FORE IB versus LBSIM Core for placements?

LBSIM Core edges out FORE IB on placements, and the gap is real enough to matter when you're choosing between two otherwise similar Delhi-based programmes. LBSIM's ₹12.8 LPA average versus FORE IB's ₹11.5 LPA for the Class of 2024 reflects a difference in recruiter depth, not just brand perception.

Placement Numbers Side by Side

The fees are nearly identical, which makes the comparison cleaner than most tier-2 decisions. You're not trading money for brand here. You're choosing between two different placement ecosystems at roughly the same cost.

Where LBSIM Actually Wins

LBSIM's Delhi alumni network in FMCG and consulting is its real moat. Firms like Asian Paints, Marico, and Godrej return to campus consistently, and the Core MBA keeps your options open across sales, marketing, analytics, and general management.

That generalist flexibility matters at this tier, where role pivots happen frequently in the first two years post-MBA.

Deloitte and EY appearing on LBSIM's recruiter list is notable. These aren't just IT-arm hires.

They include advisory and consulting roles that carry better exit trajectories than standard IT delivery positions. LBSIM's placement committee has also built steady relationships with mid-market banks and NBFCs, which feeds strong finance placements.

The Problem with FORE IB

The International Business label sounds differentiated. It isn't, at least not in placement outcomes. FORE IB does not attract dedicated international trade recruiters like Maersk, DHL, Olam, or export-import houses that would actually justify the specialization. Most graduates land in the same consulting and IT roles as any generalist MBA batch. Accenture and Wipro dominate their list, which signals IT-adjacent hiring more than cross-border strategy roles.

FORE's faculty and campus culture get genuine praise on Reddit and Pagalguy. The pedagogy is solid.

But placement support and corporate tie-up depth lag behind what LBSIM delivers year on year. If you're choosing a school primarily for placement outcomes, that gap matters more than classroom experience.

Who Should Still Pick FORE IB

This isn't a universal verdict. FORE IB makes sense if you have a specific reason to want the international business curriculum, if you're targeting import-export-adjacent roles independently, or if LBSIM doesn't offer you admission.

FORE's smaller batch size of around 120 also means slightly less competition within the cohort during placement season, which can benefit mid-ranked students.

But be honest with yourself: if you're hoping the IB tag unlocks global opportunities or premium international trade roles, the data does not support that expectation. FORE IB grads compete for the same domestic corporate jobs as every other tier-2 MBA batch in Delhi.

The Honest Takeaway

Both schools sit in a similar tier and face the same ceiling on recruiter quality. LBSIM clears that ceiling slightly more consistently. If you have both offers, pick LBSIM Core unless you have a specific, researched reason not to.