| Is a college degree really worthwhile? If you're | | | | degree. As technology changes our world, it's |
| graduating from high school and worried about tuition | | | | increasingly difficult to get a stable job with a high |
| costs, or if you didn't enjoy school and would rather | | | | school diploma. Many employers require an |
| enter the workforce, you might be asking yourself this | | | | Associate's or Bachelor's degree, or the equivalent |
| question. It might be the dilemma you're facing as a | | | | from an accredited vocational school for an entry-level |
| single mom, working a dead-end job, yet unsure you | | | | position. A degree tells your employer you have the |
| can handle the stress and cost of classes as you | | | | knowledge, critical thinking skills and discipline you'll need |
| raise your family. Or perhaps you see the layoffs | | | | to succeed on the job, as well as experience dealing |
| coming, realize you may never be hired back, but don't | | | | with people of varied backgrounds-another desirable |
| know if changing career paths is a good investment. Is | | | | quality for any employee. With a degree in computer |
| a college degree really worthwhile? The answer is | | | | information systems, for example you can begin a |
| YES | | | | position with little, if any, training. Other occupations, |
| Potential Income | | | | such as nursing, require knowledge so specialized it is |
| Research repeatedly demonstrates that a college | | | | impossible to obtain it any other way than through an |
| degree, even at the associate's level, brings its holder a | | | | advanced education. |
| larger income than a high school diploma or GED alone. | | | | Career Satisfaction |
| A US Census Bulletin released in 2006 showed that | | | | While income is crucial to any career choice, it's not the |
| adults with bachelor's degrees earned an average of | | | | only consideration. We want to enjoy our jobs, and |
| $51,554 in 2004, while their counterparts who finished | | | | believe we're making a contribution to the world. We're |
| their education with high school earned, on average, | | | | more likely to achieve this level of job satisfaction with |
| $28,645. Individuals who didn't finish high school earned | | | | a college degree. Graduates are more likely to land |
| an average annual wage of $19,169. On the other end | | | | stable jobs, and are less vulnerable to layoffs. They |
| of the scale, workers who attained a master's degree | | | | are also more likely to work for employers who offer |
| or beyond averaged $78,093 (US Census Bureau | | | | health insurance, retirement, and other benefits. |
| News, 10/26/06). In many occupations, a college | | | | Through a university education, they are also able to |
| degree enables you to hire in at a higher pay level than | | | | explore different occupations, to find what they enjoy |
| someone who without that advantage, and may give | | | | and are best suited for, thereby enabling them to find |
| you the skills to earn a promotion sooner. | | | | more satisfying work after graduation. |
| Career Requirements | | | | A college degree is an investment of time, effort, and |
| Although there are exceptions, most of us aren't going | | | | money, but it's an investment in your future and you're |
| to be multi-billionaire CEOs without an advanced | | | | worth it. |