Is college a good investment these days?

It has never been a neccessity, however if you want to be successful and not work two minimum wage jobs, or farm, you go to college.

College has never been a necessity. But when I look into job advertisements, do you know what I usually see? "Applicants should possess a degree/diploma...".

Everybody wants a good stable job with a decent income. The problem is, not everybody is willing to do the lower-paying or should I say, 'dirty' jobs. Why? Because the pay sucks! It's as simple as that.

From the way I see it, there are only two answers to this question.

1) If you have a specific career in mind that you have interest in and you think you can do well in it, by all means go ahead. Financial aid these days are plentiful. However, this statement is arguable too.

2) If you are not sure about your future career, don't have the money to invest, but have a specific talent that don't require a college education, by all means, don't waste your time!

Bill Gates was a dropout but he had a flair for computer technology. He's successful.

Lee Kuan Yew is a Harvard Law graduate, he serves as a minister now earning millions. He's also successful.

So college or no college, it really depends on what you think you can do and which field you think you can make the most money out of. Think before you invest. Think very very carefully...

Newsweek was just scaring people, but they do have a few good points.

Go to school for a degree that has a good chance of getting you a job, studying something like zombies in college isn't even remotely going to help you do anything other than gain debt, while degrees in engineering, technologies, sciences and other quickly growing fields you are almost guaranteed to get a far better paying job than otherwise available.

Don't waste money, sometimes the Ivy League isn't the way to go, you can, minus a few connections, get the same, or sometimes even better education at a much cheaper school. Also don't waste money on frivolous things you won't need, just buy what you need to get through school.

However, if you have a successful business you don't have to go to college, or if you work in a trade you won't, but if you don't fit either of those categories college is probably the better way to go for a degree that you have a high chance of a job.

Coming from someone who just graduated college this past May here is my perspective on it - I wish I had waited to attend college and spent my first 2-3 years or so working in an office setting. I'm finding that a lot of businesses want college graduates to have experience but how exactly are we supposed to get that experience if we are in college?? Sure, internships help and I did my fair share but even so many companies are looking for those with more experience then just internships.

Another thing I've noticed which may just be the times is that ALL of my friends who graduated from a 2 year institution first of all saved a ton of money and are not in debut and second have all found jobs in their specific fields. ALL of my friends or a large majority of my friends who went to 4 year schools & graduated before I did are actually returning to trade schools/ 2 year institutions because they cannot afford a masters degree due to the amount of debut they are in.

College changes a person you learn who you are and you learn how to grow. I think that is essential to all young adults to be out on their own and learn about the "real world"

Me personally, I'm still unemployed and until I find a good job I will as many other recent graduates do that my money was wasted and that really all I've gotten so far is a piece of paper. Eventually when I find a nice paying job I may learn to appreciate my degree more.

If I could do it all over again I likely would have went to a 2 year institution first. I don't feel college is a good investment at this time unless you have a VERY specific field you are planning to study like nursing.

If you want to be a Doctor Surgeon, an Engineer or a Lawyer then you need a full fledged career. Get to a college in that field and start the path to your dreams and adventures. College is not for everyone. It depends on how mature you are, how you think and handle different situations and of course money. I do recommend that you get advice from people with experience who have been there to help you on your career.

The best of course is to start early, like volunteering while you're still in high school and taking AP classes. Also if you can find a part time on summer days it will make it a lot more easier because you will get experience and accountability to show for time management. It is a great effort but the pay off is enormous.

Newsweek also wrote an article calling the group under 35 the 'generation screwed'. Now interestingly enough, it isn't enough that even without a college degree, this generation is also responsible for the national debt that our leaders have also made them responsible for. Is college education enough when even without the debt of the college loans, that the debt still stands in the way? Even if the national debt is paid off, we still get nothing. Maybe the question should be that whatever our leaders pass off to the nation, are our leaders a good investment? It all started with Berkeley and Kent state in the '60s when going off into the toolies, was considered acceptable. So when they exploited the education system were they expecting to get something more? It used to be of an era that a job could not be had without a degree, now one can't get a job even with a degree. So much for elitism.

My honest answer is that if you want to know more about the world around you and see it in a more comprehensive and critical way you will need some college. You do not need to graduate from a 4 year university to be successful in life. However it is always helpful to have at least one year of higher education. The experience you get is invaluable, and depending in the field you may need to stretch to more than just a bachelor.

If you want to be a Doctor Surgeon, an Engineer or a Lawyer then you need a full fledged career. Get to a college in that field and start the path to your dreams and adventures. College is not for everyone. It depends on how mature you are, how you think and handle different situations and of course money. I do recommend that you get advice from people with experience who have been there to help you on your career.

The best of course is to start early, like volunteering while you're still in high school and taking AP classes. Also if you can find a part time on summer days it will make it a lot more easier because you will get experience and accountability to show for time management. It is a great effort but the pay off is enormous.

You do not always get a job straight out of college. Most of the time the first jobs aren't even in your field. For roughly half of the population those jobs never come. A good example, George W. Bush earned a bachelor's degree in History from Yale University, and then a Master's of Business Administration from Harvard. Those degrees do not have to do with politics, and nonetheless he became president.

The other thing is that you do not need straight A grades to make it. Just do your best, make great connections and always keep pushing yourself a little more.

If you can afford to get a college degree (or two or three) w/o going into real debt, Yes, go. If I had it to do over again (after 3 major degrees and tons of computer classes), I'd had gone the Vocational-school path - focused and teaches a specific skill and you ca support yourself. An important goal for college. But IF YOU ARE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE, and you MIGHT BE, WHO IS REALLY WANTING TO TEACH OTHERS AT A HIGHER LEVEL, not elementary school or high school, which is mostly a focus on discipline these days, then YES, COLLEGE IS REQUIRED.

It's also required if you're really ambitious and want to pursue a profession or climb the corporate ladder. Still there are other ways to make a lot of money. Find others who have done so w/o a college degree, and follow their path. You don't need to re-invent the wheel.

But whatever you do, keep learning. Keep learning. Especially make sure you know the basics in as many subjects as you can. Communications, Computer, Math, Economics, Psychology, etc. If you are part of the Millennial Generation, you will be required to deal with some pretty important, heavy stuff in your mid-40s, which is why some very educated professors and such have call you the next "Hero" generation. That means we will be counting on you to really step up to the plate and deliver. What does that mean in terms of education now? LEARN Everything you possible can, and try to learn a specialty that's needed, because in your mid-40s your destiny will become apparent. And it will be a big deal. So prepare. Prepare accordingly, my friends.

I am an HR professional who works with college students and grads every single day. I can tell you this: the media and the general thought-process that's out there right now says college is necessary. Yet, here I am, 28 years into a career without a degree--and I'm not suffering at all. I have a good job and make plenty to live on with good benefits.

From the numbers of students I see, not many of them are pursuing technical degrees, The ones that do, seem to land better jobs sooner. The sciences are still woefully understaffed. Too many graduates are chasing degree programs like Criminal Justice Studies, which now has the market glutted with these grads--and too many students are not really applying themselves to making good grades or taking advantage of the many internship opportunities available in their colleges.

Why pay all that money for an education that is mediocre at best, does not afford opportunity within the field of your major and can't provide you with a future that is decently paid? I can't see any reason for it. That's why we have so many college grads applying for jobs in the military. They cannot find anything or anyone to hire them.

There are lots of good careers out there that don't require a degree: skilled careers that pay very well. Plumbing, electrical, HVAC, construction--my church just hired a plumber for 45 minutes of simple work replacing two valves and checking 3 toilets, and he got paid $425 for it. The electrician we used to install security lighting got $818--and it took less than 4 hours to do everything. I see this all the time.

These skills are always in demand, and their prices have never wavered. Instead of spending four years doing only average college-level work why not try something else that will provide a grad with skills that can last a lifetime and provide a decent living almost immediately? I don't think college IS a good investment for most people. Unless you want to major in debt.

Actually, I can't say there's a yes or no answer to this question, if you will!

One must weigh his or her opinions & hope for the best!

Now here's my opinion: I am a FIRM believer of Higher Education! Eventually a college degree will help one sustain a career & family, at best!

I've also seen HS graduates become VERY successful entrepreneurs or they have great jobs over the years & are very happy & successful without the College Education debt!

The reality of what we are seeing today is this: SOME People with College Degrees have been on their jobs for decades; ALL of a sudden the TIDES change & these people are FIRED just because they are deemed overqualified, by the employer. It is evident, this happens so that the employer can SAVE $$$ by hiring an Entry level employee, for half the salary, at best!

I can't understand why/how ANY college grad comes to the REAL world with debt in the amount of $25,000.00 plus? Help a Susta out! College debt is the new "Elephant In The Room", if you will!

The numbers just don't ADD up; especially when the graduate can't get a GOOD decent-paying job with the degree he/she has! To make matters worse, SOME of these grads move back into their Parents home & are waiting for McDonalds to ring their phone any day now!

So, if anyone out there is planning to pursue Higher Education, please weigh ALL options! I beseech you! Student Loans are No punk & they have to be paid off, it's a mandate!

Depending on a student's major it might be a great idea or a really bad idea. If it is highly probable the student will be able to get a good job after graduation, college is still a great idea.

If not, unless the student's family is wealthy, college is best avoided.

Unfortunately, the days when just about any college degree made a person employable are over. Liberal Arts are great for making a well rounded person but given the way colleges grossly over-price their degrees, getting a liberal arts degree and 100K of debt is worse than working at McDonalds or Wal-Mart for four years. (I'm not recommending those jobs, just saying they are better than incurring the huge debt and still not being employable.)

Depending on a person's skill set, consideration should be given to construction or other skilled trades instead of college. That type of job cannot be moved to China or India.

Skilled labor (HVAC installers, plumber, auto mechanics, electricians, drywallers, medical technicians, etc. etc.) are all valuable contributors to society.

The problem of high school students who plan on graduate school after college is more complex. A budding lawyer, for example, may be planning on majoring in history or a similar not very employable undergrad subject. If possible, I would recommend such students switch to a "harder" major such as accounting, finance, engineering, or a hard science. Unless one can get into a top ten law school and finish in the top half, law school is definitely not worthwhile. See link.

This is true of most graduate courses. The number of jobs available is very much smaller than the number of students. A student must be very honest with him or herself when evaluating chances of landing employment. Be in the top 10% of graduate students - and you probably have a chance. Otherwise, find something else.

It's a tough world out there.