u/Aptitude36O

I work closely with Class 11 and 12 students and their families in Chandigarh, and lately I've been seeing a pattern that concerns me a little.

IPMAT and IIM undergraduate programmes have become the new "hot thing" in Tricity education circles — the alternative to JEE and NEET that everyone is suddenly talking about. Coaching centres are filling up. Parents are excited. Students are stressed.

And I think before families in Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula commit serious money and two years of their child's life to this, someone needs to have an honest conversation about what we actually know — and what we don't.

First — what these programmes actually are

Five IIMs now offer undergraduate programmes that students can join directly after Class 12:

• IPMAT Indore → IIM Indore (5-year BBA + MBA, ~150 seats)
• IPMAT Rohtak → IIM Rohtak (5-year BBA + MBA, closest IIM to Chandigarh)
• JIPMAT → IIM Jammu + IIM Bodh Gaya (5-year BBA + MBA, one exam two IIMs)
• IIMB UGAT → IIM Bangalore (4-year BSc Degree Guide 2025 - What is BSc, BSc Courses & Online BSc Programs. in Economics or Data Science, 40 seats)
• IIMK BMS-AT → IIM Kozhikode (4-year BMS, 120 seats)

The pitch is simple: skip graduation, skip CAT, get an IIM degree at 22-23. On paper it sounds brilliant.

Now the honest part — what nobody is telling you

1. The fees are significant and often understated

Let's be direct about money because nobody else seems to be:

• IPMAT Indore: roughly Rs. 15-20 lakh for 5 years (tuition only, hostel extra)
• IPMAT Rohtak: Rs. 12-18 lakh for 5 years
• JIPMAT (IIM Jammu / Bodh Gaya): Rs. 10-15 lakh for 5 years
• IIMB UGAT: Rs. 8.5 lakh per year for the first two years — and the fee increases significantly in Years 3 and 4
• IIMK BMS-AT: Rs. 7 lakh per year, total roughly Rs. 28.5 lakh

Add hostel, mess, travel, and living expenses and you are looking at Rs. 20-35 lakh for most of these programmes over their full duration.

That is a serious financial commitment for any family in Chandigarh — and you deserve to make it with full information, not just excitement.

2. The ROI question is genuinely unanswered for most programmes

Here is the uncomfortable truth:

IIM Indore's IPM programme has been running since 2011 and has real placement data. Graduates are doing well. The ROI case for IIM Indore is reasonably established.

But IIM Rohtak's IPM only started in 2021. IIM Jammu and IIM Bodh Gaya are even newer. IIMB UGAT and IIMK BMS-AT launched in 2025 — their first batch hasn't even graduated yet.

We simply do not have enough placement data for most of these programmes to make confident ROI claims. Anyone telling you otherwise is guessing — or selling you something.

For a Rs. 20-30 lakh investment, "trust us, it'll be fine" is not good enough.

3. The 5-year commitment is longer than most families realise

Your child joins at 17-18. They graduate at 22-23. That is five continuous years at one institution, in one city, on one fixed academic path.

If your child changes their mind at Year 2 — decides they want to pursue law, or move abroad, or switch to engineering — the exit options are limited. IIM Rohtak offers a BMS exit after 3 years. Others may not.

Make sure your child is genuinely interested in management — not just looking for a prestigious name — before committing five years of their life.

4. Not all IIM names carry equal weight in the job market

Parents in Chandigarh often hear "IIM" and assume all IIMs are equal. They are not — especially for undergraduate programmes.

IIM Indore's IPM is well-regarded. IIM Rohtak is growing. IIM Jammu, IIM Bodh Gaya, IIM Kozhikode's UG programmes are too new for recruiters to have strong opinions about yet.

Your child's degree will say "IIM" — but what that means in a placement interview in 2029 or 2030 depends heavily on how these newer programmes develop between now and then.

So should Chandigarh families consider IPMAT at all?

Yes — but with eyes open. Here is a realistic framework:

✅ Worth seriously considering if:

• Your child is genuinely interested in business and management — not just escaping JEE pressure
• You can afford the fees without taking on crippling debt
• Your child is targeting IIM Indore specifically — the ROI case is stronger here
• Your child has strong academics and can realistically crack a highly competitive exam

⚠️ Think carefully if:

• The primary motivation is "IIM brand" without understanding what the degree actually leads to
• You are taking a large loan for a programme whose placement record is less than 3 years old
• Your child is not sure what they want — five years is a long time to be unsure
• You are choosing between this and a strong state university + CAT later — the latter path often costs less and ends at the same destination

A middle path worth considering

Many students from Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula do a strong BBA from a good college locally or in Delhi/Mumbai, prepare seriously for CAT, and end up at an IIM at 24-25 — often with a scholarship.

Total cost: significantly lower. Flexibility: much higher. Final destination: often the same or better IIM than the UG route would have given them.

This path is less glamorous. It doesn't come with a press release when your child gets in. But for many families in the Tricity, it may be the smarter financial and career decision.

I'm not saying don't do IPMAT. I'm saying — make the decision the right way. Ask hard questions. Look at actual placement data, not brochure claims. Talk to students currently in these programmes, not just to people selling coaching for them.

Your child's future deserves better than FOMO-driven decisions.

Happy to answer questions from Chandigarh parents in the comments — about any of these programmes, the exams, or the alternatives.

Amit Jaiswal

Co-founder (Aptitude360)