Are you in the process of choosing a school, but aren’t sure if you want to pursue a liberal arts college education or if you should pursue some other type of education?
Higher Education Gives You an Increased Chance of Finding a Job
The US Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks statistics about employment and salaries. According to them, you are far more likely to get a job (any job, period) if you have an education than if you are uneducated.
In fact, the unemployment rate for those who did not graduate from high school is usually about 10% higher than it is for those with a bachelor’s degree.
Higher Education Brings Better Employment Opportunities
There are many jobs you cannot get without a college degree. While some professions require a specific degree (for example, you need a chemical engineering degree to be a chemical engineer), just plain having a four-year degree of any sorts will set you up for a host of jobs and career options. If you don’t get your college degree, you will be limited in what jobs you will be considered for
Higher Education Opens Better Salary Options
You’ve probably heard that a college education is worth the investment. Published statistics support this completely.
The following is true: those who have not graduated from high school make an average of $450 per week. In comparison, those who had a four-year college degree make, on average, $1050 per week. That’s three times as much.
Long Term Career Opportunities and the Liberal Arts Education
There has been much in the news about the government looking to rate colleges based on a return on investment (ROI) calculation. We agree that college is expensive for most people and should provide great value to the students.
What is concerning, however, is the focus on the first job out of school. Although that might be the easiest way to measure “success” it focuses on the wrong thing.
How do we know? Well, just ask the U.S. Government.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics
- More than one third of the entire U.S. labor force changes jobs annually (yes, once a year).
- Today’s students will have 11 jobs by the age of 38 (better be prepared for constant change).
- Half of workers today have been with their current firm for less than 5 years (the gold watch at retirement is now folklore from days gone by).
- Every year more than 30 million Americans are working in jobs that did not exist in previous years.
Read that last point again.
This means that the real purpose of college should be to develop students into life long learners who are open to challenges and handle adversity well. We doubt the government will be able to calculate a meaningful number on this.
The Versatility of a Liberal Arts College Education
The beautiful thing about a liberal arts degree is this: it sets you up for a variety of career options. That means you can try out a few careers before settling on one, or even go back to work after you take a break to travel or stay home with children, all without too much of a hiccup in your career opportunities.
This is because liberal arts college degrees prepare you for the workplace in general. As you pursue your degree, you’ll learn communication skills, business skills and how to use your critical thinking skills to solve problems.
The truth is that is what employers are looking for and that is what students need for long term career success.
