Benefits of College Degree

Everyone wants an equal chance to achieve the ""American Dream."" The average person wants to attend college, find a great career, start a family, and own a house and car. College provides students with a steady path, control over their lives, and a secure future. It has become the new way of life for current and future millennials. College has plenty of great benefits even though the cost of it dissuades people away, it is a great investment towards people's future.

In the essay ""Should Everyone Go to College?"" Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill explains how college is one of the smartest, beneficial, and courageous choices any person could make. College is no longer seen as a prerogative; it is very essential towards life because it can provide job security, better career opportunities, higher financial stability, a stable future, and affordable colleges.

Although college has turned into more of a necessity than an option in the past it was not as important. My grandparents did not even attend college. They started working at a young age, college was not even an option for them. Most people had to start working immediately to provide for their families. At the time the most important task was to take care of their loved ones. However, nowadays, college is very important. As the world is improving and moving forward, so is education. College has had a huge impact on our future. Higher education is critical for the workforce. Companies would rather have people who attended college because they are more educated. The demand for college graduates in the workplace is higher and employers are willing to pay them more money. According to Owen and Sawhill when we look at a lifetime earnings the sum of earnings over a career is five hundred and seventy for a bachelor's degree and one hundred and seventy for an associates degree. Colleges give students skills that are valuable in their careers. College is the smartest way to reach higher levels in the workforce.

For instance, college provides job security and opportunities for students to further their careers. No one wants to be unemployed or to feel like they are replaceable. Without a college degree that can become possible. An employee with a degree is more valuable than one with a high school diploma. In the article ""College Education,"" the author states that college graduates are ""more likely than others to be employed and to have job benefits."" It is more difficult to be replaced. How likely is it that an employer will replace a college graduate with a high school student? The chances of that are slim. College students are seen as an investment to the company. This makes college students less vulnerable to unemployment. In addition, better career opportunities are more likely with a college degree. Employers want workers who are trained physically and mentally to complete their jobs. College teaches students self - discipline, organization, and task management. These are qualities that an employer most seeks. Better career opportunities are limited to high school students. There is an extensive range of fields that propose a higher maneuverability for college graduates. Having a secure job and better career opportunities result in higher pay.

In addition, college graduates are more likely to receive higher pay as well. Money is one of the greatest motivators to attend college, however, it is a big deter away from college as well. Most people do not attend college because it is generally too expensive and some students are not aware of the grants and aids that they can be rewarded to attend. Some people believe college is not worth the investment. In the article "" Is College Worth It? Clearly, New Data Say"" Leonhardt states ""often focus on the undeniable fact that a bachelor's degree does not guarantee success."" It is true that some college graduates end up in debt, drop out, or are unemployed. Although it all depends on the field of study they desire and what degree they receive. Overall investing in college will be very rewarding. College students will receive much more money throughout their lifetime than the average high school graduate. Owen and Sawmill explains ""on average, college graduates make significantly more money over their lifetime."" The higher the degree the higher the pay. The money a college graduate will receive from their career will trump the cost of the college he or she attended.

College can help people secure a steady future. For instance, everyone wants their lives on a steady path and the best way is to secure a great job. A steady job is very important so people are able to provide for themselves and their families. No one wants a temporary job, where they can be replaced at any moment. In the essay ""The 7 Benefits of Going to College & Earning a Degree,"" by Becton Loveless explains ""Millennials with a college degree have lower unemployment rate and poverty rates than those without a degree."" A constant paycheck is very important. Imagine a workers boss decided to demote them and now the worker does not make enough money to care for their family. This is why college is a great option to make unemployment less likely. Loveless explains ""Millennials with only a high school diploma are suffering more economically."" Being financially equip to own a home is one of the largest dreams most people have. My family owns a home and it is so difficult to manage. Humans need steady resources to survive. Resources such as food, shelter, supplies, and money. College gives students hope for a steady and successful future.

Community college is a good option if a student can not afford a four-year university. In the article ""Two Years Are Better Than Four,"" Liz Addison states, ""They offer a network of affordable future, of accessible hope, and an option to dream"". For instance, community college is an affordable alternative and students still get the same education for a lower price. This is a smart financial investment because it will cause less debt. However, students can only earn an associate degree. Which is better than a high school diploma, but the higher the degree the higher the pay, ""sum of the earnings over a career--- the total premium is 570,000 for a bachelor's degree and 170,000 for an associate's degree"" (Owen and Sawhill 320). Transferring to a four-year University after finishing an associate's degree is highly recommended. Even though you have to pay more to attend a university, a student who attended two years in a community college and transferred still has less debt. Everyone is allowed to attend community college so you do not have to pay for application or transcripts. Students should make community college an option even though it is looked down upon.

College can provide the life that many people wish and dream of achieving. Growing up most people are told college is the option to succeed and that they have to attend higher schooling to have a meaningful life. However, this is not an accurate assumption, people can maintain a standard way of living without attending college, but college provides many useful benefits. For example, college can provide job security, better career opportunities, higher pay, a stable future, and affordable schooling. Everyone should make higher education a priority because it can improve their future and provided them with skills they may need in their future careers.

Work Cited

Addison, Liz. ""Two Years Are Better Than Four."" Graff, et al., pp 365-368.

Graff, Gerald, et al., editors. They Say I Say.W.W. Norton & Company, 2017.

""College Education Linked to Higher Pay, Job Security, Healthier Behaviors and More Civic

Involvement: New College Board Report."" The College Board - College Admissions - SAT - University & College Search Tool, 29 Mar. 2017, www.collegeboard.org/releases/2016/college-education-linked-to-hgher-pay-job-security-healthier-behaviors-and-more-civic-involvement.

Leonhardt, David. ""Is College Worth It? Clearly, New Data Say."" The New York Times, The

New York Times, 27 May 2014, www.nytimes.com/2014/05/27/upshot/is-college-worth-it-clearly-new-data-say.html.

Loveless, Becton. ""The 7 Benefits of Going to College & Earning a Degree."" EDsmart, 5 Oct.

2016,www.edsmart.org/7-benefits-of-college-degree/.

Owen, Stephanie and Sawhill, Isabel. ""Should Everyone Go to College."" Graff, et al., pp 318-332.

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