Talk to Clark 1-4pm ET: (877) 87-CLARK or (404) 872-0750
advertisement
Looking for something on the site? Search for it here! Also see Clark's Greatest Hits
Sep 22, 2008 -- Census Bureau: College is worth the cost!
But new data from the Census Bureau presents another story. The latest figures show that having a college degree will net you an average of 67% more money over your lifetime vs. having just a high-school education.
Of course, there are always some high-school dropouts who wind up being multimillionaires -- they're more the exception than the rule.
Clark was distressed by one factoid from the Census Bureau report: Having a master's degree does not boost income the way it used to. The additional pay is only 20% beyond a bachelor's degree.
People with advanced degrees are seeing their income shrink after inflation over the last couple of years. This is because of natural economic cycles; it's not a conspiracy where one political party has made it tougher on people! Meanwhile, Clark is also worried about the scapegoating of free markets and free trade.
There's no question that an education is worth it. But there's something going on beyond just money. Education gives you options for a fulfilling career.
Unfortunately, Clark won't be able to answer any questions submitted via commenting. If you have a question, please try posting it to our message boards.
Avg. rating: N/A
What others are saying
Determining a College Payment Plan
Clark, I have enjoyed reading your posts and all of the comments. I'd like to offer up a resource to your readers/listeners. The company i work for, SimpleTuition.com, has an online resource center that is full of relevant and useful articles/blogs about paying for and preparing for college. Check us out at www.SimpleTuition.com
about College
How can people say "If you like computers and like air conditioned enviroments, as I do, go to college. It helps" Do this person know that you can study to have a license by going to College too?! Do you think Electricians that know what they are doing don't go to College? you don't learn to be an Electrician by heart! or be in a cosntruction business because you know this by looking someone else! you learn this thing with education as well. Any kind of education HELPS! any kind! doesn't matter what it is! thanks
College
Some college is better than none. I know this by personal experience. Yes, you can succeed without college but you must have a trade/skill that everybody needs. Plumbers can make alot of money and so can Electricians. However, not everybody is cut out for that kind of work. If you like computers and like air conditioned enviroments, as I do, go to college. It helps.
What does the Census Bureau KNow?
I received the American Community Survey, it asks many private questions, at first i thought it was a fraud, i started filling it out, but then the questionanire began to ask me many questions, not even my relatives will and should know. I wonder what Clark's thoughts on the ACS. I searched on the web, and people have complaints on the way the sruveys are forced to be completed, so is datum accurate?
Census Bureau's business?
What does the Constitutional role of the census have to do with who has what level of education?
I agree with Jerry's statement, college has been seen as the only way to succeed. I work for a lot of old timers (no offense), but these people ran successful businesses with out a PhD. Besides how many grads go on to work in the field they studied in college anyway?
College--Is it worth it??
I would disagree that college is worth the cost in MOST cases. There's nothing wrong with educating and learning, but the general idea that a 4-year college degree is the only way to succeed that has been pushed down our throats for so long is the biggest travesty for American students in the last 30 years.
