A viral video featuring Abhijay Arora, a Harvard Business School MBA graduate now at Google, has ignited debates on the true value of top MBAs. Arora, who was accepted into IIM Ahmedabad in 2020 but chose to pursue Harvard in 2022, teamed up with content creator Kushal Lodha to compare the two elite institutions across key factors like fees, post-graduation pay, and internship stipends.

The starkest contrast lies in program costs. Harvard’s two-year MBA demands around $200,000 (approximately ₹1.8 crore), covering tuition and related expenses, while IIM Ahmedabad’s flagship PGP (equivalent to MBA) costs roughly ₹25-27 lakh for recent batches. This makes IIM-A far more affordable for Indian students, offering strong ROI in the domestic market despite lower absolute fees.

Salary outcomes highlight global versus local realities. Harvard graduates command an average starting salary of about $175,000–$184,500 (₹1.5–1.6 crore+), often boosted by signing bonuses ($30,000+) and performance incentives. In contrast, IIM Ahmedabad’s latest placements show an average/mean package of ₹34–35.5 lakh, with medians around ₹34.6 lakh and top offers exceeding ₹1 crore. Internship stipends follow suit: Harvard offers around $10,000 (₹9 lakh), while IIM-A provides ₹2–3 lakh depending on the firm.

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Both programs span two years and open doors to similar high-impact fields like consulting, private equity, venture capital, product management, and tech roles. Arora’s journey underscores that while Harvard provides unparalleled global networks and higher earning potential abroad, IIM-A delivers exceptional value for careers rooted in India or emerging markets. The video has prompted online discussions on admission challenges, purchasing power parity, and whether prestige justifies the cost gap.

As aspirants weigh options, the comparison reveals no clear “winner”—it depends on career goals, location preferences, and financial strategy. With rising interest in international education, such breakdowns help demystify the choices between India’s premier B-school and the world’s iconic one.

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