture, Deloitte, PwC, BCG, McKinsey, Bain & Company and American Express recruit heavily, with consulting the single largest hiring domain.
• Pioneering programme expansion: in 2026 IIM Lucknow became one of the first IIMs to launch a 4-year BS in AI and Business Analytics via JEE Advanced, plus a Tech MBA and an integrated 5-year BS + Tech MBA pathway.

Courses, Fees & Rankings at a Glance

IIM Lucknow's portfolio spans a flagship MBA, an experienced-professional Executive MBA, the new undergraduate BS in AI and Business Analytics, and doctoral routes (PhD and FPM). The table below summarises each flagship programme with its duration, indicative total fee and the institute's headline rank, so you can compare options at a glance before opening the detailed course tabs. All fees are total programme fees as recorded for the latest cycle; the rank shown is IIM Lucknow's best recent national standing in NIRF Management.

Reading across the table, the flagship MBA at ₹20.75 Lakh over two years is the most sought-after route and carries the institute's strongest rank legacy (#3 in 2024). The one-year Executive MBA at ₹26.25 Lakh targets candidates with five-plus years of experience via GMAT or GRE, while the doctoral PhD at just ₹2.50 Lakh reflects the heavily subsidised, research-funded nature of that track. The newest entrant, the ₹20.00 Lakh BS in AI and Business Analytics, opens IIM Lucknow to Class 12 PCM students for the first time. For module-level fees, seats and eligibility, use the detailed Courses and Fees tabs on this page.

MBA programme variants and eligibility

IIM Lucknow's two-year MBA is offered with the same ₹20.75 Lakh fee across multiple admission tracks, all requiring a valid CAT score. The standard track needs a bachelor's degree; a dedicated agri-business track accepts a bachelor's in agriculture or allied fields; and a work-experience track requires a minimum of two years of professional experience alongside a valid CAT score. The Executive MBA (₹26.25 Lakh, 1 year) instead requires a bachelor's degree, at least five years of experience and a GMAT or GRE score. The Fellow Programme in Management (FPM, 4.5 years) admits candidates with a master's degree (minimum 55% aggregate), a 4-year bachelor's or engineering degree (65%), or CA/ICWA/CS (55%), supported by a valid GATE/GRE/GMAT or UGC/CSIR JRF score.

Placement & Admission Snapshot

In its 2026 placement cycle, IIM Lucknow recorded an average package of ₹33.20 LPA, a median of ₹32.90 LPA and a highest package of ₹1.00 Cr - the strongest averages in its recent history. Admission to the flagship MBA is strictly entrance-based through CAT, followed by Written Ability Test and Personal Interview rounds, while the new BS programme admits through JEE Advanced. The table below tracks the placement trend across four cycles so you can see how packages and recruiter participation have moved year on year.

The trend is clearly upward: the average package rose steadily from ₹30.00 LPA in 2024 to ₹32.30 LPA in 2025 and ₹33.20 LPA in 2026, while recruiter participation grew from 250 companies (634 offers) in 2024 to 260 companies (650 offers) in 2025. The 100% placement record held firm across 2023, 2024 and 2025, and the ₹1.00 Cr highest package in both 2023 and 2026 shows the ceiling for top performers. For an applicant, the message is consistency - strong, rising medians backed by full placement, with consulting and finance leading the recruiter mix at firms like Accenture, Deloitte, PwC, BCG, McKinsey and Bain & Company.

Frequently Asked Questions: Indian Institute of Management Lucknow Overview 2026

Is Indian Institute of Management Lucknow good?

Yes, IIM Lucknow is among India's best business schools, ranked #3 in NIRF Management 2024 (85.90) and #5 in 2025 (77.97), and #5 in QS India MBA 2025 (80.30). It is a government Institute of National Importance founded in 1984 and holds triple international accreditation (AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS). With 100% placements across 2023, 2024 and 2025 and a 2026 average package of ₹33.20 LPA, it consistently ranks in the elite IIM tier and is a top choice for MBA aspirants.

What is IIM Lucknow known for?

IIM Lucknow is best known for its flagship two-year MBA (PGP) admitted through CAT, its triple AACSB-AMBA-EQUIS accreditation, and its track record of 100% placements with strong consulting and finance hiring. In 2025 it logged 650 offers across 260 companies, with recruiters such as Accenture, Deloitte, PwC, BCG, McKinsey and Bain & Company. In 2026 it also became one of the first IIMs to launch an undergraduate degree, the 4-year BS in AI and Business Analytics via JEE Advanced.

What courses does IIM Lucknow offer?

IIM Lucknow offers a two-year MBA (flagship PGP, multiple tracks including agri-business and work-experience), a one-year Executive MBA, a new 4-year BS in Artificial Intelligence and Business Analytics, a 5-year PhD, and a 4.5-year Fellow Programme in Management (FPM). It has also introduced a Tech MBA and an integrated 5-year BS + Tech MBA pathway. Admission exams span CAT for the MBA and doctoral routes, GMAT/GRE for the Executive MBA, and JEE Advanced for the new BS programme.

What is the total fee at IIM Lucknow?

The flagship two-year MBA at IIM Lucknow costs approximately ₹20.75 Lakh in total. The one-year Executive MBA is ₹26.25 Lakh, the new 4-year BS in AI and Business Analytics is around ₹20.00 Lakh, and the 5-year PhD is a heavily subsidised ₹2.50 Lakh. Fees vary by programme and admission cycle, so verify the latest figure on the official IIM Lucknow website before applying. The MBA fee applies equally across the standard, agri-business and work-experience admission tracks.

What is the NIRF and NAAC status of IIM Lucknow?

IIM Lucknow was ranked #3 in NIRF Management 2024 (score 85.90) and #5 in NIRF Management 2025 (score 77.97). It also placed #4 in QS India MBA 2024 (80.60) and #5 in 2025 (80.30). The institute holds NAAC recognition and, more notably, the triple international accreditation of AACSB, AMBA and EQUIS - a distinction held by only a few Indian business schools - confirming its standing as a globally benchmarked, top-five management institution.

What is the average package at IIM Lucknow?

IIM Lucknow's average package was ₹33.20 LPA in 2026, up from ₹32.30 LPA in 2025 and ₹30.00 LPA in 2024. The median followed the same rising trend at ₹32.90 LPA in 2026 and ₹30.00 LPA in 2025, while the highest package reached ₹1.00 Cr in 2026 and ₹75.00 LPA in 2025. These figures sit on a 100% placement record, with consulting and finance the leading recruiting domains.

Is admission to IIM Lucknow merit or entrance based?

Admission to IIM Lucknow is entrance based. The flagship MBA admits through a valid CAT score, followed by Written Ability Test (WAT) and Personal Interview (PI) rounds. The Executive MBA requires a GMAT or GRE score plus a minimum of five years of work experience, while doctoral programmes accept CAT/GATE/GRE/GMAT or UGC-JRF. The new 4-year BS in AI and Business Analytics admits exclusively through JEE Advanced scores, making every IIM Lucknow programme competitive and exam-driven rather than purely merit-list based.

Recent Updates (2026)

IIM Lucknow has announced a 4-year Bachelor of Science (BS) in Artificial Intelligence and Business Analytics, its first undergraduate offering. Admission will be through JEE Advanced scores. Aligned with NEP 2020, students can exit after Year 3 with a standard UG degree or complete Year 4 for an Honours degree. Additionally, a Tech MBA and a 5-year integrated BS + Tech MBA pathway have been introduced.