The truth behind going to college should never be sugar-coated.

Less than a quarter of the class of 2010 had jobs secured by graduation, and the average duration of unemployment for those with four-year degrees was just under five months.

When you're choosing whether or not to pursue higher education, know that personal progression, resident life, and cultural exposure is just as important--if not more so--than the possibility of higher net worth in the future.

Fortunately, Time Magazine recently published some numbers that might ease the looming heartburn over future piles of tuition debt:

• The unemployment rate for those with only a high school degree was 10.3% as of August 2010. Having a college degree drops it down to 4.6%.
• $21,900 is the median difference in salary between the average bachelor's degree and high school diploma workers as of 2008.
• Degree-holders earn $400,000 more over a 30-year period than high school grads.

If college is in the cards, you have many avenues to take: community colleges, universities, private schools. Your educational experience is what matters, not a name on a piece of paper. For more info and tips to direct the route to your future, check out Polos Or Hoodies and Higher Ed.

--Chris

Photo taken from this photostream and used with permission of a Creative Commons license.
 

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