Unsurprisingly, the continually increasing cost of education has left many wondering whether going to college is worth it. While many of us assume a college education will eventually pay off because that’s what we’ve heard, truthfully, to make your college degree worth it and ensure that you get a return on your investment, you need to plan for it cautiously. This includes research on the course you plan to enroll in.

The rising cost of higher education, student loans, and a market that is very competitive has many high school students wondering whether a college degree is worth it. Does going to college offer a return on investment? Yes, it does. It’s an investment in the future. The issue of whether to go to college should not be determined only by cost, but rather the experience, skills, and knowledge you will gain while in college. A college degree opens opportunities for you, grows you socially and intellectually, and helps you become better prepared not only for your career but also for your adult life.

Table of contents

1. Why is a college degree worth it?
2. How to make your college education worth the cost?

Why is a college degree worth it?

Although higher education systems are plagued with a roster of problems, getting a college degree is worth the cost in the long run. Granted, a college degree is too expensive, and the majority of students aren’t offered adequate information about how their preferred course will land them a job or even if employment will pay enough. Also, student loans can be a grave burden after school.

However, Alexis Ohanian-Reddit Co-founder asserts that most 18-year olds lack the necessary skills to start let alone thrive in business on their own. Going to college gives you a competitive edge, enables you to enjoy the next 4 years of life, learn and experience different social and life skills. Most importantly, it gives you the necessary knowledge to thrive in the job industry, if you go about it in the right way.

Also, although you do not need a college degree to become a better person, life skills and social skills acquired during your college years play a significant role in your future. It gives you an opportunity to learn how to handle life’s challenges and interact with others. People who have been through the college system make better financial and life decisions. They also gain skills on how to build professional relationships.

1. Allows you to make more money
Studies have shown that graduates earn more money than those with only high school education. The earnings will, however, depend on the field of work you are in. A master’s degree in engineering may fetch more money than a master’s degree in nursing. The major you choose will determine your earnings in the future.

However, we need nurses just as much as we need engineers. It would help if you did not look at the wages but at what you enjoy doing. Do not obsess over how much money a certain degree will give you. Instead, find something you enjoy doing and excel in it.

2. College gives you opportunities
Going to college will open numerous job opportunities. Generally, the unemployment rate for people with a college degree is lower compared to those who don’t have one. Most employment opportunities these days require a degree. By going to college, you get an opportunity to choose from the many options available. You can then choose something you will love doing and work hard at it.

Apart from becoming an expert in a particular field, the college experience will also train you on thinking analytically and life skills such as self-discipline, organization, and time management. It will mold you all around.

Sometimes, having a college degree will be the only thing you need to get a job, even in a field you didn’t study for. These unexpected opportunities are not always available for students who didn’t go to college. You will find so many people who are in professions they did not study for. The college degree offered them skills that fit the job requirements for other positions.

3. Your family will live more comfortably
With a college degree, you earn more money. You can afford vacations, a lovely home, clothes, food and other necessities for your children. Most companies will also offer insurance benefits to their employees. These include health care, travel, investment, and others. Your family will be better off, both economically and socially.

Also, you can be a role model for future generations. Having attended college will encourage your kids or even kids in the neighborhood to aspire to the same. You know the benefits, and you will be in a better position to offer others advice on how to go about the college enigma. They will be better prepared for college life, and you can guide them into choosing a major. Not one that fulfills your unrealized dream, but one that meets theirs.

4. Offers job security
Having a college degree has become a requirement for most entry-level positions. Companies will also extend to pay for employees to further their studies. This shows how vital going to college is. An educated staff is an investment that will benefit not only the company but also the employee.

According to research, lower level employees with no degree suffer most when it comes to layoffs. It’s not guaranteed, but having a college degree secures your future.

5. Job satisfaction
With a college degree, the job market becomes flexible since you qualify for more jobs. You can choose to do a job you are passionate about to increase your satisfaction. The employment perks too make the job worth it. If you get further training or excel at what you do, you become eligible for raises or promotions, which means more pay.

6. Negotiating power
With a college degree, you are always marketable. Even though the job market is competitive, it will help you stand out. Employment after college will also lead to more opportunities down the road, once you gain relevant experience.

7. Build strong relationships
College offers opportunities to build strong relations. These could be from friends, a career fair you attended, or an internship you completed to while in college. You gain a large network base regarding advisors, professors, and friends. This will be great when it’s time to get a recommendation or reference, either at work or when furthering your education.

8. It’s an avenue to explore your passions
College offers you an opportunity to discover yourself and your desires. You find out about interests and passions you didn’t know you had. Consider engaging in extracurricular activities, taking a class, not in your course or major, or getting an internship to broaden your scope. The college experience will help you choose a career you love based on your interests.

9. It’s an investment
Many who are against a college education argue that those who don’t go to college start earning immediately after high school. A bachelor’s degree recipient will, however, catch up and outpace the earnings of the high school dropout in a few years. By the time you are 34 years old, you will have earned enough to compensate for the cost of college.

A college degree is however only valuable if you graduate. Many students enroll for college and take out loans but leave before they can get a degree. Dropping out means you lack the credentials to get a high paying job. You also accrue student loans that may become very hard to pay off afterward. If you default payment, then your credit is ruined, and you may never be able to operate your own business.

How to make your college education worth the cost?

Research indicates that on average, those with a college degree accrue more money in their working life compared to those that don’t. However, to realize the benefits of a college education you need to plan and make sound decisions, enroll in institutions that are willing to go over and beyond just equipping you with academic knowledge but also the necessary career skills to help you pursue a meaningful life after college. Consider the tips below when going to college and you’ll be surprised to find out that a college education is completely worth it in the long run.

1. Have a plan for success
To avoid situations where you dropout of college and accrue loans you may never be able to pay off, have a plan. Do not let college be an experiment. Talk to professionals, evaluate your talents and passions when choosing a course. Do not take up classes in a particular field because it’s high paying, or because of family traditions. Do it because you have a passion for it. This way, you can excel in your grades, graduate, and make something out of it.

2. Try to minimize debt
A college degree does not need to be expensive. There are ways to avoid student debts including:

• Taking college-level courses while in high school. If possible, these can give you two years of college credit. However, you must have exceptional grades. Doing this will help you study for general courses at a reduced fee.
• If you don’t have enough credits, enroll at a community college for the first two years. They are less expensive, and you can always graduate from a university if you transfer.
• Enroll in a work-study program. This reduces attendance cost, but you have to be a student in need of financial aid.
• Apply for scholarships and grants.
• You can also cut college costs by going to a public school and living with your parents while attending college.

3. Research your career choices
It is advisable to do extensive research before deciding the field you want to pursue. Therefore, if you are sure about what you want to major in in college, search what to expect once you graduate, enter the job market, and determine whether the outcome seems fulfilling or not. There are sites online that will help you know potential pay, how competitive the course is in the job market, and what is expected of you. With this information, you can calculate how much you will be taking home once the student loans have been cut. This will help you evaluate your degree choice from a financial perspective. This will also help you choose a school based on their quality of education, the cost of the program, and their job placement records.

Going to college is still worth it. It gives you a higher probability of success than if you decide to skip and start your own business. The college setting also equips you with life and social skills that make you more accountable for your actions. The college experience not only give you the skills you need to get into a career of your choice, but it also offers you economic stability.