IGNOU vs NMIMS Online: Fees, Degrees and Approvals Compared
IGNOU costs less for an online degree, with its MBA programme costing Rs 66,000 compared to NMIMS Online (CDOE)’s MBA at Rs 220,000 to Rs 400,000. This lower fee does not include the wider range of specialisations that NMIMS Online (CDOE) offers. This page helps students compare fees, degrees, and approvals for both institutions.
IGNOU holds an A++ NAAC grade and is UGC approved. NMIMS Online (CDOE) also has an A++ NAAC grade with a score of 3.67, and its UGC-DEB approval for online programmes is valid until 2026. Both universities are AICTE approved.
For a Bachelor of Commerce, IGNOU charges Rs 15,000 for its 36-month programme. NMIMS Online (CDOE)’s B.Com, also 36 months, costs Rs 108,000. NMIMS Online (CDOE) offers a BBA with 3 specialisations, costing Rs 150,000 to Rs 170,000.
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) vs NMIMS University Online (NMIMS CDOE) — compared on published total fee, specialisation count and recorded approvals.
| Measure | IGNOU | NMIMS Online (CDOE) | On this measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degrees with a published fee | 7 of 12 | 3 of 3 | IGNOU |
| Cheapest degree on offer | Rs 5,000 | Rs 108,000 | IGNOU |
| Specialisations across all degrees | 19 | 20 | |
| NAAC grade | A++ | A++ | level |
| Approval bodies on record | 3 | 4 | NMIMS Online (CDOE) |
Decided only by published data. Where a university does not publish a figure the row says so. FindMyCollege does not rank universities.
IGNOU vs NMIMS Online (CDOE): fees across every degree
NMIMS Online (CDOE) publishes its online MBA fee between Rs 220,000 and Rs 400,000. IGNOU publishes its online MBA fee as Rs 66,000. The fee structure for NMIMS Online (CDOE) varies by specialisation, while IGNOU offers a single fee for its MBA programme.
For undergraduate degrees, NMIMS Online (CDOE) lists its BBA programme fee between Rs 150,000 and Rs 170,000. Its B.Com programme costs Rs 108,000. IGNOU publishes a B.Com fee of Rs 15,000, calculated as Rs 5,000 per year over three years. The university also publishes a BCA fee of Rs 49,800, which is Rs 8,300 per semester for six semesters.
IGNOU publishes its M.Com fee as Rs 20,400, or Rs 10,200 per year for two years. Its MA programme fee ranges from Rs 16,400 to Rs 21,000, based on Rs 9,500 per year for two years. The MCA programme at IGNOU costs Rs 52,000, which is Rs 13,000 per semester across four semesters. Fees for B.Lib, BFTTM, BSW, BTS, and MSW programmes at IGNOU are not published.
Which degrees each university actually runs
IGNOU offers 12 online degrees, while NMIMS Online (CDOE) offers 3. IGNOU provides a wider range of undergraduate and postgraduate options, including B.A., B.Com, and MBA programmes. NMIMS Online focuses on BBA, B.Com, and MBA degrees.
IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 5,000 for its B.A. degree. For its B.Com, the total programme fee is Rs 15,000. The university also offers an online MBA with a total programme fee of Rs 66,000. Fees for some IGNOU programmes, such as B.Lib and BFTTM, are not published.
NMIMS Online (CDOE) publishes a total programme fee of Rs 108,000 for its B.Com degree. Its BBA programme has a total programme fee ranging from Rs 150,000 to Rs 170,000. The online MBA from NMIMS Online has a total programme fee between Rs 220,000 and Rs 400,000, as shown in the table below.
| Degree | IGNOU total fee | NMIMS Online (CDOE) total fee | IGNOU specialisations | NMIMS Online (CDOE) specialisations | Lower fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Com | Rs 15,000 | Rs 108,000 | 1 | 1 | IGNOU |
| MBA | Rs 66,000 | Rs 220,000 – Rs 400,000 | 1 | 16 | IGNOU |
| B.A | Rs 5,000 | not offered | — | — | — |
| B.Lib | not published | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| BBA | not offered | Rs 150,000 – Rs 170,000 | — | 3 | — |
| BCA | Rs 49,800 | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| BFTTM | not published | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| BSW | not published | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| BTS | not published | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| M.Com | Rs 20,400 | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| MA | Rs 16,400 – Rs 21,000 | not offered | 9 | — | — |
| MCA | Rs 52,000 | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| 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 NMIMS Online hold UGC approval for their online programmes. This is a fundamental requirement for any university offering distance or online education in India.
IGNOU publishes that it is approved by AICTE and UGC. It holds an A++ grade from NAAC. The university’s approvals are publicly available on its website.
NMIMS Online (CDOE) also has AICTE approval, with an extension of approval until 2025. It holds an A++ grade from NAAC, recorded in 2025, with a score of 3.67. The UGC granted NMIMS Category-I (Graded Autonomy) status in 2018. In addition, the UGC-DEB has approved NMIMS Online as a Higher Education Institution for Online Programmes until 2026. The table below provides a full list of these approvals.
| Body | IGNOU | NMIMS Online (CDOE) |
|---|---|---|
| UGC | Approved | Category-I (Graded Autonomy) |
| UGC-DEB | not listed | Approved for online programmes |
| NAAC | A++ | A++ |
| AICTE | Approved | Extension of Approval |
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
NMIMS Online (CDOE) offers a broader range of specialisations for its online MBA programme compared to IGNOU. NMIMS Online publishes 16 MBA specialisations, while IGNOU publishes 1 MBA specialisation.
For undergraduate degrees, the specialisation depth varies. IGNOU publishes no specialisations for its B.A. programme. NMIMS Online offers 3 specialisations for its BBA degree, whereas IGNOU publishes 1 specialisation each for its B.Com, B.Lib, BCA, BFTTM, BSW, and BTS programmes.
At the postgraduate level, IGNOU publishes 9 specialisations for its MA programme. For other postgraduate degrees like M.Com, MCA, and MSW, both universities publish 1 specialisation each, as detailed in the table below.
| Degree | IGNOU specialisations | NMIMS Online (CDOE) specialisations |
|---|---|---|
| B.A | not published | not offered |
| B.Com | 1 | 1 |
| B.Lib | 1 | not offered |
| BCA | 1 | not offered |
| BFTTM | 1 | not offered |
| BSW | 1 | not offered |
| BTS | 1 | not offered |
| M.Com | 1 | not offered |
| MA | 9 | not offered |
| MBA | 1 | 16 |
| MCA | 1 | not offered |
| MSW | 1 | not offered |
Duration and how the programmes are structured
Online degrees at both IGNOU and NMIMS Online typically take 24 or 36 months to complete. IGNOU offers a Bachelor of Library and Information Science (B.Lib) which is 12 months long. Most undergraduate degrees, such as the B.A., B.Com, and BCA from IGNOU, and the B.Com and BBA from NMIMS Online, require 36 months.
Postgraduate programmes at both universities are generally 24 months in duration. This applies to the M.Com, MA, and MBA programmes at IGNOU, and the MBA programme at NMIMS Online. The Master of Computer Applications (MCA) and Master of Social Work (MSW) from IGNOU also take 24 months.
The structure for these programmes is not published by either university. The table below details the specific durations for each degree offered by IGNOU and NMIMS Online.
| Degree | IGNOU duration | NMIMS Online (CDOE) duration |
|---|---|---|
| B.A | 36 months | not offered |
| B.Com | 36 months | 36 months |
| B.Lib | 12 months | not offered |
| BBA | not offered | 36 months |
| BCA | 36 months | not offered |
| BFTTM | 36 months | not offered |
| BSW | 36 months | not offered |
| BTS | 36 months | not offered |
| M.Com | 24 months | not offered |
| MA | 24 months | not offered |
| MBA | 24 months | 24 months |
| MCA | 24 months | not offered |
| 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
Students seeking a more affordable online degree will find IGNOU offers lower fees across its published programmes compared to NMIMS Online. For example, the total programme fee for an online B.Com at IGNOU is Rs 15,000. NMIMS Online publishes its B.Com total programme fee at Rs 108,000.
IGNOU’s online MBA programme has a total fee of Rs 66,000. NMIMS Online publishes its MBA total programme fee between Rs 220,000 and Rs 400,000. This represents a significant difference in cost for a master’s degree.
For bachelor’s degrees, IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 5,000 for its B.A. and Rs 49,800 for its BCA. NMIMS Online publishes its BBA total programme fee between Rs 150,000 and Rs 170,000. IGNOU also offers an M.Com for Rs 20,400 and an MA for Rs 16,400 to Rs 21,000. Fees for some IGNOU programmes, such as B.Lib, BFTTM, BSW, BTS, and MSW, are not published.
Who should pick which
Choosing between IGNOU and NMIMS Online depends on programme fees and specialisation options. IGNOU generally offers lower programme fees, while NMIMS Online provides a wider range of specialisations, particularly for MBA programmes.
IGNOU is suitable for students prioritising affordability. For instance, the total programme fee for an MBA at IGNOU is Rs 66,000. For a B.Com, IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 15,000. IGNOU also holds an A++ NAAC grade and UGC approval.
NMIMS Online suits students seeking more specialisation choices. Its MBA programme offers 16 specialisations, compared to IGNOU’s single MBA specialisation. The total programme fee for an MBA at NMIMS Online ranges from Rs 220,000 to Rs 400,000. NMIMS Online also holds an A++ NAAC grade and UGC-DEB approval for online programmes until 2026. For a BBA, NMIMS Online publishes a total programme fee of Rs 150,000 to Rs 170,000.
What neither university publishes
Neither IGNOU nor NMIMS Online publishes placement rates for their online MBA programmes. No average salary or highest package is published by either university. Students cannot find information on the number of recruiters or the companies that hire from these programmes.
For an online MBA, NMIMS Online publishes a total programme fee ranging from Rs 220,000 to Rs 400,000. IGNOU publishes its MBA total programme fee at Rs 66,000. These figures are for the entire programme duration.
To assess career outcomes, prospective students can look for alumni testimonials or connect with current students on professional networking platforms. They can also review the accreditations. NMIMS Online holds an AICTE Extension of Approval until 2025 and a UGC-DEB approval for online programmes until 2026. IGNOU is AICTE and UGC approved, with a NAAC A++ grade on record.
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What are the NMIMS online MBA placements? | NMIMS Online does not publish placement rates, average salaries, or the highest package for its online MBA programmes. The number of recruiters is also not published. |
| What is the NMIMS online MBA fee? | The total programme fee for an online MBA at NMIMS ranges from Rs 220,000 to Rs 400,000. This 24-month programme offers 16 specialisations. |
| What online degrees does NMIMS offer? | NMIMS Online offers B.Com, BBA, and MBA degrees. The B.Com is a 36-month programme with 1 specialisation, while the BBA is also 36 months with 3 specialisations. |
| What is the fee for NMIMS online BBA? | The total programme fee for an online BBA at NMIMS ranges from Rs 150,000 to Rs 170,000. This 36-month programme includes 3 specialisations. |
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.
Read next
- IGNOU — courses, fees and admission
- NMIMS Online (CDOE) — courses, fees and admission
- Online Degree in Chennai: UGC Approved Universities, Fees and Admission
- Cheapest Online Degree in India 2026: Lowest Fee UGC Approved Universities
- Online IT & Computer Applications Degree in India 2026: Fees, Eligibility, Admission and UGC Approved Universities
- Is Online Degree Valid in India? UGC Approval, Government Jobs and Employer Acceptance
