We want to address some of the naysayers who claim that getting a college education isn’t worth it. While it’s true that there are some jobs that have the potential to offer a healthy salary without stepping foot into a college classroom, there are even more that will just because you did!
In 2019, you need every competitive edge available to get a high-paying job at a worthwhile company. Remember, good companies provide more than just a salary – they provide healthcare, 401ks, the opportunity to make friends, and numerous other benefits. A college degree will make the difference in securing these kinds of jobs and the higher salary that comes with them.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor, in fact, college graduates earn an average of 61% more than non-college graduates. For many prospective students, the possibility of earning more income over the course of a lifetime with a college degree is the deciding factor in whether or not to pursue a diploma.
Do You Really Need A College Degree To Get A Better Paying Job?
Florida National University (FNU) will tell you, yes! Absolutely! We also realize that there are some exceptions, but when it comes to looking at long-term goals career-wise, getting a college degree will be the smartest investment and the reasons why will definitely outweigh why you shouldn’t. So let’s talk about the pros and cons of how getting your college degree might help you earn more money versus not going to college at all.
A quick search of this term might tell you that you don’t need a degree for certain careers. Just remember there are hundreds if not thousands of careers and jobs out there that require a certain knowledge base or skill. Getting a college degree proves a certain level of dedication and readiness that no degree simply doesn’t. Especially when it comes to making more money for the same job.
Does A College Degree Really Help You Make More Money?
Many people may think that it’s common sense to know that you’ll get paid more with a college degree, but here again, that’s not always the case. There’s a constant complaint about K-12 school teachers not getting paid enough, but even in this profession, there are exceptions. A teacher’s salary may vary depending on the school district, and whether it’s a public or private school. The pay can range from $34,000 to $72,000 with a median salary of $47,380 according to PayScale. Again this is all contingent on the city location, the area within, and type of institution, so the pay will definitely vary.
Nonetheless, the questions as to whether colleges help people get good jobs persists even while the unemployment rate among college graduates was at an all-time low in November 2018. For those with a high school diploma and no college, it was 3.5%, which is also great. But there’s no doubt you’re more likely to have a job if you have a college degree.
Getting The College Degree Vs. Skipping College For Better Paying Jobs
Higher paying jobs usually require a certain skill set of expertise. As an operator of machinery, you probably won’t need a college degree, but for administrative work like accounting, or industries such as healthcare, education, or law—you’ll find that it will be quite difficult to get an entry-level job without a college degree. This is because such professions require an intricate level of knowledge and experience. As a result, these industries will most likely pay more for such positions. Salaries will depend on the industry itself, the region where you choose to work, as well as the size of the company.
You’re probably thinking you can learn these sets of skills on your own. The truth is you probably could, but how are you going to prove it? You can do internships, volunteer, or have your personal projects shine alongside a C.V., but a college degree proves without a doubt that you have been trained to complete the job.
Debunking The Myth Of Being Self-taught
It’s also argued that even the highest paying jobs like those in computer technology, for instance, don’t need a college degree and that the skills here could be self-taught. This is also a crippling mindset to fall under because even if you were able to teach yourself a certain profession—especially in an industry like computer technology, you may not be up to date with the latest technological advances.
Enrolling in a college will give you the advantage of learning from industry professionals who are actively working in the profession you’re studying. In a university, you’ll also have the opportunity to work on projects that are current and relevant to the industry’s practice. This is a much better learning tool than trying to teach yourself through trial and error.
Taking classes at FNU will give you the experience to learn about the computer science industry by offering you state-of-the-art tools to help you master your skills in a group setting as well as on an individual basis. According to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, occupations in the computer and information technology field can range from $64,970 – $110,620. By the time you graduate with your associates or bachelor’s degree, you’ll be ready to work as a professional in the computer technology industry.
The chance of any self-taught applicant landing a career within this pay range is slim because hirers are looking for applicants with a college degree. So, if you’re looking for a higher paying job, the best thing you can do for your future is to get a college education.
A College Degree Is Applicable In Almost Any Industry
A college degree is versatile. Even if you choose to get a degree in a niche industry like psychology or dentistry, the job opportunities in these fields are so vast that you can take your degree and apply it to multiple jobs within each respective profession. A psychologist’s median salary pay is $72,580, and a dentist’s annual median pay was reported at $158,310. There is no way that you would be able to legally achieve this type of salary without a college degree.
Emerging industries are based on an innovative product, idea, or service that is in its early stages of development. Economists and finance wizards track emerging industries because they are good indicators of where the marketplace is headed in the near future. There are currently a number of emerging industries in the US that are gaining steam, as the recent economic downturn has helped us identify businesses that are poised to fill the gap for jobs that used to be the cornerstones of global commerce. Whether in engineering, science, healthcare, or education – now is an exciting time to be picking a college major and future career track where you know your degree is going to pay off.
Beware Of The Skeptics And Consider The Longevity Of A Profession
So while skeptics may try to convince you that there is no need for a college education to make a decent salary, think again. First consider what kind of profession you’d like to work in, and then consider how much money could be made with or without a college degree. Next, think about the long-term responsibilities it entails. Is it a manual labor job? What if for some reason you’re no longer physically able to perform such backbreaking tasks?
A job can be just going to work to earn a paycheck. A career is a journey that includes all your jobs, experiences, and training in the same field or career cluster. Most Americans have 10 different jobs in their lifetime. These could all be in one career, or they could be in different careers. A career can include many jobs, experiences, and education in the same field or career cluster. This means that your career is a journey of many steps.
Things like this need to be taken into serious consideration because while admittedly there are some high paying jobs that don’t require a college degree, the physical longevity of them may be short-lived and strenuous to the human body. These are the types of things that you need to think about when planning for your future. Also, it’s important to look at where all of the future jobs will be. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics can provide this information for you.
The Struggle Of Looking For A New Job After Years Of Employment
For many, though, college is not just about finding a career and higher earnings. In fact, 88% of students and 82% of parents say they always expected the student to attend college regardless of his or her major or course of study. More than 75% of students and parents agree college is part of the American Dream, and more than half agree the student would attend for the intellectual and social benefits regardless of whether he or she earned more money with a degree.
There also might be the kind of jobs that may hire from within, allowing you to work your way up, but what happens if it goes out of business? Sure, you’ll have the experience, but you won’t have the college degree that so many employers are looking for these days.
FNU can help you stand shoulder to shoulder with the competition by helping you get your college degree. Our curriculum will prepare you to work the job of your dreams and possibly with better pay than someone without a degree.
You’ll never know for sure unless you try. So contact an FNU advisor today to start your career as an FNU college student.
