The True Value of Post-Secondary Education
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You’ve probably heard it said that you can’t put a price on education. But what is the true value of obtaining a post-secondary education? Is it really worth the time, money, and effort it takes to achieve a degree?
It can be difficult to see the benefits of a degree when money is an object and time is of the essence, but the truth is that the benefits of pursuing a degree are worth the effort.
This entry will lay out the most important facts about acquiring a post-secondary education and how it can help anyone secure the best career for them.
TAKE AWAY: Post-secondary education is still the most likely path for anyone to enter or maintain “middle class/earner” status.
Quote from Iqbal Singh: “You can lose a lot and people can take a lot from you, but no one can take away your degree.”
Secure Future
Everyone knows that in this day and age, life can turn on a dime. The economy can take a downturn, companies can have ups and downs, and industries are always trying to change with the times.
One of the greatest investments you can make is to pursue a degree in a program you are passionate about. Having a college degree allows more doors of opportunity to open, broadens one’s skills, and increase professional and financial stability for you and your families.
Economic Security
With a degree, you will have a earned a higher education than many others in the workforce which gives you a leg up for getting a job and earning more money. With careful planning you will be able to save more money and avoid living paycheck to paycheck.
Individuals with certifications and/or diplomas are:
- More valuable to your employer
- Better suited for various job opportunities due to a higher level of skill/education
- Less likely to be laid off during an economic recession
- More likely to receive employment benefits
They are also able to receive more opportunities for career advancement and report an overall greater job satisfaction
In one study, it was found that, on average, college graduates earned 56% more than high school graduates, and since the economic recession of 2009, those who have a college education have secured more jobs than those without.
According to Southern Hampshire University, another study showed that 60% of post-secondary graduates and 77% of college graduates believe that their job gives them a sense of identity. Generally, these people also considered their occupation a career and not simply a job.
Broaden Skills
When companies hire employees, they narrow down the candidates by who has the most experience and/or highest education for the job. In college, students gain skills and a broad range of experiences that employers are looking for.
Post-secondary programs teach responsibility, time management, organization, and social preparation as well as challenge students to develop people skills, accommodation tactics, and adaptability. These are the “soft” skills that make or break careers!
Greater Stability for Family
The study discussed by Southern Hampshire University showed that education effects long-term lifestyle decisions beyond just having a higher paycheck. People with more education are more likely to own homes, vote, have better health, and even get and stay married.
All of these are made easier through the security that a post-secondary education provides. These benefits not only influence you but also your family. Those who attend college invest in the future of their own children by securing a stable and rewarding job that will allow them to provide for the future.
More Career Opportunities
Many people who want to earn a degree often don’t know what they want to do as a career, but the most efficient way to explore the options is through pursing a higher education.
Some employers will tell you that many times it may not matter what specifically your degree is in as long as you have one in a close area. Why? Because the perseverance a post-secondary degree shows, and the skills learned through the experience are indicators of potentially successful employees.
It’s not uncommon to work in a field that’s different from the area you studied in — in fact, most people do not end up in a job that has a direct correlation to what they went to school for. If you do, that’s fantastic, but in the workforce the real point of a degree is the effort you put forth to earn it. Employers value the work that it takes to achieve a degree.
Therefore, a post-secondary education opens doors that would otherwise to be closed. You will have more opportunities to advance or seek other career options because your degree affords you the freedom to do so.
Photo by Fabian Blank on Unsplash
College Affordability
The positives of continuing education are well and good but for many, money is an issue. Attending post-secondary schools can be expensive and that burden may be heavier on some students and their families than others.
The good news is that with the help of scholarships, many organizations and beneficiaries want to assist learners and families with the financial burden so that anyone who desires to go to college has the opportunity.
Take for example the Jasdeep Singh Scholarship. In honor of my parents, Asha and Iqbal, this scholarship is given to two incoming freshman or sophomores who are the first in their households to attend a post-secondary school.
This $1000 scholarship helps with the cost of tuition by minimizing a student’s debt and reducing the stress on a student and their family. This way, a post-secondary degree will feel less like a debt to repay and more like an asset to use.
A post-secondary degree increases in value as the pressure on students after their studies decreases. Scholarships such as my family’s are designed to help give first-in-family post-secondary college attendees the chance to earn a degree with equal opportunity.
Conclusion
You really can’t put a price on education — there are too many benefits of earning a degree. The security, income, and lifetime stability that a post-secondary education can provide is possible for anyone. Economies fluctuate and times change, but you’ll always have your degree!
With the help of numerous scholarships, college can be affordable no matter who you are or what money you may have. So, if you are thinking about pursing higher education, don’t keep waiting — make your future happen!