College Degree In William A. Henry's In Defense Of Elitism

Some people think that getting a college education is not really a good idea anymore. According to Abel and Deitz, “In recent years, students have been paying more to attend college and earning less upon graduation—trends that have led many observers to question whether a college education remains a good investment” (2014, p. 1). If the student cannot find a job that pays a decent amount of money, after graduation why should the government ‘fund it?. College costs are rising each year. Future generations may not be able to go to college because tuition will be too high. But Abel and Deitz

David Leonhardt in his article “Is College Really Worth It? Clearly New Data Say” goes over the biggest negatives of college that deter students and even returning adults from receiving a higher education and earning a degree. He talks about the struggles of finding work after college and the accumulated student debt. Daivd Leonhardt points out that “Americans with four-year college degrees made 98% more an hour on average in 2013 than people without a degree.” (Leonhardt). Which shows that as much as college costs, you get that back multiple times over after graduation and after you are employed. The stress and struggles that undergraduates face such as deciding a major, the issue of time commitment and large financial sacrifices are worth

In order to be successful in the workforce, having a powerful career there are things needed like higher education. Graduating from college is essential to finding a successful job, since more jobs are making college degree a requirement, more people are going to college. The problem is the cost of going to college outweighs the earning from the career you obtain. Very little people are able to pay for college out of pocket. In 2014, 42% of undergraduates paid for college out of pocket (Sallie Mae). The result of this is that students seeking higher education are forced to take out loans. On average, college students borrows $25,000 to earn their degrees (Alexandria). I just don 't get the concept of college tuition or student loans. It

Have you ever just stopped to think about what it must be like to be “qualified” for a job yet be unemployed and homeless? Starving on the streets because you paid everything you had to an institution that was supposed to guarantee a better life, a more stable and successful career. Obviously this is an extreme case, not everyone who pays for college ends up living on the streets and broke, but almost every college graduate is in debt. For as long as college has been around it has always meant a better life, it’s always been that people who went to college were more successful, smarter, and would make way more money than someone who didn’t go to college ever would. Lately, however, college has become so expensive that going to college will more than likely leave you in debt working for years upon years just to pay back what you owe and then start making money for yourself.

A lot of people will argue, that college is too expensive. Not everyone can go to college, for financial reasons. Also, they may get into college, but end up having to leave because they cannot afford the remaining balances; or, they received financial aid, but end up having to take out loans they are going to be paying back forever. It is like once they graduate they will be working mostly to pay off their student loan debt. This also discourages some students. In some cases, they will not even take the initiative to try because it is so costly. I do not understand why it cost so much to want to better yourself, and possibly put us in debt for the rest of our life just to receive a higher education. Not only has the cost of college risen over a period of time, but it continues to go up. Yes, they have alternatives for paying student debts, but what if you do not qualify? Lastly, you are not guaranteed a job just because you graduate and have a college degree(s).

College is a dream that almost every American wants to come true, however, with the extreme rise in the costs of tuition it is a dream that has quickly turned into a nightmare. “Tuition at a private university is now roughly three times as expensive as it was in 1974, costing an average of $31,000 a year; public tuition, at $9,000, has risen nearly four times,” (Davidson). “For the average American household that doesn 't receive a lot of financial aid, higher education is simply out of reach,” (Davidson). That is why many students have begun questioning the worth of a college degree and if the amount of debt that is received upon exiting college is all for the better. And considering that costs have risen much faster than the rate of inflation, many are starting to believe that college just isn 't necessary any more. However, according to White, economically, the answer would still be a yes. “While unemployment rates for new grads and experienced workers alike have fluctuated throughout the recession and recovery, the earnings premium that college-and advanced-degree holders enjoy over their peers who didn 't attend college has remained relatively stable, and in some instances, grown, according to the report that was released this week,” (White). A study was shown that many college grads are able to get earnings that are significantly higher than those who did not get enough education or only hold a high school diploma (White). Even

Is a college education really worth the investment of time, money and energy? Is a college degree really worth going deep in student loan debts? Higher education is a considerable gamble. For many people it works out well, but many of the other college graduates have found themselves completely unable to get a great job in this economy with a huge amount of debt on their shoulders. The entire system encourages students to take out any kindand amount of loans they need without worrying how they will pay them back. For that reason these people also say that college education is a good investment. For the past few decades, a college education was actually an almost automatic ticket to a job and a middle class life but today, higher education

Growing up, we are all told to go to college and get a degree. This is simply because of the power and value a college degree holds. Having a college degree is a ticket that can help you get any kind of job you want. In Class Matters, there are people with different thoughts about a college degree. “The aluminum factory could get him into middle-class security quicker than a bachelors degree could” (Egan, Timothy 108). This was quoted from a man in the book named Mark McClellan, a pest controller. He feels that he doesn’t need a degree because he can just work for the same amount of money that a degree can help you get. He might be right but without a college degree you will be limited to what kind of jobs you can get, if any will hire you at all. With a college degree, “The world is yours,” you can get any job you want. A degree seems like it is nothing but a piece of paper

Most people would agree that getting a degree would make life easier as opposed to ending education with a high school diploma. With the shortage of career opportunities, jobs are becoming more competitive and most require higher education. College has become necessary and so consequently, it has become more expensive. While loans have made it possible for nearly anyone to attend college, because they are given too easily, the costs of college has increased even more. A cycle of giving loans and raising tuition is created and as a result college students are burdened with a colossal amount of debt. The issues of student debt go beyond affecting graduates’ lives and begin to cripple many areas of the economy, as well as hinder forward mobility.

Not only does a high price tag discourage many from pursuing a degree, but it can affect unemployment as well. The Baby Boomers are reaching an age where retirement is an option and will leave the workforce up to the younger generations. This will be a big blow for the economy if America does not increase participation in the workforce. Unemployment will increase tremendously if the output of college graduates isn’t reaching needed levels to balance the shift out. The amount of student loan debt is at $14 trillion and is continuing to increase. There are 44.2 million American students who have an average $37,000 in student loan debt. Student loan debt can impact major financial decisions for the student whether it be to purchase something like a car or house. Seeing the hefty price tag of a college education can deter many from pursuing a degree. Paying off college can be a real struggle if the student is not from a wealthy family. Some families can’t even provide food to feed themselves. Everyone should have the opportunity to pursue a higher

Nowadays, we are always bombarded with the constant studies that show the economic benefits of going to college. For example, one study suggests that the average earnings gap for a high school graduate and someone with a bachelor’s degree working full time is about $15,000 (Owen and Isabel 210). But, all these sources only focus on the economic benefits and they make it seem that the only way to succeed. However, they don’t mention as much the possible negatives and that it might not be for everyone. The biggest obstacle, especially for the lower class students is the high cost of tuition. Which has caused student loan debt to become the second highest form of debt in the U.S, surpassed only by mortgage debt (Owen and Sawhill 212). Even if the student figures that out then there’s the problem of finishing school. Studies show fewer than 60% of students finish their 4-year degree within 6 years, if they finish at all (Owen and Sawhill 218). Then for those who do obtain their degree there’s the

Statistics exhibit that majority of people are unable to pay for their further education. Pew Social and Demographic Trends state, “A majority of Americans (57%) say the higher education system in the United States fails to provide students with a good value for the money they and their families spend.” Tuition rates for colleges hyperbolizes its values comparatively to the money families spend. It also proclaims, “An even larger majority- 75%- says college is too expensive for most Americans to afford.” College snatch away the money of American families at a value too high and too much for the average family to spend. Not only does college seize the money many family don’t have to begin with, but it forces families to go into debt. Working extreme hours and trying to pay for college wearies the family’s way of living. According to Pew Social and Demographic Trends, “A record share of students are leaving college with a substantial debt burden… about half say that paying off that debt made it harder to pay other bills… about a quarter say it has had an impact on their career choices.” Debts triggers a person to change their profession and causes hardships to their life in the future. High tuition rates and debts stir students away from college and jobs that they truly want. College acquire families money at an

Even though college gives students the oppurtunity to increase their earning potential , and gives more employment possibilities college is not worth it. The amount of debts most students have upon graduating and receiving masters degrees serves as direct evidence to support my statement. Americas student debt amounts up to 1.2 trillion dollars in total, yes 1.2 TRILLION which comes after billions. While college does give student’s the oppurtunity to increase their earning potential , and more employment possibilities, college is not worth it .

The previous claim gives a reliable perspective about choosing to pursue a college education, even if some majors are more limited than others. Research proves that having a degree provides more opportunities for employment rather than not. Statistics from the article on collegechoice.net show “the hourly wage for college graduates is roughly double than that of non-college graduates” confirming that although college students must pay off debt, their income is still valued higher than high school graduates. The article provides yet another fact as to how college graduates benefit from earning their degree because “for common careers not requiring higher education, those with higher education still tend to earn more in the exact same roles.” Corporations feel more confident hiring an employee who has more experience and training in the desired position rather than without, and seem more willing to give a pay increase. The article also states that college, in reality, is not as expensive as it appears. A fact from collegechoice.net claims with the average cost of a public four-year university being $8,890, the average total financial aid comes to $5,770, which is more than 50% of the cost. “While 66% of students do receive direct government aid in the form of grants or subsidized loans, and an even greater percentage receive either private or public aid”, the previous claim from “Special Report: Is College Worth the Debt” provides a perspective of how much the government and other associations are willing to help students who are serious about their education. If someone truly strives to pursue a degree while working hard to receive aid from the government and scholarships, the cost then lowers immensely. This article proved

I think that in most cases the value of a degree does not out weight the amount of money that students spend on to get there chosen degree. Students think that if they go to college and get a degree once they graduate they will be able to find a good paying job more easily. Megan McArdle author of “The College Bubble” Newsweek states that, “Effectively, we’ve treated the average wage premium as if it were a guarantee—and then we’ve encouraged college students to borrow against it” (McArdle 25). It is the unintentional ignorance that puts college students in a predicament where they can not get a job with a degree that is lucrative enough to pay back there student loans.