Three reasons why I attend college Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Three reasons why I attend college - Essay Example Lastly, college education helps in contributing towards the nation’s prosperity. A few people have the privilege to access a college degree because of several economic and social reasons; it is due to these three reasons that college is important. One of the most evident benefits of college education-â€Å"and one of the reasons why I attend college†- is gaining access to employment opportunities. According to a 2013 report by the College Board dubbed â€Å"Education Pays†, people with higher education levels are more likely to be employed. In the report, Baum, Ma & Payea (p. 5) note that in the year 2011 the unemployment rate for college degree holders aged between 25 years and 34 years was 7.1 percentage points less than that for high school diploma holders. Additionally, the rate of unemployment for individuals with associate degrees and individuals who attended college but lack a degree was 4.0 and 1.6 percentage points less than that for high school diploma holders, respectively Baum et al (p. 5). Although some people may argue that the leg up for recent college graduates on their lesser educated counterparts is not a particularly comely leg currently (Bruni (n.p), a comparison of the unemployment rates bet ween college degree holders and high school diploma holders clearly reveals that college graduates have an easy time in finding jobs. Another reason why college is important is it helps to gain access to higher paying jobs. In most cases, individuals who have a college degree earn more than their less educated counterparts. According to Baum et al (p. 5), the median incomes of individuals with a bachelor’s degree but who lack advanced degrees and are employed on a full time basis in 2011 was $56,500, which is $21,100 greater than the median incomes of high school diploma holders. Additionally, high school diploma holders who were working on a full time basis earned 14 percent less than