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    Family Sold Land for MBA, Paid Rs 18 Lakh Fees, Graduate Gets 28,000 Salary: Viral Post Sparks MBA ROI Debate
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    • Family Sold Land for MBA, Paid Rs 18 Lakh Fees, Graduate Gets 28,000 Salary: Viral Post Sparks MBA ROI Debate

    Family Sold Land for MBA, Paid Rs 18 Lakh Fees, Graduate Gets 28,000 Salary: Viral Post Sparks MBA ROI Debate

    #MBA
    Suvam MaitiUpdated on 16 Jul 2026, 12:58 AM IST

    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.
    Read More: IIM Admission 2026 Chaos: Delayed Results, Slow or No Waitlists | MBA at IIM is More than CAT. It Need.....

    Family Sold Land for MBA, Paid Rs 18 Lakh Fees, Graduate Gets 28,000 Salary: Viral Post Sparks MBA ROI Debate
    Family Sold Land for MBA, Paid Rs 18 Lakh Fees, Graduate Gets Rs 28,000 Salary: Viral Post Sparks MBA ROI Debate

    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.
    Read More: Are IIMs Still Affordable for the Middle class? | What Kind of Profile Gets IIM Calls?

    MBA ROI: What Netizens Have to Say

    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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    Screenshot%20from%202026-06-01%2018-22-48


    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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    MBA Fees vs Salary: IIM Fees rises almost 12%

    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


    Watch YouTube video on IIM Salary vs Fees


    Read More: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Becomes Subject of IIM Indore Study | An IIM Student Shares the Biggest Mistake MBA Aspirants Make

    IIM Median Salary Dropped by 0.32%

    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)

    IIM Amritsar

    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%

    IIM Bodh Gaya

    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%

    IIM Raipur

    20,00,000

    17,50,000

    18,40,000

    -1,60,000

    -8.00%


    14,36,000

    18,00,000

    25.35%

    IIM Udaipur

    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%

    IIM Vizag

    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%

    IIM Sambalpur

    16,00,000

    13,15,000

    15,02,692

    -97,308

    -6.08%

    13,08,000

    18,01,000

    21,01,000

    60.63%

    IIM Trichy

    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?

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