It seems more people than ever before, especially high school students and their parents, are questioning the value of a college education. There are those who will tell you a college degree is an overpriced piece of paper that has no bearing on whether or not you can get a job. Others point out that there are less quantifiable, but still valuable things you will take away from the college experience, including learning how to think critically and being exposed to different cultures and belief systems. Somewhere in the middle are those who believe a degree is valuable, but are concerned about skyrocketing tuition costs. With all of this in mind, here are seven reasons we believe a college degree and, more broadly, the college experience are a good investment.
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You’ll earn more money:
Even now, in the midst of a slow recovering economy, a college degree has a direct bearing on your earning potential. Yes, there are wealthy, famous people who do not have a college degree. But according to a recent population survey from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary of Americans over the age of 25 with a bachelor’s degree is nearly $59,000 a year, whereas those with just a high school diploma earn a little over $31,000. The BLS survey also shows that unemployment rates are much higher for those without a college degree than for those with a bachelor’s or master’s. That said, some industries may demand an advanced degree, but offer less earnings than jobs that require only a two- or four-year degree. So it’s important to thoroughly research the career that appeals to you and determine what sort of degree is required.
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Employers want to see a degree on your resume:
It sounds unfair, but it’s still true. The majority of employers want to see a college degree on the resume of a person they are considering for hire. In some cases, what you majored in may be less important to an employer than a core set of skills you will bring to the job, skills that you can develop in college through campus leadership, student activity team projects, and assistant and internship positions. Participation in activities outside of your selected major and documenting them on your resume will also help you later on in a competitive job market.
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Networking:
For some, networking begins in the sandbox in preschool. However, the college environment allows you to begin cultivating a network of people who, over time, can provide you with support, information, and employment opportunities long after your graduate. Your network may even come to include a favorite professor or two. A large, diverse pool of contacts, be they close friends or just like-minded business associates, will be the pool you tap when starting a new business, looking for a new job, or recruiting for an employer.
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Athletes need something to fall back on:
If you’re an athlete and are lucky enough to have a scholarship to attend and play for the college of your choice, you may be thinking that earning a degree is unnecessary. You’re too busy getting ready to be the next John Elway or Michael Jordan to consider completing a four-year degree. But the fact is, less than 1% of college athletes go to the pros. So a degree, ideally in an area you enjoy as much as sports, will help you to pursue another career or continue your education if you aren’t drafted by the NFL or NBA. And scary as it may be to imagine, an unexpected injury can derail your college athletic career. Completing a degree will help you out if you are unable to continue playing.
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Critical thinking:
The college experience, through speaking, writing, problem-solving, and analyzing global perspectives, will teach you to think critically. Forbes magazine points out that great leadership requires being able to think critically, that is, to comprehend and respect different points of view and entertain a variety of solutions to a problem. Being able to think critically will not only make you a valuable member of our democratic society, it’ll also help you find a job!
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Self-discovery:
Self-discovery comes when you are in a situation that is unfamiliar, maybe even uncomfortable, but provides you with an opportunity to grow. You don’t get credits toward a degree for what you learn about yourself while in college, but what you learn may be the most valuable thing you take away from the four-year experience. Many freshmen, when confronted with new cultures, belief systems, and philosophical concepts are humbled when they discover they didn’t know as much as they thought they did. But humility, which is a kind of self-discovery, promotes growth and will shape you into the person you’ll be after graduation.
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Pride and self-worth:
Completing a degree, especially in an area of study you truly love, will give you a sense of pride and self-worth that can sustain you emotionally in a tough job market and challenging economic times. It’s a shame that certain politicians these days are expressing contempt for college education and the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. But whether you complete a two-year degree or a Ph.D., you will feel proud of the discipline and mental effort that such an accomplishment required.
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