Do You Need To Go To College?

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Can You Get Ahead Without A College Degree?

“So, where did you get your undergrad?” This was the question a colleague asked me upon starting my new role as an Enterprise Systems Engineer about a year ago. Feeling a bit self conscious, and embarrassed… I replied, “I actually don’t have degree.  I don’t have a degree in anything” 

I know that many people discuss the importance of college and continuing education. The US Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) state those with a bachelor’s degree was around $55,000 a year, and this is about 59 percent higher than the earnings of those who completed high school, at about $35,000 per year.

Another study claimed the weekly earnings of a High School graduate can earn about $751 per week. Those with a bachelor’s degree, this jumps to approximately $1,385 per week. Check this, those with an advanced degree this rises too $1,630 in weekly income. Dude! That’s 117% increase in what you could earn! 

The Student Debt Crisis

While I am an advocate of going to college, getting an education, and being an active member contributing to society. I also don’t think anyone should finish school with $40k, $60k, $100k or more in student debt.  This Blows!  There is a wicked problem with the ever-growing student debt crisis. Yes, I did say “crisis”. Forbes reported that total US student debt was about $1.52 trillion and that 44.2 million people owed debt, with an average individual student debt at about $38,000! Ugh… makes me sick.  This will addressed in a separate post, for sure.

We All Have Our Unique Plan

Back to my story… I had been an average student in school. I excelled at art and graphic communications classes, but if we are looking at any standard required classes, I was a solid B & C student. However, I didn’t really apply myself either. Let’s be real. At that time, all I wanted to do was play guitar and Nintendo. Probably a typical high school kid in 1989-90.   I new I wasn’t an academic type of student, and a 4-year college wasn’t for me.  I just didn’t want to go through another 4 years of school and “book learning” lol. 

I needed to be hands-on. I wanted to accelerate my skills (whatever that was), and NOT be in a job I hated.  My dad wasn’t happy with his gig, at the time. He busted his ass to provide for me as a single dad.  However, he always mentioned how he didn’t like his job. I witnessed the toll this took on him, and new I wanted to like what I did

Continue to Learn

Before attending a two year program at St. Paul Technical Collage, Now called St. Paul College. I did take all four Graphics Arts programs offered in High School, I also worked as a school service aide (while not receiving school credit) in the Graphic Arts Department. I did dig this gig, and really liked it. I would stay after school and work on projects just for fun. It was so fun to learn, and be creative. During my senior year of high school, I was enrolled in a Graphic Arts vocational program. While attending high school classes the first two periods, I’d then drive to 916 Vocational School, Now part of the Century College campus. 

While looking at Graphic Arts, and Communication vocational education options… I explored ones locally based in the Twin Cities of St. Paul and Minneapolis area, cuz I was absolutely terrified of moving away from home. Yeah, I’m one of those kids.  Dude…  I told you I was a late boomer. I visited and entertained going to U of W Stout, but chickened out.  They had an amazing program at the time.

Continue Reading on Heavy Metal Money🤘

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