XLRI, founded by Jesuits in Jamshedpur in 1949, calls itself the oldest management school in India. It is best known for its human resource management programme and its two-year Business Management programme. It suits candidates who take XAT, want a values-led, residential programme with a long alumni tradition, and are interested in HR, consulting, marketing or general management roles.
At a glance
| NIRF 2025 Management rank | 10 (score 70.63) |
| Established | 1949 |
| Type | Private, Jesuit-run institution |
| Location | C. H. Area (East), Jamshedpur, Jharkhand (also a Delhi-NCR campus) |
| Flagship programme | PGDM (Business Management) |
| Duration | Two years, full-time, residential |
| Sanctioned intake | 480 across two-year PG programmes in 2023-24 (NIRF 2025 data) |
| Admission test(s) | XAT (XAT 2027 for the 2027-29 batch); GMAT for NRI, PIO, OCI and foreign candidates |
| Programme fee | Rs 15.25 lakh per year for PGDM (BM) and PGDM (HRM), XAT 2027 cycle; mess and hostel extra (official admissions page) |
| Median salary | Rs 28 lakh per annum for the two-year PG cohort graduating in 2023-24 (NIRF 2025 data) |
| Website | xlri.ac.in |
About XLRI Jamshedpur
Fr. Quinn Enright, S.J., founded XLRI in Jamshedpur in 1949, and Fr. Bill Tome and other Jesuit companions joined him. The first core committee worked with the then General Manager of TISCO and union leaders, teaching labour laws, wages and collective bargaining to workers and executives from local industries. XLRI started a two-year day programme in Industrial Relations and Welfare in 1953, which later became the HRM programme. A three-year evening programme in Business Management followed in 1965, and the two-year full-time Business Management programme began in 1968.
XLRI's identity rests on its Jesuit ethos and the idea of magis, the pursuit of "the more". It has a strong focus on ethics and social engagement, including a rural immersion. Its centres include the XLRI JRD Tata Foundation in Business Ethics, the Fr Arrupe Centre for Ecology and Sustainability and the XCEED incubator.
Programmes
- PGDM (BM): the flagship two-year Business Management programme, with courses in economics, finance, information systems, marketing, operations and decision sciences, and strategy.
- PGDM (HRM): the two-year Human Resource Management programme, covering employee relations, HR systems, the legal framework and leadership.
- PGDM (GM): the General Management programme. It accepts XAT and, for this programme only, GMAT and GRE scores from Indian candidates.
- PGDM (IEV): Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Venture Development.
- PGDM (LSCM): Logistics and Supply Chain Management.
- Online and executive programmes: online postgraduate diplomas in Business Management, HRM and Finance, plus postgraduate certificates and executive diplomas.
- FPM and EFPM: the Fellow and Executive Fellow Programmes in Management, with admission through XSET.
Admissions and eligibility
According to XLRI's admissions page for the XAT 2027 cycle (2027-29 batch), the PGDM (BM) and PGDM (HRM) require:
- A recognised bachelor's degree of at least three years, or equivalent, in any discipline. Candidates completing their final examinations by 11 June 2027 may also apply.
- XAT 2027 for all Indian candidates. NRI, PIO, OCI and foreign candidates may apply through either GMAT or XAT.
The registration fee for Indian candidates through XAT 2027 is Rs 2,300, plus Rs 200 for each additional XLRI programme. Foreign and NRI candidates registering through XAT pay Rs 5,000. GMAT and GRE scores must come from tests taken between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2026.
Selection process
For the 2027-29 batch, XLRI's admissions page describes three stages for PGDM (BM) and PGDM (HRM):
- Registration through XAT 2027, or GMAT for eligible overseas candidates.
- Shortlisting, with shortlisted XAT and GMAT candidates named by the third week of January 2027.
- Interviews, held between mid-February and March 2027.
XLRI does not publish the weights it gives to XAT scores, academics, work experience or the interview, so we have not listed any. Be wary of percentile "cut-offs" quoted elsewhere, because XLRI has not released them officially. In the NIRF 2025 data, XLRI reported 480 sanctioned seats across its two-year PG programmes for 2023-24. XLRI's Delhi-NCR campus also runs PGDM (BM) and PGDM (HRM) batches.
Fees and financial aid
XLRI's admissions page for the XAT 2027 cycle lists the PGDM (BM) and PGDM (HRM) fee as Rs 15.25 lakh per annum. Mess and hostel are charged extra, and the institute reserves the right to revise the fee. The page adds that fees may change for the next session on the recommendation of the Fee Fixation Committee.
XLRI's website has a "Scholarship Fund" under its giving section, but we could not find the details of its scholarships for PGDM students on the official site. Ask the admissions office what aid is available for your batch.
Placements
NIRF 2025 data. For the two-year PG programmes, XLRI reported a median salary of Rs 28 lakh per annum for the cohort graduating in 2023-24. That year 384 students graduated, 382 were placed and 1 went on to higher studies. The medians for the earlier graduating years were Rs 30.24 lakh (2022-23) and Rs 30 lakh (2021-22).
Final placements, PGDM (BM) and PGDM (HRM), batch 2024-26. XLRI's official placement reports page covers 576 students from the Jamshedpur and Delhi-NCR campuses. It lists:
- 145 recruiting organisations, 25 of them new
- More than 576 domestic offers and 2 international offers
- Median salary: Rs 29 lakh per annum
- Average salary: Rs 31.40 lakh per annum
- Top 10th percentile average: Rs 49.2 lakh; top 25th percentile average: Rs 44.18 lakh
- Highest domestic offer: Rs 59 lakh per annum; highest international offer: Rs 1.10 crore
- 42.5% of students received pre-placement offers
- Roles offered: consulting 36%, BFSI 18%, ITES 15%, sales and marketing 12%
The page names Accenture Strategy and Consulting, Amazon, American Express, Bajaj Auto, BCG, Deloitte USI, EY Parthenon, HUL, ITC, Kotak Mahindra Bank and PwC among the firms making the most offers. It does not say whether the figures were audited.
Placement figures vary by year and role; read the official report.
Campus and student life
The Jamshedpur campus is in C. H. Area (East). XLRI says it has more than 400 hostel rooms in four blocks. These are the Fr. Enright Men's Residence (built 1969), the St. Thomas Men's Residence, the Mother Teresa Women's Residence (built 1998) and the Nilima Acharji Women's Residence. A further 384 single rooms are in the newer Fr McGrath Residence on the extension campus. Other facilities listed on the website include the Sir Jehangir Ghandy Library, a behavioural lab, psychotherapy and counselling services, sports grounds, a gymnasium, two auditoriums and food courts. The institute runs international collaborations, including ISEP, as well as a rural immersion programme.
How to prepare for XLRI Jamshedpur
XLRI admits through XAT, not CAT, so download the official XAT bulletin early and plan for the test's own sections, including Decision Making. Many candidates take both exams. Our CAT vs GMAT comparison explains how entrance tests differ, and the core skills overlap heavily with CAT. Strong reading comprehension and data interpretation and logical reasoning practice will serve you in both.
XLRI does not publish its selection weights, so prepare for every stage rather than chasing a number. In the interview, expect questions on your academic background and work experience. If you are applying for HRM, expect questions about why you want an HR career, and make sure you can talk about ethics and social questions thoughtfully, given the institute's Jesuit ethos. No score guarantees a shortlist or an offer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the XLRI Jamshedpur fee?
For the XAT 2027 cycle, XLRI lists Rs 15.25 lakh per annum for PGDM (BM) and PGDM (HRM). Mess and hostel are extra, and the fee may be revised.
What is the XAT cut-off for XLRI?
XLRI does not publish an official minimum XAT percentile or selection weights on its admissions page. Treat cut-offs quoted on coaching sites as estimates, not official figures.
Does XLRI accept CAT?
For PGDM (BM) and PGDM (HRM), XLRI's admissions page says all Indian candidates take XAT 2027. NRI, PIO, OCI and foreign candidates may use GMAT instead. CAT scores are not listed as an option for these programmes.
What is XLRI's median salary?
The NIRF 2025 data shows a median of Rs 28 lakh per annum for two-year PG graduates in 2023-24. For the 2024-26 PGDM (BM) and PGDM (HRM) batch, XLRI's placement page lists a median of Rs 29 lakh.
XLRI or MDI Gurgaon?
Both are leading private schools in the NIRF 2025 top ten. XLRI admits through XAT, while MDI Gurgaon admits through CAT and publishes detailed selection weights. Compare their latest official placement reports and total costs before you decide.
Sources
- NIRF India Rankings 2025: Management: rank and score (accessed 22 October 2026)
- NIRF 2025 data submitted by XLRI (IR-M-S-132): sanctioned intake, graduates, placed students and median salary (accessed 22 October 2026)
- XLRI Xavier Aptitude Test and admission process: 2027-29 eligibility, fees, registration fees and selection stages (accessed 22 October 2026)
- XLRI Placement Reports (BM and HRM): final placements for the 2024-26 batch (accessed 22 October 2026)
- XLRI Heritage: founding and history (accessed 22 October 2026)
- XLRI PGDM (BM) programme page: programme structure (accessed 22 October 2026)
- XLRI Student Residences: hostels and campus facilities (accessed 22 October 2026)
Researched from official sources on 22 October 2026. Admissions policies, fees and placement figures change every year: confirm them on the institute’s website before applying.