Given the high cost of attending college, students should think about whether it is worth the investment for your degree according to Forbes magazine.
According to a new census report titled Educational Attainment in the United States: 2004, 85 percent of those age 25 or older reported they had completed at least high school, and 28 percent had attained at least a bachelor’s degree – both record highs.
Judi Gould, career transfer center coordinator, said that she encourages students to put education as a priority.
“For every level that you complete it is going to improve your lifetime earnings significantly,” said Gould.
Community college students who graduate with an Associates degree can expect to earn an average of $1.6 million during a career, an increase of $400,000 over a high school degree. Community college students who earn a vocational degree of certificate saw their wages jump from $25,600 to $47,571, three years after earning their degree, an increase of 86 percent.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, they have released data that workers 18 and over, sporting bachelors degrees, earn an average of $51,206 a year, while those with a high school diploma earn $27,915. Workers with an advanced degree make an average of $74,602 and those without a high school diploma average $18,734.
Chris Barcarse, 21, engineering major, said that students that finish their college degree would be able to support themselves.
“Students need a college education to pursue a career,” said Barcarse. “If you do finish college it will make you look more professional than someone that didn’t finish college or didn’t finish high school.”
Vy Le, 19, undecided major, said that she doesn’t think that college is worth the investment for some people.
“I think it is worth the investment if you can pass all of your classes,” said Le. “You can pay as much as you want, but if you can’t pass your classes then you are kind of done. Today they care more about experience.”
California Community Colleges are the State’s largest, workforce training provider, conferring over 125,000 degrees and certificates each year according to the Moorpark College website.
Gould said that students would feel an accomplishment if they obtained their college degree.
“It’s just a milestone in your life where it might be more difficult to complete it,” said Gould.
For more information about college degrees and whether college is worth the investment, you can contact Judi Gould at [email protected] or at [email protected].
