Degrees Do Matter? IIM Intern’s ₹7 Lakh Summer Gig Shakes the Internet
<strong>Entrepreneur Sakshi Jain’s viral post reignites conversation around elite degrees, opportunity gaps, and the real worth of educational credentials in India.</strong>
22 April 2025, New Delhi
A Mumbai-based entrepreneur’s social media post about her friend’s high-paying internship has gone viral, reigniting conversations around the value of prestigious degrees in today’s job market. Sakshi Jain, the owner of a marketing agency, announced on LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter) that her friend, a student at IIM Calcutta, is earning ₹3.5 lakh per month for her summer internship in Mumbai.
“Earning ₹3.5 lakh/month in an internship? “Yes, my jaw also dropped.” Jain stated in her post. Reflecting on the often-repeated online sentiment that “degrees don’t matter,” Jain admitted the news made her rethink that narrative.
“Met a friend from IIM yesterday. She’s in Mumbai for her summer internship. Her monthly paycheck is ₹3.5 lakh. “Yes, just for the internship,” Jain explained. “We adore saying ‘degrees don’t matter’ online. And, to be honest, I believed it too. But there are some instances that make you pause.”
She added that while not all success stories are tied to academic credentials, elite degrees do continue to open significant doors—especially in environments that value institutional pedigree.
“This isn’t about comparison,” she emphasized. “Just a quick reminder: there are various ways to win. And all of them are valid.”
The post quickly struck a chord, prompting a wave of reactions and similar anecdotes across social media platforms. While some users expressed awe, others shared contrasting examples to highlight the disparity across professions and educational institutions.
One user wrote, “Met some IIT students recently. One of them secured a 2-month internship worth ₹25 lakh. It’s ₹12.5 lakh each month. Another said, “People can say that ‘MBA doesn’t matter,’ yet IIM A/B/C are in a league of their own. “That tag gives you a huge advantage.”
Meanwhile, others pointed out stark contrasts in stipend structures across disciplines. “I met a friend who passed NEET and earned her MBBS from AIIMS. She is currently interning and earning ₹17,900 per month. A user shared their experience of receiving ₹35,000 in two months after passing one of the most challenging tests.
The viral conversation has sparked renewed interest in how educational credentials influence early career opportunities, especially in India’s elite academic circles, where brand value and alumni networks continue to shape high-stakes internships and job placements.
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