How IIM Kozhikode outranked Princeton in QS
On April 4, 2026, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kozhikode held its 28th annual convocation, marking a significant milestone in the institution’s history. The event celebrated the graduation of 1,432 students across eight programs, but it also highlighted a remarkable achievement: IIM Kozhikode has outranked the prestigious Princeton University in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
A New Era for Indian Business Education
IIM Kozhikode secured the 78th rank in Business and Management Studies, surpassing Princeton, which ranked 81st. This accomplishment is a testament to the growing prominence of Indian institutes in the global education landscape, particularly in business education. Debashis Chatterjee, the director of IIM Kozhikode, emphasized that this achievement is not merely a statistical anomaly but a result of strategic global benchmarking.
Understanding the Rankings
The QS World University Rankings are widely regarded as one of the most respected indicators of academic excellence. They evaluate institutions based on various criteria, including academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, citations per faculty, and international faculty and student ratios. IIM Kozhikode’s rise in these rankings reflects its commitment to enhancing its educational offerings and global visibility.
The Power of Branding
The success of IIM Kozhikode can be attributed to the strength of its brand. Chatterjee noted that the gap between India’s technical institutes, such as IITs and IIMs, and its liberal arts centers is widening. While institutions like Delhi University and JNU struggle to maintain high rankings, IIMs have consistently positioned themselves among the top global players.
Brand Recognition
- IIM Ahmedabad – 21st
- IIM Bangalore – 29th
- IIM Calcutta – 47th
- IIT Delhi – 71st
- IIM Lucknow – 75th
These rankings illustrate the competitive edge that IIMs hold over traditional liberal arts institutions in India. Chatterjee remarked, “The brand speaks much faster than the performer. Today, an IIM or an IIT brand is much stronger than most liberal arts universities in India.”
Diversity and Inclusion
Another notable aspect of the 28th convocation was the diversity within the graduating class. For the first time, more than 50% of the graduates in the Doctoral Programme in Management (DPM), Post Graduate Programme (PGP), and PGP in Liberal Studies and Management (PGP-LSM) were women. This shift represents a significant change in the landscape of Indian management education.
Progress in Gender Representation
In 2002, IIM Kozhikode’s flagship Postgraduate Programme in Management had only 5% female students, the lowest in the IIM system. By 2021, this number increased to 30%, and in the class of 2022, it reached an impressive 51%. Chatterjee explained that this transformation was not due to reserved seats for women but rather the result of making the MBA program more appealing to female students through various initiatives.
Aiming for Excellence
The convocation ceremony also saw the awarding of 37 Doctoral (PhD) degrees alongside 1,395 MBA degrees across full-time and executive programs. As these graduates enter a volatile global economy, they do so with the backing of an institution that is striving for triple-crown accreditation, a prestigious recognition held by only a handful of business schools worldwide.
The Path Forward
Chatterjee emphasized the importance of setting benchmarks for excellence. He stated, “If you don’t know where the goal is, how will you improve?” This philosophy has guided IIM Kozhikode’s strategic initiatives, enabling it to compete with some of the world’s most renowned institutions, including Oxford, Harvard, and Princeton.
Conclusion
The achievement of IIM Kozhikode in outranking Princeton in the QS World University Rankings is a significant milestone for Indian education. It showcases the potential of Indian institutes to compete on a global scale, particularly in business education. As IIM Kozhikode continues to evolve and adapt, it serves as a model for other institutions aiming for excellence in education.
Note: The information presented in this article is based on data available up to October 2023 and reflects the current trends in global education rankings.
