The Value of a University Degree: Is It Worth the Cost?

The question of whether a university is worth the money or not has triggered so many reactions from students. The fact is, there is no right or wrong answer to this question. It largely depends on you and what you are looking for as an individual, but the truth is, in life, you will always pay for what you don’t know. 

For instance, if you don’t know how to manage a project, you will always pay someone to work on it. Then why not learn on the job and save your money? Going to university is a massive decision requiring one to think deeply and internalize the benefits you are likely to get. 

Although there are plenty of alternatives to university, and it’s the only route to a successful career, other professions do not require you to go to university. Instead, you may have to do short training for the job.

With the struggles and issues discussed regularly as some students go through while trying to pursue their studies, it is no shock that many may question the worthiness of it. 

Matters of the additional burden of student loans and lack of employment after school; might be discouraging factors to many.

As I said earlier, there is no right or wrong answer as to whether university is worth the money.  

Here are some benefits you will reap from going to university;

1. Research has shown that most graduates earn more than non-graduates, or you are likely to improve your earning prospects if you have a degree.
2. Education sticks with you for life. The skills you acquire are skills you will forever use when you require them later in life. Also, no one can steal the knowledge you gain from university.
3. A degree may not be an automatic pass to a job. Still, it often opens doors, especially in professions requiring you to account for your knowledge by either showing your papers or doing an interview.
4. Going to university is not just about the qualifications. It’s about the experiences you make, the connections you build, and the friends you meet. It’s a life-changing experience where some people meet their business partners and others their spouses ha!
5. Jobs that demand degrees have additional benefits such as higher income, private medical insurance, and private pensions.
6. University increases your awareness of what’s happening in the world and the opportunities present.
7. Lastly, a degree helps you save money in that you will never pay for a service you are an expert in.

On the other hand, there are reasons why some don’t see the worth of going to university.

1. Not all careers need a degree. Some professions require you to do minimal training from you to be employed.
2. We are all different, and only some are academically minded. Some people are gifted differently and have an interest in doing other things.
3. Degrees take a lot of hard work, commitment, and discipline. Not many are willing to commit to such a tiresome and draining process.
4. Lack of employment after school. This is very discouraging as most people who are graduates end up being unemployed.
5. University degrees do not guarantee better or higher-income jobs. Some people may have good degrees but have less pay.
6. In most universities, university programs limit students’ creativity, and in such cases, most students opt out of following their creative minds instead of going to school.

All these are pros and cons of going to university, and if you are one of those in such dilemmas, take time and look at why you want to go to university and what you want to achieve. Afterward, you can determine if going to university will help you achieve those things. 

In the process of doing that, to get a clear answer, also ask yourself if you have a specific career path or if you can practice your desired profession only with some side training. Once you have answers to these questions, you can decide whether university is worth it.