Why a College Degree is Important

When you are deciding whether or not to get your undergraduate degree, you may feel conflicted. When faced with the expense of college, it is easy to think that maybe you don’t need one after all. You may see people a few years older than you that have great jobs without, and you may see some working in jobs that do not require them. When you are weighing the pros and cons of attending college, the cost is often the deciding factor. It is important to get out of the mindset that college is unaffordable or that earning your degree would be a waste of time and money. Time will pass regardless of how you are using it, and there are many different ways to pay for school.

Paying for school doesn’t have to be scary

While there are always exceptions to the rule, in general, there are many benefits to attending college and earning your degree. While you may not be eager to borrow money to pay for your education, it is important to understand that student loans generally have a reasonable interest rate. If you need to borrow more than you can obtain through federal loans, private student loans are a great option. For students who have yet to establish a solid credit score, either due to youth or mismanagement of finances, asking a family member or friend to cosign for private student loans allow you to attend college and earn your degree.

College graduates have an easier time getting, and remaining, employed

Individuals who earn an undergraduate degree will have an easier time becoming employed and remaining employed, regardless of what happens with the general economy. It is true that many people end up becoming employed, and even building entire careers, in positions that do not utilize their undergraduate degree. In addition to everything you learn in college, earning a degree is an easy way for potential employees to decide if someone can finish what they start, reliable, and goal-oriented. It may not be a fair assessment, but if several individuals are evenly matched, the one holding this will generally get the job. In a competitive job market, a college degree can save endless frustration.

An undergraduate degree boosts job satisfaction

People who have college degrees generally have a higher level of job satisfaction than those who do not have one. Some of it may be psychological, the folks with feel that they have more options and could always find something different, so they have warmer feelings towards their jobs. Part of it is likely how employers and coworkers interact with individuals without. Particularly if you are surrounded by others who have an undergraduate degree, there may be an unconscious bias to hand off some of the more boring or repetitive tasks to those without the same level of schooling. When opportunities for advancement open up, the folks without are often overlooked. The hours you spend at work are significant. If you are unhappy, you need to make a change. The most reliable step you can take to find new employment, or to qualify for advancement in your current career, is to finish higher education.