Caleb Pettit

4 March 2017

Is Higher Education Worth it?

Higher Education has been the paramount pathway to success in the United States for

centuries. I think that in many cases, higher education still offers these advantages. However,

blue collar jobs and trade schools are emerging as a comparable pathway and viable option for

many Americans. Blue collar jobs are less costly to enter because they dont require years of

expensive education to qualify. Additionally, it is my belief that blue-collar jobs are far from the

dumb brute labor that many people have historically envisioned. Another reasonable substitute of

traditional higher education are trade schools and 2-year colleges. These options are both far

cheaper and quicker than your traditional 4-year college plus additional degrees. On the other

hand, higher education offers some advantages that these other options do not. More economical

freedom and a broader scope for employment along with a better opportunity to stretch and grow

ones mind while in college are among these reasons.

Blue-collar jobs are both highly necessary and inherently respectable in todays economy.

In the article Blue-Collar Brilliance written by Mike Rose, the author tells the sometimes-

overlooked story of the blue-collar worker. He discusses the many skills a blue-collar worker

gains over a lifetime of what many call manual labor. He discusses his mother, a waitress, who

learned many valuable skills, juggling customers needs and dinners in a lifetime of mental and

physical growth from her work. The article dives into the many skills and abilities that blue-

collar workers can gain that are secondary to their job. Everything from problem solving to

mental math, on remarkable levels can be seen in the men and women that work in these not-so-
coveted jobs, necessary though they may be. Society needs blue-collar workers to function.

Consequently, as society trends toward more people being interested in white-collar work and

less people willing to go into these fields, the free market dictates that blue-collar jobs are more

profitable. Plumbers and welders in todays America are making more and more money in a

phenomenon known as gold collar. This works because the demand for these jobs has

remained constant but the supply of workers willing to perform this work has drastically

decreased. As a result, the remaining workers make more and have more work on their hands.

The fact of the matter is that both blue and white-collar jobs are very important in todays world.

When considering a field of work, one must not discount the option of a blue-collar job.

2-year colleges and trade schools can be equally as effective as traditional higher

education. In her article Two Years Are Better Than Four, Liz Addison talks about how 2-year

colleges not only are far cheaper than 4-year colleges, but can even offer equal or greater

education. She focuses on what she believes has been lost in traditional college but what still

thrives in community colleges: the intangible art of self-discovery. She also talks about how

community colleges are Americas hidden gem. Trade schools offer many of the same

advantages. There are those who may not flourish in a normal college but who would excel in a

trade school or community college. All too often, these megalithic colleges are heralded as

bastions of knowledge and learning and as a result tend to overshadow the incredible value of

other forms of education. Unfortunately, many young people attend these colleges and

accumulate massive and sometimes crippling debts that cast shadows over the remainder of their

lives and can even ruin them financially. In my opinion, when thinking of a path of education,

one must consider the preparedness of oneself in dealing with the costs and what this education

will lead them to. Questions like, will my career path adequately finance the education required
to get there? need to be asked. If a community college or trade school would be more

appropriate and responsible then these paths should be considered. They are great options.

Higher education hasnt been Americas standard for success for nothing. A student has

unparalleled opportunities to grow and learn at a 4-year university. Many jobs and professions

look for certain degrees and training only offered through these institutions. Are there some

problems with these universities? Absolutely. In the article Are Colleges Worth the Price of

Admission by Ander Hacker and Claudia Dreifus, it discusses that things like tenure and

sabbaticals can hinder educational quality. Universities can become bloated and overpopulated.

With this comes a decreased attention to individual students and the addition of graduate student

teachers. Does this mean that these institutions are without merit? Of course not. The article also

highlights many colleges that are doing great things. Colleges like MIT, Arizona State and many

others are praised for revolutionary education that highly benefits the lives and careers of their

students. Doors are opened through higher education that simply arent opened elsewhere. Fields

like medical, dental and law all require extensive years of education and learning in order to

enter. Without for year colleges and graduate schools, these fields wouldnt function. These

fields are extremely high-paying and can cover the high costs that its member accrue through

years of dedicated study. Higher education can undoubtedly be a very good thing.

Higher education has pros and cons. Is it the very best thing for everyone? Quite frankly,

no. Many people in the US see higher education as unobtainable, some can easily attend. Others

cant meet the rigorous demands these university put on them while for others they perfectly

push their mental boundaries. The fact is, that doesnt mean that some are failures and others are

not. White-collar jobs and higher education need not be glorified the way they are. Trade schools

and community colleges are viable options. People that work their lives in a factory or as welders
are essential to society and can be seen as heroes. Traditional Universities are too costly and can

sometimes be ineffective, however, for some they are the perfect option. Society needs people to

work in all facets of the workplace from the office building to the factory floor. All are equally

important.
 Works Cited

Addison, Liz. Two Are Better Than Four. They Say/ I Say: The Moves That Matter in

Academic Writing With Readings. 2nd Edition. New York: Norton, 2012. 211-214. Print.

Hacker, Andrew, and Claudia Dreifus. Are Colleges Worth the Price of Admission. They Say/

I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic Writing With Readings. 2nd Edition. New

York: Norton, 2012. 179-189. Print.

Rose, Mike. Blue Collar Brilliance. They Say/ I Say: The Moves That Matter in Academic

Writing With Readings. 2nd Edition. New York: Norton, 2012. 243-255. Print.