Is a college education worth the cost?

[Judas Maccabeus]

College is one of the biggest scams and the worst financial decision a young person can make if they take out a student loan.

When I talk about this topic in different settings, someone always tells me that one shouldn't study because it represents a good financial return, but rather to develop as a person. Regarding the "college experience," I've always thought this is a silly argument because my worth as a person isn't determined by having a university degree, and the experience boils down to living out the movie American Pie, which is extremely un-Christian and completely contrary to the principles God wants for our lives.

What if a person has a hearts desire to work in a field that requires the degree though? Like a doctor or teacher where they have a desire to help people in various ways. Or line my sister who wanted to be an ESL teacher to use that in the missionary work in Africa?

Doing missionary work in Africa doesn’t require a degree.

Depends on where you are going. Some limited access countries most certanly do require talent not available locally. The mssion field i served on most certanly did. No degree, no license from the ministry of Health, therefor no residence permit.

[Judas Maccabeus]

I’m not sure how having a degree makes North Africa safer.

I think you missed that part where Valerie said it was a "way in." I didn't read Valerie's message as insinuating a college degree would make her sister safer. Rather, the degree gave her sister a "legitimate" reason into the country so she could minster in the way God called her.

I have heard of other organizations using this strategy as well. Entering a country to work in a particular field and then using that opportunity to share the gospel.

The mission i served under used exactly that approach.

[JohnH]

Currently, the demand for our missionaries is greater than the supply so we haven’t bothered with countries like Australia that require degrees.

[Southerner]

NO POLITICS THREAD
Several articles popped up from different news sources citing the same poll (probably from the same AP pot of articles-journalism suffers from copycat nepotism these days). The poll said that 63% of Americans don’t think a college education is worth the cost.
Do you think college is worth it?
(Remember no politics please)

College is one of the biggest scams and the worst financial decision a young person can make if they take out a student loan.

When I talk about this topic in different settings, someone always tells me that one shouldn't study because it represents a good financial return, but rather to develop as a person. Regarding the "college experience," I've always thought this is a silly argument because my worth as a person isn't determined by having a university degree, and the experience boils down to living out the movie American Pie, which is extremely un-Christian and completely contrary to the principles God wants for our lives.

What if a person has a hearts desire to work in a field that requires the degree though? Like a doctor or teacher where they have a desire to help people in various ways. Or line my sister who wanted to be an ESL teacher to use that in the missionary work in Africa?

I think in these instances college is worthwhile....missionary work for me is not worthwhile particularly abroad.

[JohnL]

I see the need for vo-tech skills to be promoted. I think apprenticeships should be pushed too. As a society we’d function much better if we valued construction skills, electricians, HVAC skills and plumbing over jobs that focus just on theories. The scholars need to treat tech skilled people as equals. Not sure I’m making myself clear so I’m going to get more coffee.

[JohnH]

As a society we’d function much better if we valued construction skills, electricians, HVAC skills and plumbing over jobs that focus just on theories.

Considering how expensive such services are, I'd say society values them pretty highly.

[Valerie]

As a society we’d function much better if we valued construction skills, electricians, HVAC skills and plumbing over jobs that focus just on theories.

Considering how expensive such services are, I'd say society values them pretty highly.

I know what he’s saying though- it does seem even though we pay through the roof for those services they generally are not held in as high esteem-
I had a young man customer today told me he landed his career in HVAC right out of high school- again, Great option.
One can still chip away at college after that at a slow inexpensive pace if an education is still desired.

[JohnL]

As a society we’d function much better if we valued construction skills, electricians, HVAC skills and plumbing over jobs that focus just on theories.

Considering how expensive such services are, I'd say society values them pretty highly.

I know what he’s saying though- it does seem even though we pay through the roof for those services they generally are not held in as high esteem-
I had a young man customer today told me he landed his career in HVAC right out of high school- again, Great option.
One can still chip away at college after that at a slow inexpensive pace if an education is still desired.

Yep.
I’ve seen a lot of high-handed attitudes toward skilled workers from people with advanced degrees or a wealthy bank account. I’ve had to do an intervention sometimes with some of these individuals by reminding them that if they could do it themselves why hire out? The way I understand the Bible it teaches that all are called to Jesus on an equal footing.

[mike]

As a society we’d function much better if we valued construction skills, electricians, HVAC skills and plumbing over jobs that focus just on theories.

Considering how expensive such services are, I'd say society values them pretty highly.

My son says that a good auto collision technician can crack $100k a year in my area with exactly $0 spent on a college degree or even a technical school certificate. And it is very hard to find a good one. As a side benefit, it is a job highly unlikely to be eliminated by AI in the future.

[barnhart]

I see the need for vo-tech skills to be promoted. I think apprenticeships should be pushed too. As a society we’d function much better if we valued construction skills, electricians, HVAC skills and plumbing over jobs that focus just on theories. The scholars need to treat tech skilled people as equals. Not sure I’m making myself clear so I’m going to get more coffee.

I would guess if this type of job paid more than lawyers and investment bankers, there would be no need to push or promote them.