Child Education Planning Calculator India

Plan for your child's higher education cost with inflation

Full Planner →
Child's Current Age2 yrs
Education Start Age18 yrs
Education Cost Today₹20,00,000
Education Inflation8 %
Investment Return12 %
Current Savings (for child)₹0

Future Cost (age 18)

68.52 L

Monthly SIP Needed

11.9 K

Want a complete, year-by-year picture of your financial future?

This calculator answers one question. The full simulator models milestones, multiple assets, inflation, crypto, and your legacy in one plan.

Try the Full Cockroach Money Simulator →

How this calculator works

Education inflation in India is not the same as general inflation. While general inflation runs at 5–7%, the cost of quality higher education has been rising at 8–12% per year for the past decade. An IIT B.Tech that costs ₹10 lakh today could cost ₹32 lakh in 10 years at 12% education inflation. This calculator works in three steps: 1. Projects your current education cost forward at the education inflation rate to find the future cost 2. Subtracts any existing savings (already invested and growing at your investment return) 3. Calculates the monthly SIP required to accumulate the remaining gap by the time your child starts college Why education planning is different from other goals: the deadline is fixed. Unlike retirement, you cannot simply delay your child's education if markets underperform. Many financial planners suggest gradually shifting to lower-risk instruments (debt, fixed income) 2–3 years before the education date — consult a registered advisor for guidance specific to your situation. Recommended approach for Indian parents: • Ages 0–10: 80% equity funds (long horizon, high return potential) • Ages 10–15: 60% equity, 40% debt (begin reducing risk) • Ages 15–18: 30% equity, 70% debt (capital preservation mode) Best instruments: Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (for daughters), PPF, equity index funds via SIP, and in the final 2–3 years, liquid funds or short-duration debt funds.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does higher education cost in India?⌄

Costs vary widely. Government IITs/NITs: ₹8–12 lakh total. Private engineering colleges: ₹10–20 lakh. MBBS (private): ₹50–80 lakh. MBA (IIM): ₹22–35 lakh. International education (US/UK): ₹80 lakh–₹2 Crore. Always use your target institution to set your goal.

What education inflation rate should I use?⌄

Use 8–10% for domestic Indian institutions and 7–8% for international education (though currency depreciation adds risk). Education costs at premium Indian colleges have historically risen faster than general CPI inflation.

What is the best investment for child education in India?⌄

For a 10–15 year horizon: equity mutual funds (ELSS or flexi-cap index funds) are optimal. For daughters with a 10+ year horizon, Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana offers ~8% guaranteed tax-free returns. As the education date approaches, shift to debt.

Should I use child education insurance plans?⌄

Traditional child insurance-cum-investment plans typically offer poor returns (4–6%) and lock up money with high surrender charges. Separate your insurance (pure term plan) from your investments (mutual funds) for significantly better outcomes.

Can I use EPF or PPF for child education?⌄

PPF allows partial withdrawal after the 7th year for education purposes. EPF can be withdrawn for education of children who have passed matriculation. Both can be useful supplements, but returns are modest compared to long-term equity.