Skills vs. Degree: Which Will Help you Reach Your First ₹1 Crore fast?

Skills vs. degree—one of the hottest debates in today’s job market, especially when it comes to making serious money. So, what’s your take? 

Should you spend years earning a formal degree, hoping for a high-paying job, or should you focus on mastering in-demand skills that can help you earn faster?

The answer lies in the trends of the changing times. With increasing education costs,  automation replacing jobs, AI and the new demands for new skills, the traditional degree path is no longer the best way to build wealth. On the other hand, skill-based careers, freelancing, and entrepreneurship are creating new opportunities to earn lakhs or even crores without a formal degree.

So, which one would truly help you reach the ₹1 crore mark? In this blog, we’ll talk in detail about the same, stating the real impact of both paths, comparing their long-term potential, and helping you make the smartest decision for your financial growth.

1. The Myth of a College Degree

A good degree = a good career and lots of money.

This statement is now nothing more than a myth. The reality has been changed and the way a degree was weighed earlier is no longer the same.

What does the current scenario look like?

• A degree does not guarantee a job.

• Many graduates are stuck in low-paying or irrelevant jobs.

• The world is shifting towards skills-first hiring.

Yes, doctors, engineers, and lawyers need degrees, but for other careers, employers now focus on what you can do rather than what you have studied.

Google, Tesla, and Apple have all removed degree requirements for hiring.

What the Numbers Say:

• According to NASSCOM, only 45% of Indian graduates are employable due to a lack of relevant skills.

• The average salary of a fresh graduate in India is ₹3-5 LPA, meaning it would take 20 years to make ₹1 crore.

• Meanwhile, skilled professionals in tech, finance, sales, and content creation can make ₹1 crore in just a few years.

So, is your degree enough? Not.

2. The Power of High-Income Skills

Your ability to reach ₹1 crore faster depends on skills, not certificates or degrees. Now this doesn’t mean, degrees are worthless and you should stop pursuing them.

The real. The scenario is like this– A degree gets you to the door, but skills take you to the top.

What Are High-Income Skills?

The skills that companies and clients are willing to pay a premium for. These include:

1. Sales & Negotiation – Every business needs revenue.

2. Digital Marketing – The world runs on attention. If you can bring leads, you’re valuable.

3. Coding & Tech Development – Developers, AI engineers, and cybersecurity experts are in high demand.

4. Finance & Investing – Understanding money, stocks, and crypto can make you rich.

5. Content Creation & Personal Branding – Creators and influencers now make millions.

6. Business & Entrepreneurship – Starting your venture can fast-track your wealth.

How Do Skills Beat a Degree?

• Skills are practical – You can start earning anytime. No age boundation. No particular time frame.

• No fixed income – The income starts right from thousands and can go up to crores. The better you get at your work, the better you earn. Skilled freelancers, entrepreneurs, and high-performers can scale their earnings super-fast.

• You control your growth – The better your skill, the more you earn.

If you want to reach ₹1 crore faster, investing in high-income skills is the smarter path.

3. Degree vs. Skills: Who Reaches ₹1 Crore Faster?

Let’s compare two people:

🔵 Rohan (Degree Path):

• Completes a B.Tech degree (4 years, ₹10 lakh fees).

• Starts at ₹6 LPA, and gets a 10% raise per year.

• Reaches ₹1 crore in 15+ years after tax deductions.

That’s a lot of time and almost after half a lifetime, he gets to 1 crore. 

🟢 Priya (Skills Path):

• Learns digital marketing & sales (6 months, ₹50,000 investment).

• Freelances and earns ₹50K/month within a year.

• Scales up to ₹5L/month in 3 years.

Hits ₹1 crore in 4-5 years.

Who wins? Priya!

Why? Because degrees follow a linear path (fixed salary, slow growth), while skills offer exponential earning potential (freelancing, business, high-demand roles).

4. The 3-Step Roadmap to Your First ₹1 Crore

Let’s talk about action now. 

If you want to reach your first crore, what shall you do?

Step 1: Pick a High-Income Skill (0-3 Months)

You don’t need to learn everything. Pick ONE skill that is in demand and has high earning potential.

• If you love numbers, learn data analytics or finance.

• If you enjoy writing, learn content writing or content marketing.

• If you like selling, go for sales & negotiation.

Step 2: Start Earning (3-12 Months)

Learn and apply. You don’t need to wait for your course to end. Take internships, freelance, or get a job in your skill.

Note– Don’t worry about making lakhs yet—focus on experience.

Build a portfolio and increase your prices over time.

Step 3: Scale to ₹1 Crore (1-5 Years)

Now, it’s time to scale:

• Increase your rates – From ₹10K per project to ₹1 lakh per project.

• Diversify income sources – Job + freelancing + investments.

• Automate & expand – Start a business, build a team, or sell digital products.

In 3-5 years, you can reach your first ₹1 crore by leveraging skills over degrees.

5. The Reality Check: Do You Still Need a Degree?

Skills are more valuable for reaching ₹1 crore faster, but there are certain cases where a degree helps:

✅ If your field requires one (medicine, law, academia).

✅ If you need credibility (finance, consulting).

✅ If your dream job demands it.

But for every career, a degree is optional—but skills are mandatory.

6. Actionable Tips to Fast-Track Your Success

Where to start today? 

• Learn online – There are many platforms to kick-start your learning right now! Udemy, Coursera, IRA Skills and YouTube. IRA Skills teaches in-demand skills in both Hindi as well as English language, so this could be the best option to start with.

•  Get hands-on experience – Apply skills in real projects. IRA Skills could help you even here– they teach and also review your work on LinkedIn.

•  Build a personal brand – This is a must. Show what you learn and what you do. Get active on LinkedIn.

• Network – Connections bring opportunities. Network and build good connections with long-term view points.

• Stay consistent – The journey to ₹1 crore takes time, but it’s worth it.

If your goal is to hit ₹1 crore as fast as possible, skills are your best bet. A degree might give you stability, but skills give you freedom, financial growth, and limitless opportunities.

And all through this, you can make IRA Skills your serious partner. 

It’s high time to get active and start working. All the very best for your new opportunities!