Graduation Speech : Avoiding College Debt

One of the biggest overall benefits of having a college education to some degree after a high school diploma is the most obvious: the considerably higher pay rate that is available for those careers that often times require a degree. It’s a common misconception that big amounts of money will just come pouring in after they walk across the stage with their degree, however, the real benefits start stacking up you begin to pay off student loans and the are now being employed in a career within your degree specifications. A study done by Georgetown University proved that graduates from college “earn $1 million more in earnings over their lifetime” as compared to those who only had a high school diploma (Cornerstone). As well as that, another study done by the Pew Research Center found that in 2012, there was a HUGE average yearly income gap “between high school and college graduates” of around $17,500

It’s college graduation day, you’ve spent countless hours studying, wrote hundreds of papers, fail an exam once or twice and pulled a few all-nighters. As you walk across the stage remember you're now the proud owner of one of the most expensive pieces of paper you will ever own. Everyone’s always saying go to college and get a degree it will pay off later. You are told college is a time to gain knowledge and discover yourself, but those fine institutions can’t keep the lights on without requiring a hefty fee. Do you realize those price tags will hang over you and your fellow classmates for years to come. Why must graduating students face debt and hardship so young?

While it may be true that it is expensive, it is worth it. According to College Power Bulletin, people with a Bachelor’s degree make, on average, almost twice as much as a highschool graduate. The average high school graduate makes about $1,531,400 in their life, while someone with a Bachelor’s degree would make approximately $2,742,160. If one has a college degree, they can pay off the fee later in their life. A person could also help their family with the extra money made from getting a degree. Another thing Journal News has said is that while jobs that do not require degrees may be more common, the fact that someone did not have a college degree will be reflected in their annual wage. This shows that one who does not have a college degree will not have as much of an annual wage as those who went to college. It is worth paying a little extra money to get a college degree.

Stephanie Owen and Isabel Sawhill report that bachelor’s degree holders make on average around 10% more than those with high school diplomas. They also write that a college education improve one’s standard of living. Gaining a bachelor’s degree is not accomplishable by everyone due to different reasons, so only a select few will be able to receive these benefits, given colleges’ selectivity.

It often proves challenging sending a child to college. Young adulthood is usually an important time for career decision-making and growth (Whiston, & Keller, 2004).College is a large step and responsibility to ascertain on a college bound student. It proves to have freedom to do well in school but also to waste valuable time and money. It is often looked as an investment, but to many others it is viewed as a challenging subject to dedicate. Many student get discouraged as students study medicine, biology and other PhD candidacy in college. Others look at the very immediate action that must be taken care of, that subject area is known as tuition.

In “College Helps Students Dream of More Than a Salary,” author Drew Faust states us how college opens minds and opportunities for students. It pays off from the four years you are going to attend. The author mentions how students who attend college end up making more money than anyone. They make about 60%-70% more than anyone with and without a high school diploma. Drew Faust suggests that college graduates often live a longer life and be successful. For example, be more active and own a home once they are done with their studies. In addition, he remarks on how students’ lives change in perspective and explore, meaning, they will learn different places, languages, and their way thinking. Students will also be meeting people from different

The difference in pay per year between a person with just a high school degree and a person with a college degree is $17,500. You could buy some new cars for that much money! Not only would you be wealthier, you would also be much more likely to be wiser as well. Earning a degree provides one with new knowledge and information, it teaches them how to critically think and how to solve problems. A college degree also provides a sense of well-being and importance to the world. It also helps out with communicating at your job; with both your writing and your verbal. Communication is arguably the most important thing you will receive from a college

“College graduates aged 25 to 32 who are working full time earn about $17,500 more annually than their peers who have only a high school diploma, according to the Pew Research Centre, a think-tank.”(Web) Most students that graduate college agree that college is a good investment despite the cost of university increasing and job salaries staying the same.

Having a college degree is not only a something anyone can frame, it can have value, along with other benefits as well. According to the Get Rich Slowly website, it states that “on average, those who have a college degree earn almost twice as much as those who do not” (Roth, 2008). Employees with have a higher lifetime earnings with a degree, making roughly a million dollars in their lifetime (Roth, 2008).

Individuals who say it is not worth going to college would argue that college is a waste of time but can agree that college graduates make more money than non-college graduates. College graduates with a four year degree make more money than a high school graduate. For example, these statistics from an online source explains that “On average, a college graduate with a bachelor’s degree earned $30,000 more per year than a high school graduate, or about $500,000 more over a lifetime, as of Apr. 2013. The bachelor’s degree makes a huge difference than a high school diploma. The majority of high school graduates want to work when they graduate high

College has the ability to create a stable life. It is a well-known and highly controversial fact that people with a post-secondary education make more money. In the article New School, Old Story Education Pays it, says former students produces an average of $415 a month extra than people who ended their education with only their high school diploma. This results in almost five-thousand dollars a year more than

A positive aspect of going to college is that most employers, when hiring, will put those with a college degree at the top. It does not mean that those with a degree are better, but it shows an employer that a person has worked hard and can accomplish goals, which are what most are looking for. In an article by Hansen, she states that “The lifetime income of families headed by individuals with a bachelor's degree will be about $1.6 million more than the incomes of families headed by those with a high-school diploma, according to the Postsecondary Education Opportunity Research Letter” (Hansen). That amount of money can make a difference when a person begins a family.

Congratulations. You have accomplished a milestone. No more classes and no more exams. What a relief I’m sure. But don’t get too comfortable there is still work to be done. Did you know six months after graduating repayment on student loans begins? Yikes!! Don’t get overwhelmed it may take time but you can do it.

Parents—the time has come again; summer is ending. As with all things, the end of one thing triggers the beginning of something else; in this case, school season. Many of you have children either in or entering high school. Given both this and the impending school year, there is an issue I feel should be discussed: college credit in high school. While there are many different programs that vary slightly in their exact method, they all work along the same basic premise: a student takes a class while in high school, in which they earn credits for high school and college simultaneously.

“Wouldn’t it be nice to have a sugar daddy to pay for everything?” (Mateo) Many college students are finding it increasingly difficult to pay for the annual tuition. Attending college is something that can be very beneficial for students in the future, but the cost of college is simply too high. This can weaken the health of students causing them to dropout, but it will still leave them and their parents in crippling debt. High tuition can be the cause of teenagers deciding not to pursue a higher education, but it can also lead students to do shocking things.