High school seniors are now making their decisions of what they want to do after high school. Most students plan on heading to college. However, the cost of college has skyrocketed, and getting into a renowned school is getting more and more difficult. Nevertheless, the value behind having a college degree is enormous. Although some may consider skipping college and heading into a more technical career like being a plumber or an exterminator, people must realize that earning any sort of college degree is much more valuable in the long run since it gives them opportunities to earn higher wages and chances to get hired at more prestigious workplaces.

College is expensive, and tuition cost is constantly on the rise. Should an individual spend large amounts of money earning a college degree even though that person plans on going into a career that does not even require stepping foot on a college campus, such as a career as a mechanic? According to the Economic Policy Institute, recent statistics show that people are buying new cars less and are looking to get their original vehicles repaired instead. The job market for a car repairman is always going to be present, and the need for car repairs does not appear to be diminishing in the near future. Instead of heading to college and probably accruing  crippling student loans, students can avoid the whole college process and head into a career that will always be in demand. Furthermore, there are plenty of successful people in the world who never attended a college or university. For instance, the founders of the multi-billion dollar companies of Apple and Microsoft never earned a college degree. Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal, believes that skipping college and starting a business is a brilliant idea for high school students to consider. Many see no issue in avoiding debt and heading into a career that makes quick money.

Now, although college can be expensive for many, the long-term value of receiving a college education is exponentially greater than that of completely avoiding going to college. First, college degrees give people substantially more stable opportunities for income. According to the New York Times, in 2010, the wage gap between full-time workers who earned a bachelor’s degree and workers with a high school diploma was an alarming 83 percent. Furthermore, college graduates are much more likely to be employed than people who never earned a college degree. The networking that colleges offer is crucial for students who are looking for jobs that have high salaries and esteemed careers. For instance, at the University of Notre Dame, many seniors are connected with Notre Dame graduates who work in the student’s field of study. Colleges also offer valuable internship opportunities with doctor’s offices, law firms other important businesses. Finally, college offers the chance for students to head into more prestigious careers.

According to Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan University, many students who have earned college degrees can be found in leadership positions in politics, culture and the economy. Few people would be willing to be defended by a lawyer who never earned a degree, elect a president who never learned at a college level or be operated on by a doctor who never set foot on a college campus. Sure, not having to pay for college and heading into careers that involve plumbing or repairing vehicles may have nice short-term value, but life after earning a college degree offers a much more stable salary and opportunities for achieving at esteemed workplaces.

Paying a large college tuition may be intimidating at times, but after doing a cost-benefit analysis, one can see that receiving a college degree guarantees more long-term advantages with higher salaries and opportunities to have better occupations than those for people who completely avoid college. One must think of the long-term benefits when considering avoiding college, and one must realize the benefits of a college degree right after graduation as well as in the years before retirement.

Junior Allison Nye said, “A college degree is an important key to future doors. College also allows one many opportunities they may otherwise not have because besides the academics and degree one will attain, friendships are forged and lifelong memories are made.”