Student Login
1. Improved Job Opportunities and Higher Earning Potential
Perhaps the biggest reason to pursue a college education is how it helps you achieve your career goals. A degree can open doors to greater employment opportunities because many professional fields require a college degree for entry-level positions. For example, if you want to work as a registered nurse, public school teacher, or economist, you will need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree to get your foot in the door.
Your degree could also translate to better-paying jobs. Although salaries differ significantly based on where you live, your field, and how much experience you have, college graduates typically earn significantly more than those with only a high school diploma. In 2024, the weekly median income for people with a bachelor’s degree or higher reached $1,697 compared to $946 for those who never attended college.
2. Lower Unemployment Rate
Unemployment is a frightening prospect that a degree can help you avoid. Although the job market frequently shifts, college graduates have lower unemployment rates compared to those without a degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that the unemployment rate in February 2022 for people over 25 who had no college degree was 4.5%, whereas the unemployment rate for those who had a bachelor’s degree or higher was 2.2%.
3. Increased Job Security and Satisfaction
In addition to helping you get a job, a college degree can play a pivotal part in your long-term success at that job. Degree-holders are often more secure in their roles than workers who don’t have a college education. If layoffs or staffing cuts are necessary, many employers are more likely to keep employees with the extensive skills and knowledge that a degree program can provide.
Studies also show that workers with college degrees are more likely to feel professionally fulfilled and to see their jobs as central to their overall identities. Such feelings of satisfaction make it less likely that you’ll experience burnout or feel the need to switch jobs frequently.
4. Accessing Better Employment Benefits
Job candidates with college degrees often find it easier to obtain full-time jobs, which generally come with more benefits than part-time or temporary positions. Many employers offer full-time employees benefit packages that include:
- Health insurance
- Retirement accounts
- Vacation and sick leave
- Life insurance
- Flexible scheduling
Because they can affect your finances and quality of life, these benefits are equally as important as your salary. Access to advantages such as quality insurance, retirement funds, and hybrid or remote work underscores why going to college is important.
5. Increased Chances of Career Advancements
You begin your career as an entry-level employee, but over time you are likely to have opportunities to move up in the organization. College degrees are often necessary for promotions that expand your responsibilities and increase your salary.
For example, you may need to return to college as a non-traditional student and obtain a bachelor’s or master’s degree before you can apply for a job as a manager or executive with your current employer. In addition to providing you with the skills you need, a degree is also an indicator that you’re committed to your work, field, and professional development.
6. Networking Opportunities and Peer Collaboration
The courses you take aren’t the only significant part of your degree program; the people you meet can also have a lasting effect on your professional life. For instance, working on projects with classmates can lead to valuable networking relationships. After leaving school, those classmates might recommend you for jobs with their employers and introduce you to prominent professionals in your industry.
Attending college also allows you to build a professional network through alumni groups and mentors in your field. You can go to your department and college career counseling office to get help connecting with people who have the power to shape and guide your career.
7. Communication Skills Development
According to a recent survey by LinkedIn, communication is the most in-demand skill among employers in the United States. It’s also an essential aspect of college education. Most degree programs enhance your skills in all forms of communication. Writing essays, research papers, and technical reports for your college classes allows you to strengthen your written communication. Similarly, participating in class discussions and giving presentations improves your oral communication.
These activities and improved skills transfer directly to many professional roles. For example, they help you speak more professionally with coworkers and supervisors, confidently lead team meetings, and communicate clearly with clients through emails and marketing materials.
8. Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving
Along with communication, critical thinking and problem-solving are vital soft skills that employers want to see in today’s job candidates. College courses focus heavily on both of these skills. During your degree program, your coursework will likely encourage you to analyze information, evaluate different perspectives, and make connections between pieces of information, all tasks that increase your critical thinking skills.
Your classes will also teach you how to approach challenges from multiple angles and find effective solutions. Once you enter the workforce, you’ll need this problem-solving experience to respond to emergencies, address customer or client concerns, and overcome challenges in your daily tasks.
9. Personal Growth and Development
Social situations are a core component of the college experience, giving you a useful opportunity to interact with peers from different backgrounds. Learning about other people’s experiences fosters social awareness and communication skills. It also broadens your understanding of the world and helps you relate to others in both personal and professional interactions.
Widening your social circle helps you to uncover your own goals and values. With exposure to new ideas and beliefs, it becomes easier to define what’s most important to you and what you want to accomplish.
10. Building Confidence
Earning a college degree is a challenging endeavor and achieving that goal can boost your self-esteem and confidence in your abilities. Those feelings carry over to job interviews because you’ll trust yourself to explain your knowledge and experience. They can also make the transition into the workplace easier as you’ll feel better prepared for the expectations and requirements you’ll face.
11. Fostering Independence and Economic Stability
Over the course of their degree programs, many students become more self-reliant. Unlike earlier phases of education, where parents are often heavily involved in ensuring their children stay on task, college students are solely responsible for staying on top of their coursework. That challenge can help you develop time-management skills and greater independence, particularly if you’re finishing your degree online and have limited in-person contact with instructors and other students.
Once you leave college, you’ll have the chance to apply those experiences to other aspects of your life. Your ability to stay on task, balance your responsibilities, and budget your time will help you maintain consistent employment and achieve financial stability.
12. Taking the Opportunity to Pursue Niche Interests
College is a prime opportunity to find people, clubs, and classes related to hobbies or topics that you’ve always had a passion for. At the same time, you’ll have the chance to explore new areas of interest and experiment to find an area that you want to pursue in terms of a career. Particularly in the early stages of your degree program, you may have a lot of freedom to try courses in subjects that you find intriguing but have never studied before.
13. Societal Contributions and Innovation
A college education offers a lot of advantages for you as a person while also encouraging you to contribute to the world around you in a more meaningful way. During your degree program, you can learn to develop inventive ideas, which will then allow you to reframe your employer’s processes and procedures or your community’s approach to local issues.
Studies also show that college students are more likely to donate money to charity and complete volunteer work. Nearly one in three adults with a bachelor’s degree volunteer, whereas less than one in five adults without a college degree do the same.
Andrew Campbell, CityU class of 2020, applied the expertise he gained from his MBA program to start his own tutoring center, Shine Kinesthetics.
“Throughout high school and going into college, Andrew planned to pursue professional football. However, life decided to take him in a different direction when his high school football coach’s wife suggested that he come and help out with some of her students. Despite his initial hesitation to work with children, Andrew decided to visit the school and he has been working with, teaching, and mentoring youth in the community ever since. “I’ve been in the schools ever since; it changed my life,” Andrew said, regarding the curve his life had taken.
14. Enjoying a Healthier Lifestyle
Many people don’t realize how higher education can improve their physical, emotional, and psychological health. Jobs that require a college degree often have fewer safety hazards, and people with higher incomes and more stable jobs have greater access to insurance and healthcare. They can also afford healthier foods, nutrition programs, and gym memberships.
This explains why more than 60% of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree rate their health as excellent or very good. Among adults with no college degree, less than half view their health so positively.
Looking Ahead: The Enduring Value of Higher Education
The next time you wonder why attending college is important, remember that the time you invest in your education will pay off for years to come. It can help you land your dream job, earn a higher salary, and advance in your field.
City University of Seattle offers a wide range of degree programs to prepare you for your future career. Whether you recently finished high school or are going back to school as an adult, you can benefit from higher education. Request information to learn more and take the first step on your path toward a degree.
Reviewed by Daria Lall, Senior Academic Advisor at CityU of Seattle
