Majority of Americans value higher education
If you're currently deciding whether or not to go to college, consider a recent study by Widmeyer Communications, which surveyed about 1,000 Americans and asked them about their stance on higher education. The results? About 60 percent of those surveyed believe getting a degree is a good investment.
Additionally, about half of polled adults believe a degree holds just as much value as it did 20 years ago despite the rising cost of postsecondary education.
Still not convinced? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), educated individuals earn a substantially higher income than those with just a high school diploma. With a bachelor's degree, you could potentially earn nearly twice the salary as a high school grad, and those earnings just about triples if you have a professional degree. If that's not enough, the unemployment rate among those with just a high school education is currently at 9.4 percent - about twice that of bachelor's degree holders.
Before you decide to go to college, think about what you want to study. Jobs in this country are currently shifting away from manufacturing and leaning toward technology fields.
A recent study by a Nebraska-based university predicts that by 2018, about six out of 10 jobs in America will require at least an associate's degree, which has contributed to more people considering going to college to earn more money and change careers.
"People who currently hold jobs in industries that are in decline need to take action, today, so they can secure a job in a growing industry," said Mary Hawkins, president of the university. "The new jobs being created are very different kinds of jobs, requiring different kinds of workers."
