For nearly two decades, the study-abroad dream for Indian students followed a well-worn script: ace a competitive exam, target a globally ranked business school, and let the brand name do the talking during placement season. Rankings tables were treated almost like scripture, and a "top 10" tag often mattered more than what actually happened after graduation.
Families saved for years, students took on significant debt, and the assumption was simple: a prestigious foreign MBA would automatically translate into a stable, high-paying career. That assumption is now being tested, and increasingly, replaced by a more anxious calculus, one dominated by two questions students feel they can't fully control: will my visa hold, and will this degree pay for itself?
