Could a bachelor’s degree give you an edge in today’s competitive job market? Maybe more than you think. In fact, only about 38% of adults over the age of 25 have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
In today's rapidly evolving job market, the debate surrounding the necessity of a college degree continues to intensify. With the rise of alternative education paths and the increasing costs of higher education, some question whether investing time and money into a college degree is truly worth it. Many adults considering a degree are students who started college years prior but had to take a break when varying life commitments got in the way. If you’ve already achieved some professional success without a bachelor’s degree, it can be challenging to determine whether finishing what you started in the classroom would make a difference.
However, the benefits of going to college extend much further than many people realize. Obtaining a bachelor’s degree can influence everything from your earning potential to your personal health. A recent survey reports that 54% of college graduates "strongly agree" their education was worth the cost, while just 4% felt strongly it was not.
Read on to learn more about how acquiring a degree can affect your personal and professional life.
The value of a bachelor's degree can be measured in various ways, including earning potential, job opportunities, and personal growth. However, it's essential to remember that the worth of a degree is not strictly monetary. The skills, experiences, and relationships gained during a college journey often have added or unexpected benefits.
Join us as we dig into college outcomes and explore the elements that influence the true value of a degree.
A college degree opens doors to a broader range of career opportunities and can greatly impact job security. Employers often prioritize candidates with higher education qualifications when making hiring decisions. In fact, a degree often acts as a gateway to professions that require specialized knowledge and skills. This is especially important at a time when there are now fewer job openings per applicant, making the market incredibly competitive.
Additionally, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the unemployment rate for high school graduates was nearly 2x higher than that of college graduates. College graduates are also statistically more likely to climb the socioeconomic ladder. That means young adults who’ve earned a degree are significantly more likely to be near the upper end of the income distribution than those from similar backgrounds who only earned a high school diploma.
Not only are adults with bachelor’s degrees more likely to find work, they’re also more likely to make a sustainable living. One of the most significant benefits of a college degree is increased earning potential.
BLS cites that bachelor’s degree holders earn about 66% more than those without one. The earnings gap between high school graduates and bachelor's degree holders continues to widen with the rising costs of living. According to current poverty rates by education, just 4% of those with a bachelor’s degree live in poverty, versus 13% of high school graduates.
Despite recent challenges in the job market, earning a bachelor’s degree continues to provide a considerable advantage in both employment stability and lifetime earnings. This enduring value highlights the powerful, long-term financial impact of pursuing higher education.
Higher education also plays a key role in shaping overall economic conditions — substantially boosting economic productivity and positively impacting society as a whole. College-educated workers earn significantly more, helping to drive wider economic benefits, as greater earnings and employment lead to increased economic output and higher living standards for all. This is largely due to the fact that a more educated workforce translates to higher tax payments at the local, state, and federal levels.
The community-wide impact of a college education expands even further. The U.S. Census Bureau and AmeriCorps reports a large civic engagement gap by education level. Among adults ages 25 and older, 37% of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher reported volunteering in their communities — more than double the 15% reported by those with only a high school diploma. Additionally, in the most recent national election, about 75% of bachelor’s degree holders voted, compared to only 52% of high school graduates.
Most strikingly, compared with individuals whose highest degree is a high school diploma, bachelor’s degree holders are nearly 5x less likely to be imprisoned — highlighting the considerable impact higher education has on the health of our society.
One substantial, perhaps unexpected, benefit of earning a higher education: improved health.
Higher levels of education are strongly associated with healthier attitudes, behaviors, and choices — directly linked to the fact that educational programs develop skills, outlooks, and thought patterns that lead to healthier decision-making throughout life.
The CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics reports that the annual mortality rate among U.S. adults without a college degree is 100% higher (yes, you read that right — approximately 700 deaths per 100,000 vs. 350 deaths per 100,000) than those with at least a bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, the CDC finds that Americans with college degrees live an average of nine years longer than those without one — a gap that persists across every major demographic subgroup including age, gender, and race.
In fact, the CDC reports that 63% of adults age 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree met the federal guidelines for weekly physical activity (2.5 hours of moderate or 1.25 hours of vigorous aerobic activity). In contrast, of adults whose highest level of education is a high school diploma, just 39% met these guidelines. What’s more, children whose parents have lower levels of education are much more likely to experience obesity than those whose parents completed college.
When it comes to education and related health, some of the numbers are staggering. Adults ages 45 to 64 with less than a college education are about 70% more likely to experience a major cardiovascular event, particularly a heart attack, compared to those who earned a college degree — and this remains consistent for both men and women across age and racial groups.
College is a platform where you can acquire a diverse set of skills. These skills can range from technical knowledge in your major to soft skills like communication, teamwork, and critical thinking. Oftentimes, these skills are transferable allowing you to obtain a job outside of the roles common in your major. College also provides students with access to career development resources such as resume writing, interview support, internship opportunities, and others that enhance your professional skill set.
A recent NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers) survey found that more than 70% of employers consider transferable skills such as written communication, teamwork, initiative, a strong work ethic, and technical proficiency to be as important as job-specific technical skills when reviewing resumes. This highlights how both the hard and soft skills developed in college are instrumental in helping graduates not only find work in their chosen fields but also excel in a wide variety of industries.
As the old saying goes, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” College provides an environment where you can build a professional network. The relationships you form with classmates, professors, and alumni can lead to future job opportunities and career advancement.
As you enter the job market, having a strong professional network can help you get in front of the right people early on in the application process, increasing your chances of landing the job. In fact, 70-80% of all available jobs are filled through employee referrals, social media recruiting, and personal networks — including connections made through college alumni networks — helping graduates access exclusive job opportunities not typically found on public job boards, or to get a foot in the door at a highly sought-after company.
The network you cultivate in college can also provide references when your potential employer is making the final hiring decision.
New analyses highlight how transformative college can be for personal development, critical thinking, and broadening perspectives, especially through intentional efforts to foster engagement with diverse cultures, concepts, and experiences.
Attending college provides a distinct and illuminating environment that fosters personal growth and maturity. This educational setting can expose you to new ideas, people from all walks of life, and fresh, unique experiences that challenge assumptions and deepen your understanding of life — serving to expand your perspective and ultimately shape your worldview in a profound way.
Employers value a college degree not just for the knowledge it signifies but also for the skills and attributes it represents. Here are a few reasons why a college degree is important to employers:
Is a college degree the only pathway to success? Of course not. "Success" is entirely subjective. However, a college degree is often required today simply to apply for jobs in many industries. There are always exceptions, and no single path is the same, but having a college degree can certainly benefit your life.
We've shown the value of a bachelor's degree when it comes to lifetime earnings, unemployment rates, and the like. It's not debatable. Of course, a degree doesn't guarantee anything for an individual. You must still land the job, show up, and perform at the expected level to succeed.
While weighing your decision to pursue higher education, here are a few considerations:
Having a degree does not guarantee success — it simply makes the possibilities that much easier to turn into reality.
As you consider the numerous benefits of completing your bachelor’s degree, ask yourself, “Is a college education worth it to me?” You may find yourself inching closer and closer to giving higher education another shot. But deciding to make the commitment is just the first step on your journey.
While there are many decisions you’ll have to make, which college to attend might be the most impactful. As you research, you may find the flexible learning options, real-world curriculum, and student-centric philosophy of UMass Global aligned with your goals. Learn more about how we’re built for students just like you.
At UMass Global, we understand the value of a college education and strive to make it accessible to all students. We offer a variety of financial aid and scholarship options that can make our programs more affordable. With a variety of online bachelor's designed to prepare students for success in today's competitive job market, we’re here to help turn your career aspirations into a reality. Request more information about our online degrees or apply today.
UMass Global offers a wide variety of degree programs for adult learners. Explore your options and find a degree that fits you.
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