Pro and Con: College Education

<!doctype html> <html lang="en" class="story-desktop ui-ie7 ui-ie"> <head prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns# fb: https://ogp.me/ns/fb#"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" /> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130"> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130"> <link rel="preload" as="script" href="https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js" /> <link rel="icon" href="/favicon.png" /> <meta name="description" content="Some argue that college is worth it because graduates have higher employment rates, bigger salaries, and more work benefits than high school graduates, while others argue that college is not worth it because the debt from college loans is too high and delays graduates from saving for retirement, buying a house, or getting married." /> <meta name="keywords" content="spotlight, college, education, degree, value, worth, graduate" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-college-education" /> <title>Pro and Con: College Education | Britannica</title> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel"> window.$UI = {}; window.Constants = {"LICENSE_URL": "/bps/license","DEFAULT_TEST_VERSION": "A","DEFAULT_STATE": "XX","QUIZ_URL": "/quiz","SPOTLIGHT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/spotlight","CONTENT_TYPE_TEXT": "text/plain;charset=UTF-8","TOPIC_FACTS_DATA_URL": "/facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_IMAGE_QUIZZES": "images","TOPIC_MEDIA_PATH": "/images-videos","USER_PROFILE_URL": "/user","DEBUG_URL": "/debug","ONE_GOOD_FACT_URL": "/one-good-fact","ERROR_404_URL": "/error404","PROCON_CITED_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/ProCon-in-the-News","PROCON_URL": "/procon","TOPIC_PAGE_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/page","INFINITE_SCROLL_PREFIX_URL": "/scroll","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_BROWSE_URL": "/questions","CC_USD": "USD","domain": "britannica.com","SURVEY_URL": "/survey","CATEGORY_BROWSE_URL": "/browse","STORY_BROWSE_URL": "/stories","COUNTRY_US": "US","OPEN_MEDIA_OVERLAY_PARAMETER": "/media","NEWSLETTER_SUBSCRIPTION_URL": "/newsletter-subscription","MAINTENANCE_ERROR_URL": "https://maintenance.eb.com","IMARS_EDITOR_ID": "12365882","PROFILE_EB_EDITOR_URL": "/editor","WEB_INF_RESOURCES_PATH": "WEB-INF/resources","AI_ABOUT_PAGE_URL": "/about-britannica-ai","TOPIC_ADDITIONAL_INFO_PATH": "/additional-info","SUDOKU_GAME_URL": "/games/sudoku","CC_INR": "INR","ARTICLE_PRINT_URL": "/print/article","FIRST_EDITION_URL": "/subscriber/firstedition","WW1_PORTAL_URL": "/discover/World-War-I","MENDEL_COOKIE": "__mendel","DEMYSTIFIED_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/demystified","LIST_BROWSE_URL": "/list/browse","PROFILE_EXPERT_URL": "/contributor","ASSEMBLY_IMAGE_URL": "/image/assembly","DAY_IN_HISTORY_URL": "/on-this-day","DEFAULT_CURRENCY": "USD","CONTENT_TYPE_XML": "text/xml;charset=UTF-8","PORTAL_FINANCE_BROWSE_URL_PREFIX": "/money/browse","MONEY_IMARS_CATEGORY": "13000","AJAX_PREFIX_URL": "/ajax","TOPIC_BROWSE_URL": "/topic-browse","MARKETING_CONTENT": "/marketing-content","ENV_RUNTIME": "runtime","GALLERY_URL": "/gallery","topicUrlClassesList": "topic|animal|art|biography|event|place|plant|science|sports|technology|procon","CONTENT_TYPE_HTML": "text/html;charset=UTF-8","ENV_LOCAL": "override","MEDIA_OVERLAY_URL": "/media-overlay","CHATBOT_PAGE_URL": "/chatbot","NEWSLETTER_PAGE_URL": "/newsletters","ENV_DEV": "development","MEDIA_URL": "/media","TOPIC_TOP_QUESTION_URL": "/question","PORTAL_FINANCE_URL_PREFIX": "/money","PODCASTS_URL": "/podcasts","STAND_ALONE_VIDEO_URL": "/video","MORE_ON_THIS_DAY_URL": "/more-on-this-day","TOPIC_QUOTES_URL": "/quotes","SEARCH_PAGE_URL": "/search","PROCON_CLASS": "PROCON","KUSTOM_MENDEL_APPLICATION_ID": "1","TOPIC_CONTENT_AJAX_URL": "/topic-content/topic","ENV_BRANCH": "branch","ERROR_URL": "/error","MAIN_VERSION": "mainVersion","DEFAULT_S3_REGION": "US_EAST_1","TOPIC_COLLECTION_URL": "/summary","LOGINBOX_URL": "/auth/loginbox","ONE_GOOD_FACT_BROWSE_URL": "/one-good-fact/all-good-facts","QUIZ_BROWSE_URL": "/quiz/browse","BIO_BROWSE_URL": "/browse/biographies","LIST_URL": "/list","TIGHTROPE_QUIZ_URL": "/quiz/tightrope","ALPHA_BROWSE_URL": "/sitemap","CONTENT_TYPE_JSON": "application/json","DICTIONARY_URL": "/dictionary","COBRAND_IMAGE_URL": "/image/cobrand","PROCON_IN_THE_NEWS_URL": "/procon/pro-and-con-issues-in-the-news","PROCON_BROWSE_URL": "/procon","QUIZ_BROWSE_VOCAB_QUIZZES": "vocabulary-quizzes","SUBMISSION_URL": "/submission","EB_LOG_OUT": "/auth2/logout","ENV_PRODUCTION": "production","EXPLORE_PORTAL_URL": "/explore","TOPIC_AJAX_URL": "/ajax/topic","TOPIC_SUMMARY_BROWSE_URL": "/summaries","WTFACT_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/wtfact","VIDEO_CHANNEL_URL": "/videos","GALLERY_BROWSE_URL": "/gallery/browse","CACHE_URL": "/cache","PROCON_ABOUT_URL": "/procon/About-ProCon","COMPANION_BROWSE_URL": "/stories/companion","MEDIA_FOLDER": "/eb-media","SHOW_ALL_CONTRIBUTORS": "/additional-info#contributors","BRITANNICA_EDITORS_ID": "4419","ENV_CACHE_DISABLED": "mendelCache","CALCULATORS_BROWSE_URL": "/calculators","STORY_URL": "/story","DEFAULT_COUNTRY": "US","NAVBAR_URL": "/ajax/navbar","EB_LOGIN_URL": "/auth/eb-login","NEW_ARTICLES_URL": "/new-articles",}; window.CDN = "https://cdn.britannica.com"; window.CAM_LOGIN_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com"; window.CAM_SIGN_UP_URL = "https://cam.britannica.com/registration" window.Mendel = { "config" : { "domain": "britannica.com", "page": "Story", "videoPlayerId": "UyMCoK2v", "sharedUrl": "https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-college-education", "amuselabsUrl": "https://cdn3.amuselabs.com", "resourcesPrefixUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/[url]?v=3.130.14", "date": 20241125, "userInfo": { "type": "ANONYMOUS" ,"currency": "AUUS" ,"country": "SG" ,"state": "XX" ,"timezone": "Asia/Singapore" ,"bcomId": "-2378768226227396908" ,"hasAds": true ,"testVersion": "A" ,"adsTestVersion": "A" ,"consumerId": "" ,"instId": "" ,"consumerUserName": "" ,"instUserName": "" ,"cognito": null }, "tvs":{ "r":[25,25,25,25], "a": [25,25,25,25]}, "isLoggedInAsUser": false, "isPhone": false, "isDesktop": true, "logoutUrl": "/auth2/logout", "selfServiceUrl": "https://myaccount.britannica.com", "cdnUrl": "https://cdn.britannica.com", "chatbotApi": "https://www.britannica.com/chat-api", "fetchOffset": 800, "mendelCookieName": "__mendel", "mendelCookie": {"surveyShown":false,"visitedTopicId":0,"currentDate":20241125}, "autocompleteToSearchPage": false,"pagesInfo": [{"url":"pro-and-con-college-education","title":"Pro and Con: College Education"},{"url":"7-banned-books-through-time","title":"11 Banned Books Through Time"},{"url":"why-is-it-called-black-friday","title":"Why Is It Called Black Friday?"},{"url":"why-is-thanksgiving-in-the-us-celebrated-on-a-thursday","title":"Why Is Thanksgiving in the U.S. Celebrated on a Thursday?"},{"url":"why-do-we-eat-turkey-on-thanksgiving","title":"Why Do We Eat Turkey on Thanksgiving?"},{"url":"why-is-the-mona-lisa-so-famous","title":"Why Is the <em>Mona Lisa</em> So Famous?"},{"url":"why-is-ireland-two-countries","title":"Why Is Ireland Two Countries?"},{"url":"pro-and-con-gun-control","title":"Pro and Con: Gun Control"},{"url":"the-rise-of-the-machines-pros-and-cons-of-the-industrial-revolution","title":"The Rise of the Machines: Pros and Cons of the Industrial Revolution"},{"url":"was-santa-claus-a-real-person","title":"Was Santa Claus a Real Person?"},{"url":"causes-of-the-great-depression","title":"Causes of the Great Depression"}] ,"currentFeature": 10851 ,"storyType": "SPOTLIGHT" }, "GA": {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Story","pageSubtype":"SPOTLIGHT","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} }; </script> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1887621861548296"/ <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@britannica" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/230834-131-D392BB8E/College-graduation-graduates.jpg" /> <meta name="twitter:description" content="Some argue that college is worth it because graduates have higher employment rates, bigger salaries, and more work benefits than high school graduates, while others argue that college is not worth it because the debt from college loans is too high and delays graduates from saving for retirement, buying a house, or getting married."/> <meta property="og:type" content="ARTICLE"/> <meta property="og:title" content="Pro and Con: College Education | Britannica"/> <meta property="og:description" content="Some argue that college is worth it because graduates have higher employment rates, bigger salaries, and more work benefits than high school graduates, while others argue that college is not worth it because the debt from college loans is too high and delays graduates from saving for retirement, buying a house, or getting married."/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="Encyclopedia Britannica" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-college-education"/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/230834-131-D392BB8E/College-graduation-graduates.jpg" /> <meta property="og:image:type" content="image/jpeg" /> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="init opengraph"> Mendel.openGraph = {"type":"ARTICLE","title":"Pro and Con: College Education","description":"Some argue that college is worth it because graduates have higher employment rates, bigger salaries, and more work benefits than high school graduates, while others argue that college is not worth it because the debt from college loans is too high and delays graduates from saving for retirement, buying a house, or getting married.","imageUrl":"https://cdn.britannica.com/34/230834-131-D392BB8E/College-graduation-graduates.jpg","imageType":"image/jpeg","pageUrl":"https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-college-education"}</script> <link rel="preconnect" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/"> <link rel="dns-prefetch" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/" > <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/icon?family=Material+Icons"> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/vendor-bundle.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/mendel-css.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet" /> <link href="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/story-page.css?v=3.130.14" rel="stylesheet" /> <script type="text/javascript"> if (self !== top) { top.location = self.location; } // if ('scrollRestoration' in history) { history.scrollRestoration = 'manual'; } </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/at.js?v=3.130.14" async ></script> <script> dataLayer = []; </script> <script type="text/javascript">(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-5W6NC8'); </script> </head> <body data-leg="A" class="popular-topics-story user-ANONYMOUS user-ads md-desktop leg-ab-ie">  <script>Mendel.config.adProvider='ay';</script> <script async src="https://securepubads.g.doubleclick.net/tag/js/gpt.js"></script> <script> window.googletag = window.googletag || {cmd: []}; googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.defineSlot('/15510053/CMP_1x1', [1, 1], 'div-gpt-ad-1709766812090-0').addService(googletag.pubads()); googletag.pubads().enableSingleRequest(); googletag.enableServices(); }); </script> <script async defer src="https://launchpad-wrapper.privacymanager.io/0ccc6fe8-1870-4ad8-b47b-6d029ac116fc/launchpad-liveramp.js"></script> <script async src="https://JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs.ay.delivery/manager/JRyhoywLYXNLYMAhs" type="text/javascript" referrerpolicy="no-referrer-when-downgrade" ></script><div class="ie-warning d-flex align-items-center align-self-center justify-content-center site-alert bg-orange"> <div> You are using an <strong>outdated</strong> browser. Please <a class="text-white text-underscore" href="https://browsehappy.com/">upgrade your browser</a> to improve your experience and security. </div> </div> <script id="json-navbar-info" type="application/json"> {"topSectionLinks":[{"title":"Ask the Chatbot","url":"/chatbot","navbarId":"CHATBOT"},{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse","navbarId":"QUIZZES"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon","navbarId":"PROCON"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society","selected":true,"navbarId":"HISTORY"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech","navbarId":"SCIENCE"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies","navbarId":"BIOS"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature","navbarId":"ANIMALS"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel","navbarId":"GEOGRAPHY"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture","navbarId":"ART"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money","navbarId":"MONEY"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos","navbarId":"VIDEOS"}],"selectedSuperCategory":{"id":5,"title":"History & Society","url":"History-Society","description":"Explore history and society; accidents and disasters; the age of revolutions; the ancient world; historic dynasties; global exploration; the middle ages; the modern world; prehistory; US history; world history; wars and battles; sociology; religion and philosophy; humanities; ethics; anthropology; festivals and holidays; human rights; human migration; international relations; politics, law, and government","keywords":"accidents and disasters; the age of revolutions; the ancient world; historic dynasties; global exploration; the middle ages; the modern world; prehistory; US history; world history; wars and battles; sociology; religion and philosophy; humanities; ethics; anthropology; festivals and holidays; human rights; human migration; international relations; politics, law, and government","classId":"HISTORY","sortOrder":1},"selectedNavbarLink":{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society","selected":true,"navbarId":"HISTORY"}} </script> <script id="json-hamburger-menu" type="application/json"> {"britannicaMenu1":[{"title":"Home","url":"/"},{"title":"ProCon","url":"/procon"},{"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},{"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},{"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},{"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},{"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},{"title":"Money","url":"/money"}],"britannicaMenu2":[{"title":"Games & Quizzes","url":"/quiz/browse"},{"title":"Videos","url":"/videos"},{"title":"On This Day","url":"/on-this-day"},{"title":"One Good Fact","url":"/one-good-fact"},{"title":"Dictionary","url":"/dictionary"},{"title":"New Articles","url":"/new-articles"}],"browseByCategory":[{"title":{"id":5,"title":"History & Society","url":"/History-Society"},"links":[{"title":"Lifestyles & Social Issues","url":"/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues"},{"title":"Philosophy & Religion","url":"/browse/Philosophy-Religion"},{"title":"Politics, Law & Government","url":"/browse/Politics-Law-Government"},{"title":"World History","url":"/browse/World-History"}]},{"title":{"id":6,"title":"Science & Tech","url":"/Science-Tech"},"links":[{"title":"Health & Medicine","url":"/browse/Health-Medicine"},{"title":"Science","url":"/browse/Science"},{"title":"Technology","url":"/browse/Technology"}]},{"title":{"id":3,"title":"Biographies","url":"/Biographies"},"links":[{"title":"Browse Biographies","url":"/browse/biographies"}]},{"title":{"id":1,"title":"Animals & Nature","url":"/Animals-Nature"},"links":[{"title":"Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates","url":"/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates"},{"title":"Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates","url":"/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates"},{"title":"Environment","url":"/browse/Environment"},{"title":"Fossils & Geologic Time","url":"/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time"},{"title":"Mammals","url":"/browse/Mammals"},{"title":"Plants","url":"/browse/Plants"}]},{"title":{"id":4,"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/Geography-Travel"},"links":[{"title":"Geography & Travel","url":"/browse/Geography-Travel"}]},{"title":{"id":2,"title":"Arts & Culture","url":"/Arts-Culture"},"links":[{"title":"Entertainment & Pop Culture","url":"/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture"},{"title":"Literature","url":"/browse/Literature"},{"title":"Sports & Recreation","url":"/browse/Sports-Recreation"},{"title":"Visual Arts","url":"/browse/Visual-Arts"}]}],"browseByFeature":[{"title":"Companions","url":"/stories/companion"},{"title":"Demystified","url":"/stories/demystified"},{"title":"Image Galleries","url":"/gallery/browse"},{"title":"Lists","url":"/list/browse"},{"title":"Podcasts","url":"/podcasts"},{"title":"Spotlight","url":"/stories/spotlight"},{"title":"Summaries","url":"/summary"},{"title":"The Forum","url":"/stories/the-forum"},{"title":"Top Questions","url":"/question"},{"title":"#WTFact","url":"/stories/wtfact"}],"moreFromBritannica":[{"title":"Britannica Kids","url":"https://kids.britannica.com/","newTab":true}],"menuType":"DEFAULT"} </script> <header id="header" class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="global-nav-top-bar"> <div class="grid gx-0 h-100 justify-content-between align-items-center container-lg mx-auto p-0 position-relative"> <div class="d-flex align-items-center"> <button class="d-flex align-items-center justify-self-start js-toggle js-toggle-hamburger btn btn-link link-white btn-sm rounded-0 p-10"> <div class="hamburger-tooltip"> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24" id="nav-toggle" data-icon="menu"></em> </div> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block font-24 global-nav-search-icon" id="nav-search-icon" data-icon="search" ></em> </button> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center ml-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-logo global-nav-logo-left" /> </a> <div class="global-nav-top-search-bar global-nav-top-search-container global-nav-search-container" id="global-nav-top-search-bar"> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> </div> </div> <a href="/" class="d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel/eb-logo/MendelNewThistleLogo.png" alt="Encyclopedia Britannica" class="global-nav-center global-nav-logo non-homepage-logo" /> </a> <form method="get" action="/search" id="global-nav-search" class="md-search-form m-0 global-nav-search-bar-small global-nav-center search global-nav-center-search-container"> <div class="search-box position-relative col-100"> <label class="sr-only" for="global-nav-search-query">Search Britannica</label> <input name="query" id="global-nav-search-query" placeholder="Search Britannica..." class="form-control form-control-lg rounded-lg font-16 search-query pl-20 pr-70 shadow-sm" maxlength="200" autocomplete="off" aria-label="Search Britannica" /> <button class="search-reset-btn btn btn-link px-10 position-absolute top-0 h-100 d-none" type="reset"> <em class="material-icons" data-icon="close"></em> </button> <button class="search-submit btn btn-link text-blue px-10 position-absolute top-0 right-0 h-100" type="submit" disabled> <span class="sr-only">Click here to search</span> <em class="material-icons search-icon" data-icon="search"></em> </button> </div> </form> <div class="col-35 col-sm-auto text-right order-3 mr-lg-15 align-items-center d-flex justify-content-end"> <div class="d-none d-md-inline-block"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2 marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_DESKTOP2"><a href="https://subscription.britannica.com/subscribe?partnerCode=BP_Black_Friday_AUUS" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-outline-white-orange py-5 mr-10" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Subscribe </a></SPAN></div> <div class="d-inline-block d-md-none mr-5 mr-sm-10"> <SPAN class="marketing-HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HEADER_SUBSCRIPTION_MOBILE"><a href="https://subscription.britannica.com/subscribe?partnerCode=BP_Black_Friday_AUUS" class="subscribe-link btn btn-xs btn-orange-dark p-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Subscribe </a></SPAN></div> <button class="js-toggle-user-dropdown js-toggle btn btn-sm btn-link link-white rounded-0 px-md-15 pl-5 pr-5"> <span class="d-none d-md-inline-block mr-5">Login</span> <em class="material-icons d-inline-block d-md-none font-16 font-sm-20" data-icon="account_circle"></em> <div class="d-none dropdown-menu-subscription-link">https://subscription.britannica.com/subscribe?partnerCode=BP_Black_Friday_AUUS</div> <em class="material-icons inactive-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_down"></em> <em class="material-icons active-icon d-inline-block font-18" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_up"></em> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div class="d-none hamburger-menu-subscription-link"><DIV class="marketing-HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA marketing-content" data-marketing-id="HAMBURGER_MENU_CTA"><a href="https://premium.britannica.com/premium-membership/?utm_source=premium&utm_medium=hamburger-menu&utm_campaign=black-friday-2024" class="subscribe-link btn btn-sm btn-orange py-5" target="_blank"> Subscribe <span class="d-none d-md-inline"> Now</span> </a></DIV></div> <div id="global-nav-react"> <div class="d-none"> <ul> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/procon">ProCon</a></li> <li><a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a></li> <li><a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a></li> <li><a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a></li> <li><a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a></li> <li><a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> <li><a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/money">Money</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/videos">Videos</a></li> <li><a href="/on-this-day">On This Day</a></li> <li><a href="/one-good-fact">One Good Fact</a></li> <li><a href="/dictionary">Dictionary</a></li> <li><a href="/new-articles">New Articles</a></li> </ul> <a href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Lifestyles-Social-Issues">Lifestyles & Social Issues</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Philosophy-Religion">Philosophy & Religion</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Politics-Law-Government">Politics, Law & Government</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/World-History">World History</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Health-Medicine">Health & Medicine</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Science">Science</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Technology">Technology</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/biographies">Browse Biographies</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Birds-Reptiles-Vertebrates">Birds, Reptiles & Other Vertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Bugs-Mollusks-Invertebrates">Bugs, Mollusks & Other Invertebrates</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Environment">Environment</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Fossil-Geologic-Time">Fossils & Geologic Time</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Mammals">Mammals</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Plants">Plants</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a></li> </ul> <a href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/Entertainment-Pop-Culture">Entertainment & Pop Culture</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Literature">Literature</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Sports-Recreation">Sports & Recreation</a></li> <li><a href="/browse/Visual-Arts">Visual Arts</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="/stories/companion">Companions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/demystified">Demystified</a></li> <li><a href="/gallery/browse">Image Galleries</a></li> <li><a href="/list/browse">Lists</a></li> <li><a href="/podcasts">Podcasts</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/spotlight">Spotlight</a></li> <li><a href="/summary">Summaries</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/the-forum">The Forum</a></li> <li><a href="/question">Top Questions</a></li> <li><a href="/stories/wtfact">#WTFact</a></li> </ul> <ul> <li><a href="https://kids.britannica.com/">Britannica Kids</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </header> <div class="bg-navy-dark"> <div class="container-lg p-0 d-flex justify-content-center global-nav-categories-bar overflow-hidden"> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 global-nav-slider category-snap-slider"> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex font-14 overflow-hidden text-nowrap mx-5"> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-CHATBOT " href="/chatbot">Ask the Chatbot</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-QUIZZES " href="/quiz/browse">Games & Quizzes</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-PROCON " href="/procon">ProCon</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-HISTORY selected selected" href="/History-Society">History & Society</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-SCIENCE " href="/Science-Tech">Science & Tech</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-BIOS " href="/Biographies">Biographies</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ANIMALS " href="/Animals-Nature">Animals & Nature</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-GEOGRAPHY " href="/Geography-Travel">Geography & Travel</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-ART " href="/Arts-Culture">Arts & Culture</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-MONEY " href="/money">Money</a> <a class="nav-bar-category mx-5 category-link-VIDEOS " href="/videos">Videos</a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <main> <div class="md-page-wrapper"> <div id="content" class="md-content"> <script type="application/ld+json"> {"headline":"Pro and Con: College Education","image":{"url":"https://cdn.britannica.com/34/230834-131-D392BB8E/College-graduation-graduates.jpg","@type":"ImageObject"},"author":[],"keywords":"Pro and Con: College Education","url":"https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-college-education","description":"Some argue that college is worth it because graduates have higher employment rates, bigger salaries, and more work benefits than high school graduates, while others argue that college is not worth it because the debt from college loans is too high and delays graduates from saving for retirement, buying a house, or getting married.","publisher":{"name":"Encyclopedia Britannica","@type":"Organization","logo":{"url":"https://corporate.britannica.com/wp-content/themes/eb-corporate/_img/logo.png","@type":"ImageObject"}},"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"article"} </script> <main id="story-container" class="SPOTLIGHT"> <div class="story-content"> <div class="story-content story-container qa-content" data-bc-category="Lifestyles & Social Issues" data-feature-id="10851"> <div class="md-article-container"> <div class="feature-container container-lg p-0 pb-40 p-md-20"> <aside class="d-none d-lg-block feature-left-rail p-20 pb-60 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="feature-section"> <div class="label mb-15 font-serif">Discover</div> <div class="mobile-carousel-items"> <ul class="pl-0 lr-image-list font-14 m-0 mb-30 d-flex flex-md-column slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden discover"> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/story/what-makes-hbcus-unique" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/244147-131-263FF5C5/Human-Jukebox-Southern-University-Marching-Band-Baton-Rouge-Louisiana.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="Human Jukebox - The Southern University Marching Band perform during a college football game at Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on Saturday, September 10, 2022. Southern University "Human Jukebox" Marching Band" /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/story/what-makes-hbcus-unique">What Makes HBCUs Unique?</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/story/canceling-student-loan-debt-will-barely-boost-the-economy" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/55/222355-131-6E6771FE/world-history-lifestyles-social-philosophy-religion-politics.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="Mendel third-party content placeholder. Categories: World History, Lifestyles and Social Issues, Philosophy and Religion, and Politics, Law and Government" /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/story/canceling-student-loan-debt-will-barely-boost-the-economy">Canceling student loan debt will barely boost the economy, but a targeted approach could help certain groups</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/story/pro-and-con-free-college" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/88/216088-131-77CA1622/college-graduates.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="Graduation asian female friends hold diploma. cheerful students hugging shoulders arms with thumbs up beautiful cheerful women students looking each other smiling" /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/story/pro-and-con-free-college">Pro and Con: Free College </a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/story/we-took-away-due-dates-for-university-assignments-heres-what-wefound" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/55/222355-131-6E6771FE/world-history-lifestyles-social-philosophy-religion-politics.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="Mendel third-party content placeholder. Categories: World History, Lifestyles and Social Issues, Philosophy and Religion, and Politics, Law and Government" /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/story/we-took-away-due-dates-for-university-assignments-heres-what-wefound">We took away due dates for university assignments. Here’s what we found</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/story/pro-and-con-gun-control" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/05/228405-131-07C0139F/pro-con-artwork.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="Artwork for themes for Pro-Con articles." /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/story/pro-and-con-gun-control">Pro and Con: Gun Control</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/list/inventors-and-inventions-of-the-industrial-revolution" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/193634-131-F5FF783D/factories-Industrial-Revolution-workers-house-machines.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="A Factory Interior, watercolor, pen and gray ink, graphite, and white goache on wove paper by unknown artist, c. 1871-91; in the Yale Center for British Art. Industrial Revolution England" /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/list/inventors-and-inventions-of-the-industrial-revolution">Inventors and Inventions of the Industrial Revolution</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/list/americas-5-most-notorious-cold-cases-including-one-you-may-have-thought-was-already-solved" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/71/196471-131-8FEA8DDD/Daily-Police-Bulletin-Elizabeth-Short-Black-Dahlia-January-1947.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="Los Angeles Police Department wanted flyer on Elizabeth Short, aka the "Black Dahlia," who was brutally murdered in January 1947. The FBI supported the Los Angeles Police Department in the case, including by identifying Short through her fingerprints that" /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/list/americas-5-most-notorious-cold-cases-including-one-you-may-have-thought-was-already-solved">America’s 5 Most Notorious Cold Cases (Including One You May Have Thought Was Already Solved)</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/story/why-is-the-mona-lisa-so-famous" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/189624-131-BAF1184D/Mona-Lisa-oil-wood-panel-Leonardo-da.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="Mona Lisa, oil on wood panel by Leonardo da Vinci, c. 1503-06; in the Louvre, Paris, France. 77 x 53 cm." /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/story/why-is-the-mona-lisa-so-famous">Why Is the <em>Mona Lisa</em> So Famous?</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/story/why-is-it-called-black-friday" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/73/218073-131-D8DF29B6/Macys-Herald-Square-New-York-Black-Friday-Thanksgiving-2018.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="New York NY/ USA- November 23, 2018 Hordes of shoppers throng the Macy's Herald Square flagship store in New York looking for bargains on the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday." /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/story/why-is-it-called-black-friday">Why Is It Called Black Friday?</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/list/10-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/35/146135-131-BC5E7D00/Baseball-grass-arts-Homepage-blog-entertainment-sports-2010.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="Baseball laying in the grass. Homepage blog 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society, sports and games athletics" /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/list/10-greatest-baseball-players-of-all-time">10 Greatest Baseball Players of All Time</a> </div> <div class="item-separator d-md-none"></div> </li> <li class="mb-10 mr-10 mr-md-0 d-inline-flex"> <a href="/list/9-things-you-might-not-know-about-adolf-hitler" class="d-block mr-10"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/58/156058-131-22083D0A/Adolf-Hitler.jpg?w=68&h=68&s=crop" alt="Adolf Hitler (Nazi, nazism, German leader)." /> </a> <div class="link-container"> <a class="" href="/list/9-things-you-might-not-know-about-adolf-hitler">9 Things You Might Not Know About Adolf Hitler</a> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </aside> <div class="reading-channel"> <div class="grey-box w-100 grey-box-middle"> <div class="grey-box-content mx-auto w-100"> <script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement" : [ { "@type" : "ListItem", "position" : 1, "item" : { "@id" : "https://www.britannica.com/stories/spotlight", "name": "Spotlight" } } , { "@type" : "ListItem", "position" : 2, "item" : { "@id" : "https://www.britannica.com/stories/spotlight/Lifestyles-Social-Issues", "name": "Lifestyles & Social Issues" } } ] } </script> <nav class="breadcrumb mt-20 mb-30"> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a href="/" class="link-gray-600">Home</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="link-gray-600" href="/stories/spotlight">Spotlight</a> </span> <span class="breadcrumb-item "> <a class="link-gray-600" href="/stories/spotlight/Lifestyles-Social-Issues">Lifestyles & Social Issues</a> </span> </nav> <div class="mb-5"> <a class="HISTORY font-weight-semi-bold super-category-badge rounded font-14" href="/History-Society"> History & Society </a> </div> <div> <div class="d-block d-md-none md-feature-tools float-right mb-15" style="right:20px" data-feature-id="10851"> <button class="js-tooltip-actions ml-10 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="more_vert"></em> Actions </button> <div class="md-actions-popover popover popover-sm py-5 px-0 dropdown-menu"> <div> <button class="js-modal qa-cite-modal-button btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool " data-modal="[data-feature-id=10851] .sm-cite-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="verified"></em> Cite </button> <div class="sm-cite-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom mb-15"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10">verified</em>Cite </div> <div class="font-serif"> While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="" data-title="Pro and Con: College Education" data-published-date="21 Dec. 2021" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-college-education" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal btn btn-sm btn-link gtm-topic-tool " data-modal="[data-feature-id=10851] .md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="Pro and Con: College Education" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-college-education" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-college-education">https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-college-education</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <h1 class="mb-5">Pro and Con: College Education</h1> <div class="d-none d-md-flex my-15"> <div class="mr-5"> <a href="javascript:window.print()" class=" btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="print"></em> Print </a> </div> <div class="mr-5"> <button class="js-modal qa-cite-modal-button gtm-topic-tool btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" data-modal="[data-feature-id=10851] .md-cite-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="verified"></em> Cite </button> <div class="md-cite-modal size-lg d-none"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom mb-15"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10">verified</em>Cite </div> <div class="font-serif"> While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. </div> <div class="label mt-20 mb-10">Select Citation Style</div> <select class="js-citation-format-select form-select"> <option selected value="mla">MLA</option> <option value="apa">APA</option> <option value="chicago">Chicago Manual of Style</option> </select> <div class="citation font-serif border rounded p-15 mt-20" data-authors="" data-title="Pro and Con: College Education" data-published-date="21 Dec. 2021" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-college-education" > <div class="citation-text"></div> </div> <button class="js-copy-citation-button mt-20 btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" > <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="file_copy"></em> <span class="js-citation-status-text">Copy Citation</span> </button> </div> </div> </div> <div> <button class="js-share-modal-button js-modal gtm-topic-tool btn btn-xs btn-outline-blue border shadow-sm pr-10" data-modal=".md-share-modal"> <em class="material-icons md-icon ml-n10 my-n5 mr-5" data-icon="share"></em> Share </button> <div class="md-share-modal size-lg d-none qa-share-modal"> <div class="md-modal-body"> <div class="h2 font-serif d-flex align-items-center pb-15 border-bottom"> <em class="material-icons text-blue mr-10" data-icon="share"></em> Share </div> <div class="label my-20">Share to social media</div> <div class="md-social-toolbar-circle d-flex align-items-start inverted" data-value="share" title="Pro and Con: College Education" data-url="https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-college-education" > <a class="social-icon facebook justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="facebook" href="https://www.facebook.com/BRITANNICA/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>Facebook</span></a> <a class="social-icon x justify-content-center d-flex align-items-center align-self-center" data-provider="x" href="https://x.com/britannica" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span>X</span></a> </div> <div class="label pt-20 mt-20 mb-5 border-top">URL</div> <a class="font-serif text-truncate d-inline-block" href="https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-college-education">https://www.britannica.com/story/pro-and-con-college-education</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <article class="topic-content content mt-20"><figure class="md-assembly md-feature-assembly print-false" data-type="1" data-descid="1"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/230834-050-6C702A9A/College-graduation-graduates.jpg" target="_blank" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center " data-href="*"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/34/230834-050-6C702A9A/College-graduation-graduates.jpg?w=600&q=60" alt="College graduation. University graduates in caps and gowns." data-width="1600" data-height="1068" loading="eager"><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class=""><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div><cite class="credit d-block mt-5">© Patcharanan/stock.adobe.com</cite></figcaption></figure> <p class="topic-paragraph"></p><span class="MOD1"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><em>To access extended pro and con arguments, sources, and discussion questions about whether a college education is worth it, go to <a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://college-education.procon.org/" data-show-preview="true">ProCon.org</a>.</em></strong></p><span class="MOD2"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">The American debate over whether a college education is worth it began when the colonists arrived from Europe and founded “New College” (later renamed Harvard University) in 1636. Today, there are around 20 million college students in the United States, and over 44 million borrowers owe a collective $1.5 trillion in total <a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2019/02/25/student-loan-debt-statistics-2019/?sh=74a09345133f" data-show-preview="true">student debt</a>.</p><span class="MOD3"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">Colonial America produced nine colleges that still operate: Harvard University (1636), the College of William & Mary (1693), Yale University (1701), Princeton University (1746), Columbia University (1754), Brown University (1764), Dartmouth College (1769), Rutgers University (1766), and the University of Pennsylvania (1740 or 1749). These universities were funded by the colony or England and usually catered to a specific religious denomination such as Congregational or Presbyterian (Puritan). Primary and secondary school systems were not yet established so “college students” were sometimes boys as young as fourteen or fifteen years old and were admitted to receive preparatory education with the assumption that they would matriculate to college-level courses.</p><span class="MOD4"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">The late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries created a college-building boom, increasing the number of schools from 25 colleges in 1800 to 241 colleges in 1860; increasing the variety of schools to include seminaries, scientific schools, military service academies, and teaching schools; and increasing the programs of study to include medicine, law, military science, and agriculture. State universities came into prominence beginning with the University of North Carolina (1795) and the University of Georgia (1801). In the spring of 1833, Oberlin Collegiate Institute (now <a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.oberlin.edu/" data-show-preview="true">Oberlin College</a>) admitted women to a “Ladies Course” program and in 1837 admitted four women to the baccalaureate program, three of whom graduated in 1841 with degrees.</p><span class="MOD5"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">By 1910, “undergraduate life” came into prominence with mascots, school colors, college hymns, intercollegiate athletics, and other traditions.</p><span class="MOD6"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">After World War II colleges and universities moved toward advanced, selective programs and expanded the base of students admitted. Research universities, junior colleges (now called community colleges), and for-profit institutions thrived.</p><span class="MOD7"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">Pell Grants were introduced in 1972 and increased the number of students for whom higher education was possible. By 1978, the financial aid focus changed from grants to loans, increasing the amount of debt a graduating college student owned. In the 1975-1976 school year 75% of students received grants, 21% received loans compared to the 1984-1985 school year in which 29% of students received grants and 66% received loans.</p><span class="MOD8"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">The major shift in higher education during this time was the transition from mass higher education, expecting to educate 40-50% of high school graduates, to universal higher education, expecting to educate all high school graduates. The shift was seen in public school enrollments which accounted for about 75% of enrollments in 1970, up from the almost equal split between public and private colleges in 1950. Community colleges and technical institutes also gained students: from 82,000 in 1950 to 1.3 million in 1980.</p><span class="MOD9"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">The 1970s also saw the shift from higher education for education’s sake to a need for pre-professional studies and a translation to work after graduation. For many, to be considered middle-class or to get a middle-class job required a college degree.</p><span class="MOD10"></span> <p class="topic-paragraph">According to the <a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-releases/2017/cb17-51.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20percentage%20rose%20to%2033.4,reached%20that%20level%20of%20education.%E2%80%9D" data-show-preview="true">US Census Bureau</a>, 33.4% of the adult US population had a bachelor’s degree or higher as of Mar. 30, 2017 (up from 28% in 2006), with 20.8% holding bachelor’s degrees, 9.3% with associates degrees, 1.5% with professional degrees, and 1.9% with doctorates. In 1940, when the US Census Bureau began collecting education data, only 4.6% of adults held bachelor’s degrees.</p><span class="MOD11"></span> <h2 id="refd1400502e60"><a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://college-education.procon.org/" data-show-preview="true">PRO</a></h2> <ul> <li>College graduates make more money.</li> <li>Jobs increasingly require college degrees.</li> <li>College graduates have more and better employment opportunities.</li> <li>College graduates are more likely to have health insurance and retirement plans.</li> <li>Young adults learn interpersonal skills in college.</li> <li>College graduates are healthier and live longer.</li> <li>College graduates have lower poverty rates.</li> <li>The children of college graduates are healthier and more prepared for school.</li> <li>College graduates are more productive as members of society.</li> <li>College graduates attract higher-paying employers to their communities.</li> <li>Learning is always worthwhile.</li> <li>College allows students to explore career options.</li> <li>People who do not go to college are more likely to be unemployed and, therefore, place undue financial strain on society, making a college degree worth it to taxpayers.</li> <li>Colleges provide networking value.</li> <li>College education has a high return as an investment.</li> <li>College exposes students to diverse people and ideas.</li> <li>Earning a college degree is a major life achievement.</li> </ul> <h2 id="refd1400502e103"><a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://college-education.procon.org/" data-show-preview="true">CON</a></h2> <ul> <li>Student loan debt is crippling for college graduates.</li> <li>Student loan debt often forces college graduates to live with their parents and delay marriage, financial independence, and other adult milestones.</li> <li>Many college graduates are employed in jobs that do not require college degrees.</li> <li>Many recent college graduates are un- or underemployed.</li> <li>Many people succeed without college degrees.</li> <li>Many students do not graduate and waste their own and their government’s money.</li> <li>Student debt overwhelms many seniors.</li> <li>Learning a trade profession is a better option than college for many young adults.</li> <li>College degrees do not guarantee learning or job preparation.</li> <li>Student debt could cause another financial crisis.</li> <li>Tuition has risen quicker than income, making college unaffordable for many.</li> <li>Too many students earning degrees has diluted the value of a bachelor’s degree.</li> <li>The total cost of going to college also includes the cost of missing opportunities to make money at a job.</li> <li>A college degree is no guarantee of workplace benefits.</li> <li>Student loan debt may not be forgiven in bankruptcy and may not have the same borrower protections as other consumer debt.</li> <li>Colleges may be indoctrinating students instead of educating them.</li> <li>College stress can lead to health problems and other negative consequences.</li> </ul> <p class="topic-paragraph"><em>This article was published on January 30, 2020, at Britannica’s <a class="external" target="_blank" rel="noopener" href="https://www.procon.org/" data-show-preview="true">ProCon.org</a>, a nonpartisan issue-information source.</em></p><span class="MOD12"></span> <span class="AM-END-OF-ARTICLE am-inline"></span></article> </div> </div> </div> <aside class="cm-rightrail d-none d-md-block ad-rail"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col"> <div class="md-loading hidden display-4 font-weight-normal"></div> <div class="text-center my-20 mb-100"> <button class="md-infinite-load-next btn btn-blue" data-value="next-page">Load More</button> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-da-320 hidden-xs"> </div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Story","templateName":"SPOTLIGHT","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":11,"pageId":10851,"pageLength":null,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/story-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"A","adLeg":"A","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Story","pageSubtype":"SPOTLIGHT","articleTemplateType":null,"gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Pro and Con: College Education | Britannica