Online degree fees in India: the full cost

Online degree fees in India are usually a fraction of a full-time on-campus programme’s cost, but “usually a fraction” is not a number you can budget against. This article explains what makes up an online degree’s total cost, the fees for some well-known programmes, and the questions to ask before you commit, so you compare real totals rather than headline fees.

What makes up the total cost, not just the headline fee

• Tuition fee, usually charged per semester across the duration of the programme.
• Registration or admission fee, a one-time charge at enrolment.
• Examination fee, sometimes included in tuition, sometimes charged separately each semester.
• Study material and portal access, which may be included or charged extra depending on the university.
• Project or dissertation fee, relevant for final-semester project submissions in some programmes.

Ask for a single document that lists every one of these separately before you enrol. A quoted “starting fee” that leaves out exam and project charges can make the course look noticeably cheaper than it is.

What fees have looked like for some known online MBA programmes

Fees change by intake and vary by specialisation. The figures below are the indicative totals we publish on our comparison pages, taken from public university sources. Always confirm the current figure with the university before you pay.

University	Online MBA total (2 years)
Mangalayatan University	≈ ₹67,000
Uttaranchal University (with 30% early-bird scholarship)	≈ ₹94,000
GLA University, Mathura	≈ ₹1,03,000
Sikkim Manipal University	≈ ₹1,08,000
Manipal University Jaipur	≈ ₹1,56,400
NMIMS	≈ ₹2,20,000
Amity University	≈ ₹2,25,000
Symbiosis (SSODL)	≈ ₹3,70,000

The range from about ₹67,000 to ₹3,70,000 comes from the university’s name, learning platform and support, not from the legal validity of the degree, which is the same at every UGC-DEB entitled university above. Keep this in mind if a counsellor steers you toward a pricier option without a clear reason linked to your goals.

EMI and instalment options

Most UGC-DEB entitled universities let you pay semester by semester, and several work with EMI providers to split the fee further. Before choosing an EMI plan, check two things: whether the EMI provider charges processing fees or interest on top of the university’s semester payments, and what the university’s refund policy is if you withdraw after paying an instalment.

Fees for other online degrees, in general terms

Undergraduate online programmes such as BBA, B.Com and BCA at UGC-DEB entitled universities usually cost less per year than online MBA or MCA programmes at the same universities. Because the exact figures change often and vary by university, get the current fee schedule from each university on your shortlist rather than relying on any comparison article, including this one, for your final decision.

Comparing online fees against full-time, on-campus programmes

Online degrees usually cost well below the full-time, on-campus version of the same degree at the same or a similar university, mainly because there is no hostel or campus cost and batches are larger. This makes them affordable for working professionals who cannot take a career break, and it does not reduce the degree’s formal validity: a UGC-DEB entitled online degree has the same equivalence as the on-campus version, as covered in our guide to employer acceptance of online degrees.

Questions to ask before you pay anything

1. Is this exact programme UGC-DEB entitled for the session I am joining? Verify at deb.ugc.ac.in yourself.
2. What is the complete fee breakdown, including exam and project fees, not just the headline tuition figure?
3. Do fees or content differ between specialisations, and which one matches my career goal?
4. What is the refund policy if I withdraw after the first instalment?
5. Are there any charges from a third-party EMI provider beyond the university’s own instalment plan?

The bottom line

Online degrees cost less than their on-campus equivalents, but the only way to know your real total cost is a full written fee breakdown from the university, checked against your specialisation and payment plan, not a headline number from an advert or a counsellor’s first call.

Written by the Gradonline team · Updated October 2026

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