Every fall, #WhyApply Day kicks off application season with a single question: What’s your why? If you’re still deciding whether “apply” belongs on your to-do list, take a look at what benefits a college education has to offer:
1. You’ll have more room to explore.
Not sure what you want to do with your life yet? College is the perfect place to give yourself the space to find out. Advisors and program maps help you explore different programs and pivot while keeping credits stacked towards graduation.
2. More doors open when you have the credentials.
Many careers — like nursing, teaching, and engineering — expect at least an associate or bachelor’s degree for entry. Even in fields without a hard requirement, many employers use a degree as a first screen for interviews.
3. The pay, on average, is higher after graduation.
It’s not guaranteed (your major, location, and industry matter), but across the board, people with college credentials tend to earn more over time. Higher income can also expand your choices about where and how you live!
4. You’re less likely to be unemployed.
Education doesn’t make you layoff-proof, but it generally lowers your risk and shortens job searches. When the economy shifts, having a recognized credential, (and the skills that come with it) can be a stabilizer.
5. You’ll acquire the skills employers are searching for.
Presenting to non-experts, running projects to a deadline, and giving useful feedback for problem-solving efforts become weekly reps in college. Those experiences turn into concrete skills you can bring to interviews.
6. You’ll meet lifelong mentors and build a network.
Professors, advisors, classmates, and alumni become your “text-when-you-need-advice" people. That support can lead to referrals, research spots, portfolio feedback, and the kind of connections that keep propelling you upwards years into your career.
7. Internships can turn into job offers.
College puts you close to internship pipelines. Think career fairs, alumni connections, and industry partnerships. Many students convert those internships into their first full-time roles.
8. There are resources beyond what the internet has to offer.
Career centers, tutoring and writing labs, accessibility services, libraries and databases, makerspaces, studios and labs – and professionals trained to help you use them to the best of your advantage. Did we mention that they’re typically free for students?
9. Diverse experiences will broaden your perspective.
College broadens your perspective by exposing you to ideas and lived experiences different from your own. In various classes and projects, you’ll practice weighing multiple viewpoints and evidence to build more complete solutions.
College isn’t the only route to a successful future, but for many students, it expands their options, their confidence, and their community. If you find one reason here that aligns with your personal goals, #WhyApply Day is a fantastic moment to take the next step and move forward with your college plan.
