Students eyeing IIM Lucknow for 2026 admissions often start with its rankings to gauge program quality. IIM Lucknow climbed to 5th in NIRF Management 2025, scoring 77.97, beating its 7th spot in 2024, thanks to better research output and peer perception. Globally, the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow (IIM Lucknow) flagship PGP hit top 10 in Asia per QS Business Masters 2025 and 4th in India, while FT Global MBA ranked it 71st worldwide, a jump from 85th last year.
This page breaks down these positions with trends so candidates can see why IIM Lucknow draws over 300,000 CAT takers yearly for its 572 PGP seats. Read on for year-wise data and what it means for your application.
IIM Lucknow NIRF Ranking 2025
The NIRF Management ranking weighs teaching, research, graduation outcomes, outreach, and perception on a 100-point scale. IIM Lucknow's 2025 score of 77.97 reflects gains in faculty research and alumni feedback, making it the top pick in Uttar Pradesh and 5th nationally for students targeting 2026 entry.
| Year | Rank | Score | Key Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 77.97 | Up 2 spots; stronger perception score |
| 2024 | 7 | 74.11 | Steady research growth |
| 2023 | 6 | 74.07 | Baseline for recent climbs |
- NIRF 2025 marks IIM Lucknow ahead of IIM Calcutta at 7th, signaling better outcomes for CAT 2025 scorers applying in 2026.
- As Uttar Pradesh's leader, it edges out local peers like IMT Ghaziabad in the top 30.
IIM Lucknow QS Ranking 2025
QS evaluates based on employability, leadership, and diversity. For 2025, IIM Lucknow's PGP secured top 10 in Asia and 4th in India, with a global band of 111-120, showing its edge for international roles sought by 2026 applicants.
| Category | 2025 Rank | India Position | Asia Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Masters (PGP) | 111-120 | 4 | Top 10 |
| Subject (Business & Management) | =131 | Top 10 | N/A |
| Global MBA | 201-250 | 6 | N/A |
- This QS spot trails only IIM Bangalore, Ahmedabad, and Calcutta, underlining IIML's pull for diverse cohorts in 2026 batches.
- Employability score above 60% ties to its 100% placement rate, a draw for global-minded students.
IIM Lucknow FT Global Ranking 2025
Financial Times ranks on salary growth, career progress, and internationalization. IIM Lucknow jumped to 71st in FT Global MBA 2025 from 85th in 2024, placing 6th among Indian schools and 5th among IIMs, ideal for executives eyeing IPMX for 2026.
| Year | Global Rank | India Rank | IIM Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 71 | 6 | 5 |
| 2024 | 85 | 7 | 6 |
| 2023 | 90 | 8 | 7 |
- The 14-spot rise stems from better alumni salary data, with averages over $100,000 three years post-graduation.
- 13th in Asia per FT, it outpaces most regional peers for cross-border career boosts.
Curious about PGP specifics? Check IIM Lucknow courses for fee and seat details tied to these ranks.
IIM Lucknow Ranking Trends Over Years
From 2023 to 2025, IIM-L shows steady climbs across agencies, driven by expanded research publications and international ties. NIRF gains reflect 20% more peer votes, while QS and FT highlight 15% ROI improvements for grads.
| Agency | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| NIRF Management | 6 | 7 | 5 |
| QS Business Masters | 121-130 | 111-120 | Top 10 Asia |
| FT Global MBA | 90 | 85 | 71 |
- Consistent top-10 NIRF spots since 2020 make it a safe bet for 2026 CAT prep.
- Global bands tightening signal growing appeal for Noida campus executive tracks.
Why IIM Lucknow Ranking Matters for 2026 Admissions
These 2025 ranks directly impact your 2026 chances, as Lucknow IIM uses them in perception-based shortlists alongside CAT scores. A 5th NIRF spot means fiercer competition, but its QS Asia lead offers diverse networking for post-MBA roles in consulting or finance.
- Top ranks correlate with 604 job offers in 2025, averaging INR 32.3 LPA.
- For reserved categories, cutoffs dip to 80 percentile, easing entry per recent data.
Target a 99+ percentile? Review IIM Lucknow Cut-off trends to align with these standings.
IIM Lucknow vs Other IIMs in NIRF 2025
In NIRF 2025, IIM Lucknow at 5th trails only behind Ahmedabad (1st), Bangalore (2nd), Kozhikode (3rd), and Mumbai (4th), but surpassed Calcutta (7th) due to higher outreach scores. This positions it as a balanced choice for 2026 applicants seeking strong North India ties.
| IIM | NIRF 2025 Rank |
|---|---|
| IIM Lucknow | 5 |
| IIM Calcutta | 7 |
| IIM Indore | 8 |
| IIM Rohtak | 9 |
