The objectives of study were: (1) To study the student’s level of expectations and satisfaction regarding: (i) study material, (ii) assignment, (iii) counseling sessions, (iv) library services, (v) faculty support, and (vi) conduct of examination. (2) To study the gap if any between students’ expectations and students’ satisfaction. (3) To study the level of students’ expectations and level of students’ satisfaction in relation to characteristics of students: (i) sex, (ii) socio-economic status, (iii) age, (iv) qualifications at the time of joining, and (v) academic background of the students.

The hypotheses of study were: (1) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students aged below 35 years and those aged above 35 years regarding study material. (2) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students aged below 35 years and those aged above 35 years regarding assignments. (3) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students aged below 35 years and those aged above 35 years regarding counseling sessions. (4) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students aged below 35 years and those aged above 35 years regarding library services. (5) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students aged below 35 years and those aged above 35 years regarding faculty support. (6) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students aged below 35 years and those aged above 35 years regarding conduct of examinations. (7) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having income below Rs. 10,000/- per month and those having income above Rs. 10,000/- per month regarding study material. (8) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having income below Rs. 10,000/- per month and those having income above Rs. 10,000/- per month regarding assignments. (9) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having income below Rs. 10,000/- per month and those having income above Rs. 10,000/- per month regarding counseling sessions. (10) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having income below Rs. 10,000/- per month and those having income above Rs. 10,000/- per month regarding library services. (11) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having income below Rs. 10,000/- per month and those having income above Rs. 10,000/- per month regarding faculty support. (12) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having income below Rs. 10,000/- per month and those having income above Rs. 10,000/- per month regarding conduct of examinations. (13) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having professional qualification and those having academic qualifications regarding study material. (14) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having professional qualification and those having academic qualifications regarding assignments. (15) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having professional qualification and those having academic qualifications regarding counseling sessions. (16) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having professional qualification and those having academic qualifications regarding library services. (17) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having professional qualification and those having academic qualifications regarding faculty support. (18) There is no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having professional qualification and those having academic qualifications regarding conduct of examinations. 

The sample comprised of 300 students of management courses from the three IGNOU study centers in Mumbai. The sample was randomly selected. 

The tools used for the study were: a five point scale for measuring students’ level of expectation and satisfaction, an opinionnaire to measure SES, bio-data, motivation, views of students about usefulness of management programs of IGNOU and suggestions by students. 

This was descriptive study.

The data was analyzed with the help of t-test. 

The findings of study were: (1) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students aged below 35 years and those aged above 35 years regarding study material. (2) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students aged below 35 years and those aged above 35 years regarding assignments. (3) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students aged below 35 years and those aged above 35 years regarding counseling sessions. (4) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students aged below 35 years and those aged above 35 years regarding library services. (5) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students aged below 35 years and those aged above 35 years regarding faculty support. (6) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students aged below 35 years and those aged above 35 years regarding conduct of examinations. (7) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having income below Rs. 10,000/- per month and those having income above Rs. 10,000/- per month regarding study material. (8) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having income below Rs. 10,000/- per month and those having income above Rs. 10,000/- per month regarding assignments. (9) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having income below Rs. 10,000/- per month and those having income above Rs. 10,000/- per month regarding counseling sessions. (10) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having income below Rs. 10,000/- per month and those having income above Rs. 10,000/- per month regarding library services. (11) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having income below Rs. 10,000/- per month and those having income above Rs. 10,000/- per month regarding faculty support. (12) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having income below Rs. 10,000/- per month and those having income above Rs. 10,000/- per month regarding conduct of examinations. (13) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having professional qualification and those having academic qualifications regarding study material. (14) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having professional qualification and those having academic qualifications regarding assignments. (15) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having professional qualification and those having academic qualifications regarding counseling sessions. (16) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having professional qualification and those having academic qualifications regarding library services. (17) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having professional qualification and those having academic qualifications regarding faculty support. (18) There was no significant difference between the satisfaction level of students having professional qualification and those having academic qualifications regarding conduct of examinations.