- SMU Online
- Gangtok, Sikkim
- YCMOU
- Nashik, Maharashtra
- SMU Online rating
- undefined/5
- YCMOU rating
- undefined/5
- Shared programmes
- 2
- Both UGC-entitled
- Yes
SMU Online or YCMOU? The short answer
Cheaper: YCMOU — ₹39,036 against ₹75,000 — ₹35,964 less across the full programme. Better recognised: SMU Online (UGC-DEB Entitled — online degrees equivalent to on-campus courses, NAAC Sikkim Manipal University accredited A+, AICTE Select professional and management programmes recognised). Pick YCMOU if cost decides it; pick SMU Online if the approval stack and career support matter more.
- Cheaper
- YCMOU
- ₹39,036 against ₹75,000 — ₹35,964 less across the full programme.
- Better recognised
- SMU Online
- UGC-DEB Entitled — online degrees equivalent to on-campus courses, NAAC Sikkim Manipal University accredited A+, AICTE Select professional and management programmes recognised
Reviewed 1 October 2026. Figures are taken from the universities' own published material.
Which one suits you, by learner type
| You are | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| On a tight budget | YCMOU | Lowest published cost of ownership: ₹39,036 against ₹75,000 — ₹35,964 less across the full programme. |
| Working professional | YCMOU | 4 specialisations against 3 — more room to match the programme to the job you already do. |
| Fresher, first degree | SMU Online | Strongest approval stack on this page: UGC-DEB Entitled — online degrees equivalent to on-campus courses, NAAC Sikkim Manipal University accredited A+, AICTE Select professional and management programmes recognised. That is what a first employer checks. |
| Government-job aspirant | YCMOU | YCMOU is a state/open university with UGC Recognised under Section 12(B) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956, UGC-DEB YCMOU has published a UGC-DEB programme recognition application for the 2026–27 August session; programme-level recognition should be verified for the specific programme and session, NAAC Accredited 'A' Grade by NAAC in its first cycle in 2022 — the paperwork recruitment boards ask for is straightforward. |
| Wants placement support | Ask both | Neither publishes cohort placement data for online learners. Career assistance is not a placement guarantee — ask for the last session's numbers in writing. |
What you actually pay — BA
Tuition is only part of it. This is the full published outgo, including registration and examination fees.
| Cost head | SMU Online | YCMOU |
|---|---|---|
| Programme / tuition fee | ₹75,000 | ₹39,036 |
| Registration fee | Not published by the university | Not published by the university |
| Examination fee | Not published by the university | Not published by the university |
| No-cost EMI from | No EMI plan published | No EMI plan published |
| Total outgo on published figures | ₹75,000 | ₹39,036 |
What is still missing
- SMU Online does not publish its registration fee, examination fee for this programme.
- YCMOU does not publish its registration fee, examination fee for this programme.
We publish the gap rather than an estimate. Ask the admission desk for it in writing before you pay.
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Side-by-side comparison
| Parameter | SMU Online | YCMOU |
|---|---|---|
| Established | — | 1989 |
| Location | Gangtok, Sikkim | Nashik, Maharashtra |
| Approvals | UGC-DEB Entitled — online degrees equivalent to on-campus courses · NAAC Sikkim Manipal University accredited A+ · AICTE Select professional and management programmes recognised · WES Evaluated by World Education Services | UGC Recognised under Section 12(B) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 · UGC-DEB YCMOU has published a UGC-DEB programme recognition application for the 2026–27 August session; programme-level recognition should be verified for the specific programme and session · NAAC Accredited 'A' Grade by NAAC in its first cycle in 2022 · Accreditation Recognised under Section 12(B) UGC Act, 1956; NAAC 'A' Grade (2022); Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada Award of Excellence for Institutional Achievement (2002) and Award of Institutional Excellence (2019); MBA programme also lists AICTE among recognitions |
| Fee band | ₹75,000 – ₹1,20,000 | ₹39,036 – ₹75,300 |
| Programmes tracked | 9 | 5 |
| Learner rating | undefined/5 (undefined reviews) | undefined/5 (undefined reviews) |
| Type | ||
| Key strength | UGC-entitled online degrees | Recognised under Section 12(B) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 |
| Parameter | SMU Online | YCMOU |
|---|---|---|
| Established | — | 1989 |
| Location | Gangtok, Sikkim | Nashik, Maharashtra |
| Approvals | UGC-DEB Entitled — online degrees equivalent to on-campus courses · NAAC Sikkim Manipal University accredited A+ · AICTE Select professional and management programmes recognised · WES Evaluated by World Education Services | UGC Recognised under Section 12(B) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 · UGC-DEB YCMOU has published a UGC-DEB programme recognition application for the 2026–27 August session; programme-level recognition should be verified for the specific programme and session · NAAC Accredited 'A' Grade by NAAC in its first cycle in 2022 · Accreditation Recognised under Section 12(B) UGC Act, 1956; NAAC 'A' Grade (2022); Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada Award of Excellence for Institutional Achievement (2002) and Award of Institutional Excellence (2019); MBA programme also lists AICTE among recognitions |
| Fee band | ₹75,000 – ₹1,20,000 | ₹39,036 – ₹75,300 |
| Programmes tracked | 9 | 5 |
| Learner rating | undefined/5 (undefined reviews) | undefined/5 (undefined reviews) |
| Type | ||
| Key strength | UGC-entitled online degrees | Recognised under Section 12(B) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 |
Fee comparison
| Programme | SMU Online | YCMOU |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Computer Applications (MCA) | ₹75,000 – ₹1,20,000 | ₹39,036 – ₹75,300 |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | ₹75,000 – ₹1,20,000 | ₹39,036 – ₹75,300 |
| Programme | SMU Online | YCMOU |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Computer Applications (MCA) | ₹75,000 – ₹1,20,000 | ₹39,036 – ₹75,300 |
| Master of Business Administration (MBA) | ₹75,000 – ₹1,20,000 | ₹39,036 – ₹75,300 |
Common programmes
Strengths and trade-offs
SMU Online
Strengths
Things to weigh
YCMOU
Strengths
Things to weigh
Which should you choose
Choose SMU Online if you want ugc-entitled online degrees.
Choose YCMOU if you want recognised under section 12(b) of the university grants commission act, 1956.
References
Frequently asked questions
SMU Online stands out for ugc-entitled online degrees, while YCMOU leads on recognised under section 12(b) of the university grants commission act, 1956. Both are UGC-entitled, so the decision comes down to fee, specialisation depth and delivery style.
SMU Online sits in the ₹75,000 – ₹1,20,000 band and YCMOU in the ₹39,036 – ₹75,300 band for a full programme.
Yes. SMU Online holds UGC-DEB Entitled — online degrees equivalent to on-campus courses · NAAC Sikkim Manipal University accredited A+ · AICTE Select professional and management programmes recognised · WES Evaluated by World Education Services and YCMOU holds UGC Recognised under Section 12(B) of the University Grants Commission Act, 1956 · UGC-DEB YCMOU has published a UGC-DEB programme recognition application for the 2026–27 August session; programme-level recognition should be verified for the specific programme and session · NAAC Accredited 'A' Grade by NAAC in its first cycle in 2022 · Accreditation Recognised under Section 12(B) UGC Act, 1956; NAAC 'A' Grade (2022); Commonwealth of Learning (COL), Canada Award of Excellence for Institutional Achievement (2002) and Award of Institutional Excellence (2019); MBA programme also lists AICTE among recognitions, so both awards are treated on par with regular degrees.
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