And only because the average employer is so shallow. You could be the laziest, most shiftless dimwit on the planet, but if you managed to wangle a degree from Harvard or Yale, they’ll cut you a big check as quick as they’re done having their multiple orgasm.
I see a huge education bubble, predicated on Gov’t money, fewer children in families and the shrinking idea that everyone can benefit from a college education.
I imagine Harvard and Yale will survive a shakeout, as will the state-funded universities. Then I look at the small, private, regional colleges among us here in the N.E., who still have $40,000 per year tuitions, no longer have any founding ethos - and wonder how they will survive.
I did not complete my Associates degree until I was 47. I spent my “college money” on obtaining IT certifications. I have never be unemployed and have had a six figure salary since the mid 90’s.
Since my employer offers tuition assistance, I will finish my BS in EE in about 3 years. However, that is more to “fill in” and make my HR happy than for any real advancement.
Try getting a job without a bunch of degrees.
As an employer I’ve found the main benefit of having employees with a degree is the degree itself. It proves that person was able to set a goal and hold their stuff together long enough to reach that goal.
People with degrees aren’t any smarter then people without degrees. Although in many cases their writing/communication skills are much better and if they have a technical degree they are more capable of the logical thinking required in many fields.
It depends on the person though just like everything else.
Well. We got our last child out of a prestigious “Ivy” and she got a job-an editor(of some sort) at a prominant publishing house- as she majored in English literature. She worked and we helped pay and she left with only $5,000 in debt. The debt has been paid. We were lucky!
My son is attending one of the most selective, top 10 schools in the country and he’s guaranteed a job for the next 5 to 10 years. US Air Force Academy.
Each year I get either an early experience teacher, a student teacher, or both. They are always from our local Franciscan University. Most of these students are attending this private institution from out of state, and I’m always amazed at how many of them do not have at least part-time jobs. I know the job market is tough, but these kids choose not to work. They take out the full amount in loans after their tuition is adjusted for family income, etc. I’m just amazed at how quickly they sign the dotted line for all of those loans. My student teach from last year graduated with over $80,000 of debt for a teaching degree with a minor in drama! I think that this might be part of the problem. Students are getting easy money access without ever knowing what it’s like to carry that burden, and now that they’re experiencing the debt it is not fun. Just my 2¢.
This study creates a bias toward technical schools because they have a larger % of technical degrees than regular schools (MIT, GA Tech, CO School of Mines, etc)
I think it matters more what you study than where you study. To an extent, of course. When I went back to school later in life, my wife and I did a cost/benefit and ROI analysis. My lost wages while I was in school and the cost of school were somewhere in the $90k range. When I got out of school, I made about $20k more than when I went in, and that quickly increased. It paid for itself within about 3 or 4 years. But, that was an accounting degree and the resultant CPA license. The other option I considered was education, but the ROI was not worth it.
bttt