The best reason to go to college is to learn more about the world you live in. There is a big world out there, which can help expand your understanding of human nature and mature you beyond what you could have ever done hanging out on the porch or sitting on the couch. While it isn't the best option for all students, it is worth looking into.
College graduates earn nearly twice as much during their working years as high school graduates. Information from the U.S. Census Bureau reinforces the value of a college education: workers 18 and over with a bachelor’s degree earn an average of $58,866 a year, while those with a high school diploma earn $33,419. Workers with a master's degree make an average of $70,813, and those with a doctoral degree earn an average of $104,214, and a professional degree earns an average of $117,033. Looking at it from a different view, over an adult's working life, high school graduates can expect, on average, to earn $1.6 million; those with a bachelor's degree, $2.6 million; and people with a master's degree, $3.0 million. Persons with doctoral degrees earn an average of $4.1 million during their working life, while those with professional degrees do best at $4.7 million. College graduation will qualify you for many jobs that would not be available to you any other way. Your career advancement should be easier because some job promotions require a college degree.
Skill Development
A college education will help you develop your skills in reasoning, tolerance, reflection, and communication. These skills will help you resolve the conflicts and solve crises that come up in the course of a personal or professional life. A college education will also help you understand other people's viewpoints, and learn how to disagree sensibly.
A satisfied life depends upon the rational resolution of conflicts and crises. Of course, these critical skills can be developed without going to college, but the college environment has proven to be a good place to practice, learn, and polish skills that will last you a lifetime.
College and Networking
Many college graduates feel that the greatest benefit of their college years is the expansion of their social horizons. Meeting new people, making new friends, companionship, and sharing new experiences lead to personal growth. The skill of meeting and sharing information with people is known as networking. College graduates say that the contacts they made in college often helped them find the job they wanted. Others report that friends in college were tied to their own career climb. College graduates describe the value of these networks as having expanded their horizons from the tribal village to the global village.