College fund for a 3-year-old: SSY vs equity SIP monthly investment guide

Parents planning for a 3-year-old's college education have roughly 15 years to build a fund, with a course costing Rs 30 lakh today potentially reaching Rs 83 lakh at 7 percent education inflation. To meet this target, investing the maximum Rs 1.5 lakh annually in Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana at 8.2 percent could grow to about Rs 41 lakh, but withdrawal restrictions limit access, leaving an equity SIP of around Rs 15,000 monthly at 12 percent returns to cover the shortfall. Experts recommend prioritizing equity for growth early, then de-risking five years before college, while noting SSY offers stability but carries liquidity and inflation risks, and overseas education adds currency considerations.