In order for you to see the benefits of a college degree it solely depends on you as a person, your goals, aspirations, and career need to determine whether it is worth it but it is also important to remember that earning a college degree is a very important step towards opening up to all opportunities in life, both personally and professionally. It looks quite easy the difference a college degree can help you accomplish in your life and career when you thoroughly consider the financial, cultural, and social benefits attached to it.
Benefits Of A College Degree
Benefits attached to having a college degree include Higher earning potential, Discover your interest, Increased Marketability, Improved Skills, Flexibility, Networking Opportunities, Job Satisfaction, Personal Development, Improved Job Security, and Employment Benefits.
10 Benefits Of A College Degree
Improved Skills
Commonly, skills can easily be split into two aspects which are soft and hard skills. Hard skills involve a technical approach and are mostly job-related. Imagine that you want to be a mobile developer then the hard skill required of you is learning how to code. Soft skills on the other hand tend to be communicable or adopted between jobs over time. This includes empathy, problem-solving skills, teamwork, and communication. A college education teaches and helps you prune your hard and soft skills for you to be more productive.
Higher Earning Potential
Going back to school for most individuals is the need to make money as the major incentive. The chances for you to earn higher are determined by your qualifications. High school graduates can earn up to an average of $30,000 a year but when you consider graduate degree holders, the figure dramatically increases as they earn up to $50,000 per year. You would see that the wide gap is affected by the level of education because individuals with postgraduate degrees earn up to $70,000 per year. Although earnings may vary due to career and experience, the figures above only represent averages.
Discover Your Interest
Gaining a college degree has now become the central part of the American Dream, where you go to college, get a job, buy a house and raise a family. It is never easy as it sounds but it all starts with a degree. A college degree gives you a chance to discover all your interests either within the classroom or beyond the walls. In college, you get to select some general education courses and electives regardless of your major, such classes help you uncover subject interests you never knew you had. Unlike high school, in college, you select subjects to offer which are likely to help you develop a new interest.
Networking
Discovering your interests, improving your skills, and some other benefits of a college degree are easily done by the role of networking because these days people often get jobs based on recommendations made by friends, or colleagues. Having a professional network can help you learn about new job openings before others and this can be the difference between getting a job or even a promotion. This networking often starts forming in college when you volunteer in school organizations or professional societies where you meet other students in your field with the same learning needs. The contacts you make during your time at college may be able to connect you to resources that will aid you personally and professionally. With networking, You can easily be recommended for a position that fits your expertise as most managers often look internally for potential hires.
More Career Opportunities
Earning a college degree is a smart way to increase your career success as most graduates take up 57% of job opportunities compared to non-graduates. This enables you to be eligible for extra opportunities and provides more flexibility wherever you choose to work. While pursuing a college degree, you are exposed to a lifetime network of colleagues, advisors, professors, and mentors who can over the course of your profession help make connections and link you to industry professionals to exchange opinions and explore new possibilities. This is possible because as a student, you tend to gain experience in self-discipline, organization, and time management, all of which are traits employers look out for.
Personal Development
Most people underestimate the personal growth they experience during the period they are studying for their degree. This practical reason can range from increased likeness from people around and increased competitiveness that can even get you promoted at work. A college education gears you to overcome every type of adversity and prepares you for your career and also ways to deal with most of life’s challenges. Some traits that you develop during your college years include passing tests, completing projects, and being disciplined helps you respond better to pressure and hardship when the need arises.
Job Satisfaction
Most people believe that having a college degree creates greater long-term job satisfaction compared to non-degree holders because you have studied a degree that interests you and chances are that you enjoy what you do as a professional. With a college degree, you get to enjoy a lot of perks attached to your job contributing to a sense of satisfaction. Most individuals with a college degree are offered retirement benefits compared to those with none.
Employment Benefits
There are a lot of perks and benefits attached to jobs that require you to have a college degree. From health care and retirement benefits to travelling and community discounts, these benefits are very significant to you and your family bringing a distinction in your life outside work. Normally, families with college graduates are more stable economically and well-off socially making it more likely that the next generation will attend college. In essence, gaining a college degree is an asset in your future and that of your family.
Increased Marketability
Almost 90% of jobs in the four fastest-growing industries which includes education, healthcare, STEM, and government services all require candidates with college degrees. Working towards a college degree equips you with adequate skills that will give you a competitive advantage in the employment market. As the need for experienced and literate employees continues to grow, a college degree keeps your skill in request. These days employers are more interested in applicants with leadership, analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills that colleges arm you with during rigorous coursework and experiential learning.
International Job Opportunities
If you want to work in a different country, international employers will know if you are fit and capable of handling the job by having a college degree. Being qualified showcases that you are competent in managing the workload and also remaining committed to achieving set goals. Most International job opportunities require that you attach valid documents which include your degree to be processed.
Diversity In Knowledge And Experience
Employers believe that college degree holders are instilled with job-ready skills that are requirements for recruiters. College experiences ranging from courses and projects to networking, community service, and mentorships almost always require that you change who you are to become even better when using your degree after college. Almost all colleges demand students to propel beyond their comfort zone, expertise, preferred patterns, and attitude to graduate.
Improved Job Security
Data reveals that in the event of an economic collapse, college degree holders are less likely to forfeit their jobs compared to non-holders. To show how valued higher education is in the workplace, some employers pay tuition fees to get an educated workforce because it offers substantial benefits for you and your employer. A college degree improves your job security.
Conclusion
The reasons for getting a college degree are numerous, whether you are seeking a higher annual wage, a promotion, a new possibility to learn and grow professionally, or seeking a promising life for your family. Just remember that it is a big commitment with a lot of rewards like more career possibilities, a brighter future, economic stability, and also a sense of personal accomplishment. It is easy to see how valuable a college degree can be a big difference in your life if you consider the financial, cultural, economic, and social benefits it comes with.
FAQs
- Is a college degree necessary for a successful future?
While making a decision on going to college or not, it is important to understand what you want for your future career, the skills you need to succeed, and the experiences you need to get there. After analyzing these elements, you would realize whether or not a college degree will aid your success.
- What are the benefits of going to college?
Some benefits attached to a college degree include, employment benefits, job satisfaction, more career opportunities, Job flexibility, increased marketability, economic stability, increased earning potential, networking opportunities, and personal development.
- Why is a college degree important to employers?
Most employers possess a strong feeling that graduates and postgraduates candidates are more likely to be a good fit or more skilled in terms of problem-solving skills, teamwork skills, critical thinking skills, and work ethic attitude compared to non-graduates.
