How valuable is a college degree?

College graduates still enjoy higher earnings than the average U.S. worker. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that in 2022, bachelor's degree holders took home a median wage of $1,432 per week, while workers with just a high school diploma earned only $853. That's a difference of 68%.

Does a college degree still have value?

Such an investment depreciates over time, while a degree, for most, only grows in value. How much value does a degree offer? Georgetown's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) noted in 2021 that workers with bachelor's degrees earned $1.2 million more than high school graduates over a lifetime.

Is getting a college degree a big deal?

Having a bachelor's degree will keep you in demand as the need for skilled, college-educated workers continues to rise. Over 80 percent of jobs in four of the fastest-growing occupations—healthcare, STEM, education, and government services—demand postsecondary education.

Is it rare to have a college degree?

The number of people with a bachelor's degree or higher increased by 7.5 percentage points in this time frame. And the increase in graduate degree holders was even more dramatic, rising by about 50%. In all, close to 44.4% of people 25 and older now have some type of college degree.

What is the least regretted major?

The top three regret-free majors, all above 70%, are computer and information sciences, criminology, and engineering. Graduates strongly tied their sentiments toward their majors to job prospects, ZipRecruiter found. They're also less likely to regret pursuing quantitative fields.

Growing Number Of Americans Questioning The Value Of College Degree

What degree is most in demand?

What is the most unpopular degree?

Among the least common majors in the US between 2020 and 2021 was Architecture and Related Services with only about 9,296 students earning their degree in the major. The area of study focuses on engineering, art, drawing, designing, the theory of design, layouts, and the history of architecture.

Do degrees matter anymore?

The percentage of jobs requiring a college degree fell from 51% in 2017 to 44% percent in 2021. And according to Gallup, the percentage of U.S. adults ages 18 to 29 who view college education as “very important” dropped from 74% to 41% in just six years.

What is the most educated race in the United States?

Asian Americans had the highest educational attainment of any race, followed by whites who had a higher percentage of high school graduates but a lower percentage of college graduates.

Does Elon Musk have a degree?

Elon Musk went to Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and then transferred to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he received bachelor's degrees in physics and economics in 1997.

Is it worth getting a bachelor's degree at 40?

Going back to school to attain your degree in your 40s has the potential to increase your salary and help you find career fulfillment. Rather than feel stuck in your current job, take the steps to better yourself and earn a degree that will qualify you for careers that align with your calling.

Is it worth going to college at 50?

Going back to school in your 50s proves you're ready to take on any challenge that comes your way. Whether your goal is to finish something you started or to discover new and exciting career opportunities in a competitive job market, earning a college degree is an enriching experience that can help you get ahead.

Will college be worth it in 20 years?

The Economic Data Initiative reveals that the return on investment of a bachelor's degree over a 20-year period has been 38.1%, with a lifetime ROI of 287.7%.

What percent of jobs require a college degree?

Today, nearly 60 percent of all jobs in the U.S. economy require higher education. Before World War II, only a small proportion of Americans went to college. In 1937, just 15 percent of high school students went on to higher education, and most of them were from upper-income families.

Are college degrees declining?

The number of bachelor's degree earners fell by 2.4 percent, the first drop in a decade. The number of first-time certificate earners, meanwhile, rose by 9 percent.

Do employers still care about degrees?

The short answer is: yes, but with a caveat; it depends on the industry you're attempting to work in. There are certain fields that you absolutely cannot work in without higher education (healthcare, for example). Most hiring executives still value higher education on an applicant's resume.

Why college degrees no longer matter?

A degree requirement eliminates a significant swath of the American population from jobs "at a time when employers [already] struggle to find talent," the study's authors noted. Based on current trends, they projected 1.4 million jobs could open up to workers without college degrees in the next five years.

What is the hardest degree to go for?

What is the most regretted degree?

The most-regretted college major is journalism, according to the study. Eighty-seven percent of those graduates sampled said they would choose a different major if they could. Below is the list of the top 10 most-regretted majors based on the 1,500 job seekers ZipRecruiter surveyed.

What is the happiest degree?

What is the happiest major? According to a 2022 ZipRecruiter survey, people were happiest with their college major if they had majored in computer and information sciences, criminology, engineering, nursing, health, business administration, finance, or psychology.

What is the coolest degree to have?

Which degree has most job opportunities?

What career path pays the most?

What degree is best for high salary?