0

Top MBA Colleges for Sustainability and ESG India: 2026 Admission Guide

6 minutes
Top MBA Colleges
Share this article

IIM Lucknow – PGP Sustainable Management

IIM Lucknow’s two-year PGP-SM program at Noida campus has a total fees sustainability MBA of INR 20.75 Lakhs with CAT cutoff sustainability MBA of 85 percentile overall and 80 sectional (VARC), requiring minimum two years work experience (average 5 years).

The curriculum ESG climate finance includes systems thinking, social entrepreneurship, lifecycle management, and public policy with a 9-month integrated live project. Recent placements sustainability ESG (2024 batch): 100% placement, avg CTC ₹18.5L, median ₹16L, highest ₹32L; 50% consulting (EY, KPMG, PwC, Deloitte), 25% energy (Adani Green, ReNew Power), with recruiters for ESG roles India including McKinsey, Mahindra, Wipro, and Tata Sustainability Group.

TERI School of Advanced Studies

TERI SAS offers MBA in Sustainability Management with total fees sustainability MBA of INR 11.90 Lakhs. Admissions accept CAT/MAT/GMAT/CMAT/XAT scores with 25 percentile cutoff sustainability MBA, admitting 60 students annually.

As India’s premier sustainability institution, TERI’s environmental management MBA emphasizes climate science and green technology. TERI achieved a median salary of INR 7L with 85% placement sustainability ESG(2024) in environmental sectors, with recruiters ESG roles India including Wipro, Deloitte, TCS, and Aditya Birla.

IIFM Bhopal – MBA Sustainability Management

IIFM’s MBA in Forestry Management (Sustainability focus) has a total fees sustainability MBA of ₹11.15L for two years. Established under the Ministry of Environment, IIFM accepts CAT/XAT/MAT/CMAT/GMAT with 80 percentile cutoff sustainability MBA.

IIFM achieved 100% placement sustainability ESG with average CTC of INR 10.07 LPA and median salary of INR 8.8 LPA. Recruiters for ESG roles India include EY, PwC, Deloitte, Vedanta, Adani and NTPC with highest package reaching INR 20.50 LPA, making this environmental management MBA unique among top MBA colleges for sustainability and ESG India.

Xavier University & Other Programs

Xavier’s MBA-SM charges sustainability MBA fees ranging INR 14.2L with placements averaging ₹7.5 LPA (median ₹7L, highest ₹12L). ISB Hyderabad offers sustainability electives within PGP (fees ₹41L + GST, avg ₹35L), while IIM Ahmedabad (CIIE sustainability focus), IIM Bangalore (NSRCEL green ventures), and IIM Udaipur provide IIMs sustainability programs through dedicated electives and research centers.

Fees, ROI & Admission Strategy

The fees sustainability MBA programs range from INR 11-21 Lakhs across institutions. Understanding roi sustainability programs requires looking beyond initial salaries—the Big Four firms are investing billions in sustainability services, driving aggressive ESG hiring in India. With BRSR mandates and global ESG momentum, professionals with ESG management MBA India credentials face sustained demand.

Entry-level ESG roles start at ₹6-12 LPA but experienced Sustainability Managers earn ₹20-40 LPA, demonstrating strong ROI sustainability programs over their career span.

Admission Requirements

Most top MBA colleges for sustainability and ESG India accept CAT, XAT, MAT, CMAT, or GMAT.
Target cutoff sustainability MBA scores: IIM Lucknow requires 85 percentile, IIFM 85 percentile overall/80 sectional, IIFM 80 percentile, TERI 25 percentile.

No prior environmental background is mandatory for these MBA in sustainability colleges. Strengthen applications through relevant CSR or renewable energy experience, sustainability projects, and articulating passion for ESG management MBA India in your Statement of Purpose. Final admission involves Written Ability Test, Group Discussion, and Personal Interview.

Recruiters & Salary Trends

Top Recruiters ESG Roles India include Big Four (Deloitte, PwC, EY, KPMG), McKinsey, BCG, ESG ratings agencies (MSCI, S&P Global, CRISIL), corporate sustainability teams (Mahindra, Tata, Wipro, Vedanta), development organizations (UNDP, World Bank, GIZ), energy companies (Adani Green, ReNew Power, NTPC), and financial services (HDFC, ICICI green finance divisions).

The placements sustainability ESG landscape shows ESG Analysts averaging ₹6-8 LPA, Sustainability Managers ₹10-12 LPA, and ESG Managers ₹12-25 LPA, with strong growth trajectory given regulatory tailwinds driving demand for curriculum ESG climate finance expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which MBA colleges offer Sustainability/ESG programs?
IIM Lucknow PGP-SM, TERI SAS, IIFM Bhopal, Xavier University offer dedicated programs. IIMs Ahmedabad, Bangalore, ISB provide electives.

2. What roles are available in ESG and Climate Finance?
Sustainability Manager, ESG Analyst, Climate Risk Analyst, CSR Manager, Environmental Consultant, Green Finance Specialist, Policy Advisor roles available.

3. What is the fee and ROI for Sustainability MBAs?
Fees sustainability MBA range INR 10-41L. Strong ROI sustainability programs with salary growth from ₹8-12LPA entry to ₹25-40 LPA mid-career.

4. Which IIMs/private colleges have ESG tracks?
IIM Lucknow dedicated PGP-SM; IIMs Ahmedabad(CIIE), Bangalore(NSRCEL), Udaipur offer electives. TERI, IIFM, Xavier provide specialized environmental management MBA programs, plus ISB elective.

5. What courses are covered under Sustainability MBAs?
Sustainability reporting, ESG strategy, environmental economics, climate change, lifecycle management, CSR, governance, carbon accounting, renewable energy finance covered.

6. Who recruits for ESG roles in India?
Big Four firms, ESG ratings agencies (MSCI, S&P Global), Mahindra, Wipro, Tata, energy companies, development organizations actively recruit.

7. Is prior environmental background necessary?
No. Top MBA colleges for sustainability and ESG India welcome diverse academic backgrounds. Passion for sustainability and analytical skills matter.

8. What is the expected salary range?
ESG Analysts: ₹6-12 LPA. Sustainability Managers: ₹10-25 LPA. ESG Managers: ₹12-20 LPA. Median packages range INR 8-15 LPA.

9. Are live projects available with NGOs/corporates?
Yes. IIM Lucknow offers 9-month integrated projects. IIFM mandates summer internships. Most programs collaborate with corporates, NGOs, agencies.

10. What exams and cutoffs are typical?
IIM Lucknow: CAT 85 overall, 80 sectional. IIFM: CAT 80 overall. TERI: 25 percentile. Most accept CAT/XAT/MAT/CMAT/GMAT.

Final Thoughts

As organizations build dedicated ESG management MBA India teams responding to BRSR mandates and climate commitments, demand for graduates from top MBA colleges for sustainability and ESG India accelerates exponentially. These specialized programs offer pathways where financial returns meet social impact.

Evaluate programs based on curriculum ESG climate finance depth, placements sustainability ESG outcomes (avg ₹10-18L), recruiters ESG roles India quality, and fees sustainability MBA value (₹10-41L). Consider long-term roi sustainability programs driven by regulatory tailwinds and global ESG momentum.

The 2026 admission cycle presents optimal timing. Shortlist programs, connect with alumni, prepare entrance exams targeting cutoff sustainability MBA scores, and begin applications. The planet needs business leaders understanding that sustainable value creation drives long-term prosperity.


Disclaimer: Information regarding fees (e.g., IIML ₹20.75L), cutoffs (e.g., TERI 25 percentile), placements (e.g., IIFM avg ₹10.07L), and eligibility is based on 2025 official data and subject to change. Always verify details on official institutional websites before applying.

Scroll to Top

Fill out the form below to get your syllabus document.

Get Complete Details on CAT Course Packages & Features

Get Complete Details on LAW Course Packages & Features

Get Complete Details on BBA Course Packages & Features

Fill out the form below to get your syllabus document.