Behind the MBA Salary Hype: Redditor Reveals the Financial Struggles of Graduates
New Delhi | May 5, 2025 — A viral Reddit post is stirring debate around the real value of MBA degrees in India, challenging the glossy placement reports and high salary figures that often dominate LinkedIn and B-school brochures. Titled “Making broke adults,” the post has gone viral for its brutally honest take on the financial reality many recent MBA graduates face—especially those from newer Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
The Illusion of the 25 LPA Dream
The anonymous Redditor, who claims to be an IIM graduate, begins by mocking the common belief that cracking a top B-school guarantees a life of comfort and luxury. “Oh, you thought getting into the top 10% of your batch at a new IIM meant you were set for life? Let me pop that dream bubble with my EMI-ridden, Uber pool-sharing, maggi-for-dinner reality,” the post reads.
The user outlines how headline-grabbing Cost-to-Company (CTC) figures often disguise the far lower in-hand salaries. For instance:
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Amazon Account Manager – ₹32 LPA CTC: In-hand salary ~₹75,000/month
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Startup offering ₹35 LPA: Majority in stock options that may never materialize
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BCG – ₹19 LPA: In-hand ~₹85,000/month for back-office roles
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JP Morgan Analyst – ₹19 LPA: After deductions, ~₹90,000/month
The EMI Trap and Urban Living Costs
According to the post, the problem isn’t just the take-home salary—it’s also the burden of education loans. Many MBAs graduate with loans that require monthly EMIs of ₹25,000 or more. Combine that with urban living expenses in Tier-1 cities like Mumbai or Bangalore, and the financial squeeze becomes painfully real.
“Rent: ₹30K/month (if you enjoy wall-sharing with cockroaches). Utilities, internet, groceries, Swiggy guilt orders: ₹15K – ₹20K/month. Social life? Sorry, that’s been repossessed by your loan provider,” the post jokes.
Beyond the Numbers
While elite institutions like IIM Ahmedabad or ISB Hyderabad might offer more robust packages and global placements, the Redditor highlights that the gap between CTC and reality is especially wide in second-tier or newer B-schools.