How does new and baby IIM placement performance compare to top IIMs in the current market?
The gap between top IIMs and newer IIMs has widened significantly in the 2024-25 placement cycle, with baby IIMs facing steep declines in average packages and recruiter participation while the top tier holds relatively steady.
Top IIMs maintain resilience
IIM Calcutta, IIM Bangalore, and IIM Lucknow reported stable or improved summer placement outcomes for the Class of 2026. IIM Calcutta maintained its consulting pipeline with firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain participating actively, while IIM Bangalore saw strong BFSI and product management roles. IIM Lucknow also posted steady numbers, though final placement averages for the Class of 2024 dipped slightly to ₹31.5 LPA from ₹32+ LPA the prior year.
IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Kozhikode continue to command premium outcomes.
IIM A's median domestic CTC for 2024 stood at ₹30.5 LPA, with top consulting and investment banking roles intact.
IIM K posted an average of ₹31.02 LPA for final placements, supported by Goldman Sachs, American Express, and Accenture.
Baby IIMs face sharp corrections
Newer IIMs have seen 15-25% drops in average CTCs and longer placement timelines. IIM Indore reported a challenging summer placement season for 2024, with fewer Day 0 and Day 1 offers.
Final placements for the Class of 2024 averaged ₹25.01 LPA, down from ₹28+ LPA in prior cycles. IIM Ranchi and IIM Raipur posted averages near ₹16-18 LPA, with many roles in sales, operations, and regional BFSI positions rather than consulting or product management.
| Institute | Avg CTC (₹ LPA) | Median CTC (₹ LPA) | Top Recruiters |
|---|---|---|---|
| IIM Calcutta | ~33.0 | ~28.5 | McKinsey, BCG, Goldman Sachs |
| IIM Bangalore | ~34.0 | ~29.0 | Bain, Amazon, Microsoft |
| IIM Lucknow | 31.5 | ~27.0 | Accenture, HUL, Deloitte |
| IIM Indore | 25.01 | ~22.0 | Aditya Birla, ICICI, Asian Paints |
| IIM Ranchi | ~17.5 | ~15.0 | HDFC Bank, Wipro, Jio |
Why the divergence?
Recruiters are concentrating budgets on proven campuses. Consulting firms reduced intake at baby IIMs by 30-40%, while BFSI and FMCG roles shifted toward tier-1 schools.
From Reddit, we learnt that many baby IIM students are now competing for roles that were once easily filled, with placement windows stretching into late April or May.
The fee arbitrage is narrowing. IIM Indore charges ₹21.14 L for two years, while newer IIMs like IIM Sambalpur or IIM Sirmaur charge ₹13-15 L but deliver ₹12-16 LPA averages, making ROI comparable or worse. Use the compare colleges tool to model payback periods across peer schools.
Should you still target a baby IIM?
If your CAT percentile is 92-96, baby IIMs remain viable, especially if you lack work experience or come from a non-engineering background. However, if you score 97+, prioritize IIM L, K, or FMS Delhi over newer IIMs. Build a CAT prep plan to target the 98+ bracket, which opens doors to schools with stable recruiter relationships and faster placement cycles.
Pro Tip: Check the final placement report PDF on each IIM's website for sector-wise breakdowns and median CTCs, not just averages. Medians reveal the true middle-of-class outcome and are harder to inflate with a few outlier offers.