Is A College Education Worth It Essay

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” (Nelson Mandela). This statement means that the education given, can be used to change the world or used in different ways to make a change. Education is the most powerful thing to use to change the world. Lately, people have been questioning whether a college education is worth it, since student loan is crippling for college graduates and debt has impacted many college graduates lives. However, college's disadvantages, such as becoming in debt, is worth the advantages that come their way . College can cause greater wealth, have more and better employment opportunities, and are more likely to have health insurance and retirement plans.

First of all, in today’s society getting a college education has
a better chance for greater wealth. After graduating from a university, students generally earn more than a high school graduate would earn: “On average, a college graduate with a bachelor’s degree, earned $30,000 more per year than a high school graduate, or about $500,000 more over a lifetime” (“College Education-ProCon”). As a result of this greater wealth, the more education given, the higher income given. In fact, research shows “The median income for families headed by a bachelor’s degree holder was $100,096 in 2011- more than double than that for a family headed by a high school graduate” (“College Education-ProCon”). Therefore, statistics show people who go to a four year college, and get their bachelor's degree, earning doubled of what a high school graduate would make. Since, college graduates seem to make more money than high school graduates, Studies show, “The median increase in earnings for completing the freshman year of college was 11% and the senior year was 16% in 2007” (“College Education- ProCon”). Which means that freshman in college have a lower income than a senior in college, therefore, that people with more education, get paid more.

Additionally, a college graduate with a bachelor's degree can have more and a better chance for employment opportunities, then a high school graduate, with a high school diploma, or a GED (General Education Development). Unemployment for college graduates are known to be lower than what a high school graduate’s employment probability: “The unemployment rate for college graduates aged 25 and over with a bachelor's degree was 3.6%, compared to 5.0% for associate's degree holders , 7.5% for high school graduates, and 11.4% for high school dropouts” (“College Education- ProCon”). This signifies that the unemployment rate is highest for high school dropout, compared to a college graduate with a bachelor’s degree. College graduates have a higher possibility to receive a higher quality of training and education: “ College graduates are more likely to receive on-the-job formal (22.9%) or informal (17.2%) training, more access to technology, greater autonomy, and enhance skills compared to high school graduates” (“College Education- ProCon”). Hence, college graduates start higher quality on the job training, intensifying required skills.

Furthermore, a college graduate is more likely to ensure health insurance and retirement plans. More college graduates have access to employer-provided health insurance compared to “50% of high school graduates in 2008, in juxtapose to 70% of college graduates who have access to employer provided health insurance” (“College Education- ProCon”). Therefore, college graduates have a higher percentage to have access to provided health care by their employer, than a high school graduate would. In contrast to people who are college graduates, people 25 years old and older have access to retirement plans: “70% of college graduates 25 years old and older had access to retirement plans in 2008 compared to 65% of associate’s degree holders, 55% of high school graduates, and 30% of people who did not complete high school” (“College Education- ProCon”). Thusly, statistics show that one with a bachelor’s degree has the highest percentage to have access to retirement plans, unlike a high school dropout, who has the lowest percentage to have retirement plans. An analysis of Census data shows that education increases the amount of retirement income (other than Social Security) that a person receives: “College graduates on average receive $8,482 in annual retirement income other than Social Security, $6,500 more per year than high school graduates” (Warne). This states that college graduates obtain a higher earning for retirement remuneration than a high school graduate would, by $6,500 more annually.

Although, college is not for everyone, and the beneficial idea of college overthrows the impediment of college, the disadvantages vary among why people do not go to college, mostly considering the money and exceedingly eligible to be debt, health, and opportunity for perceived employment. In today’s civilization, tuition has risen quicker than income, making it difficult for the average American to pay for college without provoking the extortionate possibility to be in debt: “Published annual tuition rates for 4-year public colleges increased 27% ($1,850) from the 2007-2008 school year to the 2012-2013 school year on average. Tuition at public four-year colleges is up 27% beyond overall inflation” (“College Education- ProCon”). This imposes, that annually, tuition has become too much for students to pay, increasing by 27% in a year. College has been the lead in stress and can cause health problems, and other negative consequences: “40.2% of college students reported feeling ‘frequently overwhelmed’ in a 2012 survey about stress levels. According to the Director of Student Health Services at Biola University, college stress can lead to "headaches, weight gain, chronic digestive disorders, fatigue, increases blood pressure, insomnia, teeth grinding in sleep, general irritability, reoccurring feeling of hopelessness, depression and anxiety and low self-esteem.” (“College Education- ProCon”). College can cause health issues, including stress, which is the cause of the health problems, since college worries people about school, debt, etc. Lastly, there are plenty of jobs with average pay, available that do not require a college degree: “ According to US Labor Department projections, 63% of all new jobs that will be created between now and 2020 won’t require a college degree” (Penzo). Examples of non- required college jobs, include insurance sales agents, which make $47,450 annually, Construction supervisors ($59,150), Electricians ($49,320), etc. While this may be true, college graduates make more and have a better advantage for an opportunity for employment.
In conclusion, college is really worth it.
It make have the disadvantages, but the benefits of college are worth it and benefit from it. College can cause greater wealth, higher opportunity for employment, and better access to health insurance and retirement plans, unlike a high school graduate. The more educated one can be (more the education) the higher the income is. College graduates could earn double of what a high school student can. Again, education comes into play with job opportunities. The more educated someone is, the better chances of ending up with that job are high. People would rather have a more educated person, with more experience, than someone who is a high school dropout and no experience. Finally, college graduates have better access to health insurance and retirement plans than a high school graduate would. Most college graduates have access to employer- provided health insurance, compared to high school graduates. Overall, if someone was to go to college, whether it is a 2 year college, or 4 year university, they will have an exceptional chance for living healthier, and having a better
life.