The cost of overseas education has reached unprecedented levels, with foreign degrees now costing Indian families up to ₹1 crore, according to latest reports from Mint. This dramatic increase is driven by a weaker rupee that has lost nearly 73% of its value against the US dollar since 1991, as noted by Saurabh Mukherjea from Marcellus Investment Managers. Even accounting for tuition fee increases of around 4% annually over 25 years, the total cost has increased nearly eightfold. Despite these financial challenges, 90% of Indian parents still aspire to send their children abroad for higher studies, as revealed in an HSBC survey. The reality is that even parents who have diligently saved for years may find their education corpus falling short of these soaring costs.
A 22-year-old social media user identified as Ekta has generated significant online discussion after explaining her decision to take a ₹40 lakh loan at age 20 to pursue a Master's degree from INSEAD, one of the world's top business schools. According to reports from Mint, Ekta's Instagram reel has been viewed over 47,700 times and gained 1,224 likes since its posting. The video has sparked debate among netizens about the practicality and return on investment of such an expensive educational loan, particularly as the true cost of overseas education has become clearer with current market realities.
Ekta's argument centers on the intangible benefits of her educational investment, claiming that her ₹40 lakh loan has yielded returns beyond financial metrics. As reported by Mint, she highlighted having friends in 33 different countries, access to an alumni network of more than 20,000 people across major global companies, and experiences at age 22 that no 40-year-old would typically have. She emphasized that "your network is genuinely your net worth," suggesting that traditional ROI calculations should include these non-monetary benefits when evaluating educational investments. These benefits become particularly valuable in the current market where tighter visa rules are impacting students, forcing many to service their debt with lower income from jobs in India.
The social media response has been mixed, with some users expressing pride and agreement with Ekta's perspective. According to Mint, comments included "So proud of you" and "Absolutely correct Ekta." However, many netizens raised practical concerns about loan repayment and the quantification of non-monetary benefits. One user questioned how Ekta would pay EMI from 33 different countries, while another asked about her qualifications given that INSEAD typically requires 5-7 years of work experience for MBA programs. The debate has intensified as the true costs of overseas education have become clearer, with experts noting that every rupee prepaid is a guaranteed, risk-free return equal to your loan rate.
The discussion has highlighted broader questions about educational investment strategies and return calculations. As reported by Mint, Ekta's approach challenges traditional ROI methodologies by emphasizing that "if you graduate from a good university then you will pay it back because you will have opportunities that come with it." The debate reflects ongoing discussions about whether intangible benefits like network connections and professional opportunities should be factored into educational investment decisions, particularly for expensive international programs. With current market realities showing that foreign degrees can cost nearly four times more than in the early 1990s, these investment philosophies are being tested against practical financial realities.
