The Value of a College Education
Why is it important to achieve a college degree, certificate or diploma? Generally speaking, what is the importance of having a college education? This is a question that I have been debating and fighting with myself for the past five years. Is it because with a college education a person can get a better job, earn more money and ensure himself of a better life? Or is the whole concept of college a fraud and a scam to manipulate individuals in feeling inferior without it? In this paper, I am going to enlighten you of the pros and cons of having a valid college education and what it means to me.
Senator John Kerry said in a 2004 presidential debate that “Our college students represent only 20 percent of our population, but they are 100 percent of our future. They are our greatest investment, and we must help them understand the importance of investing in their selves.” Today a college education is something to be treasured. In both earning potential and learning potential, a college education is worth every dime and penny. Just like any investment, a college education requires planning, saving, and perhaps some sacrifice. But it is an investment that will continue to pay you back for a lifetime. Individuals with a college education have better job opportunities, earn more money and develop skills and knowledge that can never be taken away. So in agreeing with Senator Kerry, making the investment of a college education is the greatest investment we will ever make.
By attending college, students guarantees themselves a better job that the average Joe. Because the world is changing rapidly, and many jobs rely on new technology, more jobs require education beyond high school. With a college education, an individual will have more jobs from which to choose. In addition to obtaining a better job, people who go to college usually earn more money than those who do not. College furnishes you with proper credentials and documents to land high-level jobs. Figures from an A&E television program on ‘The Working Class’ show that in 2004 the average earnings were $23,895 for a high school graduate and $41,478 for individuals with a bachelor’s degree. Getting a college education is simply a stepping stone in ensuring yourself with a good start in life. Some may agree that college students are open minded and knows exactly how to expre...
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...tion was only for the rich and powerful. Now it is available to everyone, this will have many advantages for our country, our people, and even our world. I definitely believe that it is impossible to be overeducated. The more people are educated, the better the world will be, because people will be able to discuss and exchange ideas. Another pro is that people with degrees have many more opportunities. They can take a wider variety of jobs and do what they enjoy doing, instead of being forced to take a job they dislike. Finally, although there are undoubtedly some problems with college as a business, I feel strongly that each and every individual can excel and gain from having a college education. A college education is the most valuable tool we can use; it’s a foundation that will carry anyone through a successful life. Remember Senator Kerry’s words on making a college investment your most important investment. We may only be 20 percent of the population today, but what we do and the choices we make are going to determine the future. And to me, a college education is a sound investment. An investment that with great dedication and determination will reap the very best rewards!
...all of the sides to whether college is worth the cost, it is evident that college is in fact worth the cost of tuition. College should be looked at as an investment. A college education will give the graduate more money in the end, than they invested. Even though there are temptations in college, the advantages that college gives their students far surpasses the amount of temptations there are along the way. Most college graduates graduate, and earn a degree by surpassing the temptations college gives, and instead taking in all of the advantages that it is able to offer. Even though college, becomes a redundant seven letter word, that people often get tired of hearing, college is the right step in life, for students after high school. A college education is a valuable investment that everyone should strive to achieve, and is completely worth the expensive cost.
Some students would argue that a college education is not a vital aspect of the future of children because it is too much schooling, costs too much, and it is not needed for their future. First of all, these students have struggled through 13 years of school whether elementary, middle, or high school. They have endured many long days and late nights to pass their classes. Although it is true that 4+ more years of school will be mentally tough and hard to endure, these important years will help shape
Throughout the years, America has always debated whether education is needed- if it helps people succeed or not. The argument in the past was always over high school education, which is now mandatory. That decision has helped the US rise economically and industrially. Today, the US is in the middle of the same debate- this time, over college. Some, like David Leonhardt, a columnist for the business section of The New York Times, think a college education creates success in any job. Others, such as Christopher Beha, an author and assistant editor of Harper’s Magazine, believe that some college “education” (like that of for-profit schools) is a waste of time, and can even be harmful to students. Each stance on this argument has truth to it, and there is no simple answer to this rising issue in an ever changing nation full of unique people. Any final decision would affect the United States in all factions- especially economically and socially. However, despite the many arguments against college, there is overwhelming proof that college is good for all students, academically or not.
Based on Three Reasons College Still Matters, there are three main reasons why a college education is so important. From an economical standpoint, an education is most of the time needed to earn enough money to live comfortably. Attending and completing college provides a possibility for future economic stability. Within a highly competitive workforce a college degree can put a foot in the door to a job of a person’s choice. Statistics show that people who obtain a bachelor’s degree or higher get paid more than those who do not obtain one. Many question the worth of a college degree because of how expensive it is, though some say that the money spent is an investment on a person’s future. One can say that the worth of a college education is within the eye of the beholder. Many q...
Although a college education grows more and more expensive every year. People begin to question whether college is a good idea to invest in or not. “As college costs continue to rise, students and their families are looking more carefully at what they are getting for their money. Increasingly, they are finding that the college experience falls short of their expectations”(Cooper. H Mary). Many people believe that the cost of a college degree has outstripped the value of a degree.Studies show that a college degree will increase your earning power. A lot of people say that a college degree now is worth what a high school diploma was wor...
Many Americans today tend to believe that a college education is valuable financially, yet some others strongly oppose this, since they look at the college education as being both time and money consuming. A person who successfully completes a college education may obtain one or all of the following; an associate’s degree after two years, a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or a PhD. The institutions that provide the college education can be public or private. Whereas a college education might be seen as being very expensive, it actually increases people’s chances of getting higher paying jobs, instills knowledge into them, and raises their enjoyment levels.
Due to the fact that a majority of people want a good amount of income, they choose to go to college. Majority of people choose to go to college so that they are able to receive a better salary and afford more possessions. Going to college will help you receive a better wage and a better job compared to those that only graduate from high school. College graduates are estimated to earn far more money over the course of a lifetime than compared to high school graduates (“President’s Perspective: Why go to College?”). This means that people who go to college are estimated to earn more money in one life time than that of someone who only graduated from high school. It is not always certain that going to college will get you a better salary but many statistics show that going to college can help. One of these statistics is the starting salaries of college graduates compared to those of a high school graduate. The starting salaries of college graduates are better than that of people who only graduated from high school. Starting salaries of college graduates are also steadily increasing over time. The overall average starting salary for a U.S. class of 2013 college graduates stands at $45,327, an increase of 2.4 percent over the report...
A great deal of people would say that earning a college degree is the most essential measure if life because it is what we would call part of the “American Dream.” We think of our future as going to school, getting into college, receiving a degree, finding a job, buying a house, and raising a family with our loved one. However, for most it’s not that simple. With so many dissenting opinions, some people question if they would even benefit from the value of having a college education. Yet the real question is: Is a college education worth it?
Even though college is not for everyone it should be an opportunity for every American. There are numerous benefits that come from getting a college education. Receiving a college education doesn’t just profit the person who is given the college degree. In an article written by Margaret Miller she stated, “In short, a college education has benefits that ripple down through the generations” (629). If your parents went to college then you are more likely to receive a college education. The benefits of someone going to college reach through all parts of society and incre...
College education goes about the way to an effective future for people who are not kidding with it. Currently, a college education has turned in the base necessity in securing a job in different companies and although some people might think college is not worth the debt, in a long run it actually is.
College is the place where people go to retain the necessary training for a job that requires specific skills, which results in earning a higher pay check. In today’s world, employers are scouting out for individuals with the proper dexterities to fill the shoes for that specific job. Blanche D. Blank, the author of “A Question of Degree," argues that possessing a degree of higher education isn’t the only way to have a very successful life. This statement is highly argumentative, due to the fact that college graduates still out-earn people without degrees. Obtaining a college degree is one of the best things someone can do for themselves, when it comes to looking for a stable job. There is also so much more to college than just receiving a
During high school, whether it is by a teacher, parent or classmate a student will be advised to go to college. “College is where you find yourself,” they will say. College is made to seem as the place where students will attain a brilliant education, thus making them feel as though once they are done with the schooling, a dependable job of high pay will appear for them. In our society, college is not a scarce option, but rather, an expectation. For many graduating high schoolers, college is the next step. Attaining a college degree is not necessary for creating a life for us as our civilization makes it out to be.
In today’s society, the idea of receiving a college education has been pondered quite a bit as to whether or not it is actually worth it. According to Michelle Adam, many people “…today believe that getting a good education is key to success in our society, this revealed surprising issues that challenge the notion of higher education being worth its price tag” (59). Naturally, many high school graduates apply for college right before or after graduation. Others decide to go into the work force, armed forces, or simply remain unemployed. The question that many people debate about is, is a college education worth it in the long run? Though some people believe a college education will benefit ones’ career, others believe it will cause a mass of debt and loans for college students and graduates, and postpone life events.
People in the past did not stress value of receiving a higher education because it was not as indispensable as it is today. Now, people perceive others not only by their appearances, but by their accomplishments. Employers always hire people with the most education and experience. The majority of students are concerned about getting a higher education throughout the years. Nevertheless, some people question the purposes of getting educated, and consider it meaningless. The concept of education has a significant meaning. It enables one to take control of knowledge and apply it. It is education what prepares the mind to comprehend and learn important ideas. A higher education is very important for an individual's success in life. It offers students skills that prepare them mentally, physically and socially for the world of work later in life. A higher education should not be a choice, because it is the foundation of our society. It helps students with their personal development, provides economic growth, helps students understand and interpret the world around them, and affects individuals’ job positions. It will promote new interests, economic stability, help students understand others, and prepare better individuals for the future.
Higher education is valuable because it provides the potential for a person to earn more money in the future. The average person, having more education and degrees to their name, will earn more money both annually and in their lifetime that the person with a basic high school or Associate of Arts degree, also known as the two year degree. “[Community Colleges] offer a network of affordable future, of accessible hope, and an option to dream. In the cold light of day is it perhaps more important to foster students with dreams rather than building take-over… For some students of many different backgrounds would never breathe the college experience if it were not for the community college” (Addison 1) Here, Liz Addison is discussing the value that