IGNOU or Online Manipal: Which Is Better for an Online Degree?
IGNOU generally costs less for an online degree, with its MBA programme at Rs 66,000 compared to Online Manipal’s MBA at Rs 180,000. This lower fee does not include the wider range of specialisations or the specific accreditations that Online Manipal offers. This page helps a reader decide which university aligns with their budget and academic goals for an online degree.
IGNOU holds an A++ NAAC grade and is UGC approved. Online Manipal (MUJ) has an A+ NAAC grade and is also UGC approved. IGNOU offers a B.A. for Rs 5,000, while Online Manipal’s lowest published fee is for an M.Sc. at Rs 80,000. The choice depends on the specific programme and the value a student places on additional specialisations and accreditations.
Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) vs Manipal University Jaipur (Online Manipal) — compared on published total fee, specialisation count and recorded approvals.
| Measure | IGNOU | Online Manipal (MUJ) | On this measure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Degrees with a published fee | 7 of 12 | 7 of 8 | level |
| Cheapest degree on offer | Rs 5,000 | Rs 80,000 | IGNOU |
| Specialisations across all degrees | 19 | 43 | |
| NAAC grade | A++ | A+ | IGNOU |
| Approval bodies on record | 3 | 8 | Online Manipal (MUJ) |
Decided only by published data. Where a university does not publish a figure the row says so. FindMyCollege does not rank universities.
IGNOU vs Online Manipal (MUJ): fees across every degree
IGNOU’s online degrees are significantly more affordable than those offered by Online Manipal (MUJ). For instance, an online MBA from IGNOU costs Rs 66,000, while the same degree from Online Manipal (MUJ) is Rs 180,000.
IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 5,000 for its online B.A. and Rs 15,000 for its online B.Com. The online BCA from IGNOU costs Rs 49,800. For postgraduate studies, an online M.Com from IGNOU is Rs 20,400, and an online MA ranges from Rs 16,400 to Rs 21,000. The online MCA programme fee is Rs 52,000.
In comparison, Online Manipal (MUJ) charges Rs 99,000 for its online B.Com, Rs 139,500 for its online BBA, and Rs 139,500 for its online BCA. Its online M.Com costs Rs 108,000, while an online M.Sc or MA is Rs 80,000. The total programme fee for an online MCA from Online Manipal (MUJ) is not published.
Which degrees each university actually runs
IGNOU offers 12 online degrees, while Online Manipal (MUJ) offers 7. This difference means IGNOU provides a wider range of choices for students seeking online education.
IGNOU publishes online Bachelor’s degrees in Arts, Commerce, Library Science, Computer Applications, Tourism, and Social Work. For postgraduate studies, it offers online Master’s degrees in Commerce, Arts, Business Administration, Computer Applications, and Social Work. The total programme fee for an online MBA at IGNOU is Rs 66,000.
Online Manipal (MUJ) offers online Bachelor’s degrees in Commerce, Business Administration, and Computer Applications. Its postgraduate offerings include online Master’s degrees in Commerce, Science, Arts, and Business Administration. The total programme fee for an online BBA at Online Manipal (MUJ) is Rs 139,500. The table below lists the full range of programmes and their published fees.
| Degree | IGNOU total fee | Online Manipal (MUJ) total fee | IGNOU specialisations | Online Manipal (MUJ) specialisations | Lower fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B.Com | Rs 15,000 | Rs 99,000 | 1 | 8 | IGNOU |
| BCA | Rs 49,800 | Rs 139,500 | 1 | 3 | IGNOU |
| M.Com | Rs 20,400 | Rs 108,000 | 1 | 1 | IGNOU |
| MA | Rs 16,400 – Rs 21,000 | Rs 80,000 | 9 | 2 | IGNOU |
| MBA | Rs 66,000 | Rs 180,000 | 1 | 13 | IGNOU |
| MCA | Rs 52,000 | not published | 1 | 5 | — |
| B.A | Rs 5,000 | not offered | — | — | — |
| B.Lib | not published | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| BBA | not offered | Rs 139,500 | — | 7 | — |
| BFTTM | not published | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| BSW | not published | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| BTS | not published | not offered | 1 | — | — |
| M.Sc | not offered | Rs 80,000 | — | 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
IGNOU and Online Manipal both hold UGC approval for their online degrees. This means that degrees from both universities are recognised by the University Grants Commission, a mandatory requirement for higher education in India.
Online Manipal lists seven additional approvals and memberships beyond UGC approval. These include AICTE compliance, NAAC A+ accreditation recorded in 2024, and NBA accreditation recorded in 2023. It is also a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) as of 2024.
IGNOU publishes an A++ NAAC grade. It also states AICTE approval. The table below details the full list of approvals for both institutions.
| Body | IGNOU | Online Manipal (MUJ) |
|---|---|---|
| UGC | Approved | Approved |
| NAAC | A++ | A+ |
| AICTE | Approved | Compliant |
| WES | not listed | Member |
| NBA | not listed | Accredited |
| QS | not listed | Top Universities |
| ACU | not listed | Member |
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
Online Manipal offers a wider range of specialisations across its online degree programmes compared to IGNOU. Online Manipal publishes 44 specialisations across eight programmes, while IGNOU publishes 19 specialisations across 12 programmes. This difference is most notable in B.Com, BBA, and MBA degrees.
For a B.Com, Online Manipal lists eight specialisations. IGNOU publishes only one. Similarly, Online Manipal provides seven specialisations for a BBA, a programme not offered by IGNOU. In the MBA programme, Online Manipal lists 13 specialisations, significantly more than the single specialisation published by IGNOU.
IGNOU offers a greater number of MA specialisations, with nine options compared to Online Manipal’s two. However, for most other degrees, such as BCA and M.Sc, Online Manipal provides more choices, as detailed in the table below.
| Degree | IGNOU specialisations | Online Manipal (MUJ) specialisations |
|---|---|---|
| B.A | not published | not offered |
| B.Com | 1 | 8 |
| B.Lib | 1 | not offered |
| BCA | 1 | 3 |
| BFTTM | 1 | not offered |
| BSW | 1 | not offered |
| BTS | 1 | not offered |
| M.Com | 1 | 1 |
| MA | 9 | 2 |
| MBA | 1 | 13 |
| MCA | 1 | 5 |
| MSW | 1 | not offered |
Duration and how the programmes are structured
Online degrees from both IGNOU and Online Manipal typically require 24 to 36 months to complete. Bachelor’s degrees from both universities are 36 months long, while master’s degrees are 24 months long.
IGNOU publishes a 12-month duration for its Bachelor of Library and Information Science (B.Lib) programme. Most other bachelor’s degrees, such as the B.A., B.Com, and BCA, are 36 months. Master’s programmes like the M.Com, MA, and MBA are 24 months.
Online Manipal’s B.Com, BBA, and BCA programmes are 36 months long. Its master’s degrees, including the M.Com, M.Sc, and MBA, are 24 months. The table below provides a complete list of durations for specific programmes at both universities.
| Degree | IGNOU duration | Online Manipal (MUJ) 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 | 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 is the cheaper option for an online degree. Its B.A. programme costs Rs 5,000, while Online Manipal does not publish a B.A. programme fee. For a B.Com, IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 15,000, significantly less than Online Manipal’s Rs 99,000.
For postgraduate studies, IGNOU also offers lower fees. An M.Com from IGNOU costs Rs 20,400, compared to Online Manipal’s Rs 108,000. Similarly, an MBA from IGNOU has a total programme fee of Rs 66,000, while Online Manipal’s MBA costs Rs 180,000.
IGNOU publishes a BCA total programme fee of Rs 49,800. Online Manipal’s BCA costs Rs 139,500. For an MCA, IGNOU publishes a total programme fee of Rs 52,000. Online Manipal does not publish a fee for its MCA programme.
Who should pick which
Choosing between IGNOU and Online Manipal depends on programme fees and specialisation options. IGNOU generally offers lower programme fees, while Online Manipal provides a wider range of specialisations for many degrees.
IGNOU is suitable for students prioritising affordability. For example, the total programme fee for an online MBA at IGNOU is Rs 66,000. The university publishes a B.Com total programme fee of Rs 15,000. IGNOU holds an A++ NAAC grade and is UGC approved.
Online Manipal is better for those seeking more specialisation choices. Its online MBA offers 13 specialisations, compared to IGNOU’s single MBA specialisation. The total programme fee for an online MBA at Online Manipal is Rs 180,000. Online Manipal holds an A+ NAAC grade and is UGC approved.
For undergraduate degrees, Online Manipal offers 8 specialisations for its B.Com programme, while IGNOU offers 1. The B.Com total programme fee at Online Manipal is Rs 99,000. IGNOU publishes a B.A total programme fee of Rs 5,000.
What neither university publishes
Neither IGNOU nor Online Manipal publishes an average salary for its online degree programmes. No placement rate is published by either university. Students cannot find information on the highest package offered or the number of recruiters.
For online programmes, neither university publishes its NIRF rank. No data is available for student satisfaction or pass percentages. This means students cannot compare these specific outcomes directly between IGNOU and Online Manipal.
Instead, students can review the total programme fees. An online MBA at IGNOU costs Rs 66,000, while Online Manipal publishes a fee of Rs 180,000 for its online MBA. For a B.Com, IGNOU publishes a total fee of Rs 15,000, and Online Manipal publishes Rs 99,000. These published fees offer a concrete point of comparison.
Frequently asked questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which is better, IGNOU or Manipal University? | IGNOU holds an A++ NAAC grade, while Online Manipal (MUJ) has an A+ NAAC grade. Both universities are UGC approved. |
| What online degrees does Manipal offer? | Online Manipal offers online degrees including B.Com, BBA, BCA, M.Com, M.Sc, MA, MBA, and MCA. The BBA programme costs Rs 139,500 for 36 months. |
| Is the Manipal online MBA good? | The Manipal online MBA programme is 24 months long and offers 13 specialisations. The total programme fee is Rs 180,000. |
| Ignou vs manipal university which is better? | The comparison above answers this: the tables set out the published total fee, the specialisations each university offers and the approvals each holds. |
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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