Is higher education in Australia/US really worth it? Many grads end up in unrelated jobs—are blue-collar paths like TAFE/technical schools more cost-effective?

Hi Redditors,

I've been thinking a lot about the value of higher education these days. It seems like a lot of university graduates in Australia and the US either:

Don’t work in their field of study, or

Struggle with underemployment, despite spending years and tens of thousands of dollars.

Meanwhile, blue-collar paths, apprenticeships, and technical schools like TAFE in Australia often lead to well-paying jobs in shorter time frames with less debt.

Some questions I’m curious about:

1. Do you think universities still offer a good ROI (return on investment) for most students?

2. Are TAFE or vocational pathways genuinely more “cost-effective” compared to traditional university degrees?

3. Has the trend of non-field employment made the university experience less worthwhile?

I’d love to hear personal experiences, data, or opinions on whether pursuing higher education is still a smart move—or if a blue-collar or technical path might actually give better returns in Australia/US today.

Submitted October 05, 2025 at 05:59AM by Forsaken_Act6474 https://ift.tt/KpIU8yw