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Those are some nice straight up statistics. To me, a more accurate breakdown would show the degree type, avg cost to obtain said degree, and average income for

by cronix 8y ago

Those are some nice straight up statistics. To me, a more accurate breakdown would show the degree type, avg cost to obtain said degree, and average income for people who hold the degree 1 year, 5 years and 10 years after graduation. Also how many people with that degree actually end up working in the field that they hold the degree for. Some fields pay, and will always pay, a lot more than others. Some fields actually have marketability with demand, and will pay more. Peoples actual choices play a larger role than most are usually willing to admit. It's easier to just say "I am x in debt and don't make enough to ever pay it off and it's the systems fault," rather than "I chose a field where there isn't high demand, or isn't worth enough in the marketplace to make enough money to pay off my obligations and have a comfortable life."

LarryDarrell 8y ago
If degree marketability is the sole point of higher education then let's stop calling them universities and start calling them what we intend them to be, trade schools. I'd hate to think that the ideal American higher education system is one where only the idle rich get to study what they want or are interested in.
- cronix 8y ago
  No it's not the sole point. Just a practical one that most consumers exercise when making a consumer decision on what to buy and the cost/benefit analysis of its practicality. It seems a lot of people don't actually do that when making one of the biggest decisions of their lives, and this part has nothing to do with the actual teachings in college. That should be determined before you even apply. A lot of people do in fact choose to go into fields where the pay is not that great. That's perfectly fine if someone is willing to accept that, but if it doesn't pay enough to meet your obligations and have enough left over for you to be comfortable and have the lifestyle you're striving for, then that's also a decision that should be accepted. It was a choice. If you buy a truck that gets 13mpg, and you get mad at how expensive gas is costing you every time it increases and how fast your vehicle goes through it, should we get mad at the truck manufacturer or the company that gave you the loan for your decision, that could have been fairly accurately determined beforehand with a bit of research and critical thinking (gas prices will rise in the future)? I pushed my daughters very hard to research what they wanted to do with their lives, and made them think hard about the upcoming automation revolution. A great number of modern day jobs are going to just go away and won't be directly replaceable. People should be aware of that and go into fields that aren't as easily automated if they want to do well in the future. We all know self driving cars/trucks are coming, and fairly soon. Would you encourage someone to go into the trucking industry today if they are young and figuring out what they want to do with the rest of their lives?

by cronix 8y ago

LarryDarrell 8y ago

If degree marketability is the sole point of higher education then let's stop calling them universities and start calling them what we intend them to be, trade schools. I'd hate to think that the ideal American higher education system is one where only the idle rich get to study what they want or are interested in.

cronix 8y ago
No it's not the sole point. Just a practical one that most consumers exercise when making a consumer decision on what to buy and the cost/benefit analysis of its practicality. It seems a lot of people don't actually do that when making one of the biggest decisions of their lives, and this part has nothing to do with the actual teachings in college. That should be determined before you even apply. A lot of people do in fact choose to go into fields where the pay is not that great. That's perfectly fine if someone is willing to accept that, but if it doesn't pay enough to meet your obligations and have enough left over for you to be comfortable and have the lifestyle you're striving for, then that's also a decision that should be accepted. It was a choice. If you buy a truck that gets 13mpg, and you get mad at how expensive gas is costing you every time it increases and how fast your vehicle goes through it, should we get mad at the truck manufacturer or the company that gave you the loan for your decision, that could have been fairly accurately determined beforehand with a bit of research and critical thinking (gas prices will rise in the future)? I pushed my daughters very hard to research what they wanted to do with their lives, and made them think hard about the upcoming automation revolution. A great number of modern day jobs are going to just go away and won't be directly replaceable. People should be aware of that and go into fields that aren't as easily automated if they want to do well in the future. We all know self driving cars/trucks are coming, and fairly soon. Would you encourage someone to go into the trucking industry today if they are young and figuring out what they want to do with the rest of their lives?