Degree or no degree?? Let's agree to disagree

[okcBob]

I know guys that have become millionaires doing dirt work. Start with a tractor, then bobcat, then track hoe, dozer, employees, more equipment, good business skills and reliability, pick up big contracts.

There are lots of anecdotal examples of successful folks without college:Limbaugh (RIP), most of Hollywood, and successful businessmen. But I think the nationwide average salary is higher with higher education. There are other studies I’m sure, just grabbed this one to illustrate the comparison.

https://www.northeastern.edu/bachelors-completion/news/average-salary-by-education-level/

 

[okcBob]

Regarding the cost of college, you don’t have to go into a lot of debt. JUCO, then state university pathway can be reasonably priced. Also, many employers offer tuition reimbursement. I was lucky to work in healthcare my entire career. The only degree I paid for was my AS degree back in the 70’s. All the rest of them were free including grad school (thanks to Integris).

 

[joegrizzy]

Do you have a college degree?

from da school a hard knocks yessir

 

[joegrizzy]

There are lots of anecdotal examples of successful folks without college:Limbaugh (RIP), most of Hollywood, and successful businessmen. But I think the nationwide average salary is higher with higher education.

https://www.northeastern.edu/bachelors-completion/news/average-salary-by-education-level/

yeah but i mean....if you have a corporate culture that literally says "pay people with degree more when they start" that would always apply wouldn't it?

i say more aptitude tests. people that have degrees from 30 years ago in my field know less than someone watching youtube every day. straight up.
namely because the digital process didn't exist back then and people were still in the dark room.

 

[montesa]

Work ethic trumps degrees for me. But, a lot of employers seem to still require it for whatever reason. I came out of college with no debt, but worked my a$$ off and went to a cheap (then) state school. I struggle to guide my kids on this decision. It's hard for me to not push for a degree, but I'm conflicted on the value, for sure.

I come across as a college naysayer but if someone can afford it and they want the experience, I think it’s a great thing. It’s just not a cut a dry ticket to success the way it was presented. I just don’t like how so many young people now can’t find jobs, have no marketable skills and are saddled with debt. Student debt is now a political football. If a degree gives you an advantage, why should your debt be relieved? What do other citizens get that either paid their way through or didn’t go to college? Doesn’t seem fair. Reward those with an advantage?

 

[Profreedomokie]

I worked around many people with college degrees for 40 years in a refinery. Some were pretty sharp and some should have gotten their money back. I've always said that a college education is a poor substitution for intelligence. I worked rebuilding pumps ,steam turbines, valves ,and compressors. We once had a mechanical engineer argue with us that there wasn't such a thing as left hand thread. He said you just turn the nut over. Refund here please! College is great for certain fields but, a waste of time and money for people that can't apply what was taught. In todays world I think you could do better being a machinist or welder compared to most white collar jobs.

 

[Cowbaby]

I left University needing five credit hrs for a degree in Accounting with Cum Laude grades. I was offered to run my old bosses welding truck for 60 dollars/hr in 1982 which was outrageous pay for back then. I was tired of starving my way through college without taking loans on.
I never looked back.

It only even mildly bothers me even now as a worn out old man. I have no regrets. Would I do it differently in another life? Maybe but probably not, I had a blast. I always was one to take the road less traveled, maybe some would say the hard road. I was an outdoors type person and being bottled up inside a building all day just wasn't me. In fact, it kinda terrified me. I like to move around and be out in the weather no matter what it is.To each his own.

Its like my best friend in high school told our teacher when she was griping at him for failing class and saying he would have to cut pulp wood for a living if he didn't study. He told her "Someones got to dig the ditches" HA.

 

[joegrizzy]

I come across as a college naysayer but if someone can afford it and they want the experience, I think it’s a great thing. It’s just not a cut a dry ticket to success the way it was presented. I just don’t like how so many young people now can’t find jobs, have no marketable skills and are saddled with debt. Student debt is now a political football. If a degree gives you an advantage, why should your debt be relieved? What do other citizens get that either paid their way through or didn’t go to college? Doesn’t seem fair. Reward those with an advantage?

yeah i've always said the only way i'd ever consider "student loan forgiveness" as an actual policy is if you averaged that debt and gave everyone who said "no thank you" that same stipend. how many kids said "i can't afford that just to read some damn books i can read myself".

hell i was a philosophy major. yes, you choose what you want to learn, but i was paying myself and that's what i was into. didn't take me long to say "i'm just spending my time at the library.....reading.....free books....."

i've learned many trades since then. certified in all sorts of things. now i click a mouse and make pictures pretty.

 

[okcBob]

I come across as a college naysayer but if someone can afford it and they want the experience, I think it’s a great thing. It’s just not a cut a dry ticket to success the way it was presented. I just don’t like how so many young people now can’t find jobs, have no marketable skills and are saddled with debt. Student debt is now a political football. If a degree gives you an advantage, why should your debt be relieved? What do other citizens get that either paid their way through or didn’t go to college? Doesn’t seem fair. Reward those with an advantage?

Absolutely correct. If I could have afforded it back in the day, I’d have gone to Harvard for the experience and connections. Plus it would ensure meeting more hot chicks…/

 

[Dorkus]

My oldest son has a trade certification from a Vo-Tech here in OK. He now works out of state and likely makes more money than most of his peers with a four year degree. He also only paid $7,000 for his cert.

While degrees are important to some, I would not hesitate to recommend any young person to pursue a trade. Most go to college, get debt and end up with a worthless piece of paper for some major that is not marketable.