College Education
For many of those who are graduating high school, they are unsure of whether they should continue on to pursue a higher education or to just proceed to try their luck in the job market. Although the lure of money may be tempting, the option of pursuing a higher education may be the more lucrative decision in the long run. In addition, having a college education or any other form of higher education may have other added benefits that extend beyond financial benefits. Whether you decide to pursue a college degree for the money or the experience, it may be an opportunity worth looking into.
Most people pursue a college education or some other form of higher education in the hopes that they will have better job opportunities and generate more revenue than their non-degree holding counterpart. They are right to think so. The rate of return on investment in higher education is high enough to warrant the financial burden associated with pursuing a college education. On average, individuals who hold a college degree earn $2.1 million and those holding associate degrees earn $1.6, while those who choose not to pursue a college education, make $1.2 million over their lifetime.
In addition to the financial benefits of a higher education, there are other benefits associated with a degree. Those who choose to pursue a college education or another form of higher education also benefit from better health for themselves and their family, a lower mortality rate within their given age bracket, a higher level of savings, which translates to an earlier retirement and more time for hobbies and leisure. They also tend to have a more optimistic view on life and tend to spend more time cultivating family values and morals. In addition, a college education provides those with better consumer making decisions and a better quality of life for themselves and their family. Those who pursued the path of college education have often been exposed to more diverse viewpoints and cultures. They tend to be more open-minded, more cultured, more rational, more consistent and less authoritarian. Those with the college education are not the only ones who benefit from it either. These viewpoints are usually passed down to their children.
80% of high school graduates now pursue some form of higher education. Whether it is for the financial benefits or beyond that, it may be a good idea to look into the path of delayed gratification. There are only a small portion of the benefits of a higher education that are tangible. The rest of the benefits may be something that even money cannot buy.
