Education loan instead?

Loan covers a gap; interest still accrues. Model EMI separately if you expect to borrow.

Should I use 12% for a goal that is 5 years away?

Usually no. Short horizons need a lower assumed return or more debt/SSY/PPF. The 12% column is for long, equity-like illustrations.

What if I also have Sukanya?

Subtract the SSY projected value (notified rate, quarterly) from the inflated education target, then SIP the gap.

Abroad vs India — same table?

No. Replace ₹50 lakh with a USD/INR inflated estimate. Currency is another risk this table does not model.

Is PPF better than SIP for education?

PPF lock-in and cap may not match a 12-year overseas fee. Mix products; see SIP vs FD vs PPF vs NPS.

Finance question

How much should I invest monthly for my child's education?

Last updated 2026-09-17

Quick answer

Pick a target in today’s rupees, inflate it to the admission year, then solve for SIP. If today’s private engineering-plus-living cost feels like ₹25 lakh and the child is 8 (10 years out) at 7% education inflation, the future target is higher than ₹25 lakh — then use sip-for-target maths at a conservative assumed return. Sukanya is a notified-rate bucket for a girl child, not a substitute for the whole corpus.

Calculate your numbers

Tables below use stated assumptions. Change rate, tenure or income in the calculator for your case.

Open SIP

Inflate the fee, then SIP the gap

Education costs often outrun headline CPI. Use the inflation calculator with a dedicated rate (many planners try 7–8% for fees — that is an assumption). Then the SIP calculator (or the ₹1 crore method) funds the inflated number.

Formula

Future cost = today’s cost × (1 + education inflation)^years. SIP = sipRequiredForTarget(future cost, assumed return, years).

Example scenarios

SIP to fund a ₹50 lakh future corpus (modelled) — not a fee quote

Years left	SIP at 10% assumed	SIP at 12% assumed
8	₹33,921	₹30,955
10	₹24,207	₹21,520
12	₹17,938	₹15,516
15	₹11,964	₹9,909
18	₹8,257	₹6,532

₹50 lakh is an illustration. Replace with your inflated target.

What changes the answer

Years to admission
Domestic vs abroad
Sukanya eligibility
Whether PPF/SSY already exists

Things to consider

Do not put the last 3 years of fees only in equity.
Q2 FY 2026-27 (1 Jul – 30 Sep 2026): SSY notified rate 8.2% (editable in the SSY tool).

Target ₹50 lakh already in future rupees in the table.
SIP returns not guaranteed.

Results are educational estimates, not tax, legal, investment, or medical advice, and not a loan offer. Verify filings and payments with the official authority or a qualified professional.

FAQs

SSY has deposit caps and eligibility rules. It can be a core, not always the whole education number.

Related calculators

SIPFree online SIP calculator for India — project mutual fund corpus from monthly investments with assumed annual returns.InflationSee what today’s rupees become in future money, and the real return after inflation.Sukanya SamriddhiProject SSY corpus using the notified small-savings rate for Q2 FY 2026-27 (8.2%, editable).PPFFree PPF calculator for India — project Public Provident Fund corpus over 15+ years with current interest assumptions.

Related guides

SIP calculator explained: compounding, expected returns, and corpus math