From Classrooms to Career Worries: Why Odisha Students Are Skipping Undergraduate Degrees

ରାଜନୀତି

ଲୋକସଭାରେ ଅଟକିଲା ସୀମା ନିର୍ଦ୍ଧାରଣ ବିଲ୍‌ ଓ ମହିଳା ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ...

April 18, 2026

ବିଜୁ ପଟ୍ଟନାୟକଙ୍କ ୨୯ତମ ଶ୍ରାଦ୍ଧବାର୍ଷିକୀରେ ଓଡ଼ିଶା ରାଜନୀତିରେ ମୁହାଁମୁହିଁ: BJD...

April 17, 2026

କେନ୍ଦ୍ରର ଡିଲିମିଟେସନ୍ ପ୍ରସ୍ତାବକୁ ନେଇ ନବୀନଙ୍କ ତୀବ୍ର ପ୍ରତିବାଦ, ୪୮...

April 16, 2026

ମହିଳାଙ୍କୁ ୩୩% ସଂରକ୍ଷଣ ପାଇଁ ସଂସଦରେ ସ୍ୱତନ୍ତ୍ର ଅଧିବେଶନ ଆରମ୍ଭ,...

April 16, 2026

ବ୍ୟବସାୟ

ଡିଜିଟାଲ ଭାରତରେ ସେକେଣ୍ଡରେ ପେମେଣ୍ଟ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଠକେଇ ମଧ୍ୟ ତେଜିତ

April 18, 2026

କେନ୍ଦ୍ର ସରକାରୀ କର୍ମଚାରୀ ଓ ପେନ୍ସନର୍ମାନଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ 2% ଡିଏ...

April 18, 2026

ସୁପ୍ରିମ କୋର୍ଟ ସନ୍ଦେସରା ଠକେଇ ମାମଲା ବନ୍ଦ କଲା, ₹9,800...

April 18, 2026

କାଗଜରେ ନିୟମିତ, ପ୍ରୟୋଗରେ ଦୁର୍ବଳ: କିପରି ଶ୍ରମ ଆଇନକୁ ନିରବରେ...

April 18, 2026

From Classrooms to Career Worries: Why Odisha Students Are Skipping Undergraduate Degrees

In Odisha, traditional BA, BSc, and BCom degrees are increasingly viewed as expensive investments with uncertain returns, reflected in shifting student admission trends.

Published by Abhishek Swain | January 15, 2026

In Odisha, traditional BA, BSc, and BCom degrees are increasingly viewed as costly investments with uncertain returns, rather than reliable pathways to employment. This shift is evident in official admission data: over 80,000 undergraduate seats remained vacant in 2025–26, and at least 10 colleges reported zero first-year admissions. Meanwhile, teacher-training programs like BEd and MEd are running near full capacity, reflecting a clear pivot toward job-oriented education.

Decline in UG Demand

Out of a sanctioned capacity of 2.77 lakh UG seats, 81,664 remained vacant in 2025–26, up from over 74,000 the previous year.
Many colleges, especially in arts, science, and non-professional streams, are struggling to attract students due to low perceived value, remote locations, limited facilities, or poor reputation.

Reasons Students Are Shunning Traditional Degrees

Low Return on Investment: Students increasingly view general degrees as offering limited job prospects, prompting many to pursue alternatives such as CA, professional diplomas, or skill-based courses.
Oversupply vs. Falling Demand: New seats continue to be added—4,000–5,000 annually—while student interest declines. In 2024–25, 12 new colleges opened despite high vacancies.

Rising Popularity of Teacher-Training Programs

BEd and MEd courses are oversubscribed, with more than 1.26 lakh applicants for fewer than 3,000 BEd seats in a year.
Teaching is perceived as a stable, respected career with government employment prospects, outweighing current challenges like protests for pay and regularisation.

Structural Challenges

Odisha universities and colleges face severe faculty shortages, with over 1,000 teaching posts vacant in state universities alone.
Experts warn this affects teaching quality and student experience, creating a feedback loop where lower quality drives fewer admissions.

This trend underscores a decisive shift among students toward professional and job-oriented education, as traditional undergraduate programs struggle to maintain relevance in today’s competitive job market.