Image via Flickr by NazarethCollege
You probably never realized it when you were sitting in class, but being in college is great. Once you leave the lecture halls, you’re left to find a job, which isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Whether you took a break from the college life or you finished your degree and headed out into the “real world,” you might want to head back. Consider these reasons you should go back to college.
College Can Put Your Social Life Back in Order
Do you even remember when you last talked to someone you either didn’t live with or work with directly? When you head back to college, you suddenly have ample opportunities to meet new people and attend incredible (and often free) events. And you don’t even have to get mixed up with crazy drunk-fests to have fun at college (unless, you know, that’s your thing).
Other fun activities include joining clubs, attending group fitness classes, going to dances or musical performances, and playing intramural sports. And the best part is that most of these social events are hosted on campus free to students!
But it’s not all about going to parties and having fun. College can also be a valuable networking tool to help you land high-paying jobs while you’re in classes and once you graduate.
You Can Boost Your Career on Your Own Time
With more than seven million students taking online classes, going to school on your own time to further your career is easier than ever. For instance, if you’re looking to improve your criminal justice career, you could enroll in an online criminal justice master’s degree program so you can pursue your education without giving up the job you already have. However, when you head to a traditional college campus, you might have to quit your job to pursue your dreams since many required classes run during the work day.
Learning in an online environment provides all of the benefits of on-campus courses, such as lectures, discussion, videos, and interactive assignments, except for all of it can be completed from home. As a result, you can continue to work at your current job, while working towards advancing your career on your own time. For example, if you enroll in the Master of Social Work program online, you can become eligible for professional licensure without having to take time off work to earn your degree. This particular program also requires you to take an internship, although you can skip sometimes skip this portion if you are already working in the field.
A Higher Degree has Lots of Job Perks
The more time you spend in school, the more money you’ll make on average. According to BLS.gov, this is what the average person makes with each degree per week:
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High School Diploma: $652
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Associate’s Degree: $785
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Bachelor’s Degree: $1,066
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Master’s Degree: $1,300
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Doctoral Degree: $1,624
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Professional Degree: $1,735
Not only can getting a more advanced degree boost your pay, but it can also lead to a promotion, help you change career fields, and give you a competitive edge in the job market. Plus, you’re at a lower risk of unemployment with a higher degree. BLS.gov says that in 2013, the average unemployment rate for someone with a high school diploma was 7.5 percent. For people with a bachelor’s degree and higher, that number was down to 3.7 percent.
It Will Improve Your Life
Seriously. Research shows that going to college will improve your quality of life. Eighty-one percent of people say that higher education has helped boost their personal sense of accomplishment, and another 75 percent say that college has had a positive impact on their lives. Plus, if your campus offers a fitness center, you can start your journey toward a healthier lifestyle while in school.
It’s Cheaper and Easier to Travel With a School Group
The average family vacation costs $4,000. But here’s the kicker: nearly half of those families won’t travel overseas because of airfare costs. If you were to travel on a study abroad program (where you would most likely head overseas), you can expect to pay about $1,000 per week. But what if you get grants and scholarships? Yup. You can put that money toward your study abroad trip.
What if you want to go on a mini trip within the US? Many colleges host trips over spring break and other holidays so you don’t have to worry about planning or managing your vacation on your own.
Whether you’re looking to make more money in your career, shift career paths completely, or simply enjoy the benefits on campus, there are tons of reasons to head back to school. Need more reasons? Check out this list of 51 reasons to go back to school.
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