The Benefits to Attending College by Simran

The Benefits to Attending College by Simran - April 2020 Scholarship Essay

The notorious Malcolm X once said, “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.” That being said, while attending college may not be the path for everyone, I do strongly believe that attending college is important for most and there are several reasons as to why going to college is important. First and foremost, the most important reason is the salary for college graduates, followed by job security, and finally the social benefits.
The most significant reason as to why attending college is important is the salary for college graduates. Data shows that people who go to college have on average a higher salary. As claimed by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, those with a bachelor’s degree make about $468 more than those without a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, the US Department of Education noted that someone with a bachelor’s degree will earn roughly a million dollars more in their lifetime than someone who only has a high school degree. Last but not least, research conducted at Georgetown University found that “people who earn bachelor’s degrees and work full-time can expect to earn 84 percent more than their peers with a high school diploma over their lifetime.” To summarize, these statistics clearly show that there is a substantial wage gap between those who go to college and those who do not. This is significant because everyone needs money to survive, and college will help with making money more times than not.
Secondly, attending college is important because college students often have more job security in the future. A prime example of the importance of job security is what many of us are facing right now, the coronavirus pandemic. The coronavirus pandemic has led to many layoffs and people losing jobs all around the world. More research shows that during recessions or even a pandemic, people with college degrees are less likely to get laid off compared to those who do not have a degree. College degrees are so valuable to employers that sometimes they will even pay for employees to attend college. Furthermore, in 2018 the US Bureau of Labor Statistics stated that workers with a bachelor’s degree face a 2.1% employment rate. Those without a college degree face a little more than a 4% unemployment rate. All in all, this demonstrates that most college graduates are likely to be more financially stable and have a job.
Finally, there are many social benefits to attending college. A Lumina Foundation report found that 94% of adults with a college degree expressed happiness with the life they were living compared to 89% of adults without a degree. This showed higher satisfaction in people with college degrees. In general, people with college degrees are more likely to be satisfied with their lives and their materialistic things. Once again, this is not the case for everyone but does show that people are more happy once they have their college degree.
In conclusion, all these reasons among a dozen others clearly demonstrate the importance in attending college. However, I would like to make note that if someone chooses not to attend a college that does not make them any less satisfactory or less of a person; there are just several benefits to going to college.