The price of college is rising, while attendance rates are falling. Many high school graduates are choosing to go straight into the workforce to avoid the debt that comes with higher education. Despite the growing costs, earning a college degree is still beneficial.
On average, people with a bachelor’s degree earn about $600,000 more in their lifetime than those without one. Without a degree, the average salary is only around $38,000 a year.
“If you immediately go into the workforce in something you’re really passionate about, you could be four years ahead of everyone in your graduating class,” senior Nicole Dupre said.
Still, the price of tuition is a major worry for students. Student loan debt in the U.S. has reached about $1.8 trillion, with the average student borrower owing around $32,000.
“What worries me most about college is the tuition prices because they are more expensive than I can afford,” Dupre said.
There’s also uncertainty about what comes after graduation. Statistics show that 52% of college graduates work in jobs unrelated to their degree, which makes some students nervous about choosing a major.
“The most concerning thing about college is what if I change my mind on what I want to do after graduation,” junior John Muilenburg said.
Many well-paying jobs still require a degree. Although college has changed significantly over the past few decades, like the increase in prices and tuition costs, it remains worth pursuing after high school.
