Amity or IGNOU: Which Is Better for an Online Degree?
IGNOU costs less for an online degree, with total programme fees ranging from Rs 5,000 to Rs 66,000, compared to Amity Online’s fees of Rs 90,000 to Rs 449,000. This lower fee does not include the wider range of specialisations or the international accreditations that Amity Online offers. This page helps students compare these two universities for online degrees.
IGNOU holds an A++ NAAC grade and UGC approval. Amity Online has an A+ NAAC grade and UGC approval, alongside accreditations from QAA, WASC, and WES. For a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) degree, IGNOU offers one specialisation, while Amity Online offers three. Amity Online’s online MBA programme offers 11 specialisations over 24 months, while IGNOU offers one specialisation for its 24-month MBA.
Amity University Online (Amity Online) vs Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) — compared on published total fee, specialisation count and recorded approvals.
| Measure | Amity Online | IGNOU | On this measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degrees with a published fee | 10 of 10 | 7 of 12 | Amity Online |
| Cheapest degree on offer | Rs 90,000 | Rs 5,000 | IGNOU |
| Specialisations across all degrees | 47 | 19 | |
| NAAC grade | A+ | A++ | IGNOU |
| Approval bodies on record | 6 | 3 | Amity Online |
Decided only by published data. Where a university does not publish a figure the row says so. FindMyCollege does not rank universities.
Amity Online vs IGNOU: fees across every degree
IGNOU’s online degrees are significantly more affordable than Amity Online’s. For example, an online MBA from IGNOU costs Rs 66,000, while Amity Online’s MBA ranges from Rs 225,000 to Rs 449,000. This represents a difference of at least Rs 159,000 for the MBA programme alone.
Across other programmes, IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 5,000 for a B.A., while Amity Online’s B.A. is Rs 90,000 to Rs 190,000. Similarly, an online M.Com from IGNOU costs Rs 20,400, whereas Amity Online’s M.Com is Rs 150,000. IGNOU publishes its fees per year or per semester, which are then totalled for the full programme duration.
Which degrees each university actually runs
Amity Online offers nine distinct online degree programmes. These include undergraduate options like the BBA and BCA, and postgraduate degrees such as the MBA and M.Sc. The total programme fee for an Amity Online MBA ranges from Rs 225,000 to Rs 449,000.
IGNOU publishes fees for ten online degree programmes. These include a B.Com with a total programme fee of Rs 15,000 and an MBA with a total programme fee of Rs 66,000. For some programmes, such as the B.Lib, BFTTM, BSW, BTS, and MSW, the total programme fee is not published.
The table below details the full list of online degrees and their associated fees for both universities.
| Degree | Amity Online total fee | IGNOU total fee | Amity Online specialisations | IGNOU specialisations | Lower fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.A | Rs 90,000 – Rs 190,000 | Rs 5,000 | 7 | — | IGNOU |
| B.Com | Rs 115,000 – Rs 275,000 | Rs 15,000 | 3 | 1 | IGNOU |
| BCA | Rs 175,000 – Rs 275,000 | Rs 49,800 | 8 | 1 | IGNOU |
| M.Com | Rs 150,000 | Rs 20,400 | 2 | 1 | IGNOU |
| MA | Rs 150,000 – Rs 190,000 | Rs 16,400 – Rs 21,000 | 2 | 9 | IGNOU |
| MBA | Rs 225,000 – Rs 449,000 | Rs 66,000 | 11 | 1 | IGNOU |
| MCA | Rs 199,000 – Rs 275,000 | Rs 52,000 | 7 | 1 | IGNOU |
| B.Lib | not offered | not published | — | 1 | — |
| BBA | Rs 199,000 – Rs 250,000 | not offered | 4 | — | — |
| BFTTM | not offered | not published | — | 1 | — |
| BSW | not offered | not published | — | 1 | — |
| BTS | not offered | not published | — | 1 | — |
| M.Sc | Rs 275,000 | not offered | 2 | — | — |
| MSW | not offered | not published | — | 1 | — |
| UG+PG | Rs 199,000 | not offered | 1 | — | — |
Total programme fee for Indian students as published by each university. Semester, annual and EMI amounts are not shown. Verify the current fee with the university before you pay. Figures for IGNOU are quoted from the university’s own published page, listed under “Where these figures come from” below.
Approvals compared
Amity Online and IGNOU both hold UGC approval for their online degrees. IGNOU publishes approval from AICTE, UGC, and a NAAC A++ grade. Amity Online holds a NAAC A+ grade, along with approvals from UGC, UGC-DEB, QAA, WASC, and WES.
The table below details the specific approvals for each university. Amity Online lists six approvals, including recognition from WES, which helps with international credential evaluation. IGNOU publishes three approvals. Both universities are approved by the UGC, a mandatory requirement for online degrees in India. IGNOU’s NAAC grade of A++ is the highest possible. Amity Online holds a NAAC A+ grade, recorded in 2024.
| Body | Amity Online | IGNOU |
|---|---|---|
| UGC | Approved | Approved |
| UGC-DEB | Approved | not listed |
| NAAC | A+ | A++ |
| AICTE | not listed | Approved |
| WES | Recognized | not listed |
| WASC | Accredited | not listed |
| QAA | Accredited | not listed |
Recorded approvals. A body that is not listed for a university means no record here, not a refusal — check the current UGC-DEB list before you apply.
Specialisation depth
Amity Online offers a wider range of specialisations for most online degrees compared to IGNOU. For example, Amity Online publishes 11 MBA specialisations, while IGNOU offers only 1. Similarly, Amity Online lists 8 BCA specialisations, whereas IGNOU publishes 1.
IGNOU, however, offers more specialisations for its MA programme, with 9 options. Amity Online publishes 2 MA specialisations. For B.Com, Amity Online offers 3 specialisations, while IGNOU publishes 1. The table below details the full list of specialisations for each university’s online programmes.
| Degree | Amity Online specialisations | IGNOU specialisations |
|---|---|---|
| B.A | 7 | not published |
| B.Com | 3 | 1 |
| BBA | 4 | not offered |
| BCA | 8 | 1 |
| M.Com | 2 | 1 |
| M.Sc | 2 | not offered |
| MA | 2 | 9 |
| MBA | 11 | 1 |
| MCA | 7 | 1 |
| UG+PG | 1 | not offered |
Duration and how the programmes are structured
Amity Online and IGNOU both offer online degrees with similar durations. Most undergraduate programmes at both universities, such as the B.A., B.Com, and BCA, are 36 months long. Postgraduate programmes, including the M.Com, MA, and MBA, typically span 24 months at both institutions.
IGNOU publishes a 12-month duration for its B.Lib programme, which is shorter than other undergraduate degrees. Amity Online does not publish a B.Lib programme. The table below details the specific durations for various online degrees at both Amity Online and IGNOU.
| Degree | Amity Online duration | IGNOU duration |
|---|---|---|
| B.A | 36 months | 36 months |
| B.Com | 36 months | 36 months |
| B.Lib | not offered | 12 months |
| BBA | 36 months | not offered |
| BCA | 36 months | 36 months |
| BFTTM | not offered | 36 months |
| BSW | not offered | 36 months |
| BTS | not offered | 36 months |
| M.Com | 24 months | 24 months |
| M.Sc | 24 months | not offered |
| MA | 24 months | 24 months |
| MBA | 24 months | 24 months |
| MCA | 24 months | 24 months |
| MSW | not offered | 24 months |
| UG+PG | not published | not offered |
Minimum published duration. Both universities run online programmes under the UGC (ODL and Online) Regulations 2020.
The cheaper route, degree by degree
IGNOU is significantly cheaper for online degrees than Amity Online. For a Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com), IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 15,000, while Amity Online charges between Rs 115,000 and Rs 275,000.
This cost difference is consistent across most comparable programmes. An online MBA at IGNOU costs Rs 66,000, whereas Amity Online’s MBA ranges from Rs 225,000 to Rs 449,000. Similarly, for a Master of Commerce (M.Com), IGNOU publishes a fee of Rs 20,400, while Amity Online charges Rs 150,000.
For a Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA), IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 49,800. Amity Online’s BCA programme costs between Rs 175,000 and Rs 275,000. For students prioritising lower tuition fees, IGNOU presents a more economical option.
Who should pick which
Choosing between IGNOU and Amity Online depends on your budget and desired specialisation options. IGNOU is better for students seeking a more affordable degree, while Amity Online offers a wider range of specialisations.
IGNOU publishes a B.A. total programme fee of Rs 5,000, significantly lower than Amity Online’s B.A. fee of Rs 90,000 to Rs 190,000. For an MBA, IGNOU’s total programme fee is Rs 66,000, whereas Amity Online’s MBA fee ranges from Rs 225,000 to Rs 449,000.
Amity Online provides more specialisation choices across its programmes. For instance, Amity Online offers 11 MBA specialisations, while IGNOU lists 1 MBA specialisation. Similarly, Amity Online has 7 B.A. specialisations, but IGNOU publishes no B.A. specialisations.
What neither university publishes
Neither Amity Online nor IGNOU publishes an average salary or placement rate for their online degree programmes. Students cannot compare these figures directly when choosing between the two universities.
No information is published regarding the number of recruiters or the highest package offered to graduates from either institution. This means prospective students cannot assess career outcomes based on these metrics. Instead, students can review the list of approvals for each university. Amity Online holds approvals from NAAC (A+, 2024), UGC (2024), UGC-DEB (2024), QAA (2024), WASC (2024), and WES (2024). IGNOU has approvals from AICTE, NAAC (A++), and UGC.
Neither university publishes its NIRF rank specifically for online programmes, nor do they provide student satisfaction scores or pass percentages. Students can consider the total programme fees, which vary significantly between the two. For example, an online MBA at Amity Online ranges from Rs 225,000 to Rs 449,000, while IGNOU publishes an MBA fee of Rs 66,000.
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which is better for an online degree, IGNOU or Amity Online? | IGNOU holds an A++ NAAC grade, while Amity Online has an A+ NAAC grade. Both universities are UGC approved. |
| What online MBA programs does Amity University Noida offer? | Amity Online offers an MBA program with 11 specialisations. The total program fee ranges from Rs 225,000 to Rs 449,000 over 24 months. |
| What online programs does Amity offer? | Amity Online offers a range of online programs including BA, B.Com, BBA, BCA, M.Com, M.Sc, MA, MBA, and MCA. These programs are approved by UGC-DEB. |
| What online programs does Amity University offer? | Amity Online offers undergraduate degrees like BA, B.Com, BBA, and BCA, each lasting 36 months. Postgraduate options include M.Com, M.Sc, MA, MBA, and MCA, which are 24-month programs. |
| What is the Amity Online MBA program like? | The Amity Online MBA program is 24 months long and offers 11 specialisations. The total fee for this program is between Rs 225,000 and Rs 449,000. |
Where these figures come from
| University | Published by | Source | Read on |
|---|---|---|---|
| IGNOU | Indira Gandhi National Open University | https://www.ignou.ac.in/schools/programme/<programme> | 2026-09-22 |
Figures for these universities are not held in the FindMyCollege database and are quoted from the university’s own published page on the date shown. Fees change – check the source before you pay.
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