Management quota seats in reputed engineering colleges soar to 60 lakhs, is good education becoming out of reach for Indians?

Good education in India is a difficult and expensive process, often beyond the means of a family with humble finances. The rush to get into a reputed government college is a tough path to tread, and on the other hand, the alternatives of private colleges will burn a hole in the pockets.

An example of this can be seen in a private college in Bengaluru, which is reportedly charging Rs 64 lakhs for a Computer Science Engineering seat. The average fees in government colleges for the whole course range from Rs 2 Lakh to Rs 4 Lakh, however cracking the CET and securing such a seat requires expensive coaching investments.

College In Bengaluru

An autonomous private institute located in Bengaluru is offering management quota seats in Computer Science Engineering, for the second year running, for a whopping amount of Rs 64 lakhs.

However, these high fee structures in private colleges are not new. According to The Times of India reports, similar amounts were charged last year. The fees have risen this year in courses like Information Science, Artificial Intelligence, and Cyber Security from Rs 46 lakhs last year to Rs 50 Lakhs this year.

Other Colleges Not Behind 

Another well known college in Bengaluru charges Rs 11 Lakh for its computer science engineering seat under the management quota. The fee is hiked by Rs 1 lakh as compared to last year.

Ali Khwaja, founder-director of Banjara Academy, told Times Of India, “It is a herd mentality. People are obsessed with getting a degree in computer science. Parents think a child’s future is secure with a CS seat and are willing to pay such huge amounts. There is buying power even in rural areas now, with the real estate boom.” 

Parents in India have always been obsessed with engineering and MBBS. This is a known fact as they believe that it is the only stable career their children can pursue, which will bring them money and happiness. This has led to a rise in demand which in turn leads to hikes in fee prices of private institutes and higher competition in entrance exams for government colleges. 

The education system in India is bent towards the powerful. One who has money can provide for the coaching, crack the entrance to government colleges, or pay to get a seat in private colleges with ease. The people who are left behind are the poor and underprivileged who have to let go of their lands and savings to get their children educated in good colleges.

In Bengaluru’s top engineering colleges, the cost of securing a seat under the management quota has soared to Rs 64 lakh, marking a significant increase from previous years. This trend is prevalent across elite institutions, where fees have risen by approximately Rs 10 lakh compared to the previous academic year. Students opting for these seats must pay half of the total amount upfront in the first year, with the remainder spread over the next three years.

Despite the exorbitant fees, management quota seats, particularly in Computer Science and related streams, are in high demand and have been swiftly filled. Even core branches are experiencing similar demand despite their high fee structures. Experts attribute this surge in demand to the prestige associated with specific branches and brands among students and parents.

Sanjeev Kubkaddi, an academician, highlighted that affordability and preference for prestigious branches drive this trend. Vidyashankar S, Vice Chancellor of VTU, noted an increase in management quota seats this year due to relaxed intake regulations by AICTE. He mentioned that these seats cater primarily to affluent families, as education loans are not available for management quota admissions.

For a student coming from a humble background, recovering this money after getting a placement of, lets say 12 lakhs per annum, will take around 10 years, given the fact that you don’t use your entire salary towards paying off for that 64 lakh. However during those 10 years, the young engineer will be living hand to mouth due to such a large financial liability riding their back.

Putting that in FD will fetch you more money per month than the company you will be placed after completing your degree.

The cost of securing an MBBS seat in management quota is even higher and often leaves one poorer by a crore or more!