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Planning for a child’s higher education is a long‑term financial goal that requires early preparation and disciplined investing. With rising education costs in India and abroad, relying solely on future income or last‑minute borrowing can strain household finances.
A SIP calculator helps families plan effectively by showing how regular monthly investments can grow over time. In this example, a monthly SIP of ₹17,950 over 16 years at an expected return of 12% results in a corpus exceeding ₹1 crore.
A Systematic Investment Plan (SIP) allows investors to invest a fixed sum regularly in mutual funds. This method of staggered investing helps spread out contributions instead of requiring a lump sum.
For education planning, SIPs are suitable because they align with long time horizons and predictable goals. Monthly contributions are easier to manage and budget for, ensuring steady progress toward the target amount.
The following inputs were used:
Output from the SIP calculator:
This clearly shows how compounding, not just contributions, drives wealth creation.
Compounding refers to earnings that themselves begin generating further earnings. In SIPs, monthly investments compound over extended periods, enhancing the final value.
Early contributions stay invested the longest, making them disproportionately important in building the corpus. This highlights why starting early is crucial for education planning.
Costs for higher education, engineering, medical, MBA and overseas degrees, continue to rise faster than general inflation. Many programmes already require several tens of lakhs in funding.
Building a ₹1 crore education fund through a SIP provides a financial cushion for tuition, living expenses and other costs. A SIP calculator helps families adjust contributions based on expected inflation, time horizon and financial capacity.
A SIP calculator also demonstrates the cost of delaying investment. To achieve the same ₹1 crore target in 12 years instead of 16, the required monthly SIP increases substantially.
Similarly, reducing the investment amount without adjusting duration or expected returns may lead to a corpus shortfall. Regular review is important to ensure the plan remains on track.
Read More: How Much EMI Will You Pay on a ₹50 Lakh Loan?
This SIP calculator example shows how a monthly SIP of ₹17,950 over 16 years at an expected return of 12% can create a corpus of about ₹1.04 crore. With a total investment of ₹34.46 lakh, nearly ₹69.9 lakh is generated purely through compounding.
For parents planning their child’s education, starting early, investing consistently and reviewing progress regularly can make a significant difference. While returns may vary, disciplined long‑term investing remains one of the most effective ways to prepare financially for rising education costs.
Published on: Jan 30, 2026, 6:42 PM IST

Akshay Shivalkar
Akshay Shivalkar is a financial content specialist who strategises and creates SEO-optimised content on the stock market, mutual funds, and other investment products. With experience in fintech and mutual funds, he simplifies complex financial concepts to help investors make informed decisions through his writing.
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