Some university students with low school results would be better off doing vocational education instead.
Vocational diplomas in construction, engineering, and commerce typically lead to higher lifetime incomes than many low-ATAR university graduates are likely to earn, especially those with degrees in popular fields such as science and humanities.
Especially for low-ATAR men, some vocational alternatives to university are worth considering. Schools need to give them better career advice alerting them to these possibilities – and governments should end funding biases against vocational education.
Listen to Grattan Institute’s Higher Education Program Director Andrew Norton discuss with Paul Austin when vocational education is a good alternative to university.