Argumentative Essay: The Value Of College And Higher Education

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It seems that every article regarding college and higher education argues that it is no longer worth the price students have to pay. Yet, college is the goal at the end of childhood education; it is the entrance into the real world that nearly every high school student strives to take part in. How is it that such a pivotal aspect of contemporary culture and success is no longer worthwhile? Even as the costs of college are higher than anyone would like to pay, there has been no decrease in the value of attending a university to obtain a higher education. Whether one attends college for the culture, promise of better work and pay, desire to become a well rounded citizen, or need for knowledge, there is no question that it is worth the tuition. …show more content…

One argument typical of opposers involves unemployment: graduates either cannot get a job or are overqualified for those they obtain. It has been researched and proven that higher educational degrees are tied with lower unemployment rates, an example being the rate of merely 2.4% for those with a professional degree (Smith). This rate qualifies as full employment (any rate below 4-6%); therefore, these graduates are not struggling for employment. In respect to overqualification, it is true that although graduates are not at a loss for work, the jobs they do find often require less specialization or education than they have achieved (Gardner). However, it is also true that employers are much more inclined to hire a candidate with a bachelor’s degree rather than one with a highschool diploma. College education puts graduates ahead in the competition for consistent, well paying jobs. While not every job provided by a college degree will be ideal or ‘good’, “a college degree is worth the cost because it at least enables a young person to tread water. Without a degree, young people can easily drown” (Reich). In short, jobs graduates receive will not always be of a high standard, but they are plentiful and necessary for economic

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