High schoolers arranging their lives after graduation are faced with the uncertainty of whether they'll decide to attend a college or pursue another opportunity . Many are questioning colleges' significance in their own lives, and whether the cost is worth the benefits. Despite their concerns, college does have real value through financial advantages, its function as a social mobility tool, and the opportunities colleges procure for their students. College is not the perfect tool for everyone, but it's undoubtedly a beneficial choice for many.
Studies show the consistent financial benefits of a college education. You can distinctly see this in the data provided by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, last updated March 15, 2016. The unemployment rates of having only a high school diploma is 5.4%, compared to having a professional degree where the unemployment rates are 1.5%. The educational attainment that had the lowest unemployment rate and the highest earning, $1,730 a week, was the professional degree. The average earnings of someone with a professional degree is $1,053 more a week than someone with only a high school diploma, who's median weekly earning is $678. That's $54,756 more a
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45% of adults without a college degree, whose parents are in the lowest income quintile, will also be in the lowest quantile. The statistics, however, are much different for those with a college diploma. 84% of adults with a college degree, whose parents are at the bottom, will have left that quantile. 41% of adults who have a college degree and have parents who are at the bottom will even make it to the top two-fifths! Low-income families benefit greatly from higher education. One concern, however, is that up to 40 percent of low-income students who are accepted to college in the spring do not attend their classes in the fall. This often is because of financial issues with the affordability of