When asked “what are the benefits of going to college”, most students will immediately reply with something to the effect of “I’ll get a better job.” While it is true that the average college graduate does make a considerably larger amount of money throughout their life than the non-graduate does, this is only one of the reasons that students attend post-secondary institutions. If you’re still not completely decided on whether or not you’ll attend a university, read on and think about some of the following benefits.

As was previously mentioned, you are much more likely to land a higher-paying job with more upward mobility than if you don’t go to college. This is only half of this particular benefit, however. A college education opens up a much wider field of jobs; so not only will you be likely to make more money, but you’ll also be able to choose which professional area you’d like to enter. Certain degrees will allow you to enter almost any field that you’d like; a few of these degrees are business management, marketing, and communications. People with the skills gained in these programs are in demand in almost every company around the world.

Most people think of the professional benefits of going to college first; however, the social benefits can be just as—if not more—important. From the first day that you’re on campus, you’ll start meeting people whose values, beliefs, and backgrounds differ greatly from yours. You can learn as much from the people that you go to class with as you can from your professors (maybe not about differential equations or biochemistry, but valuable things nonetheless). Making friends and joining new social circles will teach you a great deal about yourself and the world around you.

Another of the benefits of going to college is the very diverse programs and organizations that you can become involved in. College students are highly treasured by many organizations because of their great potential, and as such, you’ll be given the chance to work with many different groups of people and have some of the best experiences of your life. Things like studying abroad, international service trips, mission work, volunteering, and getting involved in student government are fantastic ways to meet new people, learn about yourself, and gain valuable skills that you will use for the rest of your life.

What it all comes down to is one benefit that encompasses all of the above: attending college will enrich and improve your life. It’s become a professional necessity to have a college degree, yes, but beyond this, there are social and experiential benefits that no student should pass up. There are very few college graduates that regret going to college; however, there are many people who regret not going to college. If you haven’t decided on your educational future, think very carefully about your decision, and know that even though it does involve four more years of studies, attending college will be very worth it, and you won’t regret it!

As always, if you have any questions, comments or funny stories you'd like me to share about college or the blog, email me at stu@stuvu.com