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Once again a viral social media post has reignited the debate questioning the value and worth of an MBA and the significant difference between MBA fees and MBA placement 2026. The discussion began after an X user shared the story of how a family reportedly spent nearly Rs 18 lakh as MBA fees for their son but in return he is earning barely Rs 28,000 and even struggling to pay the rent in a different city. According to the post, in order to pay the MBA fees 2026, the parents had to sell land, take loans, and make major financial sacrifices after being promised strong placements and a successful corporate career by the college. This X user says, “Education in India has become a business where parents invest like it’s a startup and still end up in loss.” This has increasingly become the dark reality of MBA in India, where students gamble their life savings, quit stable jobs, and take loans for an MBA, only to be placed at such lower salaries or remain unplaced—even at the nation's most reputed colleges.
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This story about MBA ROI quickly gained traction online, with many users sharing similar experiences. Several people claimed that their families have to exhaust savings, fixed deposits, and retirement funds to finance private college education, only to see MBA graduates earning less MBA salary, entering low-paying jobs that made it difficult to recover the investment. The conversation soon expanded beyond one student's experience and turned into a broader discussion about the rising fees of MBA and the MBA fees vs salary as well as cost of professional degrees.
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Many users criticized what they described as the commercialization of MBA education, arguing that some private MBA institutions market attractive MBA placement promises without delivering equivalent career outcomes. On the other hand, others, rather than putting blame on the MBA institutions, pointed out that families often make MBA admission decisions based on social prestige and peer pressure rather than carefully evaluating placement records and long-term career prospects.
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One such user highlighted how their friend's family spent fixed deposits and withdrew savings from their PPF account to finance a private college education worth Rs 15th lakhs in 2019. They also highlighted that despite graduating years ago, that particular student earns only Rs. 22 thousand per month and is financially stretched when their family exhausted the major funds.
At the same time, some commenters argued that the issue is more complex than simply blaming colleges. They highlighted the changing job market, increasing competition, and the fact that a degree alone no longer guarantees financial success. Several users noted that practical skills, industry exposure, and the reputation of the institution play a major role in determining career outcomes.
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In a recent study by Careers 360, the sharp contrast between IIM Fees and the placements is evident. A comparison of data from the 2024-25 ranking cycle with that of 2022-23 show that while the cost of MBA from IIM has risen sharply, real incomes have shrunk. Across 17 IIMs, where data is available, the average IIM fee has increased almost 12% in 2024-25 compared to 2022-23. And over the same period, the median IIM salary has decreased by 0.32 %
17 IIMs | 2022-23 | 2023-24 | 2024-25 | Difference | % Difference |
Avg Median Salary (in Rs) | 21,36,191 | 20,69,588 | 21,29,364 | - 6,827 | - 0.32 |
Avg Tuition Fees | 17,90,600 | 18,65,882 | 20,04,941 | + 2,14,341 | + 11.97 |
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The below table shows drops in IIM median salaries, coupled with aggressive fee hikes in several new-generation IIMs but most notably at IIM Sambhalpur and IIM Amritsar.
IIM Fees vs IIM Average Packages | |||||||||
Institute Name | Median Salary 2022-23 | Median Salary 2023-24 | Median Salary 2024-25 | Salary Diff (2022-23) v/s (2024-25) | Salary % Diff (2022-23) v/s (2024-25) | MBA Fees 2022–24 | MBA Fees 2023–25 | MBA Fees 2024–26 | Fees Diff (2022–24) vs (2024–26) |
15,94,000 | 15,60,000 | 12,29,000 | -3,65,000 | -22.90% | 15,20,000 | 16,50,000 | 18,10,000 | 19.08% | |
15,50,000 | 13,00,001 | 12,12,000 | -3,38,000 | -21.81% | 17,97,000 | 16,28,000 | 17,97,000 | 0.00% | |
20,00,000 | 17,50,000 | 18,40,000 | -1,60,000 | -8.00% | 14,36,000 | 18,00,000 | 25.35% | ||
18,53,244 | 18,00,000 | 17,09,802 | -1,43,442 | -7.74% | 17,30,000 | 18,50,000 | 19,26,000 | 11.33% | |
16,00,000 | 15,50,000 | 15,00,000 | -1,00,000 | -6.25% | 15,04,000 | 16,50,000 | 17,82,000 | 18.48% | |
16,00,000 | 13,15,000 | 15,02,692 | -97,308 | -6.08% | 13,08,000 | 18,01,000 | 21,01,000 | 60.63% | |
18,60,000 | 18,10,000 | 18,00,000 | -60,000 | -3.23% | 16,50,000 | 19,50,000 | 19,50,000 | 18.18% | |
Read More: MBA Scholarships in India 2026 (Updated)
The viral discussion has once again raised important questions for students, parents, and even MBA colleges of this country: Is investing lakhs in a MBA degree still worth it, or should educational decisions be based more on career outcomes and return on investment rather than brand promises alone? Shouldn’t MBA programs focus on building new-age, high-paying skills instead of inventing hidden fee charges that increase the degree cost without adding any real value?
On Question asked by student community
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