Does A College Degree Still Matter?

I didn’t graduate. But recently, I’ve been entertaining thoughts about finishing my college degree. Sure, I’ve caught a lot of lucky breaks in recent years, partly due to my tenacity to pursue a career in writing. But outside of writing, I don’t have any other skill that will make me appealing to potential employers. True, I’m making more than enough, but when I see how far my high school peers have gone, I can’t help but feel a slight twinge of jealousy.

The truth is, for most people like us, a college degree remains essential. The Zuckerbergs, the Gateses and the Jobses are more of the exception rather than the rule. You don’t have to believe me, just another person without a diploma. All you have to do is look at the numbers.

In a recent report released by Pew Research Social and Demographic Trends in February of this year, the disparity in terms of annual earnings between Millennials, or those aged between 25 to 32 years old, who have finished college and those who have not gone further beyond high school has widened further.

Just how wide is this gap? According to Pew Research, the median annual earning of a college graduate is pegged at $45,500. The median annual earning of those with an associate degree is at $30,000 while those with just a high school diploma earn an average of $28,000.

The report also delved into unemployment figures where just 3.8 percent of those who are unemployed come from the ranks of college grads. Those who have earned an associate degree account for 8.1 percent and those with just a high school diploma account for 12.2 percent.

All in all, this gap or trend continues a theme that many experts have been aware of for several years – a college degree matters, if you want to earn more.

Indeed, going to college and finishing a degree may be a hard sell to the younger generation as the news of unemployment and underemployment reaches them. Add to that the fact that many college grads are struggling to pay off their debt. But when you look closely at these figures, the disparity, you cannot ignore the fact that a college degree can certainly give you a good starting push.

Of course, a college degree cannot guarantee you long-term success or even a high-paying job. There are simply a lot of factors that need to be accounted for — say, perhaps, even luck. But would you gamble with your future? If you are unsure how to go about applying for college or other related issues, there are people who are ready to help, including the folks at College Admission Central.