Key takeaways:
- College can lead to more job opportunities, higher earnings, and vast alumni networks.
- Earning a degree also helps you develop valuable skills, including leadership, communication, critical thinking, and time management.
- To determine if college is worth it for you, consider your education and career goals after high school graduation.
For some students, applying to college after high school is a natural next step. But many others wonder, “Is college worth it?” It’s a valid question. The cost of attendance keeps increasing each year, putting it out of reach for the average American family. In this article, we’ve highlighted seven reasons pursuing a degree can be worth it and detailed some factors that may impact your final decision.
Is college worth it?
Between the increasing cost of attending college, high student loan debt, and an ever-changing economy, students and their families are left wondering if earning a degree is still worth it. Here are just seven reasons why college is worth it, if a degree aligns with your education and career goals.
1. It opens the door to more job opportunities
Many job opportunities require you to have at least a bachelor’s or associate degree. Employers recognize that these employees have valuable skills and in some industries, a degree is necessary for completing the job responsibilities and possibly meeting licensure requirements. For example, you need a degree and further certification and licenses to become a nurse, attorney, physical therapist, teacher, social worker, or personal finance agent.
2. It increases your earning potential
On average, an employee with a bachelor’s degree earns more than someone with a high school diploma – and individuals with master’s degrees tend to make more than those with bachelor’s. While you might hear about the occasional celebrity earning millions even though they didn’t graduate high school, it’s not the norm.
Here’s a look at the median weekly earnings based on education from 2024 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics report “Earnings and Unemployment Rates by Education Attainment:”
- Less than high school: $738
- High school completion: $930
- Some college, no degree: $1,020
- Associate’s degree: $1,099
- Bachelor’s degree: $1,543
- Master’s degree: $1,840
- Professional degree: $2,363
- Doctoral degree: $2,278
3. Jobs requiring college degrees often offer additional benefits
In addition to a better salary, college graduates often enjoy other benefits that help them save what they earn, such as health insurance, 401K matching, entertainment allowance, flexible schedules, remote work, gym memberships, and more. These can add up to thousands of dollars a year in savings.
4. You develop crucial soft skills
College is more than just a degree that teaches you information necessary to your chosen career. You learn important lifelong skills, such as leadership, independence, communication, and money management, among others. All of these can translate to success in the workplace and at home.
5. A college degree helps you maintain a competitive edge
Technology is advancing at an unprecedented rate. Employees are expected to learn and adapt to keep up with a competitive job market. It’s more important than ever to take the initiative and be constantly learning and upskilling. Completing college lays the foundation for this type of development and growth.
6. You get crucial career support and guidance
Colleges and universities provide employment support beyond the classroom and after graduation through career services and counselors, which help their students discover and compare career paths, goals, and majors. Schools also have connections with organizations and businesses to help you gain access to internships, guidance programs, job placements, and job shadowing opportunities.
7. You’ll expand your social and professional network
Networking helps you advance your career, and college helps you grow your network by hundreds or even thousands of people. You’ll interact with these professionals during your education, both as your professors and fellow students. After graduation, you can connect further with the school’s alumni. These connections can lead to job opportunities, promotions, further introductions, and more.
College also allows you to meet others from diverse backgrounds with different life experiences. These connections help you develop new ways of looking at things, making you more insightful, perceptive, and understanding.
So, should you attend college?
Whether you attend college is entirely up to you. While these seven benefits are good reasons to pursue your degree, it doesn’t mean college is the best route for everyone. Instead, you should consider your own personal goals and needs.
For example, if you want to become a plumber, you’d benefit more from attending a trade school rather than college. If you’d like to be a nurse, you need to earn a degree.
The cost of college and your responsibilities can also be a determining factor. You might have to enter the workforce to save before attending school in the event you don’t receive enough financial aid. Others may not be willing to get into thousands of dollars in debt.
In addition, your high school grades can impact your options. If you have your heart set on a bachelor’s degree but you have a lower GPA, you’ll likely have to attend a community college for your associate’s first.
College can open the door to unique job opportunities, higher salaries, and vast networks. However, there’s no guarantee of success even with a degree. College can be worth it – if it aligns with your goals. To help you decide the best route with you, meet with your academic advisor to discuss your options, interests, and aims after high school graduation.
If you decide college is worth it for you, it’s time to find the right school for you. Use College Raptor to discover personalized college matches, cost estimates, acceptance odds, and potential financial aid for schools around the US—for FREE!
