Increasingly, it seems as though a college education is becoming a necessary requirement for obtaining a decent piece of the economic pie. Over the past couple of decades the distribution of income has been growing more and more unequal: the top end of the distribution has seen a growth in their income while those at the lower end have seen their real incomes stagnate (Irons 1). Education is the most important way in which people can make it into the upper end of the income distribution (Irons 1). But after the time, effort, and tuition, is college that important? Yes. The price of not going to college is even higher than the price of tuition. A person with a college diploma are more apt to lower unemployment rates, higher earnings, better working conditions, and benefits that are more rewarding people with only a high school diploma (Degree-VS-Diploma).Getting a degree makes a huge difference in economic outcomes. The average college graduate earns about $45,000 more per year than those with only a high school education (Irons 2). Right now, the average high school graduate can expect to earn $18,737 a year (Degree-VS-Diploma 1). Obtaining a high level of skills becomes an important ingredient in becoming a success in today's economy. Although there is little argument that people with college degrees earn more than those without them, there is also another ongoing trend to consider - the shortage of jobs for college graduates (Going the Distance 4). The demand for skilled, college-educated laborers is high. A college education can also determine a persons future income potential and, in many cases, it is the only way a person can climb up the socioeconomic ladder. On average, a limited education impedes a persons employment opportunities. Rather, how much education will affect how broad his or her job opportunity outlook will be. The difference is not only in incomes when you discuss diploma versus degree. Stuart Himmelfarb,...
