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This page explains the fees for Mesa School’s flagship program, the PGP in Startup Leadership & Entrepreneurship, and how to think about the return on that investment. All fees below are for the PGP in Startup Leadership & Entrepreneurship; other Mesa School programs have their own separate fees.
Current listed fees
These are the amounts listed on our current PGP in Startup Leadership & Entrepreneurship page. Confirm the fee schedule in your written offer before paying, because round labels and amounts can change.
| Cost item | Published amount | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Free | There is no fee to submit the application. |
| Interview booking | ₹1,500 | Payable only if you are shortlisted and choose to book the interview. |
| Early-bird tuition | ₹25.35 lakh | Tuition only. GST and accommodation are extra. |
| Round 1 tuition | ₹26 lakh | Tuition only. GST and accommodation are extra. |
| Rounds 2–4 tuition | ₹26.50 lakh | Tuition only. GST and accommodation are extra. |
| GST | 18% of tuition | Added to the applicable tuition amount. |
| Optional accommodation | ₹2.5–₹4.5 lakh per year | Extra. The amount depends on the option selected. |
Source: our current PGP in Startup Leadership & Entrepreneurship page. This is a component list, not a complete personal-cost quote.
Build your full personal budget
The amount you will need is broader than tuition. Before deciding, add the costs that apply to you:
- The tuition for your admission round and the GST charged on it.
- Accommodation, meals and day-to-day living costs, whether you use a Mesa School-referred option or arrange your own.
- Any loan interest, processing charge or other lender cost.
Ask Admissions to confirm any seat-booking amount or other mandatory charge not shown on the public page. Do not treat the table above as an all-in quotation.
How scholarships work
Scholarships are assessed individually, based on each candidate’s profile and their performance in the interview process. There is no standard award or automatic discount that applies to every student. Plan from the full listed fee unless your written offer confirms a scholarship. If you receive one, check the amount, conditions, payment schedule and whether it changes if you defer or withdraw.
How financing works
Our current PGP page says that, after an offer, partner loans may cover up to 100% of tuition and accommodation for up to 12 years. Approval and the final terms depend on the lender, the borrower and any co-borrower requirements.
Financing changes when you pay; it does not reduce the program price. Interest and fees can increase the total amount you repay. Before accepting a loan, get the lender’s term sheet and check:
- The approved loan amount and what it covers.
- Whether the interest rate is fixed or floating.
- Processing, insurance and other charges.
- When interest starts and whether there is a moratorium.
- The repayment period, monthly payment and total repayment amount.
- Co-borrower, collateral, prepayment and late-payment conditions.
- What happens if you withdraw, defer or leave the program.
A longer repayment period can lower the monthly payment but increase the total interest paid. Compare the complete term sheet, not only the advertised tenure.
How to think about ROI
ROI is personal, because applicants start from different salaries, savings, goals and borrowing needs. A useful review looks at more than one kind of return:
| Part of the decision | Questions to ask yourself |
|---|---|
| Financial | What will I pay in total? What income will I give up? If I borrow, what will I repay? What change in post-tax cash income is realistic for me? |
| Career | Will this route improve access to the roles, industries or level of ownership I want? |
| Capability | Will the applied work help me build skills and proof of work I could not develop as effectively in my current route? |
| Network | How useful is sustained access to peers, founders, operators and the Bengaluru startup ecosystem for my goals? |
| Venture | Do I want to test or build a venture, and can I accept the uncertainty involved? |
Do not estimate payback by dividing our reported average CTC by the program fee. CTC is not post-tax cash, may include variable and one-time payments, and can include first-year equity value. It also does not show how much a person’s earnings changed from before the program.
For a personal estimate, use your own expected fixed cash compensation, taxes, current earnings, scholarship actually received, loan cost, living costs and income forgone.
What the outcomes report can tell you
Our PGP Outcomes Report 2025–26 covers Cohort 1 (2023–24) and Cohort 2 (2024–25). It records an average CTC of ₹26 lakh across 127 graduates in full-time roles. CTC includes fixed and variable pay, applicable one-time cash payments and only the first-year vesting value of ESOPs or RSUs; it is not take-home pay. Read the PGP Outcomes Report 2025–26 with the Outcomes and Placement Methodology page for the cohort flow, compensation method and audit scope. Historical outcomes do not guarantee an individual placement, salary, role, venture result or financial return.
Before you accept and pay
Ask for, read and keep the documents that apply to your offer:
- The final fee schedule for your admission round, including GST and every mandatory charge.
- The accommodation amount and terms, if you choose accommodation.
- Your scholarship letter, including the amount and conditions, if applicable.
- The lender term sheet showing interest, fees, tenure, monthly payment and total repayment.
- The withdrawal, refund and deferment terms in force when you accept.
- The exact certificate you will receive.
- The latest outcomes report, read with its cohort, population and compensation method.
If a current offer or fee schedule differs from an older article or screenshot, rely on the written terms issued for your intake and ask Mesa School to clarify the difference before paying.
Frequently asked questions
What is the current PGP in Startup Leadership & Entrepreneurship tuition?
Our current PGP page lists ₹25.35 lakh for the Early Bird round, ₹26 lakh for Round 1 and ₹26.50 lakh for Rounds 2–4. These amounts are tuition only; 18% GST and optional accommodation are extra. Confirm the amount in your written offer before paying.
How are scholarships decided?
Scholarships are assessed individually, based on each candidate’s profile and their performance in the interview process. Budget for the full listed fee unless a scholarship and its conditions are confirmed in your written offer.
Does Mesa School offer financing?
Partner loans may cover up to 100% of tuition and accommodation for up to 12 years after an offer. Approval and the final rate, fees and repayment terms are set by the lender and depend on eligibility.
Does the ₹26 lakh average CTC prove the program will pay for itself?
No. It is a historical group average for 127 graduates in full-time roles across two cohorts. CTC is not take-home pay and does not show an individual applicant’s incremental earnings, borrowing cost, income forgone or future outcome.
