The Degree of Importance

The Degree of Importance

Life is full of options and choices. The choices we make shape our future. As we stand at the cross roads after high school we must have the right vision to make the decision to go to college. Education is the single most important factor in today's young people and in our country's continued success. Specifically, higher education paves a future and provides opportunity for students that attend college and gives them a head start towards a successful career.

Katherine Porter writes that the escalating cost of higher education is causing many to question the value of continuing education beyond high school. Many wonder whether the high cost of tuition, the opportunity cost of choosing college over full-time employment, and the accumulation of thousands of dollars of debt is, in the long run, worth the investment. In order to determine whether higher education is worth the investment, it is useful to examine what is known about the value of higher education and the rates of return on investment to both the individual and to society (503). Most two and four year institutions offer many different programs to lessen the financial strain placed on the students and their families. Grants, low-interest student loans, online classes, co-op programs, and scholarships are a few of the many ways to make college more affordable.

If your interests do not include binge drinking, going to class in your pajamas, or never waking up before noon, then you probably have not given college a second thought. Institutions of higher education were created to encourage learning and the pursuit of knowledge, not taking the course "Immaturity 101". Reasons for attending college are numerous and finding the right ones are critical for the individual. A significant reason would be the potential for increased earnings. College graduates with a bachelor's degree earned