Imagine wanting to pursue a particular career your entire life, and especially admiring one of the greatest professionals in the field. You intend to follow your dream and go to college when you learn that your idol has never actually graduated. It is likely that you will start contemplating whether you should follow their path. The debate over whether college education is a worthwhile investment of time and money has been going on in America for centuries. According to ProCon.org, it began with the arrival of European colonists to the United States and the foundation of New College almost 400 years ago (ProCon.org, 2020). Nowadays, despite all the controversy, there are many strong arguments that suggest attending college is worth it. First of all, many jobs require college degrees, and such jobs are higher paying than others. Moreover, college allows the youth to develop socialization skills and start the process of career-building. Additionally, college graduates live longer and healthier lives than their peers with no degree. All of that points to college being an option that should be considered by those who want to succeed in work and life.
In terms of arguments for college education, the number one would be the fact that, most of the time, a college degree is a necessity for a job, and such jobs make people more money. ProCon.org states that, as per researchers at Georgetown University, almost all of job growth between 2010 and 2016 was associated with people with graduate, bachelor’s, and associate’s degrees. Moreover, when it comes to income, college graduates make more money than high school graduates. Workers with a degree on average earn around $78,000, as compared to the approximately $45,000 annual income for those with no degree (ProCon.org, 2020). I have an example from a personal life as well: a bachelor’s degree from a prestigious university in Thailand did not help me make much money in the United States. I received minimum wages because I did not graduate from an American education system. If I had started attending college in the US earlier, I would probably make more money now. Those who earn more money are those whose quality of life is higher than average, which is why it is a good reason to consider attending college.
Another pro-higher-education argument is that college helps young people learn to communicate with one another and begin the process of building their career. ProCon.org notes that attending college allows students to exchange views, develop attitudes, and encounter different religions and personalities. It broadens learning about other cultures and brings exposure to these cultures’ education standards and lifestyle. Moreover, many colleges offer career-building services: internships, job shadowing, and volunteer options for various courses often provide a career direction and offer employment experience before entering the job market. Some students are offered job positions from companies where they were interns before graduating. All these things prove that attending college can create opportunities to interact with others, business connections, and networking value for its students.
In addition to that, college graduates are reported to live longer and be healthier. According to ProCon.org, 83% of people with degrees reported that their health was great, while 10% fewer people with no degree reported the same. A recent study by University of Southern California revealed that, among people over 65, college graduates had better cognitive abilities and fewer years with dementia than those who did not finish high school (ProCon.org). Furthermore, ProCon.org reports that, according to a study by Carnegie Mellon Psychology department, higher education degrees were associated with lower blood pressure and levels of cortisol, the stress hormone. Finally, on average, college graduates live longer than those who did not attend it by approximately six years. If one cares about their well-being and wants to live a longer and healthier life, college is an option they must consider.
On the other hand, there is the issue of student loan debt, which people have to repay for years after they finish higher education. Moreover, research has shown that many recent college graduates are unemployed. For instance, in 2019, the unemployment rate for those with a college degree was higher than the average for all workers in general, including those with no degree (ProCon.org). Such rates shift the supply and demand to employers, which changes the standards and makes a college degree not as sought-after in the market. ProCon.org notes that even people with higher education often work in positions for which it is not required. In addition to that, the economic crisis that began in 2020 due to the pandemic and other situations that have occurred lately make higher education even less of a necessity in terms of being employed.
Granted, all these things might make one think that college education is not worth it; however, literate and educated people were always valued and in demand. Consequently, college, as a place where one obtains knowledge, gains information, and learns skills is a great opportunity to acquire a solid background that will serve as a sort of a safety net. The crisis will be over one day, the standards will start getting higher again, and the demand and supply in the job market will be back to how it was before. Moreover, people have always been able to adapt to circumstances, and their lifestyles have already begun to shift to a new normal in studies, work, and life. It means that those with a higher education degree will inevitably become more employable in the new times as well.
When it comes to possible solutions to the problem of young people not wanting to attend college, some work needs to be done before graduation. High schools should provide information about various career options in an attempt to make students find their potential. Once young adults know what they are capable of, they are more likely to realize that attending college is a good decision to extend their abilities. Therefore, they would be confident that even with a student loan, there is a chance to pay off the debt when they have a stable career. In addition to that, it is essential to let students know that attending college to obtain an associate’s degree is another good option they have. For people with a financial limit, once they receive the associate’s degree, they can start finding jobs earlier and have a chance to continue their education. To all intents and purposes, a college degree is the best opportunity to pursue a stable career, learn about the corporate culture, and gain experience from working to continue developing in the future.
In conclusion, college education is worth pursuing due to the many benefits that it brings to one’s work and life. First of all, college graduates are generally more desirable among employers than those with no degrees, and they make more money on average. In addition to that, college is indispensable in terms of giving students an opportunity to learn interpersonal skills and search for future job connections. Furthermore, people with a college degree tend to live longer and be healthier than their peers with only high school education. The debate continues, but the arguments of those who advocate for college education are legitimate and sound.
Work Cited
ProCon.org. ‘Is a College Education Worth It?’ Britannica ProCon, 2020. Web.