IGNOU or LPU: Which Online Degree Costs Less?
IGNOU offers online degrees at a lower total programme fee, with a B.A. costing Rs 5,000 compared to LPU Online’s B.A. at Rs 120,000. This lower fee does not account for differences in specialisations, student support, or career services. This page helps students compare specific online degrees from both universities.
IGNOU’s online MBA costs Rs 66,000, while LPU Online’s MBA is Rs 200,000. Both universities hold an A++ NAAC grade. IGNOU’s B.Com has a total programme fee of Rs 15,000, offering one specialisation over 36 months.
LPU Online’s MCA programme costs Rs 160,000 for 24 months and offers six specialisations. IGNOU’s MCA costs Rs 52,000 for 24 months, with one specialisation. Both universities are UGC approved.
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) vs Lovely Professional University Online (LPU Online) — compared on published total fee, specialisation count and recorded approvals.
| Measure | IGNOU | LPU Online | On this measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degrees with a published fee | 7 of 12 | 5 of 8 | IGNOU |
| Cheapest degree on offer | Rs 5,000 | Rs 80,000 | IGNOU |
| Specialisations across all degrees | 19 | 31 | |
| NAAC grade | A++ | A++ | level |
| Approval bodies on record | 3 | 5 | LPU Online |
Decided only by published data. Where a university does not publish a figure the row says so. FindMyCollege does not rank universities.
IGNOU vs LPU Online: fees across every degree
LPU Online’s MBA programme costs Rs 200,000, while IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 66,000 for its MBA. This makes IGNOU’s online MBA significantly less expensive.
For the online MCA, LPU Online charges Rs 160,000. IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 52,000 for its online MCA programme. IGNOU’s online MCA is also more affordable.
LPU Online’s BA programme costs Rs 120,000. IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 5,000 for its BA. For the MA, LPU Online charges Rs 80,000, while IGNOU publishes a total programme fee between Rs 16,400 and Rs 21,000. IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 15,000 for its B.Com, and Rs 20,400 for its M.Com.
Which degrees each university actually runs
IGNOU offers a wider range of online degrees compared to LPU Online. IGNOU publishes fees for 10 online degrees, while LPU Online publishes fees for 5 online degrees.
For online Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degrees, IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 5,000. LPU Online publishes a total programme fee of Rs 120,000 for its online B.A. programme. The table below details the specific degrees and their published total programme fees from both universities.
LPU Online offers several online courses, including a Bachelor of Computer Applications (BCA) with a total programme fee of Rs 150,000. Its Master of Business Administration (MBA) online course has a total programme fee of Rs 200,000. IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 49,800 for its online BCA and Rs 66,000 for its online MBA.
| Degree | IGNOU total fee | LPU Online total fee | IGNOU specialisations | LPU Online specialisations | Lower fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.A | Rs 5,000 | Rs 120,000 | — | 1 | IGNOU |
| BCA | Rs 49,800 | Rs 150,000 | 1 | 1 | IGNOU |
| M.Com | Rs 20,400 | not published | 1 | 1 | — |
| MA | Rs 16,400 – Rs 21,000 | Rs 80,000 | 9 | 4 | IGNOU |
| MBA | Rs 66,000 | Rs 200,000 | 1 | 13 | IGNOU |
| MCA | Rs 52,000 | Rs 160,000 | 1 | 6 | IGNOU |
| B.Com | Rs 15,000 | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| B.Lib | not published | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| BBA | not offered | not published | — | 1 | — |
| BFTTM | not published | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| BSW | not published | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| BTS | not published | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| M.Sc | not offered | not published | — | 4 | — |
| MSW | not published | 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
Both IGNOU and LPU Online hold approvals from key regulatory bodies in India. IGNOU publishes that it is approved by AICTE and UGC, and holds an A++ grade from NAAC. LPU Online is also approved by AICTE, UGC, and UGC-DEB, and has a NAAC grade of A++.
The table below details the specific approvals and their recorded years for each university. LPU Online also lists recognition from WES, which is not published by IGNOU. The NAAC grade for both universities is A++, with LPU Online’s score recorded as 3.68.
For online degrees, the UGC-DEB approval is particularly relevant. LPU Online states it has UGC-DEB approval recorded in 2025. IGNOU does not publish its UGC-DEB approval status in this data.
| Body | IGNOU | LPU Online |
|---|---|---|
| UGC | Approved | Recognized |
| UGC-DEB | not listed | Approved |
| NAAC | A++ | A++ |
| AICTE | Approved | Approved |
| WES | not listed | Recognized |
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
LPU Online offers a wider range of specialisations across its online degree programmes compared to IGNOU. LPU Online publishes 32 specialisations across 8 programmes, while IGNOU publishes 19 specialisations across 12 programmes.
For Master of Arts (MA) degrees, IGNOU lists 9 specialisations, including Economics, History, and Political Science. LPU Online offers 4 MA specialisations, such as English and Psychology. In Master of Science (M.Sc) degrees, LPU Online provides 4 specialisations, including Data Science and Cyber Security, which IGNOU does not publish.
LPU Online publishes 13 specialisations for its online MBA programme, covering areas like Finance, Marketing, and Human Resource Management. IGNOU publishes 1 specialisation for its MBA. For the Master of Computer Applications (MCA) degree, LPU Online lists 6 specialisations, while IGNOU offers 1 specialisation.
| Degree | IGNOU specialisations | LPU Online specialisations |
|---|---|---|
| B.A | None | 1 |
| B.Com | 1 | — |
| B.Lib | 1 | — |
| BCA | 1 | 1 |
| BFTTM | 1 | — |
| BSW | 1 | — |
| BTS | 1 | — |
| M.Com | 1 | 1 |
| MA | 9 | 4 |
| MBA | 1 | 13 |
| MCA | 1 | 6 |
| MSW | 1 | — |
Duration and how the programmes are structured
Most online degrees from both IGNOU and LPU Online have a duration of 24 or 36 months. Bachelor’s degrees typically require 36 months, while master’s degrees are generally completed in 24 months.
IGNOU publishes that its Bachelor of Library and Information Science (B.Lib) is an exception, with a 12-month duration. For bachelor’s programmes, IGNOU offers degrees like the B.A., B.Com, and BCA, all spanning 36 months. LPU Online also lists its B.A., BBA, and BCA programmes as 36 months long.
At the master’s level, IGNOU’s M.Com, MA, and MBA programmes each take 24 months. Similarly, LPU Online’s M.Com, M.Sc, and MBA programmes are also 24 months in duration, as shown in the table below.
| Degree | IGNOU duration | LPU Online duration |
|---|---|---|
| B.A | 36 months | 36 months |
| B.Com | 36 months | not offered |
| B.Lib | 12 months | not offered |
| BBA | not offered | 36 months |
| BCA | 36 months | 36 months |
| BFTTM | 36 months | not offered |
| BSW | 36 months | not offered |
| BTS | 36 months | not offered |
| M.Com | 24 months | 24 months |
| M.Sc | not offered | 24 months |
| MA | 24 months | 24 months |
| MBA | 24 months | 24 months |
| MCA | 24 months | 24 months |
| MSW | 24 months | 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 offers a less expensive online degree for most programmes where both universities publish fee data. For a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), IGNOU’s total programme fee is Rs 5,000, while LPU Online’s is Rs 120,000.
IGNOU publishes its Bachelor of Commerce (B.Com) fee at Rs 15,000. For a Master of Commerce (M.Com), IGNOU publishes a total fee of Rs 20,400. LPU Online does not publish a fee for its M.Com programme.
For a Master of Business Administration (MBA), IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 66,000. LPU Online’s MBA programme fee is Rs 200,000. Similarly, IGNOU’s Master of Computer Applications (MCA) fee is Rs 52,000, compared to LPU Online’s Rs 160,000.
Who should pick which
Choosing between IGNOU and LPU Online depends on the programme and budget. IGNOU generally offers lower programme fees for many degrees, making it suitable for students seeking cost-effective education.
For example, IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 5,000 for its B.A. degree, while LPU Online’s B.A. costs Rs 120,000. Similarly, an MBA from IGNOU costs Rs 66,000, compared to LPU Online’s Rs 200,000. IGNOU also has an A++ NAAC grade, as does LPU Online.
LPU Online may suit students looking for more specialisations in certain postgraduate programmes. For instance, LPU Online offers 13 specialisations for its MBA, whereas IGNOU offers 1. LPU Online is also UGC-DEB approved.
What neither university publishes
Neither IGNOU nor LPU Online publishes placement rates for their online degrees. Similarly, neither university publishes average salary figures or the highest package achieved by their online graduates.
The number of recruiters for online programmes is also not published by either institution. Students cannot find information on student satisfaction or pass percentages for online courses from either university.
IGNOU publishes its total programme fee for an online MBA as Rs 66,000. LPU Online publishes its total programme fee for an online MBA as Rs 200,000. For other programmes, such as B.Lib, BFTTM, BSW, and BTS at IGNOU, the total programme fee is not published. LPU Online does not publish the total programme fee for its BBA, M.Com, or M.Sc online programmes.
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which LPU online course costs the least? | LPU Online's Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) programme costs Rs 120,000. This is the lowest published total programme fee for LPU Online. |
| How do I apply for online admission in LPU? | The process for online admission at LPU is not published in the available information. LPU Online is UGC-DEB approved until 2025. |
| What are the LPU online MCA fees? | The total programme fee for LPU Online's MCA is Rs 160,000. This 24-month programme offers 6 specialisations. |
| What is the fee for an online MBA from LPU? | An online MBA from LPU costs Rs 200,000 in total programme fees. This 24-month programme offers 13 specialisations. |
| How much does an LPU online MCA cost compared to IGNOU? | An LPU online MCA costs Rs 160,000, while IGNOU's MCA costs Rs 52,000. Both are 24-month programmes. |
| Which university has more online courses, LPU or IGNOU? | IGNOU publishes fees for 12 online programmes, while LPU Online publishes fees for 5 online programmes. IGNOU offers 9 specialisations for its MA programme, while LPU Online offers 4. |
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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