Is University Worth It?

A ranking by PayScale shows the average starting salary based off of graduates of specific schools in the United States. For example, graduates from Stanford University may earn, on average, $58,200, whilst graduates from Wilmington University earn $35,300. Name recognition is therefore important when considering where to go for a bachelor’s degree.

Are you looking to work sooner?

In 2011, the United States Census Bureau released the fact that 30% of U.S adults over 25 now hold a bachelor’s degree. As enrolment continues to increase, this statistic should only increase. This means that at one point, supply will exceed demand.

Integration within the work place is a key point of consideration by employers and arguably, a catch-22 for recent graduates. Companies want experience as well as education. With an ever increasing population of people holding bachelor’s degrees, more demands are placed. In response, some universities offer co-op programs.

Co-op programs are an excellent option no matter which major you are pursuing. Essentially, it allows you to work interchangeably with your studies. Programs will involve students going to specific companies for a semester, work there, and then continue their studies. The disadvantage is that it may take longer than four years to earn your B.A., but the advantages are clear. For one, students will have valuable industry experience that can help them get a career in their desired field. Second, because they are working every other semester, they will be able to earn some income to decrease the burden of student debt.

For example, at the University of Waterloo, statistics of students in their co-op programs show the financial benefits available, with some students earning anywhere between $37,000-$77,000 by graduation. Not only that, but they have a job placement rate of 95% post-graduation.

Is a 4-year undergraduate degree the only path to a successful life? Of course not. The option of going to trade schools for professions such as plumbers and electricians can offer stable employment and respectable salaries. Programs are shorter in length and the post-graduation employment is very favourable.

Is an Undergraduate Degree Worth It?

In the end, assessing whether going to university is a good decision is a very personal and subjective question. No two people are alike, and therefore no two people have the same ambitions and life perspectives. People choose to go to university for a variety of different reasons, each valid on its own account.

In general, students should know which programs they wish to complete, and not enter into undecided fields with tuition rates in the thousands per year. They should also be aware of the prospective careers their major entails. They should know that alone a degree will not ensure life-long success; students need to put in the work. Once these factors are determined, more specific considerations should be taken into account.

Finally, it is important to remember that going to university is valuable life experience. Meeting like-minded individuals far away from home is very rewarding. Students will not only mature in their education, but in their social lives.

University is a worthy endeavour for those whom heavily invest their time and efforts in doing well whilst attending.

Marc Posth is a writer based in Montreal, but comes from Dubai, France, and Singapore – at the same time. With a background in science, his next logical step is creative writing.