Every spring, students and their parents are concerned about receiving a letter of college admission. While some high school students know where they are going to study, the rest would give up college and find a job. Currently, it can be observed that those who have a higher education earn much more than those who decided to skip it. Therefore, given these two opposing views, it is vital to determine if the college can be a wise investment for a graduate. This paper will enlighten the idea of getting a college education and emphasize why it is an excellent investment in one’s future.
Both in terms of earnings and tuition, a college education is worth every dollar spent. Like any investment, going to college requires planning, saving, and perhaps some sacrifice. Yet, it is an investment that will always pay off and be valuable in most situations in life. People with higher education have better job opportunities, earn more money, and develop skills and knowledge that can never be taken away. It is a good investment indeed, which can be proven by several research materials stating the importance of a college degree.
First, one needs to pay attention to the primary advantage of entering a college program, which relates to positive monetary prospects. According to Abel and Deitz, “the economic benefits associated with higher education last a lifetime” (4). There is a widespread belief that college graduates earn more in their lifetime. This can be explained by the fact that they do not work in lower positions, such as university graduates.
Current data shows that holders of higher education diplomas receive an 84 percent increase in income compared to their higher education peers (James). The study found that in 2011, high school graduates earned significantly less than people with a four-year college degree (Daly and Bengali). As a result, the diploma guarantees the opportunity to find a decent job and receive a high salary. Undoubtedly, a person’s academic degree does not utterly define their financial well-being. Such factors as like energy efficiency, motivation, enthusiasm, and luck are also essential. However, having a university degree may boost a person’s career path and expand the professional horizons.
Another idea that supports the statement that higher education is a wise investment is the following. It demonstrates to employees and others that a person with a degree is engaged in the working process and knows how to set and achieve goals (Bautsch). In addition, the presence of a diploma proves that a person is capable of working systematically while receiving new knowledge and successfully passing exams.
In addition, higher education implies further prospects for obtaining a bachelor’s or master’s degree. This means that the college provides a person with fundamental knowledge that they can seek to expand. The college also guarantees that the graduate student will have a specialization and receive professional knowledge confirmed by the thesis. The college provides you with the appropriate credentials and documents to get a high-level job.
Another advantage is that people with higher education have much more opportunities. According to Bautsch, “the unemployment rate for all college degree holders is currently 4.2 percent, compared to the overall jobless rate of 8.8 percent” (24). They can get more work and do whatever they want instead of forcing them to do work they do not like. Finally, while there are undoubtedly issues with college as a business, there is a strong belief that everyone can succeed and benefit from a college education at any age (Bautsch). Higher education is the most valuable tool people can use as this foundation helps everyone lead a successful life and expand opportunities for others.
In addition, it can be stated that higher education is still prevalent among Americans, even though the expenses on college are high. It is worth noting that the United States is one of the most developed courtiers in the world, which means that it develops new ideas ad technologies. This fact implies that America is constantly looking for professionals since there are many jobs that require higher education to meet modern standards (James 2).
For instance, it is impossible to work in the sphere of IT without having specialized knowledge, at least on the basis of a college education. If the country did not have a large number of professionals, the company is forced to invite people from abroad to work. Currently, many American companies often practice hiring foreign specialists because they lack personnel. This confirms the idea that the country is indeed in search of individuals with higher education.
Employees may take into account if a person has higher education so that there is no need to test their knowledge in all the details in a specified area. It is also a sign that an individual has excellent qualifications for a concrete position. It also increases the chances of career advancement in the company, salary raises, and other benefits (James 2). Higher education becomes an advantage in creating the image of a successful person, which also contributes to intellectual achievement.
On the other hand, the weak labor market recovery after the Great Recession has sparked a debate about the value of higher education. While the value of college is obvious, deciding whether to do so means weighing the value against the cost of attending (Daly and Bengali). The overwhelming cost is the primary factor restraining school graduates from attending college. Hence, even though there are proven benefits after one graduates from college, there is still no guarantee one will cover the money spent.
While the unemployment rate among college-educated workers remains below average, there is growing evidence that recent college graduates have difficulties finding decent jobs. It was identified that the cost of college tuition has soared to record highs, and college graduates are increasingly saddled with student loan debt used to fund their education (Abel and Deitz 1). The college attendance presumes to spend much money due to high fees which students desperately try to pay off working long hours at different places. As a consequence, these students barely receive proper education as they mainly concentrate on working longer hours to get rid of the student loan.
In conclusion, it is reasonable to mention the importance of obtaining a college education since it is beneficial in terms of receiving different opportunities. These include additional educational programs, jobs, and other related fields. In addition, a college degree may be advantageous for having a better salary and promotion. Therefore, college is a decent investment in one’s future which costs every dime and penny even though the admission fees are increasingly high at times.
Works Cited
Abel, Jaison, and Richard Deitz. “Do the Benefits of College Still Outweigh the Costs?” Current Issues in Economics and Finance, vol. 20, no. 3, 2014, pp. 1-12.
Bautsch, Brenda. “Pomp and Circumstance”. State Legislatures, 2011, pp. 24-25.
Daly, Mary, and Leila Bengali. “Is It Still Worth Going to College?” FRBSF Economic Letter, vol.13, 2014, pp. 1-4.
James, Jonathan. “The College Wage Premium.” Economic Commentary, vol. 10., 2012, pp 1-4.