The Importance Of College Tuition In The United States

During the 1950's the cost of gas in the U.S. was approximately 30 cents per gallon. According to EIA’s weekly survey, in 2008 the U.S. highest monthly average cost of gas was $4.43 per gallon. (U.S. Energy Information Administration). Subsequently, gas is not the only item that has accelerated in cost due to inflation. As the economy continues to downfall and inflation continues to rise, the cost for many valued goods and services have also escalated. College tuition, a common expense for many families has skyrocketed. “Over the past two decades, they’ve risen roughly twice as fast as inflation” (Vogelstein & Toch 68+). Due to rapid college financial increases, families have been reevaluating the benefits of college before spending thousands

of dollars on a four year degree from an accredited institution. Students who do not have the motivation and guidance to obtain a substantial degree from a four year university should not attend, as the costly factor will outweigh the benefits of the degree.

A majority of people consider a college degree assures a money making career. However, not all degrees automatically guaranteed a job and a profitable salary within their field of study. Without having a significantly impressive resume or highly classified degree, it is known to be very difficult for graduates to find a job in their profession. “Some college graduates become CEOs, while others can’t even find jobs in their field of major” (Haltom 14). Finding a job in a particular field of study is based on the academic skills students can offer and the availability of businesses that are in need of these type of employees. Certain fields, such as the film, video and photographics have an unemployment rate of 12.9% for recent graduates (Goudreau). This statistic is due to the lack of occupations that the degree provides. College graduates who chose to major in film, video, and photographics have a degree, but not many career options available. Therefore, many students find themselves unemployed, and at the same time attempting to pay off thousands of dollars they spent to obtain their degree. Another example is Ryan Flagherty, a highly educated individual with an economics degree who spends his nights stirring mixed drinks and keeping up with the night life. “With the generous tips of New Yorkers and his pack of shifts, he pulls in around $80,000 a year as a bartender. It’s more than he was offered for various office jobs he considered when he arrived in the city, even though he’s highly educated” (Semeuls B.1). The abundant amount of economic graduates looking for work has resulted in less jobs to be available. In addition, for the lucky few students that were able to get jobs in their field; their salaries have dropped tremendously due to supply and demand. Students’ knowledge and information regarding their career opportunities should be highly considered before they decide on a field of study. An uninformed student may find their college financial investment as a negative outcome when they can not obtain a job and earn a substantial salary in their career.

Without guidance and support, freshman are pressured early on to commit to a field of study in effort to avoid taking unnecessary courses for a particular degree.

This abrupt career decision is made without proper guidance and foresight, which results in students working toward a degree that they are not interested in pursuing or they drop out of college. College professors said: “I find my colleagues around the country deeply concerned about students assuming vast debt burdens and about those parents who respond to the financial pressure by urging their children to make career decisions at just the wrong stage in their development” (McPherson). Students are too young and uninformed to be making crucial decisions about their future alone. In order for students to succeed after college with the littlest amount of debt possible and a profession that they enjoy, they need to have a precise path to follow while obtaining an education. Having a plan and guidance allows students to determine the pros and cons of each field of study and the opportunities that are available. This instruction guides students to obtain a degree that offers a variety of stable jobs. Therefore, this process is an efficient way to help eliminate unemployment, and massive amounts of debt for college graduates. Many students assume that by going to college they will come out with a bachelors degree. Without having the navigation skills to pursue a degree, students will fall flat. According to a study by Avery and Turner “Of everyone who enters college expecting to get a bachelor’s degree, more than half leave with no degree and average of $7,413 in debt” (Haltom 14). This problem occurs because students don’t have any specific person guiding them to make sure they reach their goals. Before college, students would depend on their parents to keep them on track and get things done, but now they are forced to manage themselves. Therefore, if students had someone overseeing their progress and

steering them in the right direction, they would be much more likely graduate with a career based degree and compile less debt.

If students have the desire to succeed in the real world, college is a necessity, although those without the motivation to persuade a career path shouldn't attend because the costly price outweighs the benefits. Before recently, a college degree was required to get a job in the workforce. The increase in college tuition has lessened this requirement. “Their study follows a branch of research that says it is the tasks you perform, not the education you have, that determine your income: whether you are performing cognitive, routine, or manual work” (Haltom 14). Currently in society people are receiving jobs based on their skills level, not their academic achievements. Today’s generation of high school graduates rather search for jobs right away, then have to sit in a classroom for four more years, and pay the expense of college. Student's who don't have the initiative to obtain a meaningful degree, shouldn't pay massive amounts of money because the benefits are outweighed by the expensive cost. In the world today there are currently more graduates with degrees then jobs available. Due to the uncertainty of being able to find a job after college, causes student’s not to have the drive to attend college. “Unequal outcomes from college have always been a fact of life” (Haltom 14). In today’s economy there is no guarantee that college graduates will get a job, which causes many students to drop their interest in attending college. Despite this, students who have the desire to work hard and earn a substantial degree and much more likely to find jobs. Those who choose to slide by and earn a degree without any effort are the type of people who don’t have job security. Therefore those who don’t have the work ethic shouldn’t being paying for a degree, because without the ability to progress, the degree will lead to nothing.
Despite the fact that many people think college is not for everyone are unaware of the benefits it does offers. Although not every student will come out with some sort of top notch degree, they will learn lifelong skills on how to work hard, support themselves, and succeed. Those with any sort of college degree as much more valuable in the workplace than those without. "College educated individuals have much lower rates of joblessness than those with a high school diploma or less education. In a changing economy, job security is a big bonus" (Demas). Since the recent downfall of the economy less jobs are available everywhere. Therefore, college graduates who have a degree are more likely to obtain jobs than those without a degree. By having a college degree graduates become more marketable to businesses, allowing companies to see they have worked hard and are able accomplish goals. These characteristics enhances students opportunities of getting jobs.