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Joshua Mackey
Mrs. Cramer
Comp I Pd. 8
11/30/18

The Importance of a College Education

Why do people go to college? Is it for the money, society, or a person’s self-interest?

Today, more and more students are feeling the pressure to do well in school so they can continue

their education in college. They’re constantly told their future is dependent on doing well, as

with a college degree they can get a good job and do well later in life. This essay explains why a

college education is an important life decision. Minutes

A college education is important for students because it opens the doors to opportunities

they would not have otherwise; it helps young people grow into adulthood and it raises the

college graduates' income throughout the rest of their lives. These opportunities include a high

paying occupation, and improved health. They can do more with their money while someone

with a low-income must create and maintain a budget. Investing in the stock market, buying

bonds, life insurance; these are some of the opportunities wealthier people have. College

graduates are healthier and can live longer and are again more likely to have employer provided

health insurance. They are also more productive members of society and have a greater

understanding of cultures, ideas, and people.

In fact, people who have graduated with a college degree are more likely to be healthier

and more productive in their lifetime. Eighty three percent of college graduates are in excellent

health, while 73% of high school graduates reported being healthy (“College Worth It”). These

graduates were healthier because they smoked less, workout more, and are less likely to be
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obese. Being healthy is important because it can help a person have a stronger heart, better

muscles, stronger bones, a sense of well-being and will live longer. They are also less likely to

develop diseases, cancer, type 2 diabetes and other health issues. These benefits also pass down

to the children as well. Fifty nine percent of children in grades six through twelve are more likely

to participate in clubs and sports. If these kids follow in their parents' path and go to college then

the cycle will continue and if more people graduate from college the number of healthier

individuals should also increase. 1 The life expectance would rise for everyone who enrolled into

college and obtained a degree. There are social and self-benefits that come with a college degree.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 43% of college graduates were more likely to do

community work compared to the 19% high school graduates (“Worth It”). Not to mention, 73%

students said college helped the mature and grow intellectually. (“Worth It”). A degree can also

be fulfilling, knowing that all the money that was spent and the continuous support from family

and friends was worth the hard work.

College graduates will make more money than someone without any higher education.

The most compelling evidence of this is from a study done by The Bureau of Labor Statistics.

They concluded that a person with a high school diploma and no college education makes

median usual weekly earnings of $712, while someone with a bachelor's degree makes $1,173

weekly (“Measuring Education”). Furthermore, in the lifetime of a college graduate they will

earn $570,000 more than the average person with a high school diploma (“Worth It”) This means

that college graduates can do more with their money: investing in stock, buying bonds, life-

insurance. College itself is an investment, a degree can have a return rate of 15% per year

(“Worth It”). They won't be in as much financial stress as someone without higher education. Of

course, low-income people can also invest but the risk of losing money might dissuade them

1 Logos- This shows the reader a reasonable statement that explains what might happen.
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from doing so.2 The unemployment rate is also lower for graduates and decreases more with each

degree. A person that graduated with a bachelor’s degree have an unemployment rate of 2.5%,

and a person with a high school diploma has a 4.6% unemployment rate (“Measuring

Education”). That is a large difference if everyone attended college it would improve their well-

being and more students would be able to enroll in college because their parents are making

more money, it’s like a domino effect.

There have been numerous people that were successful that didn’t have a college degree.

Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg both have successful companies. The problem with this argument is

the fact that Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg went to Harvard University. They could have

gotten their degrees if they stayed. When Bill Gates was in 8 th grade he started learning how to

program on a school computer, and Mark Zuckerberg learned how to program when he was just

twelve years old (“Gates Successful”) & (“Zuckerberg Biography”). They were smart, focused

and persistent with their companies. Not any one person can decide not to attend college and

expect to be successful. Even when Bill Gates dropped out of college, he still read books and

expanded his knowledge through other means. It’s based on the person more than anything, he

had goals and strived to be successful.

Student loans are another problem that come with the college experience and debt that

could take years to pay back. Welcome to the age of financial aid, community college, and work-

study options. High school students today are aware that their parents cannot afford to foot their

tuition bill.3 This is a common reality, but it doesn’t mean that the students themselves can’t

afford college on their own. College is an investment; a person is investing in themselves to

obtain a degree. There are precautions a person can take before going to college. Appling for the

2 Diction- The word dissuade is used to make the argument seem formal.
3 Euphemism- The author used foot instead of pay or any other word to describe buying something.
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Free Application for Federal Student Aid can ease the debt. People could also apply for

scholarships that can give a student money if they meet the requirements. There are scholarships

that don’t need anything other than an email for a chance to win a scholarship, niche.com is one

of those websites.

A college education gives people more opportunities including a variety of jobs and can

change a person's life for the better. There are numerous studies that show the benefits of higher

education. A person can make more money and do more things like investing, someone with no

college education won’t have the freedom a graduate has. They must stick to a budget, so they

don’t go into debt or lose their home. College graduates are healthier and can live longer and are

again more likely to have employer provided health insurance. They are also more productive

members of society and have a greater understanding of cultures, ideas, and people. College

graduates are more likely to do volunteer work and donate blood. Kids are also affected by

college graduates, if every person could attend college it would be beneficial for everyone. It

would create a domino effect, causing an increase in everyone's wages and the possibility for

future generations to go to college.

Work Cited

“College Education - ProCon.org.” Is A College Education Worth It, 11 Aug. 2016,

college-education.procon.org/. Nov 30, 2018.

Jr., Bill Murphy, and Bill Murphy Jr. "What Makes Bill Gates So Successful? 7 Key

Habits, Practices, and Experiences." Inc.com. Inc., 13 Jan. 2016. Web. 30 Nov. 2018. Nov 30,

2018.

"Mark Zuckerberg Biography: Success Story of Facebook Founder and CEO." Astrum

People. N.p., n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2018. Nov 30, 2018.

Torpey, Elka Torpey. “Measuring the Value of Education : Career Outlook.” U.S. Bureau

of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Apr. 2018,

www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2018/data-on-display/education-pays.htm. Nov 30, 2018.