Harvard MBA vs IIM Ahmedabad: A viral video breaks down cost, salary packages, and internship after the course

How different is an MBA from India’s top business school and the world’s most famous one? A viral video featuring Harvard MBA graduate Abhijay Arora and content creator Kushal Lodha answers that question by putting Harvard Business School and IIM Ahmedabad side by side. The discussion covers fees, salaries, internships and career paths, and has sparked wide interest online among MBA aspirants.

Abhijay Arora, who studied at Harvard Business School and now works at Google, shared his views while comparing his alma mater with IIM Ahmedabad in a conversation that is gaining traction on social media.

IIM-A vs Harvard Business School

The Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad is widely seen as India’s top business school and one of its oldest. Founded in 1961, it is often called the Harvard Business School of India.

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A post shared by Abhijay Arora Vuyyuru | Study Abroad | Careers | AI (@abhijayarora_)

Over the years, IIM Ahmedabad has produced well-known alumni such as Raghuram Rajan, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, Falguni Nayar and KV Kamath.

Harvard Business School in the US, meanwhile, regularly ranks among the best business schools in the world, usually competing for the top spot with Stanford and Wharton. Its alumni list includes names like Ray Dalio, Rahul Bajaj, Jamie Dimon and Anand Mahinda.

Fees, salaries and internships

One of the biggest differences discussed in the video is the cost of the degree. According to Arora, an MBA from Harvard Business School costs around $200,000, which is roughly ₹1.8 crore. In comparison, an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad costs about ₹25 lakh.

The gap continues when it comes to average salaries after graduation. IIM Ahmedabad graduates earn an average package of about ₹34 lakh. At Harvard Business School, the average pay package is around $250,000, or nearly ₹2.25 crore.

Internship pay also shows a sharp contrast. At IIM Ahmedabad, internship stipends usually range between ₹2 lakh and ₹3 lakh, depending on the company. In the US, a Harvard Business School intern can earn about $10,000, which comes to roughly ₹9 lakh.

What looks similar on both sides

Despite the differences in fees and pay, there are similarities too. The MBA programmes at both IIM Ahmedabad and Harvard Business School run for two years.

Career options after graduation also overlap. Students from both institutes often move into roles in private equity, venture capital, product management and human resources.

The video continues to draw attention online, with thousands of comments from viewers curious about what it takes to study at Harvard and how it compares with India’s most prestigious management institute.

(Disclaimer: This article is based on a user-generated post on Reddit. ET.com has not independently verified the claims made in the post and does not vouch for their accuracy. The views expressed are those of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of ET.com. Reader discretion is advised.)