Instrumental reason as a cultural ideal in the context of Pakistani higher education institutions has been analyzed in this study. Qualitative research design was adopted to conduct this content analysis. In instrumental reason, higher education is no longer seen as socially valuable knowledge, but as a private commercial commodity whereby its value is determined in terms of financial returns. Like other commodities, higher education is also considered a commercial commodity (degrees) which are sold at numerous price levels by the private higher education institutions. Which have no objective of social welfare of society, rather it has detrimental implications in terms of its repercussions like development of instrumental thought in individuals. A shift could be observed, from public interest to private interest, replacing academic, social, and ethical values by commercial considerations, and collective social equality to individual instrumental thinking.