MBA in Rural Management: Course Details, Eligibility, Admission, Fees

Sakshi Chaudhary

Updated on - Nov 28, 2023

MBA in Rural Management is a two-year postgraduate program that deals with making effective use of statistical methods and drawing inferences and conclusions from several types of data. The course aims to provide insights into the rural economy and the functioning of micro-finance institutions and small finance banks. 

Admission to MBA Rural Management is through the top MBA entrance exams such as ATMA, CAT, XAT, MAT, etc., group discussions, and personal interviews conducted by the universities. As part of the eligibility criteria, a candidate should have a bachelor's degree with a minimum of 50% marks or unreserved and 45% for SC/ST/PwD category from an accredited university. The MBA in Rural Management fees are in the range of INR 10,000 - 6 LPA. 

What is MBA Rural Management? 

Master of Business Administration in Rural Management trains students on the practices used to maintain agribusinesses in rural areas. The course highlights the principles used to resolve agriculture and farmer-related grievances for rural development. MBA in Rural Management course is one of the most rewarding specializations of MBA courses. Students can pursue the course from some best universities like Xavier School of Rural Management, IIHMR, KIIT, etc. 

MBA in Rural Management course offers lucrative job opportunities for graduates in livelihood-focused organizations, food processing industries, small finance banks, government PSUs, NGOs, etc. The average salary of an MBA in Rural Management graduate is in the range of INR 3-12 LPA. (Source: Payscale)

MBA in Rural Management Eligibility

The MBA Rural Management eligibility can vary depending on the type of university. Listed below are the basic eligibility criteria that students must fulfill to get admission to the course:

• Students from the unreserved category should have a minimum three-year bachelor's degree with at least 50 percent aggregate marks from a recognized university. A 5% relaxation in marks is given to students from the reserved category.
• They should pass the required national-level entrance exams like ATMA, CAT, MAT, XAT, etc., with the minimum accepted cutoff marks. 
• There is no specific age limit to pursue this course.

Why Choose an MBA in Rural Management?

The Rural Management MBA course focuses deeply on the importance of rural infrastructure, rural markets, and sustainable rural development. Listed below are some points why students should pursue MBA Rural Management courses.

• Rural economy constitutes 46 percent of national income and 25-30% of India’s GDP.
• The size of the agriculture industry in India reached INR 80,550 billion in 2022 and the market is expected to reach INR 1,58,991 billion by 2028.
• The rural unemployment rate is 7.44%, which is lesser than 7.93% in urban areas.
• The course helps students gain knowledge on the livelihoods of rural people and the ways to improve them. 
• Students will get to do live projects, assignments, and case studies which will help them to practice and solve real-time real business problems in the rural sector.

MBA Rural Management Admission 2023

Admission to the MBA in Rural Management course for most colleges is based on merit and entrance exams. The colleges conduct group discussions and personal interviews for the final selection of students. Below are the steps to be followed for students during admissions for the MBA Rural Management course.

• Step 1: The aspirants can either apply online or offline and fill out the application forms.
• Step 2: The students are shortlisted based on their merit or the score obtained in the entrance exams.
• Step 3: The universities conduct GD and PI for the final selection of candidates.
• Step 4: Students need to upload the necessary documents and pay the respective course fees to get final admission.

Read More on MBA Admission

MBA in Rural Management Entrance Exams

Scores obtained in the entrance exams will determine the candidate's admission to some top MBA in Rural Management colleges in India. The entrance exams are conducted at the national, state, and university levels. Some of the main entrance exams are given below:

Read More: MBA Entrance Exams

Top MBA Rural Management Colleges With Fees

MBA in Rural Management fees in India are around INR 10,000 - 6 LPA. There have been several colleges offering MBA Rural Management courses in India as this sector provides employment to a large number of people. Below are some of the best government and private colleges for an MBA in Rural Management in India along with fee details.

MBA in Rural Management Government Colleges

Government colleges that offer an MBA in Rural Management are affordable and cater to the economically backward and financially despondent section of society. Here is a table of government colleges offering MBA Rural Management course:

MBA in Rural Management Private Colleges

There are top private colleges in India offering MBA in Rural Management with the best infrastructure and faculties. Listed below are the best private colleges:

XIM University MBA in Rural Management 

The two-year full-time residential MBA in Rural Management at XIM University is the second-oldest rural management program in the country. The course is designed to create professionals with the necessary skills to run business and develop organizations for the betterment of rural communities Given below is the course details.

KIIT MBA in Rural Management

MBA in Rural Management from KIIT School of Rural Management is a flagship program judiciously designed in balance with classroom and field-based experiential learning. Students will get to spend 30 percent of the total course credits through fieldwork. Below is the MBA in Rural Management course information:

IGNOU MBA in Rural Management

MBA in Rural Management at IGNOU throws light on the implementation of developmental plans, development needs, and ground realities of the rural sector. Below mentioned are the course details:

Types of MBA in Rural Management Courses

The Rural Management MBA degree is offered in 3 modes, full-time, online and distance modes. There are various colleges offering this course for the benefit of students and as per their comfort. MBA in Rural Management course details are given below:

MBA Rural Management CAT Cutoff 2023

The Common Admission Test (CAT) is conducted in India to get admission into MBA courses in top B-schools and colleges like IIMs. The CAT cut-offs vary every year depending on the exam toughness and the number of candidates appearing for the exam etc. The exam will be conducted this year on November 26.

The CAT cut-off 2023 will be released by colleges after the CAT exam 2023 is conducted across India. Given below is the list of the best MBA Rural Management colleges in India along with their 2022 CAT cut-off for general category students:

MBA in Rural Management Syllabus and Subjects

The MBA Rural Management syllabus includes topics on Rural Society and Institutions, Rural Infrastructure, Rural Markets, etc. The course is divided into four semesters, and the curriculum includes field visits, live projects, case studies, and internships. The course core subjects are explained below:

Read More: MBA Rural Management Syllabus

MBA in Rural Management vs MBA in Agri-Business

MBA in Rural Management focuses more on managing principles of the rural sector, planning organisations, and control of the cooperatives in the field of agriculture while MBA in Agribusiness deals with topics on agricultural food production and agriculture marketing and finance. The table below showcases the differences between the two courses.

Courses After MBA Rural Management

Students can pursue higher studies after an MBA in Rural Management. They can either go for research or look for certification courses related to rural development and management. Listed below are some of the higher education options available for the students.

• Ph.D. in Rural Management/ Rural Development/Agri-business
• Certifications in Agriculture/Rural Economy

MBA Rural Management Salary in India

MBA in Rural Management salary for graduates ranges approximately between INR 3-12 LPA (Source: Payscale). The salary depends on the type of company, location, job experience, etc. Some of the top cities where students can seek jobs are:

[Souce: Ambition Box]

Read More: MBA Rural Management Salary

Career Options After MBA in Rural Management 

There are various job opportunities for students of Rural Management MBA in the field of rural management and agriculture. The graduates can get hired on job profiles as Rural Development Officers, Rural Executives, Rural Managers, etc. Listed below are some job designations in some top companies.

[Sources: Ambition Box & Glassdoor]

MBA in Rural Management Scholarships

Students pursuing MBA courses can avail various scholarships to help them during their studies. Listed below are some MBA Rural Management Management scholarships offered by government and private institutions:

Skills to Excel in MBA Rural Management

Listed below are some essential technical and soft skills that graduates of MBA in Rural Management graduates must possess:

• Knowledge of Agriculture: The graduates should have a basic idea of the current state of agriculture and crop production in India.
• Rural Economy: MBA professionals must have knowledge of the current rural economy,  its issues, and the possible ways to improve it in rural areas.
• Rural Management & Banking: The graduates should have knowledge of rural topography and banks that assist farmers with loans.
• Rural Marketing: Students should be aware of the types of products and services that thrive in rural areas.
• Knowledge About Rural Industries: They should have an understanding of some small-scale industries and enterprises that are providing employment to rural people.

Top MBA in Rural Management Colleges

KIIT University

Bhubaneswar,Odisha

Chitkara University

Patiala,Punjab

Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University

Samastipur,Bihar

KIIT School of Rural Management (KSRM)

Bhubaneswar,Odisha

NIMS University

Jaipur,Rajasthan

University of Technology

Jaipur,Rajasthan

SVU - Shri Venkateshwara University

Jyotiba Phule Nagar,Uttar Pradesh

IIHMR University

Jaipur,Rajasthan

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MBA in Rural Management Fee Structure

See Various MBA in Rural Management Colleges in India