By Kaity Sample Posted December 16, 2015
Most teens have the idea that right after high school, they run right off to college. With rising costs of tuition, is going to college worth it; or is getting a full-time job at one of the local mines the better option?
According to an article on Huffington Post, the cost of a college degree in the US has increased by 1,120 percent in the last 30 years. The average cost of tuition for an in-state student at a four-year university is $9,139 per year. Only about two-thirds of students receive financial aid or assistance. 71 percent of all college graduates carry student loans with them. Student loans are now the second most common reason for debt, following mortgage at number one.
“The golden model of “go to college and get a good job” is no longer golden. It’s rusty and broken,” said Dale Partridge on his website, The Daily Positive.
In a rural community, such as Winnemucca, the town thrives on mining. As a general mine manager with no college education, salaries vary from $98,834 to $146,421 according to a recent study on 1.salary.com. With the minimum wage reaching $8.25 per hour, a full-time job can support the necessities of life.
Another option that teens can consider is going to a branch of the army for a few years right after college, or joining the ROTC program where you can go to college, earn your degree then serve right after you graduate from college. There are many programs out there that if you do want to go to college without the debt, that can help you. You can join Americorps or the Peace Corps. When enlisted in these programs, one travels and helps communities in need.
A college degree may not be the wisest option, but despite the myth that success can not come from those who do not earn their college degree, it is possible.
Although choosing a degree based on happiness should be a student’s first priority, financially it may not be the road to success.
