The answer to the question about college still being worth it is a short and emphatic, “yes.” It’s not even a “maybe.” The only data point that doesn’t support college for every graduating senior is the perception that college might not be worth it, grounded in the narrative but not in the reality. To be clear, when we say “college,” we’re including all of the 2-year and technical choices that students have to choose from, often excluded from the conversation. That said, the rhetoric that college is too expensive or that you don’t need such advanced degrees to do meaningful and economically viable work couldn’t be further from the truth, yet somehow the public perception of the return-on-investment (ROI) doesn’t match the actual outcome data that compare college graduate success to their non-college graduate peers.

The question shifts from whether college is still a really smart choice to the reasons why so many students, families, and even educators perceive it to be unnecessary. Every other data point, including surveys of current college goers, demonstrates that college adds value to degree recipients that they wouldn’t get without the diploma. Believing what you hear about college can be detrimental to attending, which, in turn, can have a hugely negative impact on future earnings. The decline in college enrollment, on the other hand, doesn’t fully represent the population as a whole. Somehow, the story that college isn’t worth it resonates more significantly with males of every race and ethnicity than females. Below, we explore two possible reasons for the unfortunate misunderstandings and major misconceptions about why college has taken a back seat, despite the fact that college graduates earn 86% more than those with only a high school diploma. 

The Rising Cost of Tuition

According to multiple sources, college tuition for both public and private four year colleges has basically doubled in the last 30 years. But, at the same time, program assistance for college attendance has increased and improved. The rising cost of college parallels the supports enacted for low income and first generation students being able to attend. As such, the cost barrier is more of a perception than a reality. The truth is that four-year major college institutions may be financially out-of-reach for many families, but 2- and 4-year community colleges as well as many open-enrollment institutions are very affordable. Rather than telling students that cost is prohibitive, we ought to inform them about how to gain inexpensive or free options.

It’s possible that expensive four-year name-brand institutions are best for those with financial or merit aid, those with an athletic scholarship, or those who can afford the price tag outright. That doesn’t mean that everyone else should look at options other than college. It just means that they need advice about how to go to college for cheaper than the price tag indicates or to attend a college or university that’s affordable, including state programs that offer free college to residents who fall in certain categories or who meet certain criteria. The blanket statement that college isn’t affordable is easy to say, but doesn’t paint a clear picture for students who are on the fence. Because of the lifetime financial impact of not going to college, it’s irresponsible not to help students overcome both the perception and reality of the costs. And, depending on the degree program and career choice, some debt might outweigh earnings over time after graduation. 

The Increase in Career and Technical Education Programs 

In some cases, career and technical education (CTE) programs have become a proxy for not going to college after high school and, instead, going directly into the workforce. While some high school students earn industry-recognized credentials, it’s not the norm or the majority, and many of the credentials embedded in high school programs are misaligned with what the industry expects. In other words, students are earning credentials in high school that don’t matter to the career field that they intend to pursue thereafter. One study found that only 18% of the credentials that K-12 students earn actually matter to employers. While high school students and their educators are of the belief that the credential earned in school will lead to a high-wage job after graduation, the truth is that non-college goers will have to follow a post-secondary learning path of some sort, and even the trade certificates, such as welding and plumbing, are often earned from local community colleges and career centers.  

This means that it’s also irresponsible to advise students that they don’t need to attend college because of their CTE credential. It’s certainly the case that some high school students will graduate with the ability to enter into high wage jobs, but it’s unlikely for the majority, especially students who don’t graduate from a CTE program or a CTE school. In some cases, CTE systems are sending students to college at a greater rate than non-CTE comprehensive schools, based mostly on the reality that in CTE programs students learn more about what it takes to be career ready (including the need for college) than in programs that don’t explore career options, provide internships, or develop clear paths into the economy. 

Conclusion

The perceived barriers to college and the notion that college doesn’t produce a return-on-investment is just that–perception. This perception is unfortunate for students who believe that college is either too expensive or that they’ll have job options after graduation without it. Male students are choosing not to pursue college at a greater rate, and their potential earnings are nearly $1 million dollars more over a lifetime compared to those who only have a high school diploma. Females miss out on approximately $600,000 more over time without the degree. 

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The real truth is that the more degrees that students collect after high school, the greater their earning power becomes. Graduate school is also a solid investment, despite tuition and time. The misconceptions and misunderstandings are staggering and illegitimate. Anyone who advises students about postsecondary plans ought to be well-informed about all of the potential options with the statistics and data to back up what they’re telling high school students today, or we’ll continue to see underemployment and unemployment as a problem for our K-12 graduates in the future. 

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