They Spent Thousands On Degrees, But Can’t Get Jobs

Columbia University School of Physics
Shiavon Chatman
September 9, 2021

It’s a popular belief that no matter who you are, you can be successful in America – especially if you go to college. But a college degree might not live up to its promises.

Many believe that getting a degree means you have proof you are qualified for a job, so nobody can discriminate against you!

But the data doesn’t lie: college educated Black people on average have less wealth than white high school dropouts! And Black grads’ incomes are going DOWN.

These days, a Bachelor’s degree is considered about as common as a high school diploma. Black students are taking on ridiculous amounts of student loans, but aren’t getting the wages necessary to pay them off! So, is college worth it?

College can expand your knowledge and worldview as well as build a social network, and some degrees do lead to jobs – it could be worth it depending on the field.

But jobs aren't waiting for all of us after graduation, so if going to college means student loan debt, doing the math is crucial.

Getting a degree could be the right move for many of us – but it’s not the only way forward. There’s no one correct way to be successful. We have to research all of our options and make the best decision for our own situation!

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