KIIT School of Management (KSOM)

KIIT School of Management (KSOM) in Bhubaneswar is a study in contrasts. It’s a place where you’ll find sprawling, manicured lawns and world-class sports facilities, but also mess food that students openly despise. The official placement record is a perfect 100%, yet candid alumni talk about a wide spread in salary packages, with many landing in roles that start around ₹6 LPA. Established in 1993 and now a constituent unit of KIIT Deemed to be University—an Institution of Eminence—KSOM leverages its parent brand’s formidable infrastructure and NAAC A++ grade to attract students from across India. It’s a solid Tier-2 option in Eastern India, offering a decent average package and a vibrant campus life, but it asks for nearly ₹18 lakhs for its flagship MBA. You have to decide what you’re really paying for.

KIIT School of Management — Quick Facts

• Location: Campus 7, KIIT, Bhubaneswar, Odisha.
• Established: 1993.
• University Status: Constituent school of KIIT Deemed to be University (Institution of Eminence).
• Key Accreditations: NAAC A++, NBA accreditation for MBA, member of AACSB and BGA.
• Flagship Program: MBA (₹9-9.5 LPA average package).
• NIRF Ranking 2024: 68th in Management. Check the official NIRF Rankings.
• Total MBA Fee (2024-25): ~₹18,00,620 (includes AC hostel, mess, laptop).
• Campus Size: 35-acre dedicated management campus.

Courses and Academic Programs at KIIT School of Management

The academic portfolio is straightforward, centered on the BBA and MBA. The BBA program takes in a large batch of around 360-400 students annually. Specializations in Marketing, Finance, HR, Operations, and International Business kick in during the third year. It’s a broad-based degree, and a significant chunk of graduates opt for higher studies rather than immediate employment.

The MBA is the main event. With about 360 seats, it offers standard specializations like Marketing and Finance, plus newer ones like Business Analytics. They also run specialized "Super MBA" tracks in Business Analytics, Supply Chain Management, and Healthcare Management, which are more niche. The grading follows a strict 10-point CGPA scale, and evaluation is split between mid-terms, internal activities, and end-semester exams. Miss the 75% attendance mark and you can kiss your placement eligibility goodbye—they enforce it.

Faculty is a strong point. Over 80% hold PhDs, many from institutes like IIMs, XLRI, and MDI. They’re generally considered approachable. The school has MoUs with firms like Ericsson and Tech Mahindra for curriculum input, and a mandatory summer internship after the first year provides practical exposure.

KSOM Placements: Packages, Recruiters & Reality Check

This is where you need to read between the lines. The official brochure states 100% placement for eligible students. For the 2024-25 cycle, the highest domestic package was ₹20 LPA, with an average hovering between ₹9 and ₹9.5 LPA. The median, a more telling figure, sits around ₹7-8 LPA according to NIRF 2024 data. Top recruiters include big names: Deloitte, PwC, Amazon, ICICI Bank, TCS, and Nestle, spanning IT, BFSI, consulting, and FMCG.

But here’s the student reality check. That 100% figure includes all kinds of roles. While some students crack double-digit packages, a substantial number secure positions in sales or similar functions with starting salaries in the ₹5-6 LPA range. Alumni on forums like CollegeDunia and Reddit often peg the effective placement rate for the MBA at a still-respectable 90-95%, and for the BBA, it’s lower, around 50-70%, as many pursue further studies. The gap between the official claim and the on-ground distribution of offers is notable. It’s not a scam, but it’s not a uniform outcome either.

Fees and Financial Aid at KSOM

KSOM is a premium private institution, and the fees reflect that. The total all-inclusive cost for the two-year MBA is approximately ₹18 lakhs. This covers tuition, AC hostel (double sharing), mess charges, laundry, books, and even a laptop. Payment is typically in four installments of about ₹4.5 lakhs each.

The BBA is cheaper but still significant. Annual tuition runs around ₹3.5 lakhs, making the three-year degree cost about ₹10.5 to ₹11.4 lakhs before hostel. Adding AC hostel and mess separately tacks on roughly ₹1.7+ lakhs per year.

They do offer scholarships to offset the cost. If you secure a top 5 rank in the KIITEE Management exam, you get a 50% tuition waiver. The same waiver applies for a CAT or XAT score above 80 percentile, or a MAT score above 95 percentile. It’s a decent incentive for high performers.

KSOM Admissions: Eligibility, Cutoffs & Selection Process

For the MBA, KSOM accepts a wide range of exam scores: their own KIITEE Management, CAT, XAT, CMAT, MAT, and GMAT. The cutoffs aren’t brutal. You typically need around 70-80 percentile in CAT/XAT, or 80-85 in MAT/CMAT to have a serious shot. The BBA admission is through KIITEE (General) or the AIMA UGAT exam.

The selection process is comprehensive. After the entrance score, you go through a Group Discussion, a Personal Interview, a Writing Ability Test, and your past academic performance (10th, 12th, graduation) is also factored in. The application fee is between ₹1,250 and ₹1,500. It’s a process designed to assess more than just test-taking ability.

Campus, Hostels and Student Life

The infrastructure is, without exaggeration, KSOM’s biggest selling point. The 35-acre campus is lush, modern, and impeccably maintained. Students often compare it to a resort. MBA students have a 100% residential mandate. Hostels are mostly AC, twin-sharing with attached bathrooms, and are rated highly (4.5/5).

Then there’s the mess food. It’s the universal gripe. Rated around 2.5/5, it’s considered hygienic but bland and monotonous. It’s a running joke that’s not very funny when you’re eating it every day.

Beyond the hostel, you have access to KIIT University’s phenomenal facilities: an Olympic-size swimming pool, numerous stadiums, and multi-gyms. The library is a four-story dedicated building with over 21,000 books. Social life revolves around massive fests like Kritansh, which bring in huge crowds and corporate speakers. The trade-off for the great infrastructure is a set of strict rules—firm hostel in-times (often 7-8 PM) and that non-negotiable 75% attendance policy.

Student Reviews: What KSOM Alumni Really Think

Synthesizing opinions from Reddit, Quora, and review sites paints a clear picture. The positives are consistent: world-class infrastructure, a vibrant festival culture, accessible and knowledgeable faculty, and good corporate exposure through weekly seminars.

The negatives are just as consistent. The mess food is the top complaint. The strict administrative rules, including early curfews and a perceived "money-minded" approach to fines, rub many the wrong way. And there’s a clear understanding about placements: "100% placement" doesn’t mean 100% get high-paying jobs. As one Reddit user put it, "If you want a glamorous MBA life with decent placements, come here. If you want Tier-1 academic rigor, look elsewhere."

Verdict: Is KIIT School of Management Worth It?

KSOM is a specific kind of bet. It’s best for students who prioritize a stunning, residential campus experience and are aiming for solid, if not spectacular, placement outcomes in the ₹7-12 LPA range. If you have a CAT/XAT percentile in the 70s and want the brand heft of an Institution of Eminence with strong infrastructure, the ROI can work, especially with a scholarship. However, if your primary goal is a guaranteed high-salary role from a top-tier B-school, or if you chafe under strict administrative control, this isn’t the place. You’re paying a premium for the KIIT ecosystem—the polished campus, the sports facilities, the medical access at KIMS. For the right student, that’s a worthwhile trade. For others, it might feel like an expensive compromise. Check the official details on the KSOM website and cross-reference with recent student reviews before deciding.