A recent study by Pew Research Center shows that a goodly number of Americans believe higher education is wasteful. In fact the study shows 57 percent of Americans feel it is wasteful. These same people believe that the value for the education is lacking. About three-quarters of those asked said that college is too expensive for Americans and their financial circumstances. Despite these numbers 86 percent of the college students believe their education was worthwhile.
It seems like these might be conflicting results; however, the Pew Research Center does not agree. If one looks at the education one received the answer is fairly simple. Those that earned a degree do not feel the money was a waste, while those who dropped out after a while with no degree may feel otherwise.
The results do not mean there are not flaws within the higher education system. Some colleges are definitely better than others. You have to look at the graduation levels to determine if students are happy with the university they have chosen. A higher than average rate of drop outs generally means students are unhappy at that university. A place where students tend to graduate after six years often means they have stayed for the 4 year education, with many following a master’s degree program adding on two years more. It can also add in those who took longer to finish a four year degree program.
Tuition fees are another way to determine if a school is worthy. Harvard and other top universities have become so because they hire the best professors. They attempt to offer a fortune 500 education, if you want to call it that.
The amount of time one studies also has to do with how wasteful an education is. For those who are less serious it can mean a bit of wasted money to retake courses or to graduate. The one important thing is to be aware of how much you spend to avoid issues like expensive pay check advance choices in later years. What one does now will impact the future for that person.
