As of 2016, there were 19.84 million students enrolled in either a public or private college or university. That number is expected to go up to 20.02 million by next year, which is more than 1.3 times higher than the number of students who were enrolled 20 years earlier. Although colleges and universities have been around, (in the US), since approximately 1636 when Harvard College was founded, it hasn’t been until recently that the numbers of those enrolled have gotten so high. In decades and centuries earlier, fewer people were able to afford or given the opportunity to receive higher education, and focused more on trades, apprenticeships, etc.
As society changed and college became more affordable, many people began to focus more on getting a higher education. It has since become a standard course for many high school graduates, leading up to the millions of students who are enrolled in college today. However, despite the number of enrollees and many who plan to receive a higher education after high school, more and more people are starting to wonder if a college education is still worth it.
One of the biggest reasons people are wondering if a college education is still worth it is the rising cost. While college may have once been affordable for many, as tuition increases each year, it’s becoming harder and harder for students to pay. The average student loan debt is nearly $40,000 per graduate, yet it’s not always easy to find a job that pays well enough to cover the cost.
Another reason that people are beginning to question if a college education is worth the effort is that they feel there has been a decline in the quality of education that students are receiving. With so many students attending college, some feel that a college degree isn’t as valuable or competitive as it used to be. So, with all of the rising issues and concerns, is a college education still worth it? While some may say no, overall, a college education is still worth it.
There is Assistance Available
Not only are there incredibly valuable resources like Studypool available to help you get through the classes and subjects you’re struggling with, but there are plenty of options for financial assistance available as well. With the rising costs of tuition and college expenses being one of the biggest concerns for students, having that assistance available can help make it worth it to those who would otherwise have chosen another path. While there are plenty of student loans available to help out, if you don’t want to go into debt, there are other options you can take advantage of as well.
Scholarships are one great option to help you cover the costs of getting a college education without going into serious debt and without the requirement of having to pay any money back. While it may take some effort to find and apply for the many scholarships that are out there, even one or two can help you offset the costs enough to make it worth it to attend college. In addition to scholarships, there are also grants available that, if you qualify for them, can also have a big impact on the cost of a college education without attached strings.
There are Better Opportunities for Employment and Earning Potential is Higher
Some feel that with the high number of people graduating with college degrees, they aren’t worth as much as they used to be. With a positive job market outlook, though, and new jobs opening up every day, a college education can help you be better qualified right off the bat than other candidates, and can help you find better jobs that are in your field or related to what it is you have studied. Not only can a college education help you qualify for better employment opportunities, but it can also protect your employment should the market dip and give you an edge over those who have chosen not to pursue a college degree.
In addition to the job opportunities that are available to college graduates, a college education can give you greater earning potential as well. The average salary of someone with a high school diploma is over $35,000 a year, while the average salary of someone with a bachelor’s degree is over $59,000 a year, and it only goes up from there. The earning potential alone is sometimes enough to offset the costs of attending college.
It Can Bring Personal Fulfillment and Satisfaction
Getting a college education is a lot of work. It is taxing physically, emotionally, mentally, and financially, and it requires a lot of effort. Working through and overcoming those challenges, though, can help you build confidence, and the satisfaction that comes with accomplishing something that can be as difficult at times as earning a college degree can give you a sense of personal fulfillment and satisfaction that is unmatched by anything else.
