Is higher education worth the price?

The worthiness of higher education depends on many factors regarding one’s goals and aspirations. Such as career, financial situation, and the institution or program chosen. 

Career 

Certain professions or industries require a degree to obtain the job or position. In these cases the investment can pay off later in earning potentials. For example, educators with a masters receive a higher pat because of their higher title. Other careers do not require a degree such as performing artists, in this case higher education may not be the path for them. 

Skills 

Higher education can provide specialized knowledge on skills that are valuable for certain careers. This information is not available in basic schooling. Obtaining this knowledge can help graduates in a competitive job market. Also, the teachers can have valuable connections that one would not receive outside of studying in this school. 

Networking 

Universities can offer opportunities to network which is crucial for career development. These connections can lead to opportunities after the course runs through. Showing your work ethic in these classes helps place you above other applicants that are unknown to the hirer. Personal connections go a long way in the professional realm. 

Financial Aspect 

The cost is what deters many, it leads to student debt that takes years to pay off. It is important to weigh the potential income compared to the cost of tuition and fees. If the knowledge and skills acquired from higher education do not place you in large enough advantage for your chosen field, there are other ways. 

Other Paths 

Depending on one’s chosen field there may be alternative paths to gain skills and knowledge rather than higher education. This could be vocational training, online courses, and apprenticeships. Sometimes these other paths are more beneficial than attending higher education because you are more hands on them sitting and learning. 

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Whether higher education is worth the price is a personal decision. If it is not financial or physically possible, it is not necessary for success. It is important to consider an individual's circumstances and what higher education could provide you. In the instances of a specialized career such as performing artists sometimes higher education prohibits them from enough training and opportunities. 

Higher education is expensive and not accessible to many. The privilege to access higher education should not go unrecognized. With help of financial aid it cushions some of the expenses however it does not help enough. In cases where people can not afford higher education, it is sad because they are then prohibited from opportunities solely because of financial circumstances. 

Higher education is an opportunity people should not take lightly and it’s worthiness is dependent on what one feels is important for their individual future.