Top 7 reasons why college matters (2023)

With more jobs requiring advanced education, a college degree can be critical to your success in today's workforce. Research shows that earning a degree can have a significant and far-reaching impact on your life. It also has the potential to help you make a positive impact on your family - and the world.

Here are 7 reasons why college might be important to you.

1. Earn more on average

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) notes that workers with college degrees generally earn more than those with only high school degrees. The median weekly earnings — or average amount in a data set — for people withassociate degreeEras$963 per weekin 2021. That's an increase of $154 per week, or over $8,000 more per year than those with only a high school diploma.

employees with aBachelor degreeearned an average of $1,334 per week – $525 more per week than non-colleague workers and an increase of more than $27,000 per year. AMaster-Studiumhelped workers earn even more, averaging $1,574 per week, $765 more per week than those with only a high school degree and nearly $40,000 more per year.

For example, if your professional career spans 40 years, according to this data, you could earn $320,000 more with an associate's degree, more than $1 million with a bachelor's degree, or more than $1.5 million with a master's degree dollars more than a worker with no college education.

2. Increase job opportunities

"Bachelor required" is often mentioned in job descriptions or as a desired qualification. A 2020 survey conducted by the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in partnership with Hanover Research found that a growing number of employers view college as a good investment. Of those surveyed, 87% said college is "definitely" or "probably" worth it (Font PDF AAC&U).

A degree program that includes bachelor's and associate's degrees offers a combination ofgeneral education coursesand specialized learning in a discipline that interests you. With these degrees, you will develop both broad and subject-specific knowledge.

You, too, can have a chance to become important, tough, and stronginterpersonal skillsParticipation in experiential learning opportunities, which are relevant hands-on experiences that you can transfer to the professional world.experiential learningtakes many forms and can exist both inside and outside the classroom.

For example, earn alevel of cybersecurity, you can join your college's National Cyber​​League (NCL) team to test your working knowledge of cryptography and other concepts you might encounter while working in arole of cybersecurity.

Other types of experiential learning you can use in college include project-based assignments working with real organizations, internships, and student clubs and organizations. You can add this valuable experience to your resume, work portfolio, andat job interviewsto show employers that you are a competitive candidate.

Earning a college degree can also lead to greater professional stability. According to BLS information3.5% of workerswith a bachelor's degree were unemployed in 2021, compared to 6.2% of workers with only a college degree.

3. Expand your possibilities

A college degree could be the additional qualification you need to land that dream job you've always wanted. The bachelor's degree also allows you to view your work as a career and not just a job.

a 2016Pew Research CenterAccording to the report, 77% of workers with a college degree and 60% of workers with a bachelor's degree believe their work gives them self-esteem, compared to just 38% of those with only a high school diploma or less.

This idea still exists today. The Lumina Foundation and Gallup found in The State of Higher Education 2022 report that 61% of students enrolled in college graduate to find more rewarding jobs (Luminafonte PDF).

An example of this is the newly foundedVictoria Maas '22, who, with the help of her bachelor’s degree, was able to advance into the teaching profession. Maas is amilitary spouse, and during the pandemic and her husband's outreach, she has been homeschooling her eldest daughter. This experience inspired her to continue teaching and now, with her graduation, Meuse is starting a new role at her children's primary school.

Maas knows themBachelor's degree in PsychologyIt has helped her understand her work better and now she wants to pursue a master's degree.

“At the moment I really enjoy working at my children's school. I think that the psychological background helped me a lot to understand the students," says Meuse. "I decide if I want mineMaster's degree in PsychologyOr mineMasters in Education, but I'm not done yet."

By working on your degree, you are choosing a degree that interests you in an area in which you want to work or grow.

4. Prepare for the future

Even as a student, you can acquire practical life skills. For example, you must meet the regular assignment deadlines for each class. The discipline andTime Management StrategiesWhat you learn along the way can be applied to all aspects of your life, whether it's work projects or your busy family schedule.

A college degree can also affect your family members and your future. ForTarah Theis '22, win aBachelors in Communicationit meant setting an example for her children. She said they all want to go to college now after seeing her mom do it. "That's the biggest achievement for me... starting a legacy and showing them a good way forward," Theis said.

Because your earning potential is usually higher after graduating, your degree can bring financial stability to you and your family. Your school's financial advisors can guide you through more than just thathow to pay college. With their tips and advice, you can discover useful budgeting techniques and learn more about financing options and processes that may be relevant for future investments such as buying a car or a house.

Increasingly, owners have a university education.Ponto2, an organization that reports trends in the real estate market, analyzed data from the US Census and found that 70% of homeowners in 2020 had a college education. 40 percent had at least a bachelor's degree.

Marilynn Hymon-Williams '22sees her education as a stepping stone to a brighter future—and a better retirement. After you complete itBachelor of Health Administration, I was already thinking about the Master. "I invest in (the) future because a lot of people think it's over when you get old," Hymon-Williams said. "It's not over yet. Uh-uh, no. It has only just begun.”

5. Create new relationships

College can be more than just an education; It can be a place where you form all kinds of new relationships. First, you can connect to aacademic supervisor- someone who will support you throughout your college experience, planning courses, directing university resources, encouraging and guiding you to personal success, and much more. Faculty - the course leaders - can also help you understand your responsibilities and what is expected of you as a student.

As soon as the class starts, you will be surrounded by classmates. Sharing with peers through activities like group work or class discussions can be a great way to build a professional network.Meet your future partnerand make lasting friendships.

IfLydia Alonci '18was offered a full-time position while studyingGrace Hopper's Annual Conference, she told her potential employer that she would only take the job if she would give her a friend from SNHU,Patrícia Odani Mukuka '18, '21G, also a chance. This prompted the organization to offer Odani Mukuka an internship. That experience later grew into a full-time job, illustrating the power of the friendships you can make on your college journey.

The relationships you form in college can become the foundation of yoursprofessional network. You can network with alumni during your studies. After you graduate, you will also become a member of an alumni association. An alumni association is full of graduates,known as alumniwho play an important role in a university community. You give back in many ways, including community service, attending and organizing events, and mentoring current students. Alumni work in a variety of fields, and building relationships with others in this network can lead to career opportunities.

6. Achieve your personal goals

Although your degree can bring many benefits to your professional goals, graduating from college can be as important a personal goal as it was forJohn Reck '22.

Reck is a 1% survivor of a rare infection called septicemia. He also suffered a heart attack, was in a coma, had 18 surgeries, and lost the ability to walk and speak.

"Life goes on around you," he said of his time in the hospital during his health crisis. "It's lonely." When Reck was on the mend, he knew his next destination. After 30 years he would go back to school and this time it was for him.

"School came down on me like a bell," Reck said. "I'll finish my studies and here I am, alive." Now he's holding hisBachelor Grafikdesign. With the achievement of his personal goal, he has also achieved a professional one. He landed his dream job as a graphic designer for a Boston law firm.

In a recent survey*, 500 people were asked what the greatest benefit of a degree was, and 57% said they had achieved a personal goal for themselves. Forfirst generationFor students, graduation is an important personal goal for them and their families.

New college graduatesMarlene Riley '22eMichael Riley '18You, woman and man, walked across the stage together. Marlene is an immigrant from Peru and Michael is a senior and they are both first generation college students. Graduating from college was a personal goal they achieved together, and sharing the Memorial stage was even more special.

"He's my team and we did it together," said Marlene.

7. Make a difference

Earning your college degree can also improve the lives of those around you. The College Board's 2019 report on the benefits of higher education for individuals and society finds that college graduates are more likely to donate money to charities, volunteer, and vote (College Board PDF Source).

Some colleges encourage students to give back by organizing volunteer opportunities. SNHU conducts an annual nonprofit initiativeGlobal Days of Service. More than 1,200 students served 135 organizations in 2022. As a result, a new non-profit organization was formed. The site manager of a project,Cassi key '22, who recently graduatedOnline English Coursefrom SNHU, was so inspired by her involvement in Global Days of Service that she startedbee friends, an organization focused on planting seeds and promoting environmental education.

Like Key, you may find yourself motivated to change the world after graduating from college. Many students learn about topics such associal changeorenvironmental sustainabilityinfluence in many ways during their courses and continue to do so.

AArticle in TIME magazinenotes that higher education is working fast to improve climate education in many areas, including architecture, economics and law. As a result of this new emphasis on ecology and sustainability in higher education, graduates from various disciplines are now applying their knowledge to improve sustainability practices and address climate change across sectors. You can also take a direct degree on these subjects. For example, SNHU offers aDegree in Environmental SciencesIt is aDegree in Geoscienceswith opportunities to prepare for a career in sustainability and conservation.

A higher education can also give you the chance to make an impact in other ways. You can study in a field that will help you improve people's lives.

Some degree programs that focus on helping others are:

• Degree in Pedagogy
• health grade
• Bachelor's degree in Human Services
• Degree in Nursing
• Bachelor's degree in Psychology and Counseling

College can also broaden your horizons by offering you diverse perspectives. Being able to engage with other perspectives can lead you to better understand people who are different from you and situations that you have never personally encountered. That can lead to thisincreased empathy, improve your communication skills and build your confidence as you strive to make the world a better place.

A degree can change your life. Find the SNHUOnline college degreethat can best help you achieve your goals.

Danielle Gagnon is a freelance writer specializing in higher education. Connect with her atLinkedIn.

*Survey Methodology: This survey was conducted online in the United States by Kantar on behalf of Southern New Hampshire University in December 2021. The opinions of 500 respondents from the general population were collected from their general survey. For a full research methodology, contact Megan Bond atm.bond@snhu.edu.