Are newer IIMs (baby IIMs) worth attending compared to older, more established IIMs?

The picture that emerges from experienced MBA aspirants and alumni is genuinely nuanced: newer IIMs — commonly called "baby IIMs" — aren't poor institutions, but they represent a meaningfully different value proposition than older, tier-1 IIMs.

One perspective we've consistently encountered is that while baby IIMs aren't weak academically, they don't yet deliver the quick dividends that candidates reasonably expect at an IIM's price point. Certain premium roles — roles that remain accessible to graduates from competitors like IMT and IMI — are still out of reach for many baby IIM graduates. That's a practical limitation worth weighing honestly.

A contrasting view, and one we find equally valid, is that newer IIMs are simply younger institutions still in the process of building reputation. Historical placement data showed roughly 15 LPA averages as recently as 2–3 years ago, with post-COVID momentum suggesting a faster trajectory toward parity with more established B-schools. From what we've tracked, the maturation timeline for newer IIMs to build brand equity comparable to older counterparts tends to run approximately 14–15 years — which means some of these institutions are still mid-journey.

There's also a fair argument that unfavorable perceptions of baby IIMs stem from the habit of benchmarking them against tier-1 legacy IIMs rather than evaluating them on their own terms. Judged independently, the picture is less stark.

That said, disagreement exists at the individual institution level — and this is where candidates need to be particularly careful. From alumni and aspirant conversations we've seen, IIM Bodh Gaya has been specifically flagged for concerns around internal placement politics and forced opt-outs during internship season. Poor package outcomes and weak ROI at certain newer IIMs are cited as the primary reason many candidates deliberately choose to reattempt CAT rather than accept an offer.

For a fresher non-engineer with a 9/8/7 academic profile considering a baby IIM offer, our read is this: these institutions are a viable path if you have a long-term orientation and aren't dependent on immediate brand-driven placement outcomes. If your target roles require the strongest possible brand recognition at the point of hire, or if ROI within the first two to three years post-MBA is a real financial constraint, you'll want to think carefully before accepting. The upside exists — but it's tied to institutional growth that is still unfolding.