The purpose of this question is to gather information for those contemplating the value of a college education based on the present and future direction of the country’s job market and education system. I’m sure it’s no surprise to any of us given the recent student protests that tuition is rising and jobs are disappearing, leaving many in debt and out of work.
That being said, here are some concerns I have about potentially spending a considerable amount of time and money on a 4-6 year degree:
The amount of debt: The average amount of money students have to take out keeps on rising every year. I've come across articles recently that state the average amount of student loan debt across each graduating class keeps rising each year by a couple thousand dollars (i think it was something like 28k one year and then 30-31k the next). That being said, I'm concerned I'll come out the other side after at least 5 years (since I'll take more time to complete an engineering degree) with a greater load of debt than previous graduating classes with the same or even worse job prospects.
Academic Inflation: Because it now takes more education in order to be qualified for jobs that used to require less education, the starting salary for many graduates (including those in stem as more people flock to these fields) will decrease as the years go by. It's no surprise that many employees at the Costco warehouse where I work ended up staying after graduating because they realized they can't find anything else that'll pay them more for their education. Of course, very few jobs offer the same opportunity that Costco does, however the point I'm trying to make is that maybe more people would be better off gaining real world work experience that will ultimately make them more employable, perhaps even actively engage with those in management positions as well as those who work in trades such as mechanics and electricians in order to ascertain what qualities and skills really make a person more employable.
The ever changing global economy: This is something I'm not 100% certain about, but it made sense to me after thinking about it and arriving at this conclusion. Even if someone were to major in STEM, with the current speed at which technology is changing, wouldn't recent graduates be somewhat behind after graduation? Computer science and engineering majors come to mind when I think about the possibility of being looked over by a potential employer in several years because I'm behind on current technological principles.
I’m not saying college is a waste of time. I’d just like gather information addressing my concerns from people that are in the STEM fields that have either already graduated or are still in school. Has your education lived up to your expectations? Would you do anything differently? And more importantly, is one’s time and money better spent at school or working/learning a trade given the current direction of the education system and the economy?
If you can’t go to college without taking on a mountain of debt, then it probably is not worth it (from a strictly financial perspective). But there are almost always ways to avoid all that debt. You might qualify for merit scholarships colleges at schools that are less than famous. You could start at community college and live at home for two years.
Only you can really decide if it’s worth it for you to be honest. I still see plenty of kids heading off to college, involving themselves while there, and getting decent job opportunities afterward in fields they enjoy. Those who tend to not be as pleased often did the basics - then wonder why they hired someone else with more depth - or, they chose a college that wasn’t as respected in their field (and this is NOT a plug for Top 25 or bust!). Colleges that are respected by various employers vary considerably by location and major.
Not everyone is interested in college nor does everyone plan to truly get involved while there.
If all you’re concerned with is the financial outcome (and not a specific job), then definitely do the math considering your options.
My own student graduated into the worst year of recession for jobs 09, was set on grad school anyway and has had very good prospects and job offers (CS is not contracting.) But no debt, either. You should go over this study as it contradicts many of your assumptions:
Also for #3, CS majors, and many others, learn foundational material and theory. They learn languages and processes on the job. My dd told me she submitted a take home ‘exam’ an employer gave in a language they used that she had never learned in school. They were okay with her doing it in any language she wanted, but she thought it would be cool to bone up quickly and do it in her first attempt at that language. I thought it nuts but she got the offer. The take-away being that you learn how to teach yourself things in college because you have the background and confidence.
Now the economy does fluctuate and you have to be ready for that by putting it away while you are young, I guess.
I so agree with @marvin100 , it depends. If you think that a college education is only job training, then you are apt to be frustrated. Yes, forming the foundation of a career is a major reason to go to college, but it isn’t the only thing that happens there. College is a semi structured setting where you learn to learn, learn to live on your own, where you build relationships, and it can take you down a myriad of paths you can never expect or anticipate. I can’t imagine a world without education.
If the average debt level is $30K, most graduating college students can comfortably repay that. That's even more true if you are majoring in engineering. And if you think finding a job with a BS is difficult, try finding one with a high school diploma only.
No doubt some people would be better with vocational or technical training, as there are many skilled and some unskilled jobs that pay well enough. My brother skipped college to train as an electrical line worker. But one, you have to do something - go into that skilled trade. And two, most of those careers don't have the same salary growth over time that a BA-qualified career does. And you have fewer options career development-wise to improve. My father, who doesn't have a college degree, waited for years to move into a supervisory position at his job despite 15-20 years of experience when he first started applying for them. He was explicitly told it was because he had no degree. People younger than him with less experience but a BA were taking those positions. My mom also got pushed out of her nursing position because she didn't have a BSN.
No. Your education doesn't stop when you graduate from college - college is only the foundation. You continue to learn and grow and develop yourself after you leave. And professors do add and change things to the curriculum after new developments come out. In fact, at some schools your professors are the ones making those new developments.
-Don’t attend a school you can’t afford.
-Stay in-state.
-Start out at a CC.
-Work during college.
My CC is absolutely terrible, and not very cheap, so I’m not considering it. I’ll most likely attend state school, which is fine with me. When I visited I loved the campus, and the students.
I’ll have to work in college, but I’m willing to do. Even so, I will graduate with some debt. I know I’ll be able to pay it off, as long as I’m responsible. I want to be a social worker, not a mall employee. College graduates on average make a million dollars more than a non-graduate. So, I think it’s worth it.
I’ll be the 60s throwback here - College is not just the means to a job, but also a time to learn ideas, thought, wisdom, culture; all of which will pay back in different ways during a lifetime. I would not counsel that anyone get way over their head in debt, but have to say that just counting dollar value is losing track of what colleges and universities were originally founded for.
“Of course, very few jobs offer the same opportunity that Costco does,”
How did this slip in?
OP, you’re a senior, right? Has your education been worth it? What’s your debt? Have you been down to the career office, spoken with peers and recent grads and your professors? Have you got any real world experience yet (internships) that give you an idea? Many opps exist, but if you want to maximize…
College is the new high school. If one wants a job that pays well enough to maintain a good standard of living, a college degree is required. So yes, a college education is not only worth it, it is absolutely necessary. But that does not mean that students have to take on a lot of debt. Depending on one’s career goals, it should be possible to get a decent college degree without taking too much debt.
@lookingforward At Costco, employees get raises every 800 hours that caps out at around $25 an hour. Some at my warehouse who have bachelor degrees have told me that unless i earn a bachelors in a STEM field or towards a career that needs credentials, I’m better off just foregoing college.
Nope, I’m in my second year at a community college. No debt, and after looking further into the student debt situation, I’ve reevaluated my plan in order to avoid living on campus by transferring to a university close to home. Internships are hard to find, but I haven’t given up searching.
Most people I’ve talked to at school have told me the same things I’m hearing now. They generally agree that college is the only way to go, but they don’t address the concerns I’ve outlined in this thread as well as others I’ve come across on this website.
@lookingforward That was my brother from a few years back, I never bothered making my own account so I kept his, which is why this username was inactive for a while. Disregard all other previous posts.
If you are happy at Costco and it pays enough for you, stay there. There are different niches for everyone. No sense trying to fit a round peg into a square hole.
If you aren’t fulfilled with your job at Costco, figure out what job you would like and see what the path to get there is.
In general, I agree with snarlatron that college is so much more than the education toward a job. My guys were told I don’t even care if they end up using their degrees or not. I want them to enjoy the journey - and they are. Oldest is also using his degree. That’s a bonus! He’d have never been happy being stagnant at Costco though. None of my three would. Different strokes for different folks.