Is college education still worth these days?

1. 63

   alexandriaruthkposted 12 years ago

   Is college education still worth these days?
   
   With rising cost of education and the shift in the new job openings, there seems to be a mismatched of the number of graduates in a certain specialization and the demand for the particular job.
   
   The new graduate needs to pay a student loan and then trying to find a job is getting harder because of high unemployment rate. These and a lot of other factors are making it hard for the new graduate to survive.
   
   Do you think that earning a college degree is still a profitable endeavor these days?

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2. 70

   lburmasterposted 12 years ago

   Why do people keep asking this question? Yes, it is worth it. Even if you have an associate's degree, it is worth it. I was making minimum wage at a restaurant until my associates. Now I'm almost making twice as much. With my bachelors, things will only get better. Also, if you are smart, your degree will not cost too much. One of the reasons people regret getting their degree is because they didn't know what jobs were options once they received their degree until they spent all the money on a degree that didn't fit them.
   As well, NOT EVERY COLLEGE STUDENT HAS STUDENT LOANS! They are for idiots who want debt. It is better to save for years than get a student loan.

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   1. 78

      TIMETRAVELER2posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I disagree.  I took a federal loan that reduced itself to half just by my working for the first five years.  After that, the interest and payments were low until payoff.  It was very much worth it.

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   2. 70

      lburmasterposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Consider yourself lucky. Most all of the graduate I talk to about their student loans are depressed and frustrated beyond belief about it. Especially if they get married and their partner has more in student loans than they do.

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3. 63

   SportsBetterposted 12 years ago

   It is up to you to decide whether or not it is worth it to you. There are people who benefit from it.
   
   In my opinion, college education has declined in quality but risen in cost.  More kids come out of college in debt and can't find a job. You are better off buying gold and silver and waiting four years instead of going to college. You would see a greater gain. 
   
   Also, I feel as though I learn much more on the internet than I ever did in school.  Of course not all the information on the web is accurate, but either is it completely accurate in school. 
   
   If you want to change the education system you need to get government out of the way.  The reason the cost has risen is because government guarantees loans for students.  Since the loan is given to students it inflates the cost because the money for it is printed.  The schools also know the money is going to be received so they raise the costs.  All the government does is insure quality will go down and price will go up. This also makes sure that every kid goes to college who may not even be qualified for college. 
   
   Before government was giving easy credit loans to students, the students were able to work and pay for it because the cost wasn't so high.  The same things have happened in energy, agriculture, and healthcare. 
   
   Most people have forgotten that the best way to learn a practice, is on the job.  Unless your job is to become a doctor, lawyer, etc.  We really need to get the government out of the way and allow the market to determine what the best education is through competition.

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4. 69

   connorjposted 12 years ago

   I believe it is indeed priceless; college is much more than just preparation for a job or if you will, a career. It is becoming part of a learning community that learns and acts together over a period of anywhere from 2 years to 7 years. It is embarking out primarily on your own, (relative to your family that is) and coming to terms with what you want to accomplish in life. It can be a most wonderful phase in life where you build long-lasting relationships and perhaps indeed capstone your maturity, self-efficacy and value to optimize your life. It can influence you profoundly to even change our world. It is the proving ground for the majority (not all) of our future leaders and shakers...

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5. 78

   TIMETRAVELER2posted 12 years ago

   This is a good question.  My answer is, it depends.  If you go to college and take up a field that has no practical marketability then , no, it's not worth it.  However, if you study something that will supply you with a profitable career, then my answer is yes.
   
   I was a Spanish major in college and was unable to find a decent job with that major.  I took a Masters in Teaching and wound up with a satisfying career that had great benefits and gave me a pension.  It never paid well, but when I went to school, my education did not cost nearly as much as going to school costs today.
   
   I think students have to choose wisely to make college work for them.

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6. 77

   Emayordomoposted 12 years ago

   An education is priceless. But if you squander your time away while there, then of course, it's not worth it. Earning a degree is slowly becoming one of the only ways to earn a profit these days. The job market is so competitive that college is becoming a necessity for employers.

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7. 79

   Express10posted 12 years ago

   Yes, if the student gets an education in a field that has a good number of jobs that will be open WHEN they graduate. This requires research, planning, and effort, which too many people of all ages simply refuse to do unfortunately. We see the results all around.
   
   College is not for everyone and some individuals can earn comfortable incomes with a high school diploma or a a community college certificate. This too takes research, planning, and effort. However, let's not forget that large number of affluent people started their own businesses or are independent contractors and they don't have a college degree or may be college or even high school dropouts.

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