While history shows that people can be successful without a college degree, for those growing up in today’s society, college is no longer an option or privilege, but rather a necessity. Children and young adults in the twenty-first century are practically raised and conditioned to believe that one needs higher education in order to succeed in life. An American explorer Jeff Rich once said, "if you think education is expensive, try ignorance” (Jeff Rich, 2016). By this, he is saying that the less a person knows, the less opportunities are available to them. Educating oneself is expensive, but in the long run it is worth the trouble because it allows a person to grow as an individual and see topics from more than one perspective. However, if technology is constantly advancing and computers are running almost everything, is a college education really necessary? There are people who have never been to college but are making better money and have better living than people who have their master's or any kind of professional degree. While both sides make valid claims, a college education is entirely necessary because not only does it set one up for a better future with a higher salary than someone without a degree, but it also provides a better foundation for a person’s family as well.
Salary
By far, one of the biggest advantages of going to college is that it gives you opportunity and access to more jobs in most fields which are mostly white-collared and highly paid jobs. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the annual salary differences (on average) between educational levels are staggering. High school drop outs make up to $18,734, while those who finish and graduate make up to $27,915. Choosing to finish all four years of high school already raises someone’s worth in the workplace nearly $9,000 more than those who choose not to finish. The high school graduates who choose to move on to college for four more years and obtain their bachelor’s degree, make about $51,206 a year, and any degree above that raises a person’s average salary to about $74,602 annually ("Educational Attainment", 2015). The more education a person receives, the more valuable they are to a company and the more that company will be willing
One of the biggest overall benefits of having a college education to some degree after a high school diploma is the most obvious: the considerably higher pay rate that is available for those careers that often times require a degree. It’s a common misconception that big amounts of money will just come pouring in after they walk across the stage with their degree, however, the real benefits start stacking up you begin to pay off student loans and the are now being employed in a career within your degree specifications. A study done by Georgetown University proved that graduates from college “earn $1 million more in earnings over their lifetime” as compared to those who only had a high school diploma (Cornerstone). As well as that, another study done by the Pew Research Center found that in 2012, there was a HUGE average yearly income gap “between high school and college graduates” of around $17,500
Many college students choose to also get more than one degree while attending college to earn more income and further their education. College graduates have the choice of get higher level degrees and training resulting in earn even more income based on the different higher level degrees earned and training received (this means the more degrees and training you have the more income you may receive). People with higher level degrees and training earn more money that those without degrees. In 1996, for example, workers with bachelor's degrees had median annual earnings of about $36,000, while college graduates with more advanced degrees earned around $40,000 (Mittelhauser 3). This is a four-thousand dollar difference in income; this is only one of several examples of how people who graduate college make more money than the average high school graduate and that of people with lower-level degrees. The median annual wage for a bachelor’s degree in 2010 was $63,430. While the median annual wage for a person with a doctoral or professional degree in 2010 was $87,500 ("Employment by Education and Training Assignment, 2010 and Projected 2020"). This is almost a twenty-four thousand difference income just based off of median annual wage of different degrees. The income difference from college graduates than to those of high school graduates is great. College graduates are getting better wages and job openings than those of high school graduates (“President’s Perspective:
In the last decade, students and parents alike have begun to question the effectiveness of receiving a college education. Stories of students graduating college with outstanding student loans, being unable to find a job, or feeling overqualified for a position continually increase. In the same manner, the number of students apprehensive about refraining from entering the workforce for an additional four years while simultaneously spending thousands of dollars for an education that in the end may not assure them a job with an adequate income, increases. The issue then is to determine whether or not the cost of college is worth the outcome.
College graduates, on average, make a whopping one million dollars more in lifetime earnings than those with a high school diploma. Those with a college degree now make $17,500 more per year than those without — a wage gap that's doubled in recent decades. Those without a degree are four times more likely to be unemployed.One of the biggest and most important reasons for anyone to attend college is the upper hand it gives with regards to jobs and career. A college graduate has a higher chance of landing a job when compared to an individual with a high school qualification. Further, a college graduate also has better options and opportunities to progress in their
The author of the article “Should Everyone Go to College?” proved this point in her article by a college graduate with a bachelor’s degree earned $30,000 more per year than a high school graduate or about $570,000 more over a lifetime. Also, the median income for families headed by a bachelor's degree holder was $102,000, more than a double family headed by a high school graduate (Owen and Sawhill 214). This means, every higher degree, like from high school diploma to bachelor’s degree, there is a different salary and a higher education will lead to higher paychecks. In addition to the income raises, job requirements changed over the years too.
A college education is proven to increase an individual 's earnings, however, women’s earnings are still not as much as men’s, even when they have the same degree (Patten, 2015).
Why do we work hard in school and attempt to get good grades? Why do we believe that you have to do an outstanding job in high school? The answer is because the majority of us want to go to college and hopefully pursue a career that we'd enjoy. So, why is it that just 65% of us obtain a college degree. The main factor is that college costs are soaring. According to reports the cost of a college degree has increased by 1,120 percent in just 30 years. Consequently, this has lead to difficulties for families to pay for the immense cost of college. Therefore, the government should invest more money to make college education free because students leave school with an unreasonable amount of debt. It also leads to a more prosperous country, and
As the price to attend college increases throughout the years many young adults are experiencing increasing difficulty in being able to pay for such an endeavor and many more are beginning to question whether or not it’s worth the price due to the faltering of the economy. The price tag may be the most common concern about getting a college education but another important factor that many students consider when applying for college is how much time they will need to devote to school. Many prospective students think that the time spent in a college math class is a waste when they are majoring in the arts. This results in many students deciding against getting a college education in favor for finding a source of income to support themselves and due to the lack of employment opportunities available today the decision to choose an income over an education is really a matter of survival. However, this is the beginning of a slippery slope that can easily lead to a population that is severely lacking in education which can lead to a disaster in a country where the nations populace are the ones making decisions with their vote. I believe it is time to make education not only cheaper, but more accessible to more people across the country by eliminating course requirements and majors in order to allow students to seek out an education that is tailored to the subject they are seeking to pursue. Doing so will not only result in a lower cost of college by eliminating useless and
There are many choices and paths to choose when the time comes to attend college however, a question to ask is, is it worth it? If decided to attend college, the following decision to be made revolves around an area of study one would like to pursue and the topic of study that will be available for them. Though many can further their education in different ways, a couple of ways consist of attending a four year college (private/ public) or a community college. Not going to college at all is the other alternative, but is it really a smart idea? Most adults have continuously told young students all through high school to attend college. A student’s chance of economic success in the future can be risen due to a college education. Judith Scott-Clayton, who is an assistant professor of economics and education at Teachers College at Columbia University states, “Individuals with bachelor’s degrees earn about 60 percent more than those with just a high school diploma, who in turn earn about 40 percent more than high school dropouts.” Students who seek higher education, are more likely to experience a better future and a better life. The cost of going to college may seem overwhelming at times however, the experiences and education obtained throughout college is priceless in regards to the way one interacts with others on a global basis, has a stronger job stability, and has better employment benefits.
As the evidence substantiates, college is worth the time and money. In this situation, worth means of high value. College has been proven to yield people a better financial future. In this time period, where jobs are hard to acquire, attempting to obtain a quality, well-paying job is nearly impossible. As displayed by the Hill, the average high school graduates salary is $35,615 per year. Meanwhile, the average college graduates yearly income is $65,482; this evidence was taken from a US Congress census; again from the The Hill. This exhibits the fact that college graduates, on average, make 48% more than high school graduates. Having a little advantage in pay is beneficiary in this time period. By going to college people are not only thinking about themselves, but for the better of their family. In the case of someone coming from a menial background, going to college can change their monetary needs. In the same way, only 260,000 people with college diplomas are working in minimum wage jobs. Around 72,000,000 or 33% of the adults in America have gone to college, proven by another US Congress Census. That means that 1 in every 277 people who attend college have a job paying minimum wage. Furthermore, a Georgetown University study has shown that 99% of the post 2008 recession jobs, have gone to college graduates. After reviewing this piece of evidence, going to college is a major bonus in the job market. A college degree of any sort can help in most leagues of study. Many employers noticed the college degree, and almost immediately hire that person. According to evidence number 15, the unemployment rate for someone who went to college is 3.8%. On the contrary, the unemployment rate for someone who only attended high school is 12.2%.
The success stories of prominent entrepreneurs, such as Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, are common knowledge to the general public. After dropping out of college, these men crawled their way to the top, and became some of the most wealthy, and well known public figures of today’s era. While neither of these billionaires needed a college degree in order to achieve success, they are not representative of the norm. The act of going to college is an important first step in leading a successful life, because it helps stimulate individual growth, allows college graduates the ability to find a well paying job, and also allows these graduates a better chance of finding a job. Therefore, achieving a college degree is a key factor in achieving long-term happiness.
It seems in the society we live in today, having a college degree is a necessity. Years ago it was the norm for people to just go right into a full time job after high school, if they even finished high school; they did this to support their families. In today’s society a person has a difficult time getting a decent job without a college degree. During an adults working life, bachelor degree graduates will earn about $2.1 million and a high school graduate can expect to earn an average of $1.2 million (Day and Newburger, 2002). This is quite a difference and it puts a college education in
Students often wonder what career path they will choose in the future to support their family and have a brighter future. Some students question whether attending college is worth their time, but research suggests that students who study at postsecondary institutions will benefit in the long run. If students want to have a successful future, to be able to support their family, and have a higher income, they will need some sort of higher level education. Going to college can help with unemployment rates and increase the chances of attaining a stable career. People, such as the former United States President Barack Obama, state that children are the future of the world and they will help raise the reputation of the U.S. by getting a good
Why go to college is a question many people debate with. The majority of people are not aware of the substantial benefits of attending college. With the rapid shift in today’s economy having a college degree is a major key. According to article written by Fatou Faal, “The United States has been transformed from manufacturing-based economy to an economy based on knowledge, and the importance of a college education can be compared to that of a high school diploma education forty years ago.” The benefits of college prepare and shape you for today’s world.
Is college education necessary today since technology is advancing more and more and computers are controlling everything? Today, there are people who have never been to college before but they are more successful and they doing much better in life than those who have bachelor or master’s degree. But not everyone is born with a talent that would make their life easier and luxurious. Most people work hard to achieve their dream of getting an education and a dream job as well. A successful life starts at the moment when a person gets his degree after long, stressful years and he/she is ready to start a successful career. Most people are raised with the idea that higher education of one person is an important factor for them to succeed in life. Sometimes being an intelligent person and knowledgeable is considered as good as being a person who makes a lot of money. People have different views about going to college. For some people college will be like another four year of high school when more money and time will be wasted. However, others think that college provides lifelong lessons and skills that are necessary and required for a better future. Going to college is one of the wisest decisions a student can make because it helps them learn social and communicating skills, start a career, and get an education.