why college is worth it essay

Sample Essay: Is College Worth It?, with Outline

Published by gudwriter on November 23, 2017 November 23, 2017

Is College Worth It Example Essay

Is college worth it? Here is a sample essay that discusses whether college education is worth it in the long run or it’s just a waste of money and time.

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Essay Outline on Whether College is Worth it

Introduction.

Thesis: While there are arguments that college education is not worth it in the current society, this paper contends that college education is indeed worth it irrespective of the prevalent economic conditions.

Paragraph 1:

College education is worth acquiring because those with a college degree earn substantially higher as compared to their counterparts who have secondary school education.

• The earning gap between the two groups only continues to become wider even as the economy transforms.
• “High school graduates earn about 62% of what those with four-year degrees earn, according to a Pew Research Center study.”

Paragraph 2:

College education also adds on to the market value of college graduates making them more valuable than non-college graduates.

• College degree is highly valued by the job market of today and prospective employers view it as the minimum educational requirement for employment.
• In comparison to high school graduates, college graduates would easily secure job opportunities.

  Paragraph 3:

It is also worth pursuing college education because with it, one gets into a better position to acquire and enjoy the benefits of health insurance and develop their pension plans.

• “In 2011, the percentage of full-time workers offered pension plans by their employers who chose to participate ranged from 77% for those without a high school diploma to 94% for those with an advanced degree.”
• Higher levels of educational attainment put one in a better place to have a health insurance cover that is provided by their employer.

Paragraph 4:

College education further helps students in multiple other ways than just monetary returns.

• According to a survey, 74% of students said they had achieved invaluable intellectual growth by attending college while 69% believed college had helped them attain higher personal maturity levels.
• Thus, apart from employment, college makes students become better prepared to face life and the challenges that come with it.

Paragraph 5:

One argument against college education is that it plunges students into huge debt burdens.

• The argument holds that the $400 average monthly wage that fresh college graduates get is not enough for servicing their student loans.
• This argument ignores the fact that as they continue to work, college graduates develop professionally and continue earning more than their starting salary.

Paragraph 6:

Opponents of college education also front an argument that the market value of students does not benefit from college education.

• Apparently, this explains why people with college education may find themselves in odd jobs such as being hotel attendants.
• This argument is off the mark because college education indeed increases the market value of students and that is why they earn more than high school graduates.  

College education is worth it given the many benefits it sires. One should pursue college education at all costs even if it means running into debts. Deliberately failing to acquire college education is akin to deliberately settling for less in life. For an in-depth analysis of Candide, please read our Candide analysis essay.

Is College Worth it Example Essay

College education is one area that many people in the United States of America have invested and continue to invest in. It is widely believed that with college education, one has a better chance at life in terms of professional and personal development. College education has long been seen as a good avenue through which one may access and effectively exploit economic opportunities both domestically and internationally. However, the cost of acquiring college education has risen in the recent past and continues to rise even at present. A debate has thus ensued as to whether college education is really worth its cost in the prevailing economic situations. While there are arguments that college education is not worth it in the current society, this paper contends that college education is indeed worth it irrespective of the prevalent economic conditions. In college that’s where you may find worthy and important friendship , it’s where you mold relationship since you have a better understanding of yourself.

College education is worth acquiring because those with a college degree earn substantially higher as compared to their counterparts who have secondary school education. The earning gap between the two groups only continues to become wider even as the economy transforms. As pointed out by Weston (2015), “High school graduates earn about 62% of what those with four-year degrees earn, according to a Pew Research Center study.” In the year 1979, those with high school education used to earn 77% of what college graduates earned; a proof that the earning gap is indeed increasing (Weston, 2015). It would thus not be advisable to forego college education and settle for high school education because in effect, that means settling for lower earnings. Under normal circumstances, an investment that attracts higher returns on investment is worth considering or pursuing and so is college education.

College education also adds on to the market value of college graduates making them more valuable than non-college graduates. As clearly stated by Selingo (2015), college degree is highly valued by the job market of today and prospective employers view it as the minimum educational requirement for employment. This then implies that in comparison to high school graduates, college graduates would easily secure job opportunities. With college education, one thus opens more economic opportunities for themselves. This is why Weston (2015) advises that in the current economy, everybody should “consider some post-secondary training if they do not want to fall down the economic ladder.” Irrespective of the program one undertakes in college, they would enhance their market value by amassing as much professional experience as possible and thereby command better earnings.

It is also worth pursuing college education because with it, one gets into a better position to acquire and enjoy the benefits of health insurance and develop their pension plans. “In 2011, the percentage of full-time workers offered pension plans by their employers who chose to participate ranged from 77% for those without a high school diploma to 94% for those with an advanced degree” (Baum, Ma & Payea, 2013). It is further noted by Baum, Ma & Payea (2013) that higher levels of educational attainment put one in a better place to have a health insurance cover that is provided by their employer. With a health insurance, one can be sure of medical attention whenever they need it while with pension plans, one is sure to live a dignified life after they retire. Therefore, one would suffer less financial burden if they have these two provisions, both before and after retirement. As is evident here, the benefits would far outweigh the cost at which college education is acquired.

College education further helps students in multiple other ways than just monetary returns. According to a survey, 74% of students said they had achieved invaluable intellectual growth by attending college while 69% believed college had helped them attain higher personal maturity levels (“Is College Worth It?,” 2011). Thus, apart from employment, college makes students become better prepared to face life and the challenges that come with it. A more intellectually strengthened person is likely to approach life with an open mind which would enable them develop well-thought solutions to various life problems. Similarly, a high level of personal maturity helps one in developing meaningful relationships both at personal and professional levels. Thus, college education generally prepares a person for better life. It would be less meaningful to earn a lot of money and spend it unwisely.

One argument against college education is that it plunges students into huge debt burdens. Selingo (2015) argues that the $400 average monthly wage that fresh college graduates get is not enough for servicing their student loans. The scholar contends that with such little earnings, college graduates may end up repaying their loans for long. Supporters of this opinion hold that being in debt overshadows the value the students might have got from the education given that it is costly to acquire. However, this argument ignores the fact that as they continue to work, college graduates develop professionally and continue earning more than their starting salaries.

Opponents of college education also front an argument that the market value of students does not benefit from college education. Apparently, this explains why people with college education may find themselves in odd jobs such as being hotel attendants. According to Selingo (2015) ,““Looking at the actual return on the costs of attending college, careful analyses suggest that the payoff from many college programs — as much as one in four — is actually negative”. However, this argument is off the mark because as revealed herein, college education increases the market value of students and that is why they earn more than high school graduates.

College education is worth it given the many benefits it sires. One should pursue college education at all costs even if it means running into debts. It would be satisfying to service the loan knowing very well that afterwards, one would continue reaping the benefits of the education. Increased market value, higher earnings, health insurance cover, and retirement plans all make college education a necessity. Deliberately failing to acquire college education is thus akin to deliberately settling for less in life.

Baum, S., Ma, J., & Payea, K. (2013). “ Education pays 2013: the benefits of higher education for individuals and society” . The College Board. Retrieved from https://trends.collegeboard.org/sites/default/files/education-pays-2013-full-report.pdf

Is College Worth It?. In Pew Research Center . Retrieved July 9, 2020 from https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2011/05/15/is-college-worth-it/

Selingo, J. (2015). “ Is college worth the cost? Many recent graduates don’t think so”. Washington Post . Retrieved 21 November 2017, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/grade-point/wp/2015/09/30/is-college-worth-the-cost-many-recent-graduates-dont-think-so/?utm_term=.d1c7eef76720

Weston, L. (2015). “ Why college is still worth it even though it costs too much” . Time . Retrieved 21 November 2017, from http://time.com/money/4061150/college-degree-worth-it/

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Is College Worth It?

Learn more about the benefits and tradeoffs associated with attending college, so you can determine whether it's the best choice for you.

Pursuing higher education can be a worthwhile endeavor for many reasons. At the most foundational level, learning can broaden your perspective and help you develop new or additional knowledge. 

Beyond that, graduating with a bachelor’s degree is a valuable credential. Although an increasing number of employers and industries do not expect entry-level employees to have a degree, it can become important as you advance in your career. College can also be a time to explore who you are, grow in notable ways, build your network, and participate in various organizations and activities.  

Whether college is worth it largely depends on your goals, resources, and whether the benefits outweigh the total cost of college . In this article, we’ll review key facts about attending college, the benefits of higher education, factors that can impact whether college is worth it, and alternative paths to hone your education.   

Attending college: Time and cost

Earning your bachelor's degree means attending a four-year institution, though many students now take five to six years to finish. The pace at which you finish college most often depends on whether you can attend part-time or full-time and the number of credits your major requires .   

The cost of college is based on the type of school you attend. The figures below list the annual average cost of tuition and fees but do not consider additional costs like room and board, books, and other materials [ 1 ]: 

Public in-state tuition : $10,740 

Public out-of-state tuition : $27,560

Private tuition : $38,070 

The benefits of attending college 

The proportion of jobs requiring a bachelor’s degree has declined in recent years. While 51 percent of jobs listed online required a bachelor’s in 2017, only 44 percent required it in 2021 [ 2 ]. A degree still tends to be the primary outcome of attending college. However, there are many other benefits to consider.  

Social mobility 

College can lead to greater social mobility, or the ability to move between social strata, such as between the lower and middle classes. Generally, social mobility will be most effective when your cost of attending college remains low and you find a good-paying job after graduation. (You can find lists of colleges ranked by this metric published annually.) 

Keep in mind that even if you earn an average entry-level salary, you may be able to make more over your working life with a degree. Over their lifetime, men with bachelor’s degrees earn more than $900,000 on average, and women with bachelor’s degrees earn more than $630,000 on average compared to high school graduates, according to the Social Security Administration [3 ].

Earnings and stability 

A bachelor’s degree has been shown to lead to higher earnings and lower unemployment rates. As of 2022, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculates the median weekly earnings for bachelor’s degree holders at $1,556 (compared to $866 for high school graduates) [ 4 ]. And the unemployment rate for bachelor’s degree holders is 3.5 percent compared to 6.2 percent for high school graduates [ 5 ].

Time to explore interests

Some students begin college knowing what they want to study, while for others, it’s a chance to explore their interests, values, and passions by taking a range of classes. A bachelor’s degree program typically requires you to take most of your core liberal arts courses and some electives before declaring your major . That time is an opportunity to take classes in subjects both new and familiar to better understand what you enjoy learning and doing.  

Skills development 

Throughout your time at college, you will develop workplace skills (sometimes called “soft skills”) and interpersonal skills that companies seek in job candidates. Many majors will also encourage you to develop important technical skills you can showcase as part of your overall skill set.   

Skills you can learn or refine in college:  

Time management

Communication

Critical thinking

Problem-solving

Organization

Digital literacy

Project management

Socialize and network 

Taking advantage of student groups, clubs, and organizations at college can be beneficial. Not only can you build valuable social skills through participation, but you can also refine other useful skills, such as teamwork and leadership. Organizations can also be an excellent opportunity to build your professional network.  

Many online colleges also offer peer interaction and peer groups to foster your sense of connection to your school and classmates and develop valuable skills.  

Most schools have educational and professionalization resources designed to help you during college and when you're preparing to enter the workforce. These include student advising, libraries, tutoring, career centers, and internship placement, among others, and are worth using. 

Learn more: Is a Bachelor's Degree Worth It?

Factors that can impact the worth of college

With all of the many benefits of a degree, certain components can impact the worth of your college education. As you think about your goals and whether you can achieve them by attending college (or not), it’s helpful to consider the factors below: 

Student debt

College can be expensive, leading many students to take out loans to cover the cost of their education. As of 2021, 65 percent of bachelor’s degree students from public institutions in the United States took out student loans to pay for school, and the average graduate owed $28,800 [ 6 ]. 

Student loans are just one option among many. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will determine what kind of financial assistance you qualify for (grants, work-study, loans). Still, it may be helpful to apply for additional scholarships to offset the cost of attendance, or consider working a part-time college job to lower the overall amount you owe. 

The way you earn your degree can also impact cost. Learning online tends to cost less than learning in person. If you’re currently working full-time, you may want to investigate whether your employer offers programs to cover a portion of your education. 

Learn more: Jobs to Pay for College  

Time to completion

The time it takes to earn your degree often means time away from the full-time workforce. Now that it takes many undergraduates closer to five or six years to graduate, that can be a sizable consideration. 

You can reduce the time to completion by taking a full course load each semester and taking advantage of “extra” semesters, like summer, to move through your coursework more quickly. Thirty-three percent of bachelor’s degree students change their major, which can also add time to college [ 7 ]. 

Many majors encourage you to take advantage of paid internships to gain professional experience alongside your education. It might be worth working part-time to build your experience while adding a revenue stream to help pay for college.   

The value of a bachelor’s degree

Nearly 40 percent of adults hold a bachelor’s degree, which might seem to dilute its power [ 8 ]. As more and more people earn that degree, you may need more education to stand out as a job candidate. 

However, a bachelor’s degree is still a valued credential among employers. Even though some companies may not require applicants to hold a college degree for entry-level roles, it may become increasingly important as you apply for advanced roles that involve management or leadership.  

Determining whether college is right for you 

College may be a valuable choice, but ultimately only you can determine whether you will achieve what you want—and need—by attending it. As you weigh the benefits against the potential costs, use the items below to help you think through your decision:  

Long-term goals 

Your long-term goals can help you understand whether attending college is the right choice for you. Think about your goals over three separate outcomes: career, earnings, and lifestyle. 

Career: What kind of career do you want to pursue? Do you need a college education to get started? Will you need a college education as you move along? 

Earning: What kind of salary would you like to earn eventually? What industries or roles will help you achieve that goal? Do they require a college education, either now or later? 

Lifestyle: What kind of life do you envision for yourself? Is flexibility important? How about work-life balance ? How might education enable you to achieve the type of role you want? 

Financial resources 

Knowing your financial resources can also be a valuable way to determine whether college is worth it. How much will you be responsible for on an annual basis? What steps can you take (submitting your FAFSA, applying for scholarships, working part-time) to manage those costs? 

If you decide to take out loans, knowing what you could earn for an entry-level role in your field—and how that might increase throughout your career—can help you figure out how long it might take to pay them off.

Time commitment 

College is a commitment, whether you attend part-time or full-time. Think about how much time you have to dedicate to your studies. Do you have at least four years, but possibly longer, to earn your degree? If you’re interested in earning your degree faster, are you able to commit more time? 

Bachelor’s degree alternatives 

Attending a four-year college may not be the best choice for you at the current moment. In that case, there are other educational avenues worth considering. 

Associate degrees: Earn your two-year associate degree at a community college, which could be free or cost less for qualifying local residents. The credential also shows positive earnings and lower unemployment compared to high school graduates. Many four-year schools accept transfer students who eventually wish to keep going and earn their bachelor’s degree [ 3 ]. 

Professional certificates: Designed to help you learn about a type of work (like digital marketing or data science) and develop job-ready skills, a certificate program can be an excellent—and faster—way to help you enter the workforce or advance your career. You can list the professional certificate you earn on your resume, showing potential employers what you’ve done to prepare yourself for your career. 

Trade schools: Geared toward students who want to learn about a specific type of trade or vocational work (like welding, HVAC tech, or medical coding), trade schools offer important training, and some even provide job placement. 

Bootcamps: If you’re interested in a tech career, a bootcamp can be an excellent way to learn specific job skills fast. You can learn UX design , coding, data science , and more.   

Learn more: 10 High-Paying Jobs You Can Get with an Associate Degree

A college education is an excellent way to build your subject knowledge, strengthen your skill set, and become a more competitive job candidate. Plus, it’s a significant personal accomplishment. 

Learn more about online bachelor’s degrees available from leading universities on Coursera. If you've already earned college credit and are looking to finish your degree, learn more about the University of North Texas’ Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences .  

Article sources

1. College Board. “ Trends in College Pricing and Student Aid in 2021 , https://research.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/trends-college-pricing-student-aid-2021.pdf.” Accessed July 20, 2022. 

2. New York Times. " A 4-Year Degree Isn’t Quite the Job Requirement It Used to Be , https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/08/business/hiring-without-college-degree.html.” Accessed July 27, 2022.

3. Social Security Administration. “ Education and Lifetime Earnings , https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/research-summaries/education-earnings.html.” Accessed July 20, 2022. 

4. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. " Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers Third Quarter of 2022 , https://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/wkyeng.pdf." Accessed November 14, 2022.

5. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “ Education Pays , https://www.bls.gov/emp/chart-unemployment-earnings-education.htm.” Accessed November 14, 2022. 

6. Education Data Initiative. “ Average Student Loan Debt for a Bachelor’s Degree , https://educationdata.org/average-debt-for-a-bachelors-degree.” Accessed November 14, 2022. 

7. US Department of Education. “ Beginning College Students Who Change Their Major , https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2018/2018434.pdf.” Accessed July 21, 2022. 

8. Pew Research Center. “ 10 Facts About Today’s College Graduates , https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2022/04/12/10-facts-about-todays-college-graduates/.” Accessed July 21, 2022. 

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This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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With tuition rising every year, more and more students are asking themselves, "Is college worth it?" Many people believe that getting a college education is an important part of becoming a successful adult. Others, however, find it difficult to justify the increasing investment necessary to earn a degree. There’s no one path that’s right for everyone, and it can be difficult to think critically about the decision to go to college when you’re feeling pressured one way or another.

There’s no simple answer to this question, but  there is a rational way to think about whether college is the right path for you . Just as with any investment, you want to think about the relationship between what you put into it (like money, time, and effort) and what you get out of it (like education, networking, and career opportunities). The more you get out of it as compared to how much you put in, the better the investment.

In this post, I'll go through all the potential benefits and drawbacks of pursuing a four-year bachelor's degree so you have all the information to decide for yourself whether college is worth it. 

A Bit of Background on the Value of a College Degree

Before we get started, I want to fill you in on the how the worth of a college degree has changed over time. This way, you'll have a better framework for understanding whether a degree may (or may not) be worth it for you. 

Since the mid-20th century, the US population has become increasingly educated - simply put, more people are getting bachelor's degrees. In this graph from the US Census Bureau, you can see how the percentage of people with BA degrees has increased from 4.6% in 1940 to 32% in 2015 :

There are many reasons why we've seen these educational attainment changes over time, including:

• The decline of manufacturing jobs , especially for unskilled workers.
• Employers seeking college graduates for positions that didn't previously require a bachelor's degree.
• Government subsidies in higher education, making college more affordable (until costs rose to meet demand, thereby making college more expensive ).

Overall, there are a lot of financial and political factors that have influenced this significant and prolonged shift in how people view college degrees: now, it's often considered difficult to get a well-paying job (or any job, really) without a college education . 

That doesn't mean, however, that going to college is always the smart thing to do. It's a big decision, and it's one that warrants some critical thought. To help you think about whether college is worth it for you specifically, let's jump right into the good stuff: the possible investments you have to make to get a college education and the possible benefits you reap as a result. 

What You Put In: The Costs of College

If you're thinking about pursuing a college degree, you'll have to make some sacrifices. The following factors are what I consider to be investments in a post-secondary education. The extent to which these investments affect you depends on your own unique situation , so I'll explain how to think critically about these issues in each section. 

Overall, the major investments you would have to make in a college education are money, time, and effort. Let's see exactly how these might affect whether college is a worthy investment. 

The amount of money that you invest in your education depends on so many factors: your specific school, your financial need, your academic strength, potential scholarship winnings, etc. 

In general, the less money you have to pay for school, the better an investment your education will be . However, even an expensive degree may be well worth it if it pays out in the long run (I'll talk more about that in a bit). 

Tuition is the most obvious cost associated with attending college, but you also have to worry about room, board, books, personal expenses, and transportation. For more information on all the nitty gritty details of educational expenses, check out our college costs guide . 

The financial investment you'll make in pursuing a bachelor's degree is perhaps the most important investment to consider . The average US college grad leaves school with a pretty significant amount of debt - debt that's sometimes very difficult to overcome. There are ways to make your college education more affordable , but sometimes it's tough (or even impossible) to get those expenses down to a comfortable amount. 

Most people take four years to complete a BA degree. Depending on your career goals, this may represent an opportunity cost - basically, you might be losing out on other valuable opportunities (to gain job experience, make money, or both) because you're spending these four years in school and out of the work force.  

A college education is definitely valuable to many employers, and it's correlated with higher earnings later on in life (I'll talk more about this soon). But building work experience in a particular field, in addition to building wealth, is also valuable - giving up on those opportunities is an investment (or a sacrifice) that you make in order to get a degree. 

It’s easy to sleep in and skip classes once you have the freedom and independence of a college student. But you’re already investing time and money into your education, so it’s important to make the most of it while you’re there.

Building a strong educational background and making professional and personal connections (important benefits of getting a degree) doesn’t just happen - it takes work, and it can sometimes be stressful . It also may involve doing things you don't necessarily want to do, like taking required courses or completing uninteresting assignments. It's important to honestly consider these challenges (and whether you're up to them) before committing yourself to school, especially if it comes with a hefty price tag. 

What You Get in Return: The Benefits of College

You might be feeling a bit iffy about pursuing a degree at this point, but don't stop reading just yet. There are so many potential benefits that come with a college education.

The major benefits I see that come with a BA degree (although there can be many more) are increased employment opportunities, higher income, networking opportunities, personal development, and learning experiences. 

Employment Opportunities

Colleges and universities are recruiting hubs for many industries. When you study at a college or university, especially one that's well ranked, there are often opportunities to  meet with corporate employers who come directly to your school to hire students. There are also  internship opportunities during summers for that could lead directly to full-time employment post-graduation. 

Employment opportunities offered through colleges and universities extend beyond the corporate world and into academia and professional fields.  Any profession that requires a graduate degree ( e.g. law, medicine, sometimes business) or is centered around research (basically any job in academia) requires a BA degree first and foremost . 

Higher Income

On average, people with college degrees make more than people without college degrees . E ven though you may sacrifice income opportunities in the short term by seeking a degree, you’ll likely end up making more in the long run. T his is especially true for people who go into STEM fields . 

Employers may also assume you’re better qualified for higher-paying jobs if you have a degree. Some jobs may require a BA even if your degree isn’t related to what you’d be doing on the job.

Networking Opportunities

In a college or university setting, you’ll build a network of friends, but you’ll also develop a network of acquaintances, instructors, staff, and alumni. With these networks, it’s a lot easier to get personal and professional help.

These connections can serve you in many different ways, especially after you graduate. Here are some ways that a college or university network may come in handy: 

• You move to a new city and need to find a roommate.
• You’re exploring a career change and want to chat with someone in a particular field.
• You need some professional guidance or a letter of reference. 
• You’re looking for a new job.

Harvard Business School estimates that 65-85% of jobs are obtained through networking  - if nothing else, it's a huge help when it comes to getting your foot in the door. 

You don't even have to know very many people personally to benefit from a college or university network - alumni networks are a great example of this. 

Personal Development

This benefit is a bit more subjective than some of the other ones I've mentioned so far, but I think it's just as important. People's experiences will definitely vary based on where they go to school and the extent to which they participate in student life - in general, though, here are the ways you can expect to grow and develop on a personal level with a college education: 

• Get exposure to diverse people and ideas . Meeting people with different backgrounds and perspectives results in greater open-mindedness and a more flexible worldview. One study showed that when people have BA degrees, they're more likely to believe that it's  “very important to try to understand the reasoning behind others’ opinions."
• Meet long-term friends . You, of course, don’t have to be at college to make good friends. What’s special about a college environment, though, is that you’re living and working with hundreds or even thousands of people who are around your age, probably for the first and only time in your life. It’s sometimes more difficult to make friends as you get older - a college is a pretty golden opportunity to meet people.
• Develop personal and professional interests. Many  students head off to school with no idea what they want to do with their lives. College gives you a chance to try out different fields, especially if you attend a school with a flexible curriculum.

Many schools (especially liberal arts colleges and universities) work to produce global citizens: well-rounded students who can be thoughtful and active participants in an increasingly globalized society. You can, of course, learn about things on your own, but college is really an ideal environment to do this - you have a structured learning environment, you're surrounded by intellectually curious peers, and you have access to experts in many fields. 

There’s a lot to learn out there besides what you’ve studied in high school, and  colleges offer courses on topics that you wouldn’t otherwise have access to . For example, you might want to explore world languages, niche humanities subjects, or specific and advanced STEM fields - all things that are difficult to study outside of a college campus. 

The thing I see as the biggest educational benefit to attending college is the access to professors, people who have dedicated their lives to research and teaching in a very specific field.  Access to these faculty members is especially helpful for students who are considering an advanced degree. 

When College May Not Be Worth It

If you have any desire to go to college, I strongly encourage you to consider it. Overall, I believe that a college degree comes with more benefits than drawbacks. Of course, there will be many exceptions and individual differences - here, I'll go over some situations where getting a college degree may not be worth it. 

I t's OK (important, even) to consider whether college makes sense for you, even if you've always assumed that you would go to college no matter what.

If a Degree Won't Lead to Professional Success

College offers a lot of professional, personal, and intellectual benefits. Even if you’re not sure what you want to do after college, a degree will afford you some flexibility. But you don’t have to go to college in order to be successful - depending, of course, on what career options you’re considering ( budding entrepreneurs , for example, may benefit more from real-world experience than from a college education). Some people argue that you can be just as successful with self-directed learning as you can be with a college degree. 

If you know you can graduate from high school and immediately start working towards your chosen career path, college might not be the best choice for you. Alternatively,  if you’re interested in a career that requires trade or vocational school, it might be smarter to apply to those programs instead of applying to a four-year program . This way, you can work toward building professional experience earlier rather than later.

If You Can't Afford It

The total Cost of Attendance at private colleges can come to over $200,000. If you’re responsible for that entire cost and you’re not sure if you can recoup the investment post-graduation, a degree may not be worth it.

If the expense is preventing you from looking into a college education, however, there are some options you should consider before making a decision:

• Not all schools charge $200,00 for a four-year degree. Many institutions are much less expensive (for example, public schools tend to offer subsidized tuition to state residents).
• There are many federal financial aid programs available for students attending almost any college or university in the US, and you only need to submit one (free) application . Learn more about the Pell Grant program and Perkins loans .
• If you're a high-achieving student, you might qualify for generous merit aid if you apply to particular schools. Learn more about colleges and universities that give great merit aid .
• If you think you might qualify for need-based financial aid , you can seek out schools that provide generous funding for lower-income students. Read more about schools with top need-based financial aid  programs. 
• You can apply for scholarship awards , which are great sources of education funding for many students. Learn more about finding and winning local awards , and check out the top scholarship programs for high school juniors and seniors . 

If money is the only thing holding you back from getting a degree, I urge you to check out these other funding options. You don’t have to be rich to go to college, and a degree doesn’t have to mean crippling expenses. To read more about paying for college, check out these guides: 

• The four different kinds of financial aid 
• How to pay for college: complete guide  
• How to pay for college without your parents' help
• How to pay for college without loans

If There Are Other Things You Want to Do First (or If You're Unsure)

College is a big commitment - if you want to pursue a degree full-time, you’ll be hitting the books for nine months out of the year. Y ou may want to do other things with your time after you graduate from high school before heading off to college,  like get professional experience, travel, or volunteer. 

The bottom line is that you can always postpone the college application process if you have other priorities or even if you want to take time to decide whether college is right for you. You don’t have to go to college right out of high school . 

Keep in mind that many schools allow you to defer acceptance . It might be easier to work through college applications when you have the support of a guidance counselor and when it's easy to ask teachers for letters of reference. Even if you decide to apply while you're in high school, it's possible to postpone attending the school of your choice for a year or two (or even forever, if you decide it's not right for you). 

Conclusion: Is College Worth It?

Overall, college is a pretty good investment - many students who pursue a bachelor's degree end up reaping the benefits, whether they're financial, professional, or personal. But many others pursue a degree without spending some serious time thinking about whether it's a smart choice. 

You may feel that you should go to college if you want to be successful. As I mentioned earlier in this post, there are many circumstances where a college degree doesn't exactly make professional, financial, or personal sense (at least not at this very moment). It's important that you know it's okay to postpone such a big decision if you remain unsure.

If you do decide to take time to pursue an alternative path, remember that it's important to use your time wisely (else you're subject to the same types of opportunity costs that I mentioned earlier in the post). Building professional experience or engaging in self-directed learning are definitely not easy alternatives to a college education - they're just different. 

Whatever you decide to do - good luck! 

What's Next?

One big part of the college application process is standardized testing. If you're researching whether college is a good choice for you, it may be helpful to learn more about whether these tests in any way predict future income . Some people even think that the ACT and the SAT have the power to predict success more broadly. 

If you're worried more about what the whole college application process will look like and you hope to plan around that, we've got you covered - check out our complete timeline for applying to college .

Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points or your ACT score by 4 points? We've written a guide for each test about the top 5 strategies you must be using to have a shot at improving your score. Download it for free now:

Francesca graduated magna cum laude from Harvard and scored in the 99th percentile on the SATs. She's worked with many students on SAT prep and college counseling, and loves helping students capitalize on their strengths.

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The Value of Higher Education: Is College Worth it?

A college education is an essential stepping stone to a successful career and a fulfilling life. While many people debate the value of a college education in today’s economy, a college education is a crucial investment that can transform one’s life in countless ways. The benefits of a college education go beyond a job or career; it impacts personal development, civic engagement and overall well-being.

In this guide, we’ll dive deep into the career advancement and salary opportunities available for individuals pursuing a college education. In addition, we’ll take a close look at all of the ways a college student can grow personally, from a health, social and economic standpoint.

Ready to start your journey to college? Crimson Education is the world’s leading College Admissions Consulting company helping student gain admissions into top universities in the US & UK. Speak to our expert advisors to learn more about our Admissions Support Program !

Advantages of a College Degree

One of the main reasons people pursue higher education is to increase their earning potential and career opportunities. Studies have consistently shown that college graduates have higher earnings and more career advancement opportunities than those without a college degree. A college education provides specialized skills and knowledge that are highly valued in the workforce.

Additionally, college graduates have access to a larger professional network, which can lead to more job opportunities and career advancement . In this regard, a college degree can be a valuable investment in one's future, providing a path to higher earning potential and greater job satisfaction. Here’s a closer look at the economic and career opportunities available for college graduates:

Increased Job Opportunities

A college degree opens up more job opportunities than a high school diploma alone. Many employers require a college degree for certain positions, and a degree can make candidates more competitive in the job market.

Higher Earning Potential

One of the most significant benefits of obtaining a college degree is the higher earning potential it provides. College graduates tend to earn more than those with only a high school diploma, and this trend holds across various professions and industries.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , in 2021, the median weekly earnings for workers with a bachelor's degree was $1,334, compared to $899 for those with a high school diploma only. Furthermore, individuals with an advanced degree, such as a master's or doctoral degree, tend to earn even more.

The higher earning potential of college graduates can be attributed to several factors. First, college graduates have specialized knowledge and skills that are highly valued in the workforce. They are trained to think critically, analyze complex problems, and communicate effectively, all of which are skills that are in high demand across various industries.

Second, many employers require a college degree for certain positions, especially those that involve complex tasks or require specialized knowledge. Therefore, having a college degree makes candidates more competitive in the job market and increases their chances of being hired.

Specialized Skills

Obtaining a college degree provides graduates with specialized skills and knowledge that are highly valued in the workforce. These skills and knowledge are developed through coursework, hands-on experience, and exposure to various learning environments.

Some of the specialized skills that college graduates possess include:

• Critical thinking and problem-solving : College graduates are trained to analyze complex problems, identify potential solutions, and make informed decisions.
• Communication skills : College graduates have honed their written and verbal communication skills , which are essential in many professional settings.
• Technical skills : Depending on the degree program, college graduates may have specialized technical skills that are in high demand, such as computer programming, data analysis, or engineering.
• Leadership skills : College graduates often have experience working in teams and leading projects, which can be valuable in management and leadership positions.
• Adaptability : College graduates are trained to adapt to changing environments and situations, which is essential in today's rapidly evolving job market.
• Cultural competency : College graduates are exposed to a diverse range of cultures and ideas, which can enhance their ability to work with people from different backgrounds.

Having specialized skills can make college graduates more attractive to employers and increase their chances of being hired for certain positions. These skills can also lead to higher salaries, as many employers are willing to pay a premium for specialized expertise.

Networking is an essential aspect of career development, and obtaining a college degree provides graduates with a valuable network of contacts. College graduates have access to a vast network of alumni, professors, classmates, and professionals in their field, which can provide numerous benefits throughout their careers.

Networking can lead to job opportunities, as many employers prefer to hire candidates through referrals. Building relationships with professionals in your field can help you learn about job openings before they are publicly advertised, giving you an advantage in the job market.

Career Advancement Opportunities

Obtaining a college degree can open up numerous career advancement opportunities for graduates. A college degree provides specialized knowledge and skills that can make graduates more competitive in the job market and eligible for higher-paying positions with greater responsibility and leadership opportunities.

A college degree can provide graduates with the opportunity to switch careers, as they have the skills and knowledge needed to transition to a new field. In addition, graduates with specialized skills and knowledge can also pursue industry certifications, which can increase their credibility and open up new career opportunities.

Increased Job Satisfaction

College graduates often work in fields they are passionate about, which can lead to greater job satisfaction. By pursuing their interests and passions, they are more likely to find fulfillment in their work. In addition, college graduates are often eligible for jobs with greater job security, such as those in government, education, or healthcare. Having a stable job can lead to greater job satisfaction, as employees feel more secure in their position.

Social Mobility and Economic Stability

College education can expose individuals to diverse perspectives, cultures, and ideas, which can broaden their understanding and empathy for others. This can help individuals develop stronger relationships, build social capital, and navigate social and economic barriers. However, that’s not all that a college education can help support social mobility. College can provide individuals with networking opportunities that can lead to job opportunities, mentorship, and access to resources that can help them move up the social and economic ladder.

In addition, a college education can provide individuals with access to a broader range of career opportunities, including those that require specialized skills and knowledge. This can lead to career advancement, which can provide individuals with greater social mobility.

As a result of a broader range of career opportunities, college graduates tend to have greater resilience to economic downturns, as they may have more skills, education, and experience to adapt to changing economic conditions. Also, college courses often include personal finance education, which can provide students with the knowledge and skills to manage their finances effectively, including budgeting, saving, investing, and managing debt. This can lead to greater financial stability and security over the long term, leading college graduates to have more economic stability.

Personal Development and Fulfillment

A college education can contribute to personal development and fulfillment through intellectual growth, self-discovery, personal growth, social connections, and a love of lifelong learning. This is because a college education can facilitate personal growth through experiences that challenge individuals to step outside of their comfort zones, take risks, and learn from their mistakes.

As a student works towards obtaining their degree, their time in college can be a time of self-discovery as individuals explore their interests, values, and beliefs. This can help individuals develop a sense of identity and purpose and make informed decisions about their personal and professional lives.

In addition, many colleges provide opportunities for social connections and community building, which can lead to a sense of belonging and fulfillment. The opportunities colleges provide for personal development can include participation in student organizations , cultural events, and community service.

Health and Well-Being

While not many people think about the ways a college can support an individual’s health and well-being, pursuing a college education can play a key role in a student’s life-long well-being.

Many colleges and universities provide access to healthcare services, including medical care, mental health counseling, and wellness programs. In addition, a college education can promote physical activity through organized sports programs, recreation facilities, and fitness classes.

In addition, a college education can provide a supportive environment for students through peer support networks, mentorship programs, and counseling services. A supportive environment can help students cope with challenges and promote overall well-being. Many campuses also promote stress management through stress reduction programs, mindfulness training, and counseling services.

Overcoming Challenges and Creating Opportunities

A college education is helpful for individuals looking to overcome challenges and create opportunities to flourish.

Pursuing a college education allows opportunities for innovating and creative solutions, which increases a student’s likelihood of success. A college education can expose individuals to diverse perspectives, cultures, and ideas, which can help them approach challenges and opportunities from multiple angles. College allows individuals to develop skills and exposure to diverse perspectives. These factors allow students to become more adaptable, resilient, and successful in the event of challenges.

Do you need a college degree to be successful?

If the answer to this question were a simple “yes,” then the decision to go to college would be easy. Many factors help make someone successful. But, for most successful people, college is one of those factors.

Is college necessary for a successful career?

Yes and no. College opens up opportunities both intellectually and socially that you wouldn’t have otherwise. You’re surrounded by a network of students and professionals from all walks of life. There’s a good chance one might be your connection to your future career.

As a college graduate, you’ll likely have better career prospects, higher pay, and a higher-skilled job. These factors often contribute to stability, success, and overall happiness.

Final Thoughts: Is college worth it?

Based on current evidence, trends, and statistics, yes, college is worth it . If you have a college degree, you should have an easier time finding, keeping, and enjoying your career. But, the ultimate decision is still up to you. If you’re still unsure if college is for you, consider contacting one of Crimson’s advisors. They can answer your questions, help you determine which college might be right for you, and guide you towards a path that will lead you to the career of your dreams.

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Why You Should Go to College

Fred dews fred dews managing editor, new digital products - office of communications @publichistory.

October 16, 2014

More students than ever before are enrolling in degree-granting institutions in the United States. Between 2001 and 2011, enrollment increased 32 percent while more women and more non-whites are entering postsecondary education than ever before (National Center for Educational Statistics). Brookings is home to extensive research on the benefits of and challenges to postsecondary education in America. This post highlights recent Brookings research on key areas related to the value of a college degree: the economic return to a college degree; student loan debt and paying for college; the changing model of postsecondary education; and overcoming barriers to college. All of it points to one conclusion, to quote Richard Reeves: “ go to college .”

Is college worth it? (yes, almost always)

Read: Regardless of the Cost, College Still Matters

The Hamilton Project has also recently studied how earnings vary across college majors. In a new interactive feature, the project found that “lifetime earnings vary tremendously by major” but that “a college degree—in any major—is important for advancing one’s earnings potential.”

Visit the  interactive .

Gary Burtless argues that “ The economic reward from attending and completing college has probably never been higher.” Despite the very real increase in costs to attend college and the tighter labor market college grads face today, the key to understanding why college still has such a big payoff, explains Burtless, “is that the prospects for twenty-somethings who do not complete college are much worse than those of the ones who do. What is more, the economic prospects of the young adults who do not complete college have worsened over time, and much faster than the prospects facing new college grads.”

Read:  College Is Not a Ludicrous Waste of Money .

Richard Reeves and Kerry Searle Grannis identify “five strong starts for social mobility,” one of which involves college. Although earning a high school diploma is “vitally necessary,” it “is not sufficient” to succeed in today’s economy. “Attending college,” they write, “even if not for a full four-year degree, results in labor market rewards: each additional year of school means, on average, an extra 10% return in annual income.”

Learn more about strong starts to boost social mobility .

How big a problem is student loan debt?

And yet, according to Beth Akers and Matt Chingos, “Our analysis of more than two decades of data on the financial well-being of American households suggests that the reality of student loans may not be as dire as many commentators fear.” Akers and Chingos analyzed a variety of factors that mitigate conclusions of a “crisis,” including: higher average debt levels of borrowers with graduate as opposed to bachelor’s degrees; average lifetime incomes of college-educated Americans are keeping pace with debt loads; and the monthly payment burden is about the same or a little less than it has been.

“These data indicate that typical borrowers are no worse off now than they were a generation ago, and also suggest that the borrowers struggling with high debt loads frequently featured in media coverage may not be part of a new or growing phenomenon,” they conclude.

Get more data and analysis on this issue here .

Akers also discusses the student loan issue and solutions in a recent Brookings Cafeteria podcast .

See also Susan Dynarski’s economic perspective on student debt , including whether there is a debt crisis; the costs and benefits of interest subsidies; and an income-based repayment system.

The Hamilton Project has also explored innovative policy proposals for higher education financing. These include: reforming federal lending and financial aid programs, such as the Pell Grant; expanding the use of “net-price calculators” to provide prospective students with a better estimate of the real cost of attending college; and a new system for federal lending that allows repayment schedules to rise and fall with a borrower’s income.

Learn more about  these proposals .

Akers has also called attention to “the plight of recent college grads” who are facing lower earnings, or even unemployment, at the beginnings of their careers but have immediate debt burdens to contend with. “It’s important,” Akers says, “to allow graduates to repay their debts during the times in their careers when they are reaping the economic benefits of their degrees.”

Read:  Assessing the Plight of Recent College Grads .

Isabel Sawhill says there are three ways to make college more affordable : government or philanthropy pick up more of the cost; borrow the money; improve the productivity of the sector “so that students learn as much (or more) but at a lower (or the same) cost.

Read what she proposes as possible solutions to the third way.

Akers explains how Income Share Agreements are another solution to finance higher education . ISAs “allow students to raise funds to pay for their degrees by selling ‘shares’ in their future earnings,” she explains.

Read: How Income Share Agreements Could Play a Role in Higher Ed Financing

Are there alternatives to four-year college?

Stuart Butler argues that college leaders should look at the recent experience of music, book and film industries and “recognize that the higher education industry is encountering a multi-pronged and existential threat composed of successive waves of disruptive innovation. This disruption will force top-to-bottom changes in the very concept of higher education and its relationship with the broader economy.”

Read:  Tottering Ivory Towers .    

In another piece, Butler explores what the future college business model will look like under today’s competitive pressures, which are intensifying, “particularly as the cost of information transfer to students declines to near zero.”

Read:  The Future College as Travel Agent .

Community college “will remain the most appropriate option for postsecondary learning” for many , especially those from less advantaged backgrounds, according to Quentin Karpilow and Richard Reeves. Although community college enrollees exhibit low completion rates, there is, they argue, “huge scope for improving mobility outcomes through the development of the community college system, especially by boosting Associate degree attainment rates and helping students transfer to 4-year institutions.”

Read more here  and find all of Brookings’s research on community colleges here .  

How do we address barriers to college access?

Should everyone go to college? Isabel Sawhill and Stephanie Owen’s research on the question shows that “on average, the benefits of a college degree far outweigh the costs.” The total wage premium over a lifetime for a bachelor’s degree is $570,000, they found. On average. But several “key dimensions significantly affect the return on a college degree,” they write, including: school selectivity, college major, and graduation rate.

See their interactive for more detail and also policy recommendations to help students make smart investments in postsecondary education. 

Sawhill has also pointed to another issue: an uneven playing field when it comes to college completion , high school preparation, and the intersection of these with class. Despite the well-understood link between college and higher income, and taking into account the research on the key dimensions that affect the return on a college degree, Sawhill finds that half of college students, “and much higher proportions of poor and minority students,” drop out before completing a degree. Thus, “despite our dedication to the idea of a higher education system open to all,” she writes, “we are not doing a very good job of leveling the playing field. The result is that opportunity is still linked too strongly to class.”

Learn more about Sawhill’s work on Higher Education and the Opportunity Gap .  

Ron Haskins testified to Congress that a “primary reason that disadvantaged students have trouble both getting into college and completing a degree is that they are not academically prepared to do college work.” He evaluated the major federal college-preparation programs and found that they have little or no impact on enrollment or graduation. He proposed a five-step reform to these programs.

Read his  testimony .

In a Hamilton Project report on policies to address poverty in America , Bridget Terry Long observes that “academic preparation may be an equally formidable barrier to postsecondary education.”

Read her three recommendations for better addressing the academic preparation problem with the hope of improving rates of college success.

Also as part of The Hamilton Project’s report , Harry Holzer argues that the high drop-out rate among low-income youth and adults and, for those who complete degrees, a choice of low-compensation fields “hurt the poor, and weaken the impacts of large national investments in higher education.” He proposes state- and federal-level reforms to improve earnings prospects for graduates and “to encourage two- and four-year colleges to be responsive to labor market demand.”

Read:  Improving Employment Outcomes for Disadvantaged College Students .

Visit the archive of Brookings’s research on U.S. higher education , and also the Brown Center on Education Policy .

Charmaine Crutchfield contributed to this post.

Higher Education

Sopiko Beriashvili, Michael Trucano

April 26, 2024

Richard V. Reeves, Ember Smith

Michael Trucano, Sopiko Beriashvili

April 25, 2024

Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

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Table of Contents

• Chapter 1: Overview
• Chapter 2: Trends in College Enrollment, Completion, Cost and Debt
• Chapter 3: Public Views and Experiences
• Chapter 4: Views of College Presidents
• Chapter 5: The Monetary Value of a College Education
• Appendix 1: Survey Methodology

Executive Summary

This report is based on findings from a pair of Pew Research Center surveys conducted this spring. One is a telephone survey taken among a nationally representative sample of 2,142 adults ages 18 and older. The other is an online survey, done in association with the Chronicle of Higher Education , among the presidents of 1,055 two-year and four-year private, public, and for-profit colleges and universities. ( See a description of our survey methodology. )

Here is a summary of key findings:

Survey of the General Public

• Cost and Value. A majority of Americans (57%) say the higher education system in the United States fails to provide students with good value for the money they and their families spend. An even larger majority—75%—says college is too expensive for most Americans to afford. At the same time, however, an overwhelming majority of college graduates—86%—say that college has been a good investment for them personally.
• Monetary Payoff. Adults who graduated from a four-year college believe that, on average, they are earning $20,000 more a year as a result of having gotten that degree. Adults who did not attend college believe that, on average, they are earning $20,000 a year less as a result. These matched estimates by the public are very close to the median gap in annual earnings between a high school and college graduate as reported by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2010: $19,550. A more detailed Pew Research Center analysis ( see Chapter 5 ) shows that this gap varies by type of degree and field of study.
• Student Loans. A record share of students are leaving college with a substantial debt burden, and among those who do, about half (48%) say that paying off that debt made it harder to pay other bills; a quarter say it has made it harder to buy a home (25%); and about a quarter say it has had an impact on their career choices (24%).
• Why Not College? Nearly every parent surveyed (94%) says they expect their child to attend college, but even as college enrollments have reached record levels, most young adults in this country still do not attend a four-year college. The main barrier is financial. Among adults ages 18 to 34 who are not in school and do not have a bachelor’s degree, two-thirds say a major reason for not continuing their education is the need to support a family. Also, 57% say they would prefer to work and make money; and 48% say they can’t afford to go to college.
• Split Views of College Mission. Just under half of the public (47%) says the main purpose of a college education is to teach work-related skills and knowledge, while 39% say it is to help a student grow personally and intellectually; the remainder volunteer that both missions are equally important. College graduates place more emphasis on intellectual growth; those who are not college graduates place more emphasis on career preparation.
• For Most College Graduates, Missions Accomplished. Among survey respondents who graduated from a four-year college, 74% say their college education was very useful in helping them grow intellectually; 69% say it was very useful in helping them grow and mature as a person; and 55% say it was very useful in helping them prepare for a job or career.
• Above All, Character. While Americans value college, they value character even more. Asked what it takes for a young person to succeed in the world, 61% say a good work ethic is extremely important and 57% say the same about knowing how to get along with people. Just 42% say the same about a college education.

Survey of Presidents

• Right or Wrong Direction? Six-in-ten college presidents say the system of higher education in this country is headed in the right direction, but a substantial minority—38%—say it is headed in the wrong direction.
• Declining Student Quality. A majority of college presidents (58%) say public high school students arrive at college less well prepared than their counterparts of a decade ago; just 6% say they are better prepared. Also, 52% of presidents say college students today study less than their predecessors did a decade ago; just 7% say they study more.

Interactive

Explore the attitudes of the public and of college presidents about the value, cost, quality, mission and payoff of higher education.

• We’re Not Number One. Only 19% of college presidents say the U.S. system of higher education is the best in the world now, and just 7% say they believe it will be the best in the world ten years from now. Most presidents —51%—describe the U.S. system as one of the best in the world.
• Doubts about Achieving Obama’s Goal. Nearly two-thirds of college presidents (64%) say it is unlikely that, by 2020, the U.S. will achieve the goal set by President Obama to have the highest share of young adults with a college degree or certificate of any country in the world.
• Who Should Pay? Nearly two-thirds of college presidents (63%) say students and their families should pay the largest share of the cost of a college education. Just 48% of the public agrees. An equal share of the public would prefer that the bulk of the cost of a college education be borne by the federal government, state governments, private endowments or some combination.
• Split Views of College Mission. Presidents are evenly divided about the main role colleges play in students’ lives: Half say it is to help them mature and grow intellectually, while 48% say it is to provide skills, knowledge and training to help them succeed in the working world. Most heads of four-year colleges and universities emphasize the former; most heads of two-year and for-profit schools emphasize the latter.
• Measuring Grade Inflation: Just over a quarter (27%) of college presidents say that the faculty at their own institution grades students too leniently. Only 1% says they grade students too stringently. The vast majority (73%) says students are graded about right.
• Scant Enthusiasm for Faculty Tenure. Only a quarter (24%) of presidents say that, if given a choice, they would prefer that most faculty at their institution be tenured. About seven-in-ten say they would prefer that faculty be employed on annual or long term contracts.

About the Surveys

This report is largely based on findings from two Pew Research Center surveys conducted in the spring of 2011.

The general public survey (GP) is based on telephone interviews conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,142 adults ages 18 and older living in the continental United States, including an oversample of 336 adults ages 18-34. A total of 1,052 interviews were completed with respondents contacted by landline telephone and 1,090 with those contacted on their cellular phone. The data are weighted to produce a final sample that is representative of the general population of adults in the continental United States. Survey interviews were conducted under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International, in English and Spanish. For more details, see Appendix 1.

• Interviews conducted March 15-29, 2011
• 2,142 interviews
• Margin of sampling error is plus or minus 2.7 percentage points for results based on the total sample and 4.5 percentage points for adults 18 to 34 years old at the 95% confidence level.

The college presidents survey (P) is based on a web survey conducted with 1,055 college and university presidents in the U.S. The survey was designed by the Pew Research Center in association with the Chronicle of Higher Education. Overall, 1,022 interviews were completed online and 33 interviews were completed by phone (for the presidents who requested being interviewed by phone). The college and university presidents surveyed are from four major sectors: 1) private four-year colleges and universities; 2) public four-year colleges and universities; 3) two-year public and private colleges; 4) four-year and two-year for-profit colleges and universities. The data were weighted to correct for disproportionate non-response that might bias sample estimates. The weighting accounts for both the institution type and geographic distribution of the colleges and universities eligible to take part in the survey. Survey interviews were conducted in English under the direction of Princeton Survey Research Associates International. For more details, see Appendix 1.

• Interviews conducted March 15-April 24, 2011
• 1,055 interviews
• Margin of error is plus or minus 2.8 percentage points at the 95% confidence level for results based on the total sample, 4.8 percentage points for presidents of four-year public universities, 3.8 percentage points for presidents of four-year private universities, 4.6 percentage points for presidents of two-year colleges (public or private), and 11.3 percentage points for presidents of private for-profit colleges and universities.

Notes on Terminology

Unless otherwise noted, “college graduates” refers to those who graduated from a four-year college and hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.

In referring to institutions of higher education, the terms “school,” “institution,” “college” and “university” are used interchangeably, except that “university” does not apply to two-year institutions.

“Private college” refers to private (as opposed to public) not-for-profit (NFP) colleges and universities. This term is not intended to apply to private, for-profit colleges.

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Why College is Worth It?

How it works

We are told to “”go to college”” by family, media, and teachers, but we are never given and explanation on why it is important for us to gain a higher education. The importance of a higher education is because it gives you and your peers an advantage. College is a beneficial experience and sets up a great path towards a healthy future. While you are creating your future, college helps you help your peers along the way.

Yet on the other side of things there are others who contend that College is not for everyone.

One of their reasons is that “” Millions of Americans who went to college seeking a better future now face crushing debt from student loans—while the industry makes a handsome profit”” (Student Loan Debt Crisis). In the end most students are stuck with a large debt, while they end up getting a job that a college degree is not even needed.

On the other hand, yes there can be some flaws with the loans and debt but in the long run college is a great path to many opportunities. One of the many ways college is beneficial, is that College graduates donate and volunteer more, “”College attendance increases generosity significantly,”” writes Trostel. With this students gain invaluable experiences, whether working for popular organizations such as Habitat for Humanity or directly with organizations on their campus that have meaningful and confident effects on the community and help students build skills and their resumes for future employment. Making college, very much worth it.

Not only does college give you experience, but it also sets you up for more options, and leads you to higher paying jobs. According to the bureau of labor statistics, in 2010, “” the median weekly earnings for someone with some college but no degree were $715, compared to $1038 for a college graduate”” (Andrew Rotherman 86-87). This increase in income is due to having a college background. With a degree more doors for higher paying jobs and careers are opened. Because you need to have a good education to be wanted by higher paying jobs. As Barack Obama once said “”You want to become a nurse or an architect, a lawyer or a member of our military? You are going to need a good educations for every single one of those careers”” (Obama 71). If you were to just drop out of college and expect to get a high paying job, that just would not be accurate. With a good job comes hard work and dedication. So in going to college it is very beneficial.

Finally, having a college degree is more likely to help you to earn more money in the future over your lifetime. College graduate earn far more money than the average person without that same college education. So if it seems like you would be able to earn good money right out of highschool, take another look at the long term effects from college and you will see that college definitely pays off more. So overall by attending college, students have a greater chance of economic success in the future, have a better quality of life, and undergo a great opportunity to explore a wide variety of possible paths.

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Home — Essay Samples — Education — College Tuition — Persuasive Whether College Is Worth It

Persuasive Whether College is Worth It

• Categories: College College Students College Tuition

About this sample

Words: 1411 |

Published: Jan 28, 2021

Words: 1411 | Pages: 3 | 8 min read

Works Cited

• Leonhardt, D. (2014). Is College Worth It? Clearly, New Data Say. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/27/upshot/is-college-worth-it-clearly-new-data-say.html
• Barrett, J. (2016). What's the Value of a College Education? It Depends. CNBC. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2016/01/13/whats-the-value-of-a-college-education-it-depends.html
• Le, J. (2016). What Does It Mean to Be a College Grad? U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved from https://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/college-admissions-playbook/articles/2016-01-14/what-does-it-mean-to-be-a-college-graduate
• Nemko, M. (2012). We Send Too Many Students to College. The Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved from https://www.chronicle.com/article/we-send-too-many-students-to-college/
• Stephens, D. (2011). College is a Waste of Time. The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748704101604576247143383496656
• Carnevale, A. P., Rose, S. J., & Cheah, B. (2011). The College Payoff: Education, Occupations, Lifetime Earnings. Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce.
• Baum, S., Ma, J., & Payea, K. (2013). Education Pays 2013: The Benefits of Higher Education for Individuals and Society. The College Board.
• Pascarella, E. T., & Terenzini, P. T. (2005). How College Affects Students: A Third Decade of Research. Jossey-Bass.
• Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2021). Education pays. U.S. Department of Labor. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2020/data-on-display/education-pays.htm
• Vedder, R. (2012). Going Broke by Degree: Why College Costs Too Much. AEI Press.

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College May Not Be Worth It Anymore

By Ellen Ruppel Shell

Ms. Ruppel Shell writes about science, social justice and the economy.

• May 16, 2018

Last year, New York became the first state to offer all but its wealthiest residents tuition-free access to its public community colleges and four-year institutions. Though this Excelsior Scholarship didn’t make college completely free, it highlights the power of the pro-college movement in the United States.

Recent decades have brought agreement that higher education is, if not a cure, then at least a protection against underemployment and the inequality it engenders. In 2012, President Barack Obama called a college degree an “economic imperative that every family in America has to be able to afford.”

Americans strove to rise to that challenge: A third of them ages 25 to 29 now hold at least a bachelor’s degree, and many paid heavily for the privilege. By last summer, Americans owed more than $1.3 trillion in student loans, more than two and a half times what they owed a decade earlier.

Young people and their families go into debt because they believe that college will help them in the job market. And on average it does. But this raises a question: Does higher education itself offer that benefit, or are the people who earn bachelor’s degrees already positioned to get higher-paying jobs?

If future income was determined mainly by how much education people received, then you would assume that some higher education would be better than none. But this is often not the case.

People who have dropped out of college — about 40 percent of all who attend — earn only a bit more than do people with only a high school education: $38,376 a year versus $35,256. For many, that advantage is barely enough to cover their student loan debt.

And not all have even that advantage: African-American college dropouts on average earn less than do white Americans with only a high school degree. Meanwhile, low-income students of all races are far more likely to drop out of college than are wealthier students. Even with scholarships or free tuition, these students struggle with hefty fees and living costs, and they pay the opportunity cost of taking courses rather than getting a job.

The value of a college degree also varies depending on the institution bestowing it. The tiny minority of students who attend elite colleges do far better on average than those who attend nonselective ones. Disturbingly, black and Hispanic students are significantly less likely than are white and Asian students to attend elite colleges, even when family income is controlled for. That is, students from wealthy black and Hispanic families have a lower chance of attending an elite college than do students from middle-class white families.

It’s a cruel irony that a college degree is worth less to people who most need a boost: those born poor. This revelation was made by the economists Tim Bartik and Brad Hershbein. Using a body of data, the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, which includes 50 years of interviews with 18,000 Americans, they were able to follow the lives of children born into poor, middle-class and wealthy families.

[Read the Op-Ed from Tim Bartik and Brad Hershbein on the value of a degree, “ College Does Help the Poor .”]

They found that for Americans born into middle-class families, a college degree does appear to be a wise investment. Those in this group who received one earned 162 percent more over their careers than those who didn’t.

But for those born into poverty, the results were far less impressive. College graduates born poor earned on average only slightly more than did high school graduates born middle class. And over time, even this small “degree bonus” ebbed away, at least for men: By middle age, male college graduates raised in poverty were earning less than nondegree holders born into the middle class. The scholars conclude, “Individuals from poorer backgrounds may be encountering a glass ceiling that even a bachelor’s degree does not break.”

The authors don’t speculate as to why this is the case, but it seems that students from poor backgrounds have less access to very high-income jobs in technology, finance and other fields. Class and race surely play a role.

We appear to be approaching a time when, even for middle-class students, the economic benefit of a college degree will begin to dim. Since 2000, the growth in the wage gap between high school and college graduates has slowed to a halt ; 25 percent of college graduates now earn no more than does the average high school graduate.

Part of the reason is oversupply. Technology increased the demand for educated workers, but that demand has been consistently outpaced by the number of people — urged on by everyone from teachers to presidents — prepared to meet it.

No other nation punishes the “uneducated” as harshly as the United States. Nearly 30 percent of Americans without a high school diploma live in poverty, compared to 5 percent with a college degree, and we infer that this comes from a lack of education. But in 28 other wealthy developed countries, a lack of a high school diploma increases the probability of poverty by less than 5 percent. In these nations, a dearth of education does not predestine citizens for poverty.

It shouldn’t here, either: According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, fewer than 20 percent of American jobs actually require a bachelor’s degree. By 2026, the bureau estimates that this proportion will rise, but only to 25 percent.

Why do employers demand a degree for jobs that don’t require them? Because they can.

What all this suggests is that the college-degree premium may really be a no-college-degree penalty. It’s not necessarily college that gives people the leverage to build a better working life, it’s that not having a degree decreases whatever leverage they might otherwise have.

This distinction is more than semantic. It is key to understanding the growing chasm between educational attainment and life prospects. For most of us, it’s not our education that determines our employment trajectory but rather where that education positions us in relation to others.

None of this is to suggest that higher education is not desirable: I’ve encouraged my own children to take that path. But while we celebrate the most recent crop of college graduates, we should also acknowledge the many more Americans who will never don a cap and gown. They, too, deserve the chance to prove themselves worthy of good work, and a good life.

Ellen Ruppel Shell , a professor of journalism at Boston University, is the author of the forthcoming “The Job: Work and Its Future in a Time of Radical Change.”

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter (@NYTopinion) , and sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter .

Look closer at the value and attainability of a college education

Alarm over sticker price overlooks many nuances of college affordability

It would be great if we had a college pricing system that was transparent, sensible, and affordable. Unfortunately, that largely doesn’t exist. But it also does not help when scare tactics are used in identifying the failures of the system. Susan D’Agostino’s April 19 op-ed falls into that trap (“Six reasons why $90,000 college costs are bad news even if few pay that amount”).

I agree with D’Agostino that colleges do a poor job of communicating their pricing. Lower- and middle-income students have a tough time understanding need-based financial aid. Higher-income students do not know that they are likely to receive merit awards that reduce the sticker price at many institutions. For many students and families, the ultimate price that they pay is still beyond what they can afford.

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However, except for students from higher-income families who attend highly selective institutions, very few students pay the sticker price. So harping on the $90,000 figure just confuses students further. It is the net price of college that reflects what students really have to pay, not the sticker price. Yes, that includes loans — a concern D’Agostino raises. When the net price is higher, students may borrow more. But for most students at most institutions, they should disregard the sticker price.

Finally, I strongly disagree with D’Agostino’s argument that financial aid is not “an antidote to exorbitant college costs.” More financial aid is the solution. Those institutions charging the highest sticker prices and meeting full need have very large endowments. They provide the most financial aid. They are the least expensive schools for lower- and middle-income students to attend (if the student can get in) because they have the resources to make that happen. Other institutions are less equipped or unable to do that because they don’t have the money. That money needs to come from somewhere, meaning either greater direct support from the state or more federal funding for financial aid. Along with better communication from the schools themselves, that is what is needed to solve the problem.

Phillip B. Levine

The writer is the Katharine Coman and A. Barton Hepburn Professor of Economics at Wellesley College and the author of “A Problem of Fit: How the Complexity of College Pricing Hurts Students — and Universities.”

Hard-working applicants shouldn’t be blinded by neon dollar signs

Families making the life-changing decision about college deserve better than misleading headlines about cost, especially when the message could make a hard-working, smart student think college isn’t worth it.

The headlines may draw clicks, but as Yvonne Abraham pointed out in a recent Metro column, for most families, college is not going to cost them $90,000 a year. In reality, it is less than half for most students, and for many low-income students, far less than that.

Other headlines question whether college is really worth it. But even critical stories often cite the obvious: For most students, it is life-changing on numerous levels. College graduates age 22 to 27 earn $24,000 a year more than their peers who did not get a degree, according to a study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York . By age 55, the college graduate is earning 60 percent more annually than the peer without a degree. College graduates are more likely to be employed ; to have paid vacation, sick time, and health insurance ; and in general to report that they are happier with their lives.

For their sake and the sake of our economy and the Commonwealth’s competitiveness, let’s hope kids considering college don’t just read the alarming headlines and opt out of transformative opportunities.

Rob McCarron

President and CEO

Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts

Globe Opinion