Do You Really Need a College Degree?

My wife and I have college degrees. My daughter has a college degree. My son has a college degree and is a college professor. However, I don’t think that a college degree is the only way to get a very well paying job.

Many believe that to get a high-paying job, you need a college degree. That’s just not true, and certainly not automatic. The reality is that millions of Americans currently owe student loans. The numbers continue to escalate, and it generally takes many, many years for a person to repay these loans.

The stats are stunning!

Here’s a quote from an article I read recently:

“You’ve probably heard the stats by now: Americans owe over $1.45 trillion in student loan debt, spread across about 44 million borrowers. That’s about $620 billion more than total US credit card debt. In fact, the average Class of 2016 graduate owes $37,172 in student loan debt, up 6 percent from last year.”

Years ago, when I was working for CBS Radio (where my college degree meant nothing), I spoke to numerous interns who were currently in college. I always asked them what their major is and what they want to do after graduation. Unfortunately, based on their answers, I was convinced that most of them should never have gone to college.

The mantra that “a college degree means a good, high-paying job” has led many people to get into massive debt. And after graduation, far too many end up in a job that isn’t the high-paying job they were hoping for. They then spend years and years trying to pay off their college loans.

There is another option

A few weeks ago I heard a man on the radio say he didn’t have a college degree but was making a very good six figure income. He wasn’t wearing a suit or tie and was sitting in a cozy cubicle in a chic and impressive office building. He was an elevator mechanic.

He explained how some people in these fancy and impressive office buildings often confused him with the janitor or some other non-office worker. He didn’t care what other people thought. He shared that when he gets home every night, he doesn’t stress about money and has no college loans to pay off.

There are numerous six-figure jobs that don’t require a college degree. Yes, they include education, but the cost of education is a fraction of the four-year tuition. What kind of jobs?

“Network managers and IT managers employed by corporations have stable 9 to 5 jobs with good salaries, benefits and retirement accounts. IT manager salaries range from $53,477 to $125,101.

Depending on where you live, court clerks can earn anywhere from $29,995 to $104,000.

Construction manager salaries range from $41,562 to $130,845.

Fire chief salaries range from $42,096 to $119,250.

Air traffic controllers command high salaries, averaging up to $158,966.

Plumber salaries can be as high as $103,731 and upwards, depending on specialty and education.

Radiation therapists are required to have a two-year associate’s degree or certificate in radiation therapy, but they do not need a four-year college degree. Radiation oncologists can make up to $116,000 a year.”

Let the high schoolers know!

I’m not against a college degree at all. It is definitely the absolutely right and necessary path for some, but not for all. It is truly heartbreaking to see millions carrying so much student loan debt and still not earning the salary they would have expected based on their college degree.

God expects us to be wise in our finances. In the US, student loan debt is $1.4 trillion and credit card debt is $764 billion. There seems to be a great misunderstanding about money.

Options other than college should be explained in detail to high schoolers. Also, our youth need really solid, Bible-based information about money. I recommend Roger Braker’s book Poverty Vs Wealth as a good place to start.

And if you’re in debt, I also recommend the many tools offered by Dave Ramsey, including the Financial Peace University.

I’ve been in debt before and luckily I’m debt free except for my mortgage. Anyone in debt knows it’s not freedom; it enslaves. Learning about money and finance and applying sound biblical principles will pay off enormously, both financially and mentally.

Article quote:

https://studentloanhero.com/student-loan-debt-statistics/

Six-digit jobs without a college degree:

Thanks to Michael A Verdicchio | #College #Degree