Is College Worth It?

I hear and see this question asked A LOT. Is college worth it? As someone who has a masters and has worked in a field where no degree is required, I feel I have a unique perspective on the value of a college education. I went to Penn State for my undergrad and University of Albany for my masters. Both were amazing experiences and I have absolutely no regrets. Having said that, the college landscape has changed considerably since I went. I think Penn State costs 3x as much and it’s not even 25 years since I graduated. That’s crazy and really makes me question the value of college for careers that do not require a college education. I was a cop in the NYPD, they require an associate (or equivalent credits) or military – the college can be done at a cheaper community college – no one cares. Just need the credits. What I found having gone to a big name (and competitive) school was that it gave me an advantage over others for assignments – an intangible advantage with questionable financial benefits. But still an advantage. While I was with the NYPD, I applied for and was given a scholarship for my masters. I was a little shy of the requirements, but still got the scholarship. I don’t know that coming from Penn State was a game changer, but didn’t hurt me. My scholarship covered tuition and fees at Albany and my salary for the year I went to school. That was a no brainer!

What did I learn… Penn State – there was a lot of social-emotional learning and exposure to people very different than me. There was the suite mate that went to the prom on a tractor (I went in a limo to NYC for mine). The former roommate who was in an abusive relationship and then tried to kill herself. Friends with lifelong medical issues. Academically it was figuring out how not to fail a class, failing a different class instead, learning to ask for help. Exploring boundaries and principles is great, but you still have to do the homework assignment. I learned to take my technical writing to a whole new level, even if my grammar and punctuation still stinks. I grew soooo much at Penn State and I’m still friends with many of the people I met there. Albany – I also made great friends and lasting memories. But what I learned there was extremely relevant today.

I learned how to read research, where to look for bias in the research and how to integrate the bias in understanding the research findings. I have found this useful in everyday life and in business.
I’ve learned that once I understand #1, and truly learn a topic, you can debate either side of the topic, regardless of beliefs.

Why #2 is so important. Most people believe in things on an emotional level. If you disagree with them but want to get them to understand your perspective, you need to meet them where they are at. Learning their perspective, regardless of your own belief, allows you to meet them in the middle, be less threatening, and get them to a place where they will listen to you. Is college worth it? It depends on what you want to do and how much money you have. If you want to go into a trade, you hate academic settings, and you don’t have money–No, college is not worth it. If you want to be a doctor – you don’t have a choice, besides, you won’t get many patients without going to college. Most people fall in the middle and the answer is you need to balance the education and financial impacts. The education is always useful, it’s not always a good value or helpful in meeting your future goals. Did you go to college? What value did you find in your education?

Blog