Is a college Education Worth It?

[Firkinvald]

The American debate over whether a college education is worth it began when the colonists arrived from Europe and founded "New College" (later renamed Harvard University) in 1636. With 20.2 million US college students in 2015 and average student debt at over $28,950, the debate continues today.

People who argue that college is worth it contend that college graduates have higher employment rates, bigger salaries, and more work benefits than high school graduates. They say college graduates also have better interpersonal skills, live longer, have healthier children, and have proven their ability to achieve a major milestone.

People who argue that college is not worth it contend that the debt from college loans is too high and delays graduates from saving for retirement, buying a house, or getting married. They say many successful people never graduated from college and that many jobs, especially trades jobs, do not require college degrees.

What do you think?

[tom the pit leader]

If you're going into a trade school major, like STEM, medicine, nursing, teaching, or law; the answer is usually yes.

If you're getting a liberal arts degree from a non-Marxist program, the answer is maybe.

If you go to a program dominated by Marxists, regardless of other considerations, the answer is almost certainly no.

[scozy]

There are many factors affecting the investment in terms of finance, time and opportunity cost, as well as the possible return on said investment. Tom mentioned one that made sense—I'm not going to comment on the other thing he wrote.

I've answered the question purely based on my personal experience. Considering I had a great education and now have a pleasant situation I wouldn't have had without it, and seeing as I paid about $2000 a year in tuition for my BA, about ten times less for my MSc, and got paid decently to do my PhD, I'll say for me it's been a good investment.

[happy5214]

I'm in college right now, so I won't know for a few years. Add an option for those in college or below.

[Lord Emperor Clot]

It used to be good. I don't know anymore. I agree with Tom. If your school is infested with 80 year old tenured profs telling their special liberal snowflake students to be ashamed of their parents and privilege... run. Better still, go to "West Nowhereville State" University and take the evening courses with serious working adults. You'll have a far better time.

[TerranceG]

Originally Posted by happey5214

I'm in college right now, so I won't know for a few years. Add an option for Venapro https://ahappygirl.com/venapro-review-results those in college or below.

Rip off in time and money. Although I had fun with friends lol.

[Konkrage]

I do not use but probably <20% of what I learned in school, but I use that 20% every day. None of the opportunities I've been blessed with would have been possible for me without an education.

That said, I left with $120,000 in student debt and pay $1,100 a month on those loans. They are cripplingly expensive.

If you're going to school, bust your ass to make it happen and keep your scholarships. If you are in any way unsure, go to a community college and Transfer when you're surevthats the path you want.

[Immerael]

I graduated with a Bachelors degree and am currently unemployed. However I also managed to graduate zero debt so I have a nice cushion of time to pick and choose jobs opposed to pick whatever pays enough to cover my debt payments and get food. So overall it was definitely a positive.

However I do have issue in that quite a few jobs have entry positions that don't require a degree, but do require expirence that I don't qualify for do having a degree and no expirence. So if you have a field like that and are sure about what you want to do. Going into the field and gaining the experience would definitely be the better bet.

If you are not sure what you want to do or a degree is required for all positions in your field (Which is a growing issue as 4 year degrees are starting to be viewed like GEDs were in my fathers day) then you're kind of stuck. As a degree in a vast array of fields tend to be more useful than not. Even the art history degree or something is probably better than having nothing.

On the issue of political indoctrination across college campuses. It is rampant agreed however that should be something you look into before going to a campus. It won't take much of a look to see if the college is full of nutcases or not. A good check would be if your college has protests and death threats against invited speakers be they conservative or liberal, you don't want to go there. You need to be able to hear both sides of the isle and make your own decisions, don't let others make them for you.

[WileyXero]

Its only a rip-off if you don't commit yourself and time to the goal. You obtain and retain the information that you as a person are able to. If you feel like it was a waste of time and money, its probably because you did exactly that, you wasted your time and money on an education you didn't value. Therefor you gained nothing, but had every opportunity. Thats the fault of the individual, not the education system.

[Purple Diamond]

I believe it depends on you as a person really.