By Cassidy Doome’
As we bring in the new year, the end of our school year quickly approaches. In this time seniors are looking into what to do with their futures. Although most students plan on going on to post-secondary education, as the result of the recent economic downturn, many college graduates are not finding well-paying jobs. This leads students to ask the very important question, “Is college worth it?”
In 2000, for a four year institution education costed, on average, $12,922 a year. In 2013, this average cost rose to $22,092. This almost a $10,000 difference within only 13 years. Education has been known to be one of the highest rising costs since 2000. This trend also doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Some believe that the cost of education buries a young person in debt that they will spend a significant portion of their life attempting to pay it off.
This rising cost is starting to concern students about whether or not their college education is worth the time and money. Some students believe that the opportunity cost of college is too high and they would rather be working for the four years they would be spending in college. Although this might accumulate income quicker, in the long run it has been proven that people with bachelor’s degrees earn around $1 million more over their lifetimes that those with only a high school diploma. ("Is College Worth It?")
Some high school graduates believe that because someone earns more money doesn’t mean that they are more successful or happy. A Gallup Business Journal survey asked a sample population of Americans to rate their lives on their well-being. Well-being was defined as someone with happiness or wealth. The sample population was asked to rate their well-being within 5 different types of well-being. Those being career, social, financial, physical and community. The study showed a direct correlation between well-being, in all 5 categories, and education. Americans with higher education, on average voted to be more well off.
Although the rising cost of post-secondary education frightens some students, the payoff of college education is worth the four years and high tuition costs. When students look at the gross cost of college it seems like a debt that is almost too large to overcome. With scholarships, grants and student loans students can get the cost of education down to a more realistic cost. Over all it comes down to how hard the student will work to get the cost of education to something they can afford. Without any effort, students can drowned in debt, but with motivation students can create opportunities for themselves with their college degree. The way I look at it, just because someone goes to college, doesn’t mean that they will be successful. With a college degree, there is a higher possibility that students will be successful than with just a high school diploma. This, for some students, makes it worth the time and money spen
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Works Cited
"Analysis of Financial Terrorism in America." Analysis of Financial Terrorism in America. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2014. <http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/sociopolitica/sociopol_globalelite72.htm>.
"Are College Degrees Useless?."YouTube. YouTube, 23 May 2013. Web. 6 Jan. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5vwvQs7kks>.
"Is College Worth It?." Is College Worth It?. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2014. <http://businessjournal.gallup.com/content/164108/college-worth.aspx>.
"National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a part of the U.S. Department of Education." National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Home Page, a part of the U.S. Department of Education. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Jan. 2014. <http://nces.ed.gov/>.
"Tutorial 3." Savingforcollege.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2014. <http://www.savingforcollege.com/tutorial101/the_real_cost_of_higher_education.php>.
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Cassidy,
ReplyDeleteThe topic of the value of a college degree is, understandably, a very popular topic among high school students. Excellent supporting video! I recommend that every high school student take time to view it. It emphasizes the value of a technical school degree and what value they bring to our society, economy, and one's [the degree-holder's] personal well-being.
Regarding your post, I'm not entirely clear as to where you stand on this topic. In the body of your post, you say that college grads make about $1 million more per year in their lifetimes than those with only a high school diploma. However, you conclude your post by saying that [whether they have a bachelors degree or not] "it all depends on how much effort a person is willing to put in" to be successful. Perhaps if you'd spent a bit more text defining "success," your post would be more clear and cohesive.
Thank you!
Mr. Batterman
That graph is spot on as far as showing what you're trying to express. It's generally pretty hard to tell if the rising costs are just a normal part of inflation or if they're excessive. From your graph it clearly is a lot more than that. A lot of school seems like brainwashing into the idea that a 4 year degree is the only way to be successful in life. This myth is widespread and far inaccurate. So many people believe that an education will always be worth the money, but you do a nice job of evaluating whether it really is worth it.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I understand your conclusion I do not completly agree with it. College may end up paying off on average for Americans but that is just "on average". The kind of people that really benifit from an education are the ones with a clear plan and an idea as to what they want to do in life. These are the kind of people that need to attend school so they can be qualified to work in there chosen career. On the flip side, you have a fairly large part of the population who has no idea what they want to do. These are people that feel they have to attend a four year college even if they are not at all interested in there major. For people like this, college is not the right thing to do. If you do not go to college for something you are really into, you will end up without a job and burried in debt as your graph shows. Overall college may work for people "on average" but that is very different than college working for everyone.
ReplyDeleteThis question has been rising in high school students for years. Teachers and parents continue to encourage it while others have mixed opinions. In my situation I believe I must go to college for the profession I want to go into. Others may not need a college education for the profession they are choosing to follow. But jobs are becoming harder and harder to come by, so a college degree of some sorts would not hurt a person's job chances. Lately I have noticed that those who don't have degrees are the one's seen looking for jobs or working at places like Wal-Mart at a low wage.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a good topic to talk about, especially with all of us seniors trying to decide what to do with the next years of our life. I think many of us have been mind boggled at the price of our future, but I think you are right - it is definitely worth the investment. The job market is highly competitive these days and even just getting your bachelor's degree isn't good enough - most people have to get there masters in order to have any security in finding a good, high paying job. I also think that colleges want you to succeed, so if you work hard and keep up good grades, they will help you manage tuition costs. However, I like your closing statement. It really is all about the effort, and I think it's about finding something you love and something you are passionate about and finding a way to make that what you do for the rest of your life; the rest will work itself out.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that college is worth it. At a first glance, it may appear to be overwhelming with costs and the over-bearing amount of schoolwork, in the end of this process a great profession will be able to help someone make a living. I feel like some kids aren't motivated enough to look past these obstacles and just give up completely. Once you look at the big picture of things, the college experience will definitely be worth it.
ReplyDeleteAs we are seniors looking for colleges and worrying about the resulting costs, this is extremely relevant to us. Personally, I think that college is definitely worth it. Although it is expensive, you will be able to pay it off with the good job you get as a result of your high level of education. It is proven that those who attend college make much more money and have a higher quality of life than those who don’t, even despite student loans and other corresponding costs. It’s scary to think that these costs are rising, and will probably be much more expensive when our children are in college, but to me, education and college is very important and necessary in order to make a decent living.
ReplyDeleteThe rising cost of college makes me question if the benefits outweigh the costs to go to college. Yet for me to do what I want to do, which is to be an engineer, I have to get a college degree. So I believe that taking the risk of taking loans to pay for college will be worth it if I will use my degree to get the job that I want.
ReplyDeleteEven though the price of education is rising, it will almost always be worth it. if college students are having trouble finding jobs or good wages, then non college students are having an ever harder time. i just see the prices raising as a way for colleges to thin out the number of people that are able to go to their school. raising their prices may also be a way for schools to appear more prestige, since high costs generally relate to high quality with people
ReplyDeleteEducation is obviously very important, but is it honestly worth it paying $50,000 a year. By the time a degree comes in place you will be in deficit by almost $200,000 or more. In my mind it is a must for me for the career path I would like to do. I know that I will be risking dept and that is the same for everyone in college.
ReplyDeleteDespite the statistics in this blog post, I believe that college definitely is worth it. Just recently in class we learned that one of the rules to making money is getting a good education. The more education you have, the more successful you will likely be. I think that in the long run, college pays off because you will get a better job with a college education.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you. College can, clearly, be very expensive. But based on ones personal goals and level of seriousness, only they can determine if drowning in a pool full of debt is worth it. I definitely encourage everyone to continue schooling, regardless the cost it takes, because it is nearly impossible now a days to live an exceptional life above the poverty line with a job that does not require a college degree.
ReplyDeleteCollege is definitely worth it if a job you desire requires it. Student loan debt can easily be paid with a payment plan. Alternative methods are available as well such as military, student aid, and multiple ridiculous grants for various things such as nationality, disability, and others.
ReplyDeleteAfter talking today about the steps to becoming a millionaire, it is definitely ideal that a person goes to college if they want to maintain a stable and safe bank account. Now, that is not to say that those who do not go to college can make due, but college is very beneficial as one of the steps to becoming a millionaire is having a full education, so the more education you receive, the better off your are likely to be. Now, college doesn't come cheap, so I do understand where people can question attending college, but in the end you will have greater opportunities with jobs and essentially get you further in life.
ReplyDeleteIf someone wants to have a much higher chance of making more money than the average American it's almost a necessity to go to college. Even though college is a lot of money (unless you get your tuition paid for you), it's definitely worth it in the long run.
ReplyDeleteYou have a great argument, using not only monetary data, but the more important factor of "well-being" as proof for college being worth it. But, I wonder how a 5 or 6-year education would affect this data, if it would still be worth it compared to no education, or would it even be worth it compared to a 4-year education? Also, another idea -- uncommon, of course -- is the effect of people who genuinely enjoy the learning in college on the offsetting of monetary costs.
ReplyDeleteGetting a college education is probably the next most important thing someone can do after graduating high school. If someone wants a high paying, stable, and job of their choice, they absolutely need to have a college degree. It is really scary that college graduates are having a hard time finding jobs. It is also extremely unfair to those who have jobs and did not go to college. Personally, I have chose a career in which job security is not a problem. That's one thing that is really important as we grow up and near starting our own lives. While college is ridiculously expensive it is do-able and necessary to live comfortably.
ReplyDeleteGood argument. I think the thing about college degrees is simple to many people get degrees that are not useful. For examples how many communication majors do we need? Graduates with degrees in chemical engineering have plenty of opportunity to get jobs on the other hand. It is more what you get in college than the school you go to. It is still alarming how much the cost of college has changed in the past ten years though.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great topic. I believe that overall college is worth the money. However, it is not right for everybody. If you are a person who is not very motivated and is just going to college without any real purpose of being there, then it is probably a waste of money. But, for most people, college is very beneficial as it opens up many more job opportunities in the future. As long as you are willing to put in the time and effort, you will definitely get your moneys worth for paying for college.
ReplyDeleteCollege does create debt for a lot of students and they can spend years trying to pay it back. Often times college students will live off of ramen noodles or other cheap foods because that is all that they can afford on a regular basis. College is not some place to blow off because of the cost you are paying to be there. By going out and partying instead of studying and getting good grades, all that money spent on your education was a complete waste.
ReplyDeleteMore and more people are going to college each year which I believe attributes to the fact of college prices rising. The percentage of people applying to a four year college now a days is so much higher than when our parents went to school and wages have increased in the jobs that require a college degree along with the cost of getting that degree. There isn't a way out of it going to college will cause some sort of money loss but the money and knowledge gained over time is what makes it all worth it.
ReplyDeleteEven though college prices are high as of right know I think that it is still of benefit to get a higher education. A higher education is going to pay off int he long run since many jobs want people with some sort of college education rather than just being a high school graduate. Not everyone is going to be so successful without more schooling some important people throughout history. Just because they made it without a college degree doesn't mean everyone can. College is going to cost a lot now no matter which way people are going to look at it. High college tuition sucks but it is going to be of a benefit later.
ReplyDeleteI thought that this was a really great topic, that many of us high school students are able to relate to. With some of us now applying to colleges, it's scary how fast time has gone by. The costs are expensive, but there is always scholarships that go unclaimed, and we have a long time to pay the money back. I think people also forget that you can always go to a smaller school that is less expensive and then transfer, potentially saving you thousands.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this topic because it is something that most of us can relate to. I liked that you actually included calculations on various colleges and their costing so show us really how much college really is. I also liked that you compared the cost of college from 2000 and the present costing to show us really how much the cost of college has changed. Lastly, I liked that you included a graph to show us College Tuition Costs-the Inflation Nightmare- because it really is a nightmare when you are having to pay off college for the rest of your life when you can go to high school for a few hundred dollars. Nice job and great topic!
ReplyDeleteSeeing that I'm going to college next year, even if it is still a little expensive, it's still a very good idea to go. I know some kids want to go and make money right away after high school which is fine, but the jump and go get a college education is a great opportunity. There's a greater chance to get paid better later on in life if you graduate from college over just graduating from high school. There are also a lot of scholarships that kids can get in order to make college just a little cheaper. College is expensive, but it might be worth the risk.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you Cassidy, the over all payout of getting a job that requires a college degree is worth the high costs of college. Although if students suffer from shortage of money and cannot afford the schooling there are alternative routes. This includes loans, military, or even technical colleges. These will either help pay for schooling or just make the price cheaper.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. Everyone should go to college to get a great career to have a great life. Most people have to take out student loans and will paying them off years after they have graduated. But an college is necessary and the loans will be worth it if you give the college experience your all it won't be a waste of money.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to see how the debt collected from public colleges might stack up against the debt collected from a private institution, particularly somewhere prestigious like Harvard. Does the debt accumulated from Harvard take up the same percentage of income for its students as the debt from a public college would due to better opportunities/more intensive education/etc? Many high school graduates believe they need to attend a name-brand college to succeed, when in reality it's probably more beneficial to attend a less pricey college that offers the same quality of education.
ReplyDeleteThis was really interesting and relevant for a lot of us. I agree that college for most students is beneficial, but for some I could see where it would not be in their interest. Although income inequality is caused by different levels education and training, some people know that they are not meant for school. Those people hopefully see that the opportunity costs outweigh the education but that is only in certain circumstances. Overall, I definitely agree most of the time that with today's society education is a necessity.
ReplyDeleteThe idea that everyone has to go to college in order to make more money is absurd. We are constantly pushing for every child to go to college, and kids feel like they absolutely have to. While this is the case for most people, there are still a number of jobs that do not require a 4 year education to obtain. The country cannot survive without unskilled and semi-skilled labor. Jobs like truck drivers, plumbers and electricians are essential for this country to survive, and yet people that are qualified to do these jobs are disappearing because everyone feels like going to a 4 year college and getting a generic degree will provide a better life for them, only to come out of college and not be able to find a job, and ending working up minimum wage at an unskilled position. College is not for everyone, and although for the majority of people it will provide a better life for them, this is not the case for some.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very relevant topic for most of us in this class, and something we must consider very seriously. Money doesn't grow on trees, and we will not always live beneath our parents house, under their income. Once we are 18, we're adults and we must decide if college will give us a better way of living, or if we would rather work the rest of our lives or another option. From your article as well as many other articles I have read, it has been proven that by earning a college education, you will absolutely earn more and have a higher standard of living than if you were to not earn education past high school.
ReplyDeleteI think that it is very important for a person to get a college degree in their lifetime. I agree that college may be expensive and stressful but in the long-run it is well worth the time and money. Although I agree that college is important, it isn't for everyone. I completely agree that people go to college will earn more money but not everyone is fit for college. But then if a person doesn't go to college, they don't have the luxury of more income later in life. As us seniors are going into our last semester of school and preparing for college, we need to understand that college may be expensive right now, but over time it will be well worth it.
ReplyDeleteEven with the rapidly rising cost of college, I still agree that college is the best option for all young adults. It is true, college isn't for everybody but if a student wants to make good money in a specific profession, college is about the only option they have. Our generation faces a very competitive job market and one will not simply succeed without a college degree. It is possible to make a good living without a college education, but the chances and opportunities these days are very select. Like you reference, college graduates make on average a million dollars more than someone with just a high school diploma. Receiving a college degree is very vital and necessary in making money and being hired in a profession.
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