Is a College Education Worth it for Students?

By Nick P.

A common question that high school students are asked towards the end of their secondary school career is, “where are you going to college?” Some students have been

dreaming of going to a specific University, whether it is because they admire the majors offered or perhaps it is their parent’s Alma Mater. On the other hand, there are those that have no intentions to go to a traditional four-year college and may opt for a technical school or no schooling at all. 

According to an Economic News Release reported by the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, 62.7 percent of 2020 high school graduates under the age of 24 were enrolled in colleges or universities. This number was down 3.5 percent from the previous year. According to a survey done by McGraw-Hill Education states that only four in ten U.S. college students feel well-prepared for their future careers. This begs the question, is college beneficial for the long-term success of someone’s career. 

Drew Doland, the Associate Pastor at Faith Assembly of God in Iowa, believes that college taught him a lot of good things but also taught him things he had to unlearn. Doland stated, “It’s hard to put my finger on the latter, but I have felt many times like the things I was taught didn’t line up with how I actually needed to handle things.” He continued this thought by stating that he feels the street smarts he has acquired through life circumstances better prepared him for day-to-day interactions with people in ministry than what he learned in his studies.

The Pew Research Center reported that 49 percent of people believe that they established skills and knowledge they could use in the workplace from their schooling. The interviews and statistics have shown mixed reviews on how continuing education after high school has aided them in the workplace. 

While there are those who may share the same view as Doland, I have found that there are people who enjoyed their college tenure and felt their studies helped them a lot. A staff member from River Valley Church in Minnesota, Katelyn Penticoff, expressed that the information she obtained from her college education has only aided her in her current ministry.  

As one would assume, a pastor should be knowledgeable about God and the Bible. Penticoff stated, “one way that it has equipped me is how to properly study the Bible for what it says and not what I want it to say.” The study of the Bible is something that every pastor should be proficient in because it is the most important resource they use, whether it is preaching or pulling information from it to counsel someone.

While there is downfall that some students feel they aren’t properly being equipped for their future career from their schooling, having a degree is beneficial from a financial perspective. In the Monthly Labor Review of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics it was reported that a benefit of receiving a higher education is that you earn 56 percent more than someone that has only a High School Diploma. Even though a college degree might not set you up for success to excel in your role right away, you will become better off financially because of it. 

According to a Pew Research Center survey, adults with less than a high school education are more than twice as likely as those with a bachelor’s degree or more education to say they are not too happy with their lives. A college education is worth it for students for several different reasons. You can meet lifelong friends in school, acquire skillsets to help aid you in your profession, and it can allow you to have a higher income compared to those that do not have a college degree.