Is College Education Worth the Money? - Essay Sample

Introduction

College is appraised to be the best time in a young adult's life-giving the promise of freedom, knowledge, and fun. It is a topic subject to many debates one of them being whether it is worth all the money invested into it, with many arguing from different perspectives. Some would like to argue that college is not worth it as there is an already evident proof of success without a college education, billionaires such as Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson and others rolling in wealth without a college degree. It prompts one to question the real worth of a college education. The benefits that college provides, however, cannot be overlooked as they seem to outweigh the costs. College education has been prevalent in the society for eons and the students should consider the benefits it renders before regarding it as worthless.

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College education in a developing world and economy is of ultimate importance as a way for a young adult to secure a beneficial future and a stake in the percentage of employed youths. The evidence to the above claim is provided by the Bureau of National Statics which states that the gap between the income of a college graduate and a high school graduate is high with a college graduate averaging an income of $1137 and the latter averaging $678. (Leonhardt, 27). Attaining a college education not only makes one an income but guarantees you employment with only 5.6% unemployment facing college graduates and a shuttering 17.6% rate for those with high school diplomas. The sentiment was also echoed by former United States President Barack Obama who in remarks stated that a high school diploma can no longer guarantee a good job. A college degree is a key to a good income and even after working the same job for years, it makes you adaptable in your skill set and a capacity to learn new skills always ensuring you have an income. A college degree is a necessity in today's employment and comes with benefits such as health and pension plans. It is therefore very evident that a college education is worth the money.

A college education is a time in a student's life where he or she does not only grow intellectually but develops personal skills that assert some personality traits carried out through the rest of one's life. The access that college students have to a variety of people enables them to be exposed to different cultures, traditions and personality traits they did not know they were in possession. It eventually leads in the development of specific talents and skills sets that facilitate them in their adulthood and judgment. It is evident from research carried out by Pew research center that held 79% college graduates deems it's important to understand the opinion of others and 64% of high school graduates compared to a 59% of high school dropouts. (Taylor et al, 30) The effects of a college education are not only limited to career and employment but also help young adults develop awareness of different people in their line of work and also in their lives. It eventually makes them better people with the wholesome judgment which proves the worthiness of a college education.

The arguments against a college education seem to be rooted on the growing threat of student debt, that a student who has attended college will be unprivileged as he or she will be at the precipice of life at a disadvantage paying up loans instead of developing personal finances. Caroline Bird writes in her essay college is a waste of money that students are in college due to parental and peer pressure arguing that college is not a good financial investment as financial success can be achieved through other factors such as working in a real job. (2) Using the arguments made in the essay as a rebuttal, it is clear that once a student earns employment from her college degree he or she can be in a position to repay the loan as graduates enjoy increased chances of employment at higher rates of pay providing them with the resources to pay debts while leading a happy life.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a college education is extremely beneficial and worth the money for the young adults who decide to pursue it, especially in today's growing economy. Regardless of the burdens that can accompany a college education such as the student debt, it can be overcome in the short run after employment and one can reap the benefits of a college degree. It is a vital component of success and when making such investment sacrifices and risks are taken but it is worthwhile as it benefits the student.

Works Cited

Bird, Caroline. "College is a Waste of Time and Money." Psychology Today 8.12 (1975): 28-35.

Leonhardt, D. (2014). Is college worth it? Clearly, new data say. The New York Times, 5(27), 14.

Taylor, Paul., Parker, Kim., Fry, Richard., Cohn, D'Vera., Wang, Wendy., Velasco, Gabriele., & Dockterman, Daniel. Is College Worth It? Pew Social and Demographic trends, 2011.