Advantages of a Four-year Degree

In today's economy it can be difficult to understand the advantages of a four-year college degree. Private college tuitions can cost in excess of $25,000 per year, and the media carry reports every spring about recent graduates who are having trouble finding jobs. Who hasn't heard about the guy with a Ph.D. who is driving a taxi cab in a big city somewhere?

It can be tempting to choose a training program at a technical school in order to prepare for a specific job upon completion. Why on earth should you spend four years and a significant amount of money to earn a four-year college degree? Here's what the research says about the long-term employment prospects for college graduates.

· Research indicates that most Americans will change jobs and/or careers several times during their lifetimes. While a certification program may prepare the student for a specific job, that training may not permit much job mobility when the student re-locates, is looking for advancement, or simply wants a change.
· A 2002 US Census Bureau report indicated that college graduates, on average, can expect to earn about $900,000 more over their lifetimes than those who do not have college degrees. This financial advantage is present even when comparing students of equal ability.
· College graduates are less likely to be unemployed during their lifetimes.
· College graduates report being happier and more satisfied with their lives.
· College graduates have longer working lives and more career mobility.
· College graduates are more likely to vote, more likely to assume leadership positions in their communities, and are less likely to commit crimes.

The reasons for these differences are complex, but they involve:

· Emphasis on critical thinking in college level coursework.
· Development of the writing skills crucial to success in executive level jobs.
· Exposure to different philosophies, different points of view, and differing opinions.
· Opportunity to take leadership roles on campus which serve as training for future leadership.
· Insights gained from the experience of living and working with others from widely diverse backgrounds during college.
· Access to professional career guidance in job seeking.
· Possibility of studying in a foreign country, learning a foreign language, or developing skills for an increasingly multicultural society.
· Availability of internship programs that can lead to full-time employment.
· Broader perspective on career possibilities that may lead the student to a career he or she would not otherwise have heard of.

Completing a degree that includes a broad selection of courses as well as a specialization all contribute to the development of skills that are increasingly important to long term employment and general satisfaction with life.

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