grAVIDy Magazine 1st Quarter 2013 | Page 6

Is College Worth the Cost for YOU?

Many people ask themselves if college is the right place for them to be but what defines college as 'right' for someone? The first response you’ll often hear is “I want to get a good job after I graduate.” Well, that’s great, but now what would you consider to be a 'good job?' Everyone has different standards when it comes to their individual lives, and we all know deciding what we would like to do for the rest of our lives is a monumental decision. We’ll help you define the success you want to have, and the college options that are most likely the best fit for you individually.

Individuals that choose not to attend college can be justified in their decision for a good amount of reasons. The biggest reason high school graduates turn away from college is the financial aspect. College tuition has risen 103 percent for public schools and 137 percent for private schools in the past forty years. Students don’t find it ideal to start off their life already saddled with debt. This, coupled with the stories of not finding a job after graduation, scares young adults out of taking on this debt. There is also the case of someone who would like a job that only requires a high school diploma so in that case college is not necessary at all.

Payoff

Opposed to what you’ve heard, college is not all worry and stress. Statistically, education makes the average person happier and healthier. Believe it or not there is a payoff to college if you find a job in your specific major. In 2001, high school graduates made an average of $28,700 a year. People with some college but no degree made an average of $32,000 a year, college graduates made

$50,000 a year, and people with professional degrees made an average of $87, 356. Statistically, as you gain a greater education, your chances of bringing home more money increase significantly. About thirty years ago full time workers with a bachelor’s degree made about forty percent more than those with only a high school diploma, but now, that gap has increased to about eighty three percent. Professions like construction

Photo Credit: www.centerforpubliceducation.org/www.centerforpubliceducation.org