In today’s fast-changing job market, I’ve often asked myself—and been asked by others—whether the traditional university path is still the best option.
From where I stand, having built Jim’s Group into one of the largest franchise businesses in the Southern Hemisphere, I can say that university is not always the right choice.
Why I Think Universities Are Inefficient
From my perspective, universities are monumentally inefficient.
They’re heavily subsidized, and yet so much of what students pay in tuition doesn’t go toward actual teaching.
I’ve seen psychology courses, for example, where the university charges $18,000, but only about $3,500 goes into delivering the course itself.
The rest goes to bloated overheads, inflated Vice Chancellor salaries, and subsidizing research.
That’s a terrible value proposition, and I believe it’s misleading for students and families who are making big financial sacrifices in pursuit of these degrees.
The Gap Between Academia and the Real World
One of my biggest frustrations is the disconnect between what’s taught in universities and what’s actually needed in the workforce.
I’ve seen so many graduates who are highly educated on paper but lack the practical skills that would help them succeed in a real job.
I often point out that during the period of peak economic growth in the Western world—around the 1970s—the people driving that progress weren’t university-educated.
Mass tertiary education only became mainstream after that, and since then, productivity growth has slowed.
It makes you wonder if we’re really better off.
Why We Need to Rethink Our Attitude Toward Manual Work
There’s a toxic bias in society against trades and manual labor.
Too many people see working with your hands as somehow “lesser.”
I think that mindset is harmful and, frankly, characteristic of a society in decline.
In reality, there’s great dignity and opportunity in trade work.
Some of our top-performing franchisees in fencing, mowing, or dog washing earn well over $100,000 a year.
That’s a good living.
They’re doing meaningful, in-demand work that allows them to provide for their families and even hire others.
The Case for Alternative Pathways
I’ve seen firsthand how powerful alternative career paths can be.
At Jim’s Group, we have incredible success stories—like Brendan, who started with us at age 14 years and 9 months.
He never finished high school, but now leads our programming team.
His success came from raw talent, hard work, and real-world experience, not a university degree.
We’ve also launched Jim’s Institute to provide practical, hands-on training that gets people earning and succeeding faster than most university graduates.
A New Model for Education and Success
In my view, we urgently need to shift how we think about education.
The current university-centered model isn’t serving everyone well.
We should elevate apprenticeships, on-the-job training, and entrepreneurial learning.
We should celebrate skills, not just diplomas.
We should stop shaming those who choose a different path.
A skilled electrician or a high-performing franchisee brings more value to society—and often earns more than someone with a generic arts degree and a mountain of debt.
Final Thoughts
I’m not saying university is useless.
For some professions—like medicine or engineering—it’s essential.
But for many others, it’s become a very expensive way to delay adulthood.
I believe the time has come to seriously rethink how we educate and prepare people for life and work.
Let’s stop pushing a one-size-fits-all solution and start embracing the full spectrum of ways people can learn, grow, and thrive.
I’ve built my business on giving people the tools to succeed—and I believe the future belongs to those who dare to do things differently.
If you want to hear more of my thoughts, check out the Jim’s Cast podcast or visit the Jim’s Group website.