Should I Go Back to School and Finish My Degree? Part Two

Last Updated July 16, 2019

If you missed part one discussing common concerns and obstacles for returning to college, you can read it here. In part two, we will take a look at the benefits of finishing your degree.

A college education is a core part of the career path of many Americans today. While there are exceptions, for the vast majority of Americans, a college education represents the strongest investment made for their career success and continued opportunity in life.

While it’s easy to see the intellectual benefit of a college degree, for some people, it may be worth considering the practical benefits as well. This article highlights some of the career benefits you may see from obtaining a bachelor’s degree.

Financial Benefits

There’s no mistaking it: The level of university education you pursue is often directly linked to career salary. This isn’t to say that all careers reward graduates with the same financial success — there is a significant disparity between the salaries of teachers and businessmen, for example — but when compared to what an employee with only a high school diploma would earn, all careers offer financial rewards for those with a college degree.

In a recent report by the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association, a national survey found that the average salary a college graduate earns is $20,000 higher than high school graduates, at $50,000 versus $30,000 respectively. Over an entire career, this income difference can add up to significant financial gains for the college graduate and easily pay for the cost of education.

Career Opportunities

Beyond the financial component, one key benefit to earning a degree is that degrees may lead to more job opportunities. A college degree prepares professionals to think, analyze and approach problems critically. These skills tend to be useful in most professions, and this is part of the reason why so many careers list a bachelor’s degree as a basic requirement. You may find yourself in a career that you hadn’t anticipated when you chose your degree, but you can rest assured that the degree will be an important requirement.

Job Security

When we think about job security, our first thought may not be that those with certain degrees are more likely to keep their jobs. But in fact, this is exactly the case. If an employer needs to downsize, data shows that the first people who will be cut are those who only have a high school diploma. In a way, this is understandable: An employer naturally wants to keep staff with the highest skills and qualifications possible. Unfortunately for those without a degree, this often means having to find another job.

Degrees are also linked to higher job satisfaction. This is the result to all of the above points: When employees receive a higher salary, more opportunities and greater job security than those without a degree, they tend to feel better about their jobs and their lives as a whole. A degree may even be the key to a job that you find fascinating and personally fulfilling.

Online Education at Villanova

Tackling the barriers to education that often make returning to college so difficult, Villanova University excels in offering 100% online programs that can work with the schedules and life commitments of busy adults. From offering a full range of programs, to incorporating time-management methodologies and software solutions, Villanova strives to present an atmosphere that enables adult students to finish their degrees remotely and maintain a healthy work/life balance.