Education Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

Growing up, I heard all about the importance of going to college. It wasn’t just my folks who mentioned it; nearly every high school teacher also stressed how critical it was to earn that precious college degree. In fact, it was just assumed at my high school that we’d move on to four-year institutions once we graduated. And, while taking that “traditional” path served me very well, I’ve come to realize just how narrow a path it is—and how many more options are out there for young (and not so young) students. Not only that, I’ve come to realize just how much our society needs these folks with different educational backgrounds.

Now more than ever before, high school graduates are pushed towards some sort of post-secondary education institution, usually a four-year college or university. In Minnesota, about 70 percent of high school students immediately attend these institutions, according to the National Information Center for Higher Education Policymaking and Analysis, and there’s been a 39 percent increase in the number of bachelor’s degrees conferred in the past 15 years.

Of the students who went on to higher education, about 66 percent attended four-year colleges, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. In the 2012-2013 academic year, about 1,840,200 college students graduated with bachelor’s degrees, nearly double the number of students (1,007,000) who earned associate’s degrees.

The Princeton Review reports that the most popular fields of study at four-year colleges and universities include business administration, social sciences, health professions and education. In other words, more kids are learning how to grade papers than how to repair a toilet—and that’s causing some real workforce shortages.

A big part of the problem stems from cultural expectations. Parents now expect their children to go to college after high school—and not just college but a four-year college. All through high school, students are taught that they need a college degree to be successful. On the other hand, tech schools are looked down on.

But a look at the statistics shows a four-year degree doesn’t automatically guarantee financial success. The Economic Policy Institute reports that young college graduates face an unemployment rate of 8.5 percent and an underemployment rate of nearly 17 percent. And those popular majors? Liberal arts majors have a 9 percent unemployment rate, and social science majors are stuck with 10.3 percent unemployment, according to The Atlantic. Even graduates who land jobs spend on average anywhere from three to nine months looking for a job first, according to Money Magazine.

After finding a job, recent graduates still face hurdles. The average starting salary for someone with a bachelor’s degree is $45,500 according to Money Magazine—not much for a Minnesota graduate who owes an average of nearly $31,000 in debt, according to the Institute for College Access & Success.

On the other hand, 50 percent of students attending technical schools graduate debt-free, reports the College Board, and only 8 percent graduate with more than $30,000 in debt. That’s hardly surprising given that tuition for public two-year colleges costs about $3,300 according to the College Board, compared to $9,200 in tuition and fees for state residents at public colleges, $23,000 for out-of-state residents at public colleges, and $31,200 at private colleges, according to Collegedata.com.

Not only are community college graduates leaving college with less debt, they’re actually making more money. CNN Money reported that 30 percent of Americans with associate’s degrees now make more than those with bachelor’s degrees, while other research across several states shows that starting salaries for associate degree holders are higher than for those who have bachelor’s degrees. For example, air traffic controllers can make $113,600 a year, while registered nurses average about $65,900—not bad, for a two-year degree. (A caveat to those stats is the fact that many bachelor’s degree holders do catch up, income-wise, by mid-career.)

And it’s not like the career options for associate’s degree holders are limited to dark, dank and dangerous work. When people think of manufacturing companies, the typical image is a group of grimy workers slaving away at an assembly line a la Henry Ford. But nowadays, factories are pretty much the opposite—full of high-tech equipment and floors so clean you could eat off them.

Not only that, there are countless associate’s degrees you can earn. Don’t want a degree in welding? Community colleges like South Central College in North Mankato offer everything from farm business management to culinary arts to biology. A lot of those fields of study, like the college’s Mechatronics Engineering Technology program, have a 100 percent job placement rate after graduation. And even if you end up earning the degree but hating your job, the credits seamlessly transfer to MSU-Mankato, thanks to the new “Future Mavericks” program, which means SCC grads can finish their bachelor’s degree in only two extra years.

That’s why it’s so important to offer kids every possible chance to learn about potential careers before signing up for years of study and thousands of dollars of debt. Bring back “shop” classes to high schools. Encourage students to take advantage of internships and apprenticeships with local businesses.

If nothing else is available during the school day, stress the importance of finding a summer job. (Actually, we should encourage kids to find employment either way.) I know lots of people say students should focus on their school work, and they should, but that doesn’t mean they can’t work a few hours a week too. Not only does it teach responsibility and money management, it also gives students the chance to explore the work world and start forming opinions on things like what kind of positions fit their personality best. I got my first job at my town newspaper when I was sixteen, and it helped me make up my mind that journalism was what I wanted to pursue after graduation. On the other hand, some students might hate the job they thought they would love, and realize they need to adjust their plans.

Youth labor force participation rates have steadily declined over the past 15 years (due in no small part to the recent recession). Participation rates for youth 16-19 years old have fallen to 34 percent compared to 53 percent in 1998. If students don’t have jobs, they have less exposure to possible careers once they graduate from high school.

And don’t just encourage them to work during high school—encourage them to work during college, too. People may think I’m crazy, but I think it’s good to work and study at the same time, especially if you’re fortunate enough to land a job in your intended field. As soon as I walked into MSU-Mankato, I made a beeline for The Reporter so I could apply for a position. I was sure I wanted to be a print journalist, so the newspaper was the natural place to go. But, a year later, I added on another job at KMSU Radio, where I eventually became the news director. Lo and behold, I discovered that I enjoy radio journalism just as much as print journalism. Those jobs led the way to countless other opportunities, including fantastic scholarships, and helped me decide what to do with myself once I’d graduated.

When it comes to education, it’s not a one-size-fits-all deal. I know people who went to community colleges and are making more than I am, working at jobs they love. I know people who earned four-year degrees but are desperate for work. One of the features in this issue, Ken Wilmes, didn’t even finish school, yet he runs a multi-million dollar business. So it all comes down to what fits each person best. If we truly want to tackle the workforce shortage hitting our state, we’d do well to remember that.