Even With Debt, College Still Pays Off By Gillian B. White

When college attainment improves, the tax base increases, reliance on social welfare programs declines, and civic and political engagement increases” (White). Even though it may seem obvious, in most cases it truly is very important to have a degree to be able to become successful. Despite some arguing against this, it comes down to the basics. A degree from higher education automatically gives that person an advantage in life. Whether it helps with job applications, housing, or just relief from worrying about money, an education is not just beneficial but becoming almost a necessity.

Recently, many have begun to attack and degrade higher education in the United States. In the book How College Works, authors Daniel Chambliss and Christopher Takacs claim, “As state support has eroded, and as more students attend college in an increasingly desperate attempt to find viable jobs, the price to students of attending an institution of higher education has gone up, especially at more selective institutions” (172). So is college even worth it? Caroline Bird’s excerpt from her book Case Against College “Where College Fails Us” is an adequately written article that agrees with those who question whether college is a good investment. Bird argues that although some students would benefit from college and succeed, many fall short, wasting

In today’s society, it has been found out that college graduates have a hard time seeking a job and end up with a sky-high student debt. This reality then poses a question, is going to college worth the time and money? An essay in the New York Times published in May 2014 entitled, “Is College Worth It? Clearly New Data Say,” by David Leonhardt states, “For all the struggles that many young college graduates face, a four-year degree has probably never been more valuable” (33). In his essay, Leonhardt sets the stage by describing the struggles a college graduate might have such as student debt, no work after graduating, and accepting jobs they feel overqualified.

In the article, “Should Everyone Go to College,” authors, Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill’s, published by the Brookings Institution, discusses the benefits of a college education. The article begins by mentioning the arguments related to the requirement of having a college degree while entering the middle class in the United States. Having a college degree reminds people that higher education is the best advancement humans can make to allow them to make more money in their lifetimes, rather than if they just had a high school education. A fact that does not get much attention is not all college graduates, or college degrees, are equal. Even though Owen and Sawhill focus, in general, alternative career paths may result in equally lucrative

Currently in America, the popularity of attending college is increasing, but so are tuition costs. Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill, in their essay, Should Everyone Go to College?, refute the idea that college is a necessity to live a prosperous life. Their purpose is to inspire a change in legislation to make information on the drawbacks of college more accessible to high school students. Owen and Sawhill effectively appeal to their audience of legislators by systematically proving that college is not a necessity At the start of the essay, directly after the thesis, Owen and Sawhill immediately address a popular counter argument. They point out that a common problem with statistics about college versus high school graduates is that “the smartest most motivated people are both more likely to go to college and more likely to be financially successful”

Some people carry the responsibility of repaying student loans well into their adulthood. The writer suggests these people should consider a different pathway in order to not deal with that responsibility. Even if financial difficulties can possibly be taken care of, college brings on rigorous academic challenges as well. Not every student is equipped with the skills to succeed in college; in fact, Pharinet states that, “there are students who cannot read attending college” (Pharinet 680). Although a rare case, it completely goes against the idea that college is for everyone.

The rising question of whether everyone should attend college is examined by Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill in "Should Everyone Go to College?" According to Owen and Sawhill, “For the past few decades, it has been widely argued that a college degree is a pre-requisite to entering the middle in the US”. By this quote, the author means that in today's world a college degree does not always mean that you will become rich and get a successful job. The authors examine numerous studies to identify the factors that lead people to be picky while selecting the correct college. For instance, the authors indicate that an extra year of education raises earnings by about $3,000 per year.

No one's written your destiny for you. Here in America, you write your own destiny. " This quote highlights the importance of education in achieving success and breaking the cycle of poverty. Similarly, the article "Even With Debt, College Still Pays Off" explains that "college graduates earn more over their lifetimes than those without a degree, and also have better job security and more job opportunities. "Thi demonstrates the long-term benefits of obtaining a college degree.

I have chosen Janet Bodnar’s article The College Debt Trap for this unit’s discussion assignment. This is the third quarter that I am taking college classes. After I completed the process of applying and enrolling for on-line classes it was now time to figure out how I was going to finance my education. I never knew what a FAFSA was or what it meant. It took weeks to understand the process of applying for financial aid and luckily I now understand how it works.

Many people feel it is beneficial to invest money on a college education. In most cases, earning more money depends on the field one chooses to enter after graduating from college. Most employers today want to see an applicant have some sort of higher education when applying for jobs as this has changed from the past. As there are many paths one can take to be successful a college education is the most traditional idea of how to live the “American Dream”. Dreams of attending college, getting married, and starting a family are the typical persons aspirations.

Have you ever felt pressured to go to college before knowing what you wanted to do when you are older? Many believe that college can be essential to one's future success depending on their career path; others believe that college is the only way to be successful in life. College is important to one's future success depending on one's career path. Not every successful profession requires a degree from a typical 4-year college, and for someone in this situation, going to college would be a waste of time and money for them. In Robert Reich’s article, “Why Collage Isn’t (And Shouldn’t Have to Be) For Everyone” he writes that a typical 4-year college is not the right choice for everyone.

They argue that while college is a valuable investment for many students, it is not the right choice for everyone. They point out that the cost of attending college has skyrocketed, and many students graduate with large amounts of debt, which may not be worth the investment for some students. Additionally, there are many good-paying jobs available that do not require a college degree, and students who pursue vocational training or apprenticeships may be able to earn just as much money as college graduates. The authors also argue that society has placed too much emphasis on college degrees and not enough on other forms of education, which can lead to a shortage of skilled workers in trades and other professions. Ultimately, they argue that the decision to attend college should be based on a student's individual goals and circumstances, and that other forms of education should be valued just as highly as college

Living where we live, you begin to comprehend that living off of $11.00 per hour including with your family will never suffice your needs. Getting a college degree can ensure the graduate a higher chance of being able to earn more financially. In the article “Why College Isn't And Shouldn't Have to be For Everyone” by Robert Reich, he states that “A degree from a prestigious university can open doors to elite business schools and law schools-and to jobs paying hundreds of thousands, if not millions. ”Even though Reich’s article is on the opposing side of the argument, he fails to overlook the fact that in the long run having a college degree will, and can open doors to many new opportunities. One of those opportunities is to be able get a well paying job that can earn more than the average non college graduate.

There is an ample amount of information that leads people to believe that college is a great choice. In Source F, it is shown that, “Adults who graduated from a four-year college believe that, on average, they are earning $20,000 more a year as a result of having gotten that degree. Adults who did not attend college believe that, on average they are earning $20,000 a year less as a result.” Also, provided in Source F, “...55% say it [college] was very useful in helping them prepare for a job or career.” While these statistics are true, the negatives still outweigh the positives.

As a High School Junior looking at jaw dropping tuition prices, my family and I often ask ourselves a question I’m sure many other American households are challenged with: Is a college degree actually worth it? Once you look past the recent unemployment rate for college grads, you’ll find that a college degree proves to be highly beneficial once placed in a career. Degree holders often enjoy benefits such as higher pay, higher-skilled work, and an intellectual advantage over their coworkers that do not have a degree. These benefits often outweigh the seemingly outrageous cost of college, making the price tag more than worth it.