In a fiscal year characterized by stalling growth, the Gurugram-based higher education platform CollegeDekho reported that its consolidated net loss widened to ₹151 crore for the 2025 fiscal year (FY25).
The results, sourced from the Registrar of Companies (RoC) and reported on February 6, 2026, show that while the company managed to marginally grow its topline, its bottom line was heavily impacted by rising advertising costs.
1. FY25 Financial Performance
CollegeDekho’s growth appears to have hit a plateau in FY25, with revenue growth slowing significantly compared to previous years.
| Metric | FY25 (Current) | FY24 (Previous) | Change (YoY) |
| Operating Revenue | ₹221.6 Crore | ₹215.6 Crore | ↑ 2.8% |
| Net Loss | ₹151.0 Crore | ₹127.0 Crore | ↑ 19% |
| Total Expenses | ₹378.7 Crore | ₹342.6 Crore | ↑ 10.5% |
- Flat Topline: The 2.8% revenue increase marks a sharp slowdown from the 32.2% growth recorded in FY24.
- Total Income: Including interest and investment income of ₹6 crore, the total revenue stood at ₹227.7 crore.
2. The Expense Breakdown
The widening loss was primarily driven by aggressive brand spending and rising operational costs, even as the company successfully trimmed its internal payroll.
- Advertising & Promotion: This emerged as the largest cost center, surging 31% to ₹126 crore in FY25. It accounted for roughly 33% of total expenses as the platform fought for visibility in a crowded edtech market.
- Employee Benefits: In a push for efficiency, the company reduced its employee benefit expenses by 25%, falling from ₹156 crore to ₹117 crore. This figure includes ₹7.4 crore in non-cash ESOP costs.
- Outsourcing Costs: Expenditure on outsourcing and subcontracting doubled during the fiscal year, reaching ₹31.5 crore.
3. Strategic Investments & Backing
Despite the stall in growth, CollegeDekho continues to receive significant support from its parent group and debt markets.
- CarDekho Support: In December 2025, the CarDekho Group announced a fresh $10 million (₹90 crore) investment into CollegeDekho to help it expand into non-metro markets.
- Debt Funding: The company also secured ₹40 crore in structured debt from Recur Club in April 2025 to bolster its tech infrastructure ahead of the admission season.
4. Scale of Operations
As of February 2026, CollegeDekho remains a massive player in the Indian admissions ecosystem:
- Partner Network: Associated with over 2,000 colleges.
- Student Reach: Claims to have counseled over 1.2 million students and facilitated more than 200,000 admissions to date.
- Brand Portfolio: Operates seven distinct brands, including GetMyUni, ImaginXP, PrepBytes, and IELTSMaterial.
Conclusion: A Pivot to Profitability?
CollegeDekho’s FY25 results mirror a broader trend in the 2026 edtech landscape—a shift away from “growth at all costs” toward sustainability. While the flat revenue and widening loss are concerning, the significant reduction in employee costs suggests the management is aggressively restructuring the business to reach break-even in FY26.
