A college education opens the doors to a better and more rewarding career. With more effective communication and analytical skills, you can move into a higher pay bracelet, or move up the career ladder faster in your present job. The problem many people face is that with a job and family taking all up all their time and money, college appears out of reach. But many colleges understand this and offer whole range of option like flexible scheduling, childcare, financial aid and access to public transportation to make it easier to enroll.
How does a college degree affect your career?
Getting a college degree means a higher starting salary, a higher salary through your career, and better opportunities for proportion. This advantage is reflected in the numbers and also in people’s own perceptions. As many as 83% of people with a bachelors degree say that going to college has “paid off” for them.
This perception is backed by the statistics. A study by Pew Research in 2012 found that those workers at least a bachelor?s degree reported median annual earnings of $45,500. This was much higher than the median annual income for people with only some college, at $30,000. People with a high-school diploma had median annual earnings of $28,000. This is because a college degree provides the skills that employer value: problem-solving, analytical ability and effective communication.
College-educated Millennials are better paid
In a difficult economy, having a college education also gives you the opportunity to work better-paid, full time jobs. Studies show that in 2013, among employed college-educated Millennials, 83% had full time jobs. The kind of jobs you can get with a college degree also pay better on average.
The average starting salary for a worker with an undergraduate degree is $45,000. For college graduates, the average hourly wage is around $32.60. A college degree also gives you the skills you need to succeed in any career – effective communication, interpersonal and analytical skills and a lifelong habit of learning.
Can you afford to go to college?
Given the differential earning power between those with college degrees and those without, the better question might be: can you afford not to go to college? Many colleges with a focus on adult education understand the difficulties faced by non-traditional students and offer financial aid packages that cover the costs of tuition and textbooks.
If you’re interested in finding out if you can afford to go to college, the best thing is to call an admissions counsellor to discuss your options.
