Do You Need a College Degree to Be Successful? What Matters Most

A college degree can improve pay, job stability, and skills, but it’s not always required for professional success. What matters most are personal goals, career direction, and having a solid, actionable plan.

By Douglas Wade, Attorney

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Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. The indisputable benefits of a college education

3. A college degree is not necessary for success

4. Do you need a college degree?

Introduction

We’ve been told for decades that a top-notch education is essential for success. Furthermore, although this sentiment has some validity, it isn’t as simple as it may appear. Everybody’s experience of education may (and will) appear different. Contrary to popular belief, there is no one-size-fits-all route to success.

Traditionally, success and education have been intertwined, and many still ask: “Do you need a college degree?” According to custom, an “excellent education” usually implies a college degree, most especially a bachelor’s degree. It is understandable why a startling 86% of high school pupils say they feel under pressure to enroll in a four-year university. Parents and relatives, as well as the rest of society, put pressure on them to go to a good school, complete a bachelor’s program, find a 9 5 job, and earn a good living.

Although it happens with good intentions, forcing one to go to college at the wrong age may utterly distort his or her career life in the future. Nearly 3 out of every 4 college grads get jobs in other fields, and most end up working in domains that never required a degree.

So, does success need a college degree?

Not exactly. A bachelor’s degree or perhaps an associate’s degree is not necessary for many fantastic careers. The answer to the question of whether a college degree is necessary for success in life will mostly rely on your career aspirations. College degrees are required (or strongly preferred) for some job routes, whereas far less education is needed for others.

There is no need to mention that having a college degree has a number of advantages. University/College may result in more chances of employment, better pay, good financial security, and ease of getting jobs, besides the learning atmosphere in which a student can learn essential skills and meet important people. Today, let’s examine a few benefits of having a college degree.

The indisputable benefits of a college education

1. Education level affects salary

Do you need a college degree to earn more? Studies from the Bureau of Labor Statistics say that income generally increases with education level. According to their most current 2022 report, weekly income increased when each educational degree was attained:

Diploma from high school: $853 weekly
No degree, some college: $935 per week
$1,005 per week after an associate’s degree
Weekly salary after a bachelor’s degree: $1,432
$1,661 per week for a master’s degree

According to a different report that Forbes published, people with a bachelor’s degree make 63% more money than people with just a high school or GED.

2. College degrees reduce unemployment rates

Furthermore, according to the BLS, higher-educated graduates had lower unemployment rates. Based on their newest statistics of 2022, the unemployment level of high school students who did not continue their education in college was 4 percent. Meanwhile, the rate of unemployment declined to 2.2 and 2.7 percent for graduates who had bachelor’s and associate degrees, respectively.

Based on the statistics of the Pew Research Center, people who do not have a college degree have a threefold higher chance of living in poverty. Their results reveal that 22 percent of the individuals who did not receive college degrees are living under the poverty line, as compared to only 6 percent of the individuals who completed a bachelor’s degree.

3. After a college degree, professional opportunities increase

It is widely accepted that a college degree is necessary for a wide range of professions. Certain positions, such as registered nursing positions, need an associate degree, which can be earned in as little as two years. Others, such as public health jobs, may call for a bachelor’s degree, which takes roughly four years to complete. Then there are the higher occupations like those of most leadership and medical jobs that require graduate or professional degrees.

Although you might not need a college education to enter your working field, it is also important to realize that it can help you get promoted faster on the career ladder. As an example, you are likely to get promotions and management positions that you may not have obtained without a college degree.

Additionally, having a college degree increases marketability. In the United States, earning a college degree is currently seen as the standard, with more than seventeen million students enrolling in 2022. Therefore, you must have it to draw in employers for many different jobs. Moreover, you may want to have a college degree as this can make you outshine your peers, even though it does not apply to your job placement.

4. College gives an opportunity to build skills and connections

Postsecondary education has advantages that can set you up for success even if you don’t get a college degree.

Suppose you wish to launch your own company. A college degree is not a prerequisite for becoming an entrepreneur. But before you launch your business, imagine yourself in college. You may see other learners with amazing business ideas who want to establish their own start-ups if you look around the classroom. They may even have ideas that are comparable to your own! In the future, your professor may also be a subject-matter expert in the fields of marketing, accounting, talent development, advertising, and general management.

This would make them an invaluable resource for you to use while you are a student. Next, you may think of the practical experiences you may have when you are going to school. There is a chance that you will be able to meet corporate executives and other experienced professionals who share your interests.

There is merit to the skill-building and networking possibilities that come with a higher education. You will have access to professional materials, career development assistance, job fair chances, and an environment of instructors and peers who share your interests at college. These resources can put you in a successful position.

According to a Pew Research Center survey from 2021, most college graduates stated their education was very helpful in terms of fostering their intellectual and personal development (79%), providing access to employment opportunities (70%), and acquiring particular knowledge and skills that they could apply in their jobs (65%).

However, if you don’t think a degree is in your future, it doesn’t need to be the ultimate aim.

A college degree is not necessary for success

Despite having no college degree, a lot of people succeed in life. Most have managed to undergo various sorts of schooling and take an occupation that they are passionate about. You should remember, however, that college education is not a ticket to success, and regardless of the pressure you may experience to receive one, it is not mandatory. The answer to the question: “Do you need a college degree to thrive professionally?” is not simple. It depends on your goals.

Acquiring a college education when there is really no notion of what they are supposed to do with their lives, personally and career-wise, can be counterproductive to some individuals. It’s no secret that attending college may be costly, and it might be more expensive than required if you don’t have a clear idea of your final objective.

According to research, almost one in twelve students enrolled at community colleges nowadays had previously obtained a bachelor’s degree but chose to change careers and return to school for something else. This is because they were under pressure to complete a bachelor’s degree as soon as they came out of high school, only to realize that the education they received failed to match their intended career goals.

If you already feel pretty confident that you need to get an education, but do not know what would you like to do in your life, a general studies course can be a great solution as it will help you find out your interests, develop useful skills, and complete the number of required courses before you decide what you really want to do with your personality. Other options are at your disposal, however, in case you are pretty sure that a Bachelor’s degree is not what you are supposed to get.

To get into fantastic, well-paying trade occupations, for instance, postsecondary institutions offer technical and career-focused degrees. Attending these kinds of programs for a few months can put you on track to a successful career in a hands-on field you enjoy. A millwright in the United States makes about $62,000 a year, and an industrial mechanic makes over $60,000 a year. These are two excellent examples of high-paying craft employment that don’t require a college degree.

For people who appreciate education but aren’t ready to dedicate themselves to a four-year program, an associate degree can be an excellent choice. Numerous accomplished individuals have obtained associate degrees and proceeded to work in a variety of fields, including manufacturing, human services, respiratory treatment, nursing, and dentistry. On average, an associate degree will fetch you more than $60,000 per year, with plenty of opportunity to advance in your chosen sector.

Do you need a college degree?

A college degree is not appropriate for everyone, even if the population of today is the most learned in American history. So, when deciding “Do you need a college degree?” ask yourself:

What makes me want to attend college?
What am I hoping to learn?
What are my professional objectives?
What educational requirements exist for my ideal job?
For me, what does success entail?

You may determine whether a college degree is good for you and whether it fits with your idea of success by asking yourself such questions.

In conclusion, “Do you need a college degree to succeed?” Not necessarily. But you do need a plan, a learning mindset, and the drive to grow.

Have a quick question? We answered nearly 2000 FAQs.

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Do You Need a College Degree to Be Successful? What Matters Most

Introduction

The indisputable benefits of a college education

A college degree is not necessary for success

Do you need a college degree?

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