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Is college education worth it? Is college education worth it?
Yes, college education is worth it Yes, college education is worth it
Whether college education is worth it depends Whether college education is worth it depends
No, college education isn't worth it No, college education isn't worth it
Over a lifetime, college education makes financial sense Over a lifetime, college education makes financial sense
College helps you get a job College helps you get a job
Higher education means a better life Higher education means a better life
College teaches you how to learn College teaches you how to learn
College teaches interpersonal skills College teaches interpersonal skills
College makes you a better parent College makes you a better parent
The value of college education depends on the institution The value of college education depends on the institution
Whether college education is worth it depends on the discipline Whether college education is worth it depends on the discipline
Whether college is worth it depends on available financial assistance Whether college is worth it depends on available financial assistance
College forces graduates to put off major rites of passage College forces graduates to put off major rites of passage
Student loan debt is crippling Student loan debt is crippling
College doesn't prepare students for the modern job market College doesn't prepare students for the modern job market
You don’t need a degree to get to the top You don’t need a degree to get to the top
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Is college education worth it?
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Yes, college education is worth it

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College helps you get a job

University opens career doors for graduates. A person having any form of tertiary education has higher chances to find a job than someone without. This is also reflected by a lower unemployment rate of graduates.
Delece Smith-Barrow
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Context

Unemployment among university-educated workers is far lower than among those without a degree. College is, therefore, highly beneficial for securing employment.

The Argument

The unemployment rate for non-college educated workers is at 3.5%. Among those with at least an undergraduate degree, it is 2.2%.[1] You are more likely to find a job with a college degree than without one. This is because as more people go to university the educational bar is higher. A glut of university graduates in the workforce has allowed employers to prioritize those with a university degree, even for jobs that have traditionally not required any form of higher education.[2] In 1970, 28% of jobs required a college degree. Now 66% of jobs ask that candidates have received some form of higher education.[3] Additionally, 99% of new jobs created require a candidate with a university degree.[4]

Counter arguments

These statistics hide the fact that many college-educated workers are working in a job that has no need for a college degree. Around 20% of college graduates are working jobs that have no need for a college education, handing them all of the debt, without any of the economic benefits. [5] Also, the unemployment rate among recent graduates is actually higher than the unemployment rate among non-college educated workers. In the US, 4% of recent graduates are unemployed and 41% are underemployed—far higher than the national average of 3.6% and 34%. [6]

Proponents

Premises

[P1] The unemployment rate of college graduates is lower than non-college educated workers. [P2] Therefore, college helps you find, and stay, employed. [P3] Therefore, a college degree is worth it.

Rejecting the premises

[Rejecting P2] Correlation doesn't mean causality. Many college graduates would be employed anyway as they work jobs that don't require a college degree.

References

  1. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereknewton/2018/12/16/please-stop-asking-whether-college-is-worth-it/#7750147530d2
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOouUYXB14E
  3. https://cew.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/trillion-dollar-infrastructure.pdf
  4. https://cew.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/Americas-Divided-Recovery-web.pdf
  5. https://www.mercatus.org/publications/federal-fiscal-policy/dysfunctions-federal-financing-higher-education
  6. https://www.newyorkfed.org/research/college-labor-market/index.html

In the Wild

This page was last edited on Tuesday, 2 Jun 2020 at 13:53 UTC

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