Earning a college degree has become a rite of passage for many people. It opens doors for a variety of career opportunities and helps to establish a better life. Families of college graduates are typically better off economically and socially, and they are often more likely to send their children to college as well. Most people pursue a college degree to obtain a better job that will bring them greater satisfaction and security.
Job opportunities
With the recession in full swing, many companies have shifted their focus to finding talent outside the traditional college pipeline. This means job seekers without college degrees have a wider range of options, higher pay, and loftier benefits. Whether you're looking for a career change, or simply a change of pace, there's no need to wait.
According to the Brookings Institution, "the choice of college is crucial to future earnings and job prospects." According to GPPI data, the STEM fields have better job prospects than arts majors. However, this doesn't mean liberal arts majors have no chance. In fact, social science majors outnumber STEM majors by as much as 10 to 1.
Cost of higher education
Higher education is expensive, and the average student pays more than $21,000 for a four-year college education. This includes tuition and fees, room and board, books, supplies, transportation, and more. Living costs are the second largest cost of attending college, and are determined by local rental markets. The costs of living on campus vary widely, as do off-campus living costs.
The cost of higher education is also increasing, with average tuition and fees at private four-year institutions rising by 18.2% and at private for-profit institutions rising by 5.6%. In 2020-21, private for-profit institutions will cost an average of $18,200 in tuition and fees, while public two-year institutions will cost $3,862 more per year.
Value of a college degree
Education is a major benefit in today's economy, and it's not just limited to college degrees. The need for skilled workers is so great, that skilled trade workers are often in demand and typically require only an associate's degree. However, finding the right fit for a particular field often depends on an individual's personality and personal circumstances.
Despite the popularity of college and the perceived value of a college degree, many low-income families cannot afford higher education without scholarship aid or subsidies. As a result, the number of student borrowers has skyrocketed. This trend is incongruous with the idea that a higher education should be affordable for everyone.
Networking opportunities
There are a number of ways to develop your network, and one way to increase your exposure is to take leadership roles. These are invaluable opportunities, as the more active a group is, the more networking opportunities it can provide. For example, Marjorie Villafranco was active in a number of community service opportunities during her time as a student. She became the group's leader and encouraged her peers to participate, which helped her to connect with local professionals.
Developing relationships with others is crucial for career success. During college, you will meet a variety of people with varying backgrounds and strengths. They have different goals, circles of influence, and interests, so finding common ground and building relationships is essential. However, the benefits of networking go well beyond this: you will make friends, gain valuable advice, and build long-term relationships.
Purpose of a college education
In today's world, the purpose of a college education has become unclear. Most colleges have fallen victim to the default purpose of college: preparing students for a workforce, and not much more. But Cultivating Inquiry-Driven Learners argues that college should be about something more significant: pioneering change.
In Mills's perspective, a college education is important for many reasons. It will help a person be more competitive in the job market and will enlighten him about the world. The knowledge that is gained from a college education is an asset throughout his or her life. However, many people have questioned the need for a college education. Opponents of higher education point to high expulsion rates and low literacy. They also argue that people can be curious without having a college education.