With the rising cost of college there has been more and more questions with teens and young adults whether or not college is really worth it. I understand this question. When you may be looking at years of owing student loans, it seems like not going is a better choice. There are many that never go to college or drop out and are beyond successful, but that number, percentage of those that have that kind of success is very small compared to those who do not.
I went to college straight out of high school. I was lucky enough to finish my undergraduate career with two bachelors and only $6,000 in loans. This was because my father was able to pay my tuition for most of the six years it took me to do this. With two bachelors I could have stopped there but two years later I decided to continue and get my MBA.
My time in college had its ups and downs. It can be lonely, a lot of work, and it can definitely feel like maybe I should just give up. I never would want to change the decision I made by going.
Looking for stats on whether or not it’s worth it?
– College graduates age 25-32 earn $17,000 more each year.
– Millennials without a degree are three times as likely to say their job is just to get by.
– Almost four times more millennials without a college degree live in poverty.
– The monetary value of a high school diploma is falling.
– The unemployment rate for millennials without a college degree is three times as high than those with a degree. Source
Finding a job without a college degree is possible.
I’m not trying to say it isn’t, however, finding a high paying job, not entry level, can be harder without the degree behind you. Experience, does help you and even with a college degree you need experience, however if someone has your experience AND a college degree it’s more likely they’ll get a promotion over you.
Should you encourage your kids to go to college?
There are cons to consider.
– College is not a guarantee to a secure financial future
– It does cost money.
– Learning a trade may be a good option.
Will I encourage my kids to go to college?
Absolutely! In my opinion the cons do not out way the pros. College is not just about education it can also include personal growth, social growth, and other maturity growth. I do not regret my 8.5 years of college education and it has helped me in building my own business.
Sarah
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Great advice! I definitely think it’s worth it for most people, even if it doesn’t happen right away and even if you’re learning a trade. But I also believe that certain degrees can be applied in multiple ways over the course of a career better than others.
Yes, college is worth it. It costs money, but all the cons of it do not outweigh the good that can come from it. But I’m also going to teach my children how to be smart about going to college if they choose that path.
Sometimes I question if it is, especially when there are people with Master’s and Phd’s who cannot find decent pay to live. Plus, the amounts of debt accumulated versus income is insane,
I think SOME kind of higher ed is essential today, but not necessarily college. I’d be perfectly happy if one of my girls wanted to get a technical degree, for example, so long as she did her research and found the best program in X field that otherwise seemed like a good fit, in all the other ways one would evaluate a traditional 4yr college.
My husband and I have talked about this before. Is it worth it? Is it worth it to possibly be in so much debt after college? Would learning a trade be more beneficial? It’s tough because we both value higher education so much but we also are experiencing the stress of paying off that education. I just want my kids to be happy doing something they truly love. College degree or not.
Very valid points. I’ve went back and forth on this myself after having years of student loans that are still not paid off myself. But I do encourage my teens to go to college or at least a technical/trade school.