In October of 2024, 62.8 % of high school graduates were enrolled in colleges or universities. This was slightly up from the previous year of 2023, which saw 61.4 % of graduates enrolled. Although the number of college attendees remains high, the growing competitive climate of college admissions has made many question its worth. Prestigious schools, which many students today find difficult to get accepted into, were much more attainable about 30 years ago. For example, Johns Hopkins University has seen a drop in acceptance from 53% to 7%, and, similarly, the University of Michigan has dropped from 52% to 18%. Colleges once considered ‘safety’ or ‘target’ schools are increasingly becoming ‘reach’ schools, leading students to question whether attending college is worthwhile at all. As traditional admissions expectations shift, so too does the national conversation about what college is really worth—and for whom.
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Pros of Attending College
- Higher Valued Career Prospects
Jobs in respected industries such as IT, Medicine, and Business require at least one college degree, if not multiple. Most engineers today have both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in a specified engineering field or computer science. Furthermore, most doctoral careers require a minimum of 10 years in college. Students who want to strive for these kinds of careers and success may have to attend college.
Students are not only attracted to the feeling of accomplishment that comes with these careers, but the monetary benefits as well. Indeed, a global online employment marketplace, estimates that employees with only a high school diploma could make about $712 a week. Moreover, employees with a bachelor’s degree may achieve weekly earnings ranging in the thousands. Employees who did not attend college may eventually work their way up to higher-earning positions. However, their overall lifetime earnings may still be lower than those of college graduates due to starting at a lower salary.
- Experience of Attending College
Although it is still technically school, the atmosphere of college and the different experiences and lifestyle that come with it are unmatched. Teenagers can step into adulthood, fend for themselves, and achieve independence away from their parents. Moreover, they can find “their people” amidst a crowd of new faces and attend social functions like parties and sports events. The alternative to attending college, finding employment right after high school, could be void of these fun experiences.
Cons of Attending College
- Large Monetary Investment
It is no secret that college is expensive, and the issue of money could be a big deterrent to attending college. Even with loans, financial aid, and scholarships in the picture, college remains exceptionally expensive. In-state tuition could be in the $10,000 range, while out-of-state tuition may cost more than $80,000 for some schools. These high prices have put many American graduates in debt even years after graduating, and can scare many students away from college. They can be even more impactful for students coming from low-income backgrounds.
- More Time in School
By the time most students can attend college, they would have been in the public school system for about 13 years. This would have included at least 40 hours per week at school for 9 months out of each year. In other words, for most kids and teenagers in America, school makes up most of their lives. This doesn’t mean just academics for many students, but can include extracurriculars like sports and clubs. Therefore, spending additional years in school may not seem very appealing. College could mean spending hours on end in classrooms, listening to lectures, studying for tests, and endless piles of homework. This could be a very unattractive vision for already burnt-out students.
- Not Always a Job Guaranteed
Not only is the college atmosphere itself very competitive, but what comes after can be competitive as well. Recent graduates are entering into an increasingly competitive job market, finding very few employment opportunities. The unemployment rate only rose from about 4% for 2024 graduates to about 6% for those of 2025. Graduates are also facing a new phenomenon dubbed “underemployment,” which is on the rise. This is where tense competition forces graduates to apply for jobs that don’t align with their degree. For example, a psychology major applies for social media manager positions, and a business major works as a receptionist. Situations like these can deter students from attending college as they question whether it will lead to a successful career.
In conclusion, the value of attending college or pursuing higher education past high school is an issue still up for debate. Some are attracted to the possibility of a successful career, while others feel it’s not worth it for a career not guaranteed. On the one hand, college may seem, to some, like an unmatched experience filled with new friends, events, and communities. On the other hand, to others, it just seems like years of more school. Either way, the value of attending college continues to be a contentious issue that will hopefully improve with time.
Read more articles relevant to higher education and workforce development on our Zealousness blog Higher Education: College & University Archives – iN Education Inc..
References
- McCorvey, J.J., and Maya Huter. “New College Grads Face a Tougher Job Market — Again.” NBC News, 5 May 2025, www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/new-college-grads-face-tougher-job-market-rcna204249.
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. “61.4 Percent of Recent High School Graduates Enrolled in College in October 2023.” Bureau of Labor Statistics, 10 May 2024, www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2024/61-4-percent-of-recent-high-school-graduates-enrolled-in-college-in-october-2023.htm.
- “College Enrollment and Work Activity of Recent High School and College Graduates Summary.” Bls.gov, 27 Apr. 2021, www.bls.gov/news.release/hsgec.nr0.htm.
- Weil, Bettina. “College Admission Rates…30 Years Ago! | Weil College Advising.” Weil College Advising, 19 Nov. 2020, weilcollegeadvising.com/admission-rates-30-years-ago/.
