Patna emerges as Bihar's MBA education hub with four institutions in IIRF Rankings 2026

Lalit Narayan Mithila University's (LNMU) Department of Management Studies has secured the top position in Bihar in the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) MBA Rankings 2026 among management schools operating under state government universities.

The Darbhanga-based institution was ranked first in the state, followed by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University (BRABU), Muzaffarpur, at second place and Patna University's Department of Applied Economics and Commerce at third.

The latest rankings provide a snapshot of Bihar's public-sector management education landscape and highlight the growing geographical spread of MBA and management programmes across the state.

The rankings highlight the performance of management departments and business schools functioning within Bihar's public university ecosystem.

It provide a benchmark for students seeking MBA and management education opportunities within Bihar's state university system. They also offer institutions an opportunity to assess their standing in comparison with peer universities across the state.

Top three institutions retain prominence

LNMU's Department of Management Studies emerged as Bihar's highest-ranked institution in the category, reinforcing Darbhanga's position as an important higher education centre in north Bihar.

BRABU, one of Bihar's largest state universities, secured the second position, while Patna University, the state's oldest university, completed the top three through its Department of Applied Economics and Commerce.

Several universities from across the state featured in the top 10 list, reflecting the growing availability of management education beyond premier national institutes.

Bihar state government university MBA rankings 2026

As competition for management education intensifies, rankings such as IIRF are increasingly being used by students and parents as one of several factors while evaluating institutions, alongside faculty strength, infrastructure, industry exposure, placements and academic outcomes.

Leading institutions in the rankings

Lalit Narayan Mithila University's Department of Management Studies, which secured the top position in Bihar, is among the state's prominent public-sector management schools. Based in Darbhanga, the university serves students from north Bihar and offers management education through its dedicated department focused on business administration and management studies.

Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar Bihar University (BRABU), ranked second, is one of Bihar's largest state universities, with a network of affiliated colleges spread across the Tirhut region. The university has expanded its professional and management education offerings in recent years to cater to growing demand among students.

Patna University's Department of Applied Economics and Commerce, which secured the third position, is among the oldest centres for commerce and management-related studies in the state. Established under Bihar's oldest university, the department has long been associated with economics, commerce and business education.

Maulana Mazharul Haque Arabic & Persian University's Department of Management, ranked fourth, represents the university's efforts to diversify beyond its traditional academic focus and strengthen professional education programmes.

Tilka Manjhi Bhagalpur University's University Departments of Commerce, which completed the top five, continue to play a significant role in providing management and commerce education to students from eastern Bihar.

About IIRF

The Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) evaluates higher education institutions across multiple categories, including universities, engineering colleges, business schools, law institutions, medical colleges and undergraduate colleges. Rankings are based on parameters such as academic reputation, research performance, graduate outcomes, employability, industry engagement and institutional development.