As graduating seniors unravel their freshly-printed diplomas, it\u2019s hard for most of them to see anything but a huge bill.
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In recent years, skyrocketing tuition prices have forced 70 percent<\/a> of college students to take out loans to pay for their education. On average, these borrowers graduate with $37,172 left to pay back. But despite the price tag, college has become more popular<\/a> than ever before. So why are students still pursuing their bachelor\u2019s degree, even if they risk putting themselves and their families in debt?<\/p>\n\n\n\n First and foremost, students go to college to get \u201cbetter\u201d jobs. In fact, 58 percent<\/a> of college students report \u201cjob and career outcomes\u201d as their primary motivation for choosing higher education. Part of what makes a job \u201cbetter\u201d is a fat paycheck. Students perceive college as an investment in their future. They want jobs that pay higher salaries, and they view a college education as their ticket. Mostly, they\u2019re right. Across the United States, college graduates make more money, on average, than those without a degree. And in highly populated states with dense metropolitan areas like New York and California, college grads\u2019 salaries are twice<\/a> that of individuals without a degree. But this isn\u2019t news to anyone. College degrees have, for a long time, been associated with a higher paycheck. What is more interesting, however, is that students are increasingly prioritizing a rewarding career — one in which they can \u201ccontribute to society.\u201d In fact, a recent College Pulse study<\/a> found that 69 percent of college students say having a job that \u201ccontributes to society\u201d is very important to them. This demonstrates \u201ca very clear trend,\u201d said Terren Klein<\/a>, CEO of College Pulse. \u201cCollege students aspire to make a difference in society,\u201d he continued. \u201cEmployers and brands need to know that money alone is not what will motivate America’s future workforce. We are entering the age of the socially-conscious professional.” A college education teaches students the communicative and problem-solving skills they need to put themselves in a position to make a difference. College graduates, no matter what they major in, generally have an easier time finding work and transitioning between jobs than those who only graduated from high school. As a result, those with a bachelor\u2019s degree face much lower unemployment rates<\/a> than diploma holders. A couple of primary factors play into this. The first is, bachelor\u2019s degrees have become much more common<\/a>. As a result, high school grads are being booted out of their jobs by \u201cmore qualified\u201d candidates. The second is, college students — especially those in the humanities<\/a> — are taught how to think critically, make arguments, write, and make difficult decisions, which are skills that employers in nearly every industry need. There are many ways to make money without a degree in higher education, but many of those jobs are in industries that workers aren\u2019t necessarily striving to get into. A college degree, however, opens up all types of employment opportunities and gives individuals a higher chance to work in a field that they thoroughly enjoy, or at least feel is meaningful. A Pew Research Center study<\/a> found that 60 percent of workers with a bachelor\u2019s degree and 77 percent of workers with a postgraduate degree are likely to say their job gives them \u201ca sense of identity.\u201d Only 38 percent of workers without a college education can say the same. Twenty-two percent<\/a> of college students report \u201ca general motivation to learn more and gain knowledge\u201d as their primary reason for attending college. This percentage is smaller than it may have been a few decades ago, but skyrocketing tuition prices have ultimately shifted the way students perceive the purpose of college. Rightfully so, college students expect to earn a quality job after graduation. They want to see a return on their investment. But with high tuition prices and employment outcomes dominating the narrative of higher education, it\u2019s easy to forget that college is also about personal and intellectual growth. While some students enroll in college to qualify themselves for a high-paying job, others are there to pursue what they love. According to Blakey Vermeule<\/a>, a professor of English at Stanford University, pursuing what you love is still the best approach. \u201cI, personally, don\u2019t really think it matters as much what you major in,\u201d said Vermeule<\/a>. \u201cI don\u2019t think that is as important as the benefits of just following your curiosity down any rabbit hole that it takes you.\u201d \u201cThere is a whole wealth of very fascinating information and things to learn about out there, and I think that the more people restrict themselves to certain specializations, the less they are able to let their curiosity go where it leads them,\u201d she continued. Attending college is a great way to build professional and personal networks. Professionally, colleges and universities strive to help their students excel beyond graduation. So, they often set up career fairs<\/a>, social networking events and clubs that are all intended to help students build relationships with each other, alumni and visiting professionals. These professional relationships are pivotal to landing a job after graduation. In fact, 70 percent <\/a>of people earn jobs through networking. And personally, college is a tremendous opportunity to meet friends that will last a lifetime. College, for many students, is their first chance to branch out and truly find out who they want to be. It’s a transitional phase. It\u2019s both exciting and nerve-racking. The friends students meet on campus often become like family. They are there during the most fun and difficult times. To say all students factor health care, retirement, homeownership and marriage into their decision on whether or not to attend college would be a stretch of the truth. However, those who do earn their bachelor\u2019s degree see benefits in all four categories. Those with degrees in higher education are more likely to work jobs that offer benefits such as company health insurance and retirement plans. And a 2016 Zillow report<\/a> found that 75 percent of homebuyers have a college degree, compared to only 11 percent who just have a high school diploma.
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n1. They want better career outcomes<\/strong>
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n2. They are curious and motivated to learn<\/strong>
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n3. They want to build their network<\/strong>
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<\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Some students want a more secure future<\/strong>
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