The Greatest Benefits of a College Degree by Joy

The Greatest Benefits of a College Degree by Joy - October 2024 Scholarship Essay

The history of college started way back in 1088, with the first college being the University of Bologna in Italy. Still standing today, there are now over 25,000 universities throughout the world. Explosive growth of college in the United States happened in 1950-1970, and now today college is the norm. Why?

College is the norm because it’s the greatest investment you can make. Most jobs today require a college degree, and it can be the deciding factor when jobs are choosing an employee. College defined is an institution of higher learning, with training in usually one specific area. Let's say you want to get a job in statistics. Going to college with programs that emphasize statistics is way more in depth than a simple high school class, which is what employers find attractive.

Yes, college can be expensive… but higher the degree, the higher the return. The median salary in Ohio for people without a college degree is $32,046. Compared to a masters degree, the average salary is $70,404. The difference is clear, forty thousand more dollars for a piece of paper with your name on it. Of course, that’s not to undermine all the hard work put into it, but it goes to show how important a degree can be.

As well as that, college can be a time for people to search for what they want to do. In America, an estimated 20-50% of people go into college undecided in their major. High schools usually offer the four core classes: math, science, english, and history. Colleges offer a wider variety of classes than high school, and students can utilize this and take classes they’re interested in that they may not have been able to find in high school. In doing this, finding your passion can make or break your career satisfaction, ensuring that one loves what they do.

Overall, college may not be for everyone. But it’s clear that it has numerous advantages, such as greater pay, higher opportunities, and job satisfaction. There are different options for everyone, and it's important to find what is best fit for you.

Data from:
https://www.unibo.it/en
https://www.student.com/articles/top-100-universities-in-the-world-right-now#:~:text=The%20exact%20number%20of%20universities,25%2C000%20universities%20across%20the%20world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_higher_education_in_the_United_States#:~:text=Explosive%20growth%20in%20the%20number,regional%20campuses%20around%20the%20state.
https://www.uscareerinstitute.edu/blog/how-much-more-high-school-graduates-earn-than-non-graduates
https://www.bestcolleges.com/blog/what-does-undeclared-mean/#:~:text=An%20estimated%2020%2D50%25%20of,And%20should%20you%20do%20it%3F