Online Business VS University – What’s The Best Option?

Whatever you study at school and no matter what you want to do in life you are advised to go to university.

In many cases there is nothing wrong with that as after all if you want a certain job that may be your only option.

For e.g if you want to become a doctor then university will be the route for you.

However were coming to a time now where University isn’t the done thing, in fact many are considering other routes to save lots of money.

When I first considered it I actually ended finding too many reasons to not go to University. It just didn’t see it as something that would actually benefit me.

In this post I will comparing making an online business and going to university.

1. High vs Low Fees

The average amount of money a student spends on university is … which a lot to have to pay back in years to come.

However from my experience starting a business can be done from around $10 a year, as all you need is a domain.

So unless you are dead set on going to uni it may be worth reconsidering whether it’s for you.

Compared to starting an online business you will find the cost to set up much cheaper and you won’t be trapped for a few years.

What I mean by this is if you find a interest to base a business around and find maybe 6 months in you don’t have that passion anymore you can choose something else.

With university its a trickier as you are paying for every semester in advance.

2. You Have To Be Committed

Going from college or school to Uni is a big leap, for the next 3 to 4 years you will learning about the job you want after you have finished.

I have spoken to many people who have finished Uni and the mentality that have before they start compared to after shifts. 

With the amount of time you invest some have lost interest on there course, found new interests but only once there halfway through.

The point is what every you choose you have to be committed otherwise its a waste of money. 

This is why I don’t think going to uni is for everyone because not all teens know exactly what they want to do.

When I was in college which was 16-18 I took a sports diploma course, I loved sport still do but through those two years it felt like I was getting by.

I never had an interest in a sporting role like a physio or sports coach it just wasn’t for me.

So while I did in the end apply for Uni I never had an intention of going, I didn’t want to take sport further so I looked at other routes.

3. Get The Upper Hand

You have other alternatives to Uni not just building a business.

You can go on a gap year which can be good for finding yourself and what you enjoy.

Going straight into work is a viable option whether it is through a apprenticeship.

This not only gets you experience before uni students finish there degree, but it gives you the upper hand.

So by the time these students have got there degree you could have multiple years of experience under your belt.

That’s why I do view Uni as almost a pause period. 

Yes, you are learning but you are stuck in a classroom like you have been accustomed to. 

Thats why its so easy for people to go straight to university has its staying in the comfort zone.

But you are not getting the experience, you may be required to do work experience hours along the way but its not the same. 

I have actually spoken to business owners who have told me first hand that if given the choice they know who is better suited.

They look at those who already have the experience first.

So lets say they have the choice between someone who has 3 years experience behind them and a student fresh out of uni they would pick the one with 3 years.

This is because for those coming out they are having to play catch up and be taught from the start.

So it just tends to be easier to employ someone who has knowhow on that role already.

Thats why its so easy for people to go straight to university it just seems like the next step.

Self Employment is my favourite option as you can start building your future straightaway.

4. Learn How To Actually Build A Business

When I look back at the 13 years I spent in education I was never really taught about job roles.

In fact until college did it really hit me that the course I was doing I had no interest in sport jobs.

The point is I was never shown about building any type of business, whether online or offline.

I almost stumbled across it without even knowing, at around 12 I was going to my local shop and buying drinks and confectionery at a discount and selling it for a profit to my piers.

People hated it especially the teachers and kids would take the mickey out of me.

But looking back I smile because even at a early age I knew that’s what I wanted to do.

Not exactly selling to people but the idea of being in charge.

So when I came across the idea of making websites around 16 I enjoyed the process of building a brand.

Since starting this journey I have learn’t alot about business and not needed to spend the kind of money as a uni student to get that.

Of course to do that I have used training platforms but I even with the one I am with now called Wealthy Affiliate I’m not paying more than $50 a month.

That’s a steal in my opinion.

So if I can not only make something around a passion of mine that will bring in a passive income for years to come, its a no brainer for me.

5. No Guarantees

No matter what employed job you do whether that is before, during or after uni you will be working for a fixed salary. 

I have heard from students who have gone and got there dream job paying maybe $40,000 a year.

All dandy.

However not everyone gets the job there looking for straightaway. I know a few older friends who went to Uni and didn’t get any work for a year or two. 

In the end they ended up working in a job that had nothing to do with there degree.

Not only are they not putting it to use, but for people in this situtaion they now have to start repaying there student loan.

It sucks.

The same can be applied to an online business as results aren’t guaranteed. You can work hard and still struggle to get it off the mark.

For the first year I made my first ever business I made nothing but around going into the second year it picked off. It probably wouldn’t off if I hadn’t of stayed consistent though.

But the point here is that again it is very easy to follow the Uni path.

But just because you have a degree to your name won’t equate in job within that field straightaway.

6. Freedom

The last point I would like to talk about is freedom and I would like to compare the two.

Full-Time Jobs After University:

• Employed by someone – They are in charge of you and tell you what to do
• Fixed Rate Salary – Can be improved with promotions over time
• Limited Vacation Time – This depends on your role but most jobs will give you an allotted time to go away. You will typically need to put a request in to get certain dates off.

Self Employed:

• Work For Yourself – You decide how you run things,
• Unlimited Salary – No caps on how much you can make, the sky is the limit
• Go Away When Ever You Like – Since you are working to your own schedule means you can go away whenever you like

What Do I Choose?

In this post I have gone through why I believe doing an online business is something that would be much more beneficial then having lots of debt for years to come.

Obviously everyone’s situation is different and you have only own prerogatives.

So if you want to go University by all means do it, maybe you will find its for you and you enjoy that routine.

However I advise you to not go for the sake of it, maybe because your friends are going or even because your parents think its the best thing for you.

You need to decide where your passions lie and don’t think too much about the future and take each day as it comes.

I knew I wanted to do something around entrepreneurship for as long as I remember, so working for myself was the main goal.

The idea of being in control of myself and not having an employer saying how much I make and how much I work was the deciding factor for me.

That is when I started working on websites and building various passive income streams. 

Hopefully this University vs Online business post as opened up a door to thinking about a new path that may work for you.

Let me know what you thoughts are by leaving a comment below 🙂