With higher education costs rising since the turn of the century, some question whether a college degree has the value it once did. In a recent Gallup poll, only 36% of adults expressed confidence in higher education.
However, a quick look over the data confirms there is still great value in higher education.
The most recent reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) show that, on average, those ages 25 and older who hold a bachelor's degree continue earning just over $30,000 each year more than their counterparts who only have a high school diploma. This gap widens at an institution like Trine, where many students graduate with degrees in high-paying fields like healthcare and engineering, and many of our graduates earn above the national average in their field.
This economic impact is further magnified when you consider its impact over the 40 years or more of a typical career.
Dr. Earl D. Brooks II
College graduates also continue to enjoy higher employment rates than their peers and are more likely to hold positions that include benefits such as health insurance and a retirement plan. More than 99% of our Trine alumni are employed or in graduate school within six months of graduation.
These trends don't seem to show any signs of changing. The BLS's most recent Occupational Outlook Handbook predicts that two-thirds of the nation's 30 fastest-growing occupations through 2032 will require a bachelor's degree. A new report by the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce predicts that by 2031 only 20% of good jobs, defined as those paying at least $43,000 a year, will be available to those with education less than a bachelor's degree.
Employers also recognize the value of a college degree.
