Book a demo

Are degree colleges losing relevance? Why skilling institutes are winning the student race

Students are shifting from degree colleges to skilling institutes. Here’s why this change is happening and what it means for the future of education in India.

Raghav Nagrajan
· 3 mins read Insight

The changing face of education in India

For decades, Indian families placed immense faith in a college degree, viewing it as the surest path to a good job. Parents would invest lakhs in traditional colleges, hoping their children would secure stable careers — and by extension, secure lives. In many households, a degree was considered essential not only for employment, but also for eligibility.

But today, things are changing. Students and parents are asking tough questions:

  • Is a college degree enough to get a job?
  • Why do so many graduates remain unemployed despite spending so much on fees?
  • Are there better, faster, and more practical alternatives?

The truth is: many degree colleges haven’t kept up with industry needs. Students graduate with outdated knowledge, while employers look for job-ready skills.


The rise of skilling institutes

This gap gave birth to skilling institutes—training centres that focus on one thing: helping students get practical, job-ready skills.

Unlike traditional colleges, skilling institutes:

  • Teach only what’s relevant for today’s jobs
  • Offer short, affordable programs (from a few weeks to a year)
  • Provide placement assistance or help students earn independently

From coding and AI to finance, design, digital marketing, and even culinary arts—skilling institutes are growing fast.

What makes them even more powerful is their flexibility. These institutes can quickly adapt courses to match changing industry needs, creating faster feedback loops between employers and students.

Setting up a skilling institute has a low barrier to entry—no large campus or extensive licenses required—just good teachers and a relevant curriculum. Fees are largely determined by supply and demand, and students often benefit from easy payment options through platforms like Jodo

Book-demo-banner

Adding to this flexibility, courses can be delivered partially or entirely online, making them accessible to a wider pool of learners. For many, skilling programs serve as a complete education pathway, while for others, they complement a degree with much-needed practical exposure.


Why students prefer skilling institutes

Book-demo-banner

Here’s why skilling institutes are attracting more students:

  1. Shorter Duration: Programs last weeks or months, not 3–4 years.
  2. Affordable Fees: Students spend thousands instead of lakhs.
  3. Direct Path to Jobs: Courses are built with employability in mind.
  4. Flexibility: Many institutes run online or part-time programs.

Simply put: skills = faster jobs, less time wasted.


The often overlooked challenge: Fees

Book-demo-banner

While skilling institutes are gaining popularity because of their updated courses and job-ready training, there’s another area where they are pulling ahead — fee collection. Traditional colleges often struggle with:

  • Parents and students asking for flexible payment options (monthly installments, EMIs)
  • Missed or delayed payments disrupting cash flow
  • Manual tracking of who paid and who hasn’t
  • Admissions getting stuck because upfront fees feel like a burden

These challenges may sound operational, but in reality, they can decide whether a student joins or drops off. Skilling institutes have been quick to adapt, offering simple and flexible payment structures that make education feel more accessible.

That’s exactly what Jodo enables: flexible plans, automated reminders, and hassle-free collections that give institutes predictable cash flow while making education accessible for students.

Book a free demo to see Jodo’s full suite of fee collection solutions.

Final word

Education in India is at a turning point. Degree colleges are no longer the only path to success—skilling institutes are shaping the future of jobs

For these institutes to truly scale, three things matter most:

  • Courses designed with quick industry feedback loops, so students learn what employers actually need
  • Strong focus on placements, ensuring students see real career outcomes
  • Flexible and affordable fee payment solutions, making skilling accessible to all

With the right approach, institutes can focus on what matters most—delivering education and building careers—while payments run smoothly in the background.


For more insight into how Jodo is revolutionizing fee collection, connect with Jodo Co-founder, Raghav Nagarajan on LinkedIn.

Subscribe
raghav
Raghav Nagrajan
Aug 23, 2025 · 3 mins read · Insight

How to boost growth for your skilling institute in 2025

Skilling institutes are booming, but fee collection remains a silent barrier to growth. Here’s how flexible payments can unlock smoother admissions & scale.

Read more
Post Image
ritesh
Ritesh Shrivastav
Aug 15, 2025 · 39 mins read · Engineering

Scaling Serverless Beyond the First Function

Real lessons from building and scaling serverless systems, beyond the docs and hype.

Read more
Post Image