By: Ashlee Hall
For many students who are planning out their future, they wonder if college will set them up for success. There are a lot of things to consider when making this decision. For example, you have to think about the current job market, what career field you want to go into and if you would be able to succeed while in college. For automotive interior repair technician, Luke Scherer, he knew that to succeed in his career field after high school, a college degree was not necessary. Scherer works for Innerlast, an automotive interior repair company based out of Birmingham, Al.
“I knew when graduating that going to college would only delay the start of my career. For me personally, I did not need to go to college to learn my trade.”
Post Grad Employment
In the past few years there has been a trend where college graduates are having a harder time finding jobs after graduation. According to the employment site Monster, about 45% of 2020 graduates are still looking for a job. This leaves many wondering if getting a degree is worth it.
Another study by the Pew Research Center, about 31% of college grads are still looking for employment.
Somer Schauer is a University of Montevallo 2019 graduate who had a hard time finding a job after graduation. “There were jobs out there but since my degree was so specific it was hard to find a job where I could put it to use” says Schauer. She graduated with a Retail Merchandising degree and now works for the Shelby County Tax Commission. When looking for a job she found that having a degree is what helped her find a job despite her career not being related to her major. “My degree helped me get the job but working all throughout college is what prepared me for it”, says Schauer.
Pros & Cons
Despite a tough job market overall, there are benefits to having a degree, just as well there are benefits to going straight into the work force after high school.
According to Association of Public & Land Grant Universities, bachelor degree holders earn around $32,000 more than someone with just a high school diploma. In addition, there is a 3.5x lower poverty rate for those with a college degree rather than just a high school diploma.
Those statistics make getting a college degree seem more tempting but there are still pros to going straight to work. Praxis says that just some of the benefits of not having a degree include avoiding loan debt, you can begin investing sooner and having more work experience.
No matter which way you decide to go, setting goals and working hard is sure to get you there.
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