With Kozhikode having completed its 20th year and psychologically establishing itself as one of the older IIMs, placements in finance have been better this year. Some of the big brands that visited IIM K but not JBIMS include Credit Suisse, Bank of America Continuum, Deutsche IBD, Deutsche GTB, and a few others. While some companies, such as India Bulls, visit JB every year due to its proximity, the placement season at K saw many new and prominent first-time recruiters, such as CS, BoFA, IDFC, and others. The only big name missing from K's portfolio is Standard Chartered, which happens to be a regular recruiter at JB.

Overall, K is shifting toward a more balanced finance portfolio, with DB, GS, and JPMC providing middle office IBD roles, DB, Axis, ICICI, Yes Bank, Citi Bank, IDFC, Edelweiss, and Indus Ind providing corporate banking/treasury roles, and SBI Caps and Entrust providing front end IBD/asset management.

DMS and IIM Shillong are nowhere near the level of IIFT, Delhi. A more accurate comparison for IIFT would be with MDI, SP Jain, or IMT.

IIM Shillong will be more valuable only to those who are oblivious to the IIM label. The college's remote location and unusual selection criteria are significant impediments to its growth. DMS, on the other hand, has an advantage due to the fees, but it is still not in the same league. A more level playing field would be with SJMSOM and IIT Bombay.

So, if you want the IIM tag, go with IIM Shillong, but keep in mind that with new IIMs opening every year, that tag is becoming diluted, and go with DMS only if fees are a major criterion. Just in terms of brand value, IIFT is far superior to either of them, with its 50-year heritage, strong alumni, central location, and strong differentiation.

If you're interested in PGP HRM, IIM Shillong is the best option in India in terms of placements. The average placement at MDI Gurgaon this year was INR 23.80 LPA, with a median package of INR 23.50 LPA and the highest package of INR 35.57 LPA. Top recruiters included Asian Paints, Infoedge India Limited, Axis Bank, Microsoft, Godrej, KPMG, HCL, Deloitte, Samsung, Google, Amazon, and Atlassian.

At NMIMS, Mumbai, the MBA HR program had an average salary of INR 19.40 L, with more than 180 companies participating. The highest salary this year was INR 57.65 L for the MBA Core program and INR 29.09 L for the HR cohort. Notable recruiters included EXL Acumen, J&J Quest, M&MI Rise for Good, PVMI - Make a dent, Reliance T.U.P, Godrej Loud, and more. IIM Shillong's 2022 placements drive saw 100% of students placed for the PGP 2020-22 batch. The highest package for IIM Shillong placements in 2022 was INR 55.22 LPA, while the average package offered was INR 23.10 LPA. PGP HR saw participation from companies like Bosch, D.E. Shaw, HSBC Bank, Mahindra Logistics, Paytm, and Titan, which offered prominent roles in various sectors.

IIM Shillong has a smaller batch size compared to NMIMS Mumbai and MDI Gurgaon. MDI Gurgaon and NMIMS have stronger industry and alumni connections compared to IIM Shillong, and they also benefit from their location. IIM Shillong has a strong brand value, but other than that, MDI Gurgaon is the best choice for MBA in HRM, followed by XLRI, IIM Ranchi, SCMHRD, and IMI Delhi.

MDI will be a better option for all specializations, except Operations. If you are interested in Operations, IIT Bombay is much better. MDI Gurgaon placements are excellent. Big names such as Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and BCG have visited the campus placements. The 2022 placement drive had an average CTC of INR 26.65 LPA. 

MDI offers the best placement in the finance domain after IIM A, B, C, FMS, and XLRI. JP, HSBC, Nomura, Stanchart, etc. are some of the major recruiters from the finance sector. 

MDI placement records for Marketing are good as well. HUL, Coke, Pepsi, and P&G are some significant recruiters from the marketing sector. 

IITs are known for having smaller batch sizes. However, the finance placements at IIT Delhi may be subdued due to the institute's focus on operations and technology. It is worth noting that both IIT Delhi and IIM Shillong have competitive placements and have not yet grown their batches to the point where this becomes a concern. IIM Shillong has strong finance placements, including ICICI Bank, which is a well-regarded employer for MBA graduates.

It is difficult to compare the two institutes as they both have their own strengths and advantages. IIT Delhi has a long history and its DMS programs are well-established in the industry. If a student is considering IIT Delhi and has concerns about the college's focus on investment banking, it is important to note that this career path is not heavily dependent on starting placements and individuals can be self-reliant in building their careers. IIT Delhi is likely to continue growing and expanding in the future, and IIM Shillong is well-positioned among the newer IIMs in RRRTUCS. It will also continue to build its research and faculty strength, particularly after it gets a new campus.

Location is a factor to consider when choosing between the two institutes. IIT Delhi is located in urban New Delhi, which may be an advantage for some students. However, it is worth noting that the lack of investment in MBA programs at IITs, including Delhi, could become a problem in the long term as the field requires significant expenses in faculty, coursework, and programs to remain competitive. Currently, IIT Delhi is ahead of the newer IIMs, particularly if a student is interested in a consulting placement straight out of school.

To compare two business schools objectively, it is important to consider more than just the numbers in placement reports. In addition to looking at the average CTC, it is also helpful to consider the median salary to get a better understanding of the context. It is possible that the average CTC may be significantly influenced by international offers or a small percentage of the batch securing high-paying jobs. When comparing the maximum and average packages offered, it is important to keep in mind that institutes often include international offers in these calculations.

In addition to the number of roles offered, it is important to consider the quality of the recruiters and brands. It may be helpful to look at the LinkedIn profiles of alumni to get a better understanding of the roles and companies that have been recruited from the school. It is also important to note that the same companies may be listed in the placement reports of different schools, but that does not necessarily mean that the roles and packages offered are the same.

Finally, it is important to remember that a business school education is about more than just placements, and what a student makes of their MBA experience is also important.