The Value of College

Financial and Career Benefits
- College graduates have greater lifetime earnings than people without a college degree.
- College provides an opportunity to explore career options and start a professional career.
- College graduates have a greater likelihood for career and professional advancement, promotions, positions, and opportunities than workers without a degree.
- College offers networking opportunities for career benefits, for example, through mentorships, internships, service learning, work-study, apprenticeships, and co-ops.
- College courses lead to the development of durable skills needed across many professions, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication skills, collaboration, and leadership. See article
- College graduates are more likely to own a home, have a private retirement account, have good credit scores for loans and mortgages, be employed, be paid a salary instead of an hourly wage, work during the day and not at night, and have a job sitting at a desk and not on their feet. See article.
Personal Benefits
- Personal fulfillment and accomplishments from learning in areas of interest and research; enjoy feelings of achievement, pride, and confidence
- Enjoyment of social aspects of college (clubs, organizations, sports, events) and opportunities to meet other people
- Opportunity to study abroad and meet international students on campus to promote global and cultural awareness
- Access to services that help students succeed in college and beyond, such as library access, tutoring, counseling, and advising
- Access to sports clubs and fitness center on campus
- Access to libraries, research facilities, laboratories, and technology; opportunity to stay up-to-date with digital literacy
- Inspiration and encouragement from people you meet in college
- Opportunity to learn to live independently.
- Lifelong learning opportunities
Health Benefits
- College graduates live longer than people with no college education. See article
- College graduates have better health and sense of well being. See article
- College graduates are more likely to have health insurance and access to care. See article
- College graduates are less likely than non-college graduates to miss work due to illness or disability. See article
Community Benefits
- Workforce development – Colleges provide both education and training for students to be ready to enter the workforce and meet the needs of local businesses and industries.
- Community engagement - College provides opportunities for academic, athletic, and cultural events for the entire community.
- Research and innovation from college students can have a direct benefit on the local community.
- Service learning and volunteerism – Both college students and local organizations and businesses benefit from service learning and volunteerism which are promoted in college.
- Economic impact – Colleges boost the local economy and lead to greater economic growth.
- Regional improvement - A more educated citizenry raises the quality of life for the region in which they live.