The advantages of a college education are plentiful, so next time you think about jacking it all in and heading off to make your fortune in the big wide world, think again! Spending a few extra years at college really does pay rich dividends in the end and although some people do prosper by only studying at the “University of Life”, realistically speaking you stand a much better chance of success by staying at college and getting stuck in to some good, hard learning!

Advantages of a College Education

Lower Unemployment: It’s no secret that the world economy is struggling, unemployment is vast in many industries which were previously thought to be “safe” and “secure”, there’s no such thing as a “job for life” anymore. What does this mean realistically, well, it means that there are plenty more people after the few jobs which do come along. This strong competition means that employers can afford to be a little more choosey about who they employ, the bottom line is, you’ve got a much better chance of being gainfully employed if you graduated from college than if you didn’t.

Higher Earnings: A very small percentage of people are lucky enough to earn a living by doing what they really love and enjoy, the rest of us are just in it to pay the bills!  People with a college education and recognized qualifications not only have a better chance of getting a job in the first place, they are also in a much better position for climbing the career ladder and earning the big bucks. It’s a fact, the majority of people with a college education earn more money than those without one.

Career Choices: If you have a college education, not only will you stand a better chance of getting a job and then getting a promotion, you’ll also have much more career choices open to you. Spending your time at college training towards a particular career can have real benefits, you’ll gain valuable knowledge and experience, as well as the qualifications you need. Unfortunately, those who lack a college education can end up trying to get just about any job which comes along, just to try and make ends meet.

The Value of a College Education

OK, let’s look at some facts and figures, we’ll stick to the money theme as that’s the closest to many hearts! These figures are taken from the US Census Bureau and are average annual earnings correlated to different levels of education, taken from March 1998, 1999 and 2000.

• Professional Degree                    $109,600
• Doctoral Degree                            $89,400
• Masters Degree                              $62,300
• Bachelors Degree                          $52,200
• Associates Degree                        $38,200
• Some College                                  $36,800
• High School Graduate                  $30,400
• Some High School                          $23,400

See what I mean? It’s a bit of a steep slope isn’t it, just look at how much more money you’re likely to get in your pay packet every month, if you work hard for that little bit longer and get yourself a college education.