Degrees to Somewhere: a 2022 Update

One of the biggest decisions every student must make is what to do with their post-high school plans. As a second year College Access Advisor, I realize there are a variety of post-secondary pathways that students pursue. When I was in high school, the focus was on college, which made future trade school students and future soldiers feel left out. The Utah College Advising Corps (UCAC) helps high school students access and afford post-secondary education. The goal is to increase college enrollment. This year, the College Advising Corps includes technical college and military, and is expanding to more Utah high schools, aiming to be inclusive for all students. According to Georgetown University, 65% of all occupations require post-secondary education, yet many are questioning the investment.

A lot can change in a few years—from the economy to politics—which influences policy, ideas, and decisions in higher education. On a federal level, the Biden administration strives to make college more affordable, though it hit a few bumps on the road with Congress. When President Biden was elected, his plans to improve higher education affordability included cancelling student debt, eliminating tuition for two years, doubling the Pell grant, and ensuring free college for families making under $125,000 a year. His campaign website mentioned he will, “strengthen college as the reliable pathway to the middle class, not an investment that provides limited returns and leaves graduates with mountains of debt they can’t afford”. The tuition free community college was originally included in the Build Back Better plan, but it was cut during negotiations with Congress. On the bright side, several states offer the “Promise” program, which provides the first two years of tuition for low-income students. Many are last dollar scholarships, covering the remaining balance after federal and state aid. In 2021, through the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, the American Rescue Plan provided billions of dollars to community colleges, some technical colleges, and institutions that serve (predominantly) racial minorities. According to the 2022 White House Statement, thousands of colleges use this fund to discharge unpaid balances, provide emergency grants, and stop transcript withholding. As for cancelling student debt, Biden has cancelled more than $25 billion of student loans through the Borrower Defense To Repayment, Public Service Loan Forgiveness, and Permanent Disability programs (Friedman). Whether more student loans are cleared depends on Congress. Many progressives side with the President with hopes to clear additional student debt.

On the conservative side of politics, at a state level, Utah governor Spencer Cox and his Republican counterparts are primarily focused on education related to job training. In his 2021 State of the State address, he mentioned, “I have proposed significant increases in job training, up-skilling and more money for our trade and technical educational institutions. We must overcome once and for all this terrible idea that every child needs a bachelor’s degree to be successful. It’s bad for our kids and it’s bad for our economy. Helping our children — and adults — find the pathway that is right for them will strengthen families and our economy.” Though I don’t think completing a college education hurts the economy, I agree with him that there are many paths to career success. Many jobs require education and skills. So far, Governor Cox is prioritizing K-12 programs in the state budget, but that doesn’t mean he’s straying away from post-secondary schools. Last year, he signed House Bill 328, the Adult Learners Grant Program. It provided $1 million to help nontraditional students who have some college credit but haven’t completed their degrees. Governor Cox also signed Senate Bill 136 which replaced the Regent’s Scholarship with the Opportunity Scholarship and expanded the availability and eligibility for technical college scholarships. The passed bills may be wins for nontraditional students, high school academic achievers, and future trade school students. However, is every field of study valuable?

Whether a liberal arts degree is worth it depends on perspective. Critics of college point out some degree majors, such as history and arts, have limited job opportunities and low salaries. Every student has the right to study the fields that they are passionate about, but there are not a lot of jobs within the arts field. However, a liberal arts degree teaches soft skills like creativity, communication, and critical thinking, which are useful for the workforce. In his book, In Defense of a Liberal Education, Fareed Zakaria writes, “whatever you do in life, the ability to write clearly, cleanly, and reasonably quickly will prove to be an invaluable skill” (2015). To be a better communicator, you must read and write a lot, as well as knowing about several subjects, from history to economics. Though a few art majors reach celebrity status, many liberal arts degree holders move on to professional sales. I’m not totally against the arts. In high school, I was a smart kid involved in the performing arts, but I was realistic about my future. I love the creative expression, but I believe media companies are very competitive industries. Soft skills can fit a variety of job fields, but liberal arts graduates need to have potential and possibly a hard skill to stand out in the applicant pool.   

Employees need to be educated and skilled to make it in today’s workforce, whether it’s free or not. In the beginning of the school year, I met with a stubborn student who just wanted to work. Fortunately, they were technically skilled. When I suggested a local trade school’s competency-based certificate program they can pass to make their resume look better, they answered, “I would rather learn it myself then spend a grand to do it.” In this Information Age, there are so many subjects to learn through the Internet, from Khan Academy to YouTube. Even books from local libraries have evolved to e-books and audiobooks thanks to technology. There are many 101 courses in Massive Open Online Courses, where students can earn microcredits for free. Certificate programs show mastery of skills, and college degrees improve employment prospects, though both may be costly.

Affordability of a college is a common concern of prospective college students and families. In a 2022 study by The Princeton Review, 39% of students and parents were concerned about the “level of debt I (my child) will take on to pay for the degree.”.80% of survey respondents mentioned financial aid would be “Very” (28%) or “Extremely” (52%) necessary to afford college. Many students I’ve worked with fear taking on student loan debt. Even from someone growing up in a low-income household, college is viewed as a financial risk; sacrificing time and money from working full-time to work on a degree that can open doors. Yes, there are some heavy labor jobs that pay more than others requiring a college degree, like social work and teaching. Yet is that really a career? Jobs that just require a high school diploma require few skills, typically low wage and part-time. The most low-paying industries are fast-food and retail. High school students who work part-time jobs learn about responsibility and hard work, but with more education, there are more job opportunities. If you consider the cost of college and the instant gratification of getting paid, it’s the common reason why some want to work after high school. Even if a student enrolls in college, they face financial issues whether they complete their degree or not.

Though many students interested in college enroll in one; according to Educational Data (2021), only 25% of freshmen complete their degrees in four years. Many factors determine student retention, most students drop out of college because of financial issues. To increase student retention, university orientation and first year programs make a big difference. Many of them offer tutoring, mentoring, and scholarships for their members. In a 2022 Collegis Education article, student persistence and retention depend on motivation, social connections, and finances (Ericksen). This article mentions eight factors, that I summed it up to the basics. From many articles I’ve read on retention, student success and college completion, those three were the most common factors. Motivation is up to the student. Social connections include first year/orientation programs, faculty, and friends. Finances is tricky because it depends on the cost of attendance, student income, and financial aid.

Although tuition and student loan debt are increasing, there are a variety of ways to afford a university education. It depends on several factors whether a student graduates with or without debt, specifically FAFSA, scholarships, and college choice. Many students receive aid through Free Application for Federal Student Aid through Pell grants, work study, and federal loans, which have lower interest rates than private loans. Universities award merit scholarships for academic achievers, sports scholarships for athletes, and needs-based scholarships for those from low-income households. Private scholarships are awarded based on academics, talent, need, and diversity. Community colleges and trade schools are less expensive compared to big universities. With so many choices and features, students need to consider the pros and cons of each post-secondary option.   

In the end, it’s up to the student to decide their post-high school pathway. Educators and parents can inform them all the options. The student makes that choice. Many high school seniors I’ve worked with believe higher education in general is important and will give them a step up on the job market. Knowledge is essential to progress in the workforce. Learning is an advantage to create a career, rather than just having a job.

Works Cited

Carnevale, Anthony P, et al. “Recovery: Job Growth and Education Requirements Through 2020.” Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce, Georgetown University, June 2013, https://1gyhoq479ufd3yna29x7ubjn-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Recovery2020.FR_.Web_.pdf.

“2021 State Of The State: Full Text Of Gov. Spencer Cox's Address.” KUER 90.1, KUER News, 21 Jan. 2021, https://www.kuer.org/news/2021-01-21/2021-state-of-the-state-gov-spencer-cox.

“FACT SHEET: Department of Education Announces State-by-State American Rescue Plan Funding for Colleges and Universities.” White House, 7 Mar. 2022, https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2022/03/07/fact-sheet-department-of-education-announces-state-by-state-american-rescue-plan-funding-for-colleges-and-universities/#:~:text=The%20American%20Rescue%20Plan%20provided,Controlled%20Colleges%20and%20Universities%20(TCCUs).

“Plan for Education beyond High School: Joe Biden.” Joe Biden for President: Official Campaign Website, 3 Aug. 2020, https://joebiden.com/beyondhs/.

Friedman, Zack. “Biden Has Canceled $25 Billion of Student Loans, but student loan forgiveness still eludes borrowers.” Forbes. Jun 3, 2022.             https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2022/06/03/biden-has-canceled-25-billion-of-student-loans-but-student-loan-forgiveness-still-eludes-borrowers/?sh=62d9c9cf7250 

Zakaria, Fareed. In Defense of a Liberal Education. Print, W. W. Norton and Company, 2016.

The Princeton Review. 2022 College Hopes & Worries Survey Report. https://www.princetonreview.com/college-rankings/college-hopes-worries

Hanson, Melanie. College Graduation Statistics. Education Data Initiative. https://educationdata.org/number-of-college-graduates#:~:text=Report%20Highlights.,graduation%20rate%20is%2046%25%3B%20

Ericksen, Kristina. “8 Overlooked Factors Affecting Student Persistence and Retention” Collegis Education. May 26, 2022.                                                       https://collegiseducation.com/news/programs-and-course-content/student-persistence-and-retention/