Going back to school can be intimidating when you are a working adult. Not only is it an investment of your time, but it also costs quite a bit of money. Without a degree, however, your earning potential is greatly limited. If you’re considering going back to school, here are five reasons why you should.
1. Increase Your Earning Potential
According to Business Insider, college graduates earn between 38-167% more income than those without a degree, depending on the state. Even though tuition is at a record high, having a degree will still earn you more money in the long run. The most expensive states, such as California, New York, and Washington D.C., have over a 100% difference in earnings when it comes to employees that have degrees.
2. Get Your Degree Online
Advances in technology have made it extremely easy to go back to school. With online courses, you can go back to school with a schedule that works for you. As a matter of fact, many Grand Canyon University Nursing professionals have gotten their degrees completely online. This makes it possible to go back to school and get a high-paying degree, even if you have a family or work full time. A wider variety of degrees are being offered online because most adults are forgoing an actual campus.
3. Set an Example
It’s hard to teach your children the importance of education if you don’t have a degree yourself. Even though it can be difficult to go back to school when you have children, it’s also important to set an example. This is especially true when you have your children. Believe it or not, your passion and dedication for achieving your goals can rub off on your kiddos.
If you get your education out of the way when your children are younger, you’ll have more time to offer them a better future. Many parents may feel guilty when they decide to go back to school because they are not spending as much time with their children. In the grand scheme of things, however, it’s a short time that you will be investing in a better future for yourself and your family.
4. Switch Careers
Many people decide to go back to school when they realize that they’d like to change their career path, but they don’t have the skills necessary for the career they would like to go into. Making a living wage with an entry-level customer service job is hard. In time, many of those who decided to work right out of high school will realize that in order to get a better job, they’re going to need a degree. The Grand Canyon University nursing program, for example, can give you the skills necessary to switch to a high-paying, in-demand field that can help support your family. It’s better to invest time and money into your education so that you can get into the field you want to than to stay stuck at a dead-end job.
5. Become More Qualified
Perhaps you actually don’t want to switch careers entirely, but you know you’ll never get a promotion without a degree. Employers still prefer to hire job applicants who have a degree. In fact, according to GoodCall, 41% of employers hire college graduates to fill positions formerly held by high-school graduates. Having a degree never goes out of style. In fact, it’s only gotten more desirable in the last 50 years. Having a college degree will put you that much more ahead of the competition.
When it comes to going back to school as an adult it can seem like an overwhelming choice. However, if you take it one step at a time, you’ll be done before you know it. Chances are, you’re not going to regret taking the time to get a degree when you see your income increase by 40% because of that piece of paper.