The Importance of College Education Essay Example

Most students view college as a given after high school, especially with the encouragement that they are given from both their teachers and parents to attend it. However, many are beginning to question the necessity of college, especially if they are interested in jobs or careers that don’t necessarily require any type of degree. The high prices of most four-year colleges are especially intimidating to students who may not be able to afford it. These factors have caused students to forget the importance of college, and the benefits they can reap from it. College is an extremely useful tool that students can use to their advantage to grow themselves intellectually, increase their earnings, and establish a successful, long-term career.

Going straight from high school into the work field does not allow for self-exploration that many people need in order to discover what they are truly passionate about. Some people get themselves into a position in which they feel like they are stuck at their jobs (which were supposed to be temporary means of earning money), and then they lose motivation to attend college so they can pursue their real interests. Source B agrees that “Post secondary education should help students to discover what they love to do, to get better at it, and to develop the ability to continue learning so that they become agents of change.” College gives students the opportunity to truly challenge themselves in this way when otherwise they may never get to.

Some students sincerely want to go to college and even know exactly what path they want to take but are deterred from even attempting it because of the cost. While it is true that college can cost more than what most people are able to afford, colleges offer financial aid for this very reason. As stated in Source D, “Average net tuition and fees at public four-year colleges this past year were only about $2,000.” In addition to this, the internet has made it easier than ever to not only research colleges and the financial aid they offer, but to research scholarships as well. There are millions of different scholarships for things as simple as being left-handed. College does not have to mean a lifetime of debt, and overall, research shows that it will contribute to the overall earnings students make once they graduate. Source F claims that the average difference in annual earnings between high school and college graduates was nearly $20,000 in 2010.

Sometimes students do not attend college because they are under the impression that the field of work that they are interested in does not need a degree. Source A argues that “If the goal is to earn a living, then maybe it isn’t really true that 18-year-olds need to be imparted with a sense of panic about getting into college.”  While it is true that several jobs and careers do not require college education, it does not mean that students won’t benefit from getting further education before getting these jobs. Source D says that “Construction workers, police officers, plumbers, retail salespeople and secretaries, among others, make significantly more with a degree than without one.” College helps people do their jobs to the best of their ability, and gives them opportunities to grow in their careers, no matter what career that might be. This is because “Education helps people do higher-skilled work, get jobs with better paying companies or open their own businesses” (Source D).

College encourages students to go above and beyond in their education and in their careers. It is a means through which they can explore all their possible interests, and work towards becoming proficient in whatever they decide to do. Through college, students can gain skills and experiences that they will prosper from for a lifetime.