The parts of the data I found most interesting was the counter argument on how it doesn't pay as much as you think. It didn't seem right that when you set the high school education value at one, then look at the graphs of higher education numbers and see a value of 1.61 on the Lifetime Earnings graph for bachelor's degree. To me that doesn't seem like a large enough increase. Maybe it's because growing up my parents would say constantly "if you go to college you'll make hundreds and hundreds of times more money than just high school". Well, according to the graphs it's not even twice as much money. And when it comes to graph accuracy, does it factor in the expenses of college? And the 4 years time a high school only student gets to have a full time job rather than just part time or no job like a college student would have to? If those weren't factored into the graph then the lifetime earnings for the college student would be even lower.
It just seems like, based from the data presented on the graphs, our time we put in at college isn't valued nearly enough by employeers.
I agree. My parents also told me to go to college because I would be making soooo much more money with a degree than with only a high school diploma. When I saw that data it kind of made me feel like I was wasting my time and money. I'm going to have to get my doctorate degree if I want to see an increase in pay over a lifetime. I think employers need to realize how much time, money, and energy that even an associates degree requires and then pay the employee accordingly.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree and people now days tell us college is the only way to get a high paying job and many people who have gone to college are not even employed. And i agree with Becca but in this economy a lot of businesses dont have the money to pay those with maters degrees or anything higher than an associates degree. So they look for knowledgeable employees and shy away from those who may be considered over qualified because of the increase in pay that comes with a higher degree.
ReplyDeleteI personally think that after a while a bachelors degree is going to become the new high school degree. We'll be telling our kids, "Getting your masters degree is the only way to get a job. " In my opinion it's going to happen. So many people are going for their bachelors now a days that it will eventually lose it's value due to the fact that everyone has one. I don't think it's even worth it anymore. By the time you're out of college you're in so much debt that a high paying job doesn't matter because you're using most of the money to pay off loans.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Lance that either the graphs are somewhat misleading or else our parents are liars. I grew up on the idea that going to college will allow me to get paid much much more than a high school graduate. The graphs make me reconsider how much we value a college degree and make me wonder why tuition has increased by (I think Mr. Eagan said "~800"%). To me that is a ridiculous amount of money. I hate that for years after I will have to worry about how to pay off all of my college debts. I do agree with Joe that after a while, the bachelor degree will become the new standard, such as the high school degree is now. As humans we strive for what's better, and when better is achieved, we strive for best.
ReplyDeleteI disagree. College is so important to have instead of just a high school diploma. In your post you talk about the money that would be made if a Bachelor's degree were incorporated into our lives right? Then go FURTHER in college. All these people are complaining about how expensive college is and how our career that we get with our bachelor's degree does not pay off college.. Then DO SOMETHING about it and STOP complaining. Make college worth it. Or don't go to college and see how well off you will be in your future. Money is not the only thing that a college degree provides us, but we can not seem to get passed that.
ReplyDeleteI feel that a college degree is something one should strive for. It is better to work at a better job, higher paying than one that wouldn't. Many who work many hours on minimum wage have a very harsh life. They can't pay or barely get by paying for bills and food and cannot buy other things they want like clothes or expensive things like nice cars. Once people have a good job from a college degree, pay all they owe, they will earn enough money to spend once saved and will not have difficulty in life while people who don't have a degree will still have difficulty. Just because theirs unemployment doesn't mean it is impossible to get a job. Unemployement percentage goes down the higher degree one has.
ReplyDeleteI found that very interesting as well. Even without my parents telling me I thought I saw that every college graduate earned far more. But the truth is my mom only has an associates degree and she worked hard. She networked and learned a lot on the job. She now, with only an associates degree, makes $117,000 a year. I guess it goes to show how much hard work can pay off in the end! Although in the back of the mind I saw her get there, I'm going into the same career with a bachelor's degree, how much can I make?
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