education or work

[toyalrobins]

which one is more important now a day?

[rrod13]

I think education is more important because our economy is down so people are not looking to waste money.  Therefore they will want to hire more educated people.  Get education now and the money will come!

[liljp617]

It's not really a debate to be honest. 

One, you can work while getting an education. 

Two, the numbers speak for themselves:

PER YEAR

Professional Degree   $109,600

Doctoral Degree   $89,400

Master's Degree   $62,300

Bachelor's Degree   $52,200

Associate's Degree   $38,200

Some College   $36,800

High School Graduate   $30,400

Some High School   $23,400


LIFETIME EARNINGS (in millions)

Professional Degree   $4.4

Doctoral Degree   $3.4

Master's Degree   $2.5

Bachelor's Degree   $2.1

Associate's Degree   $1.6

Some College   $1.5

High School Graduate   $1.2

Some High School   $1.0



In conclusion, if you have the opportunity/ability to get higher education and you choose not to, well...you're somewhat of a terrible decision maker and I'll have to doubt your intelligence.

[woodensaint]

I know a degree is important. I have seen people who I know are idiots and expected to be pumping gas out of high school actually making more than me because they got a degree. They aren't any smarter than they were but they put in the time. makes me wonder who the dumb one really is.

[shaulina]

Keep in mind, of course, that a degree is only as good as your major. Someone who earns their Bachelor's in Accounting, for example, is extremely likely to earn more than someone who earns their 4-year degree in English. (I say this, being an English major    )

[mrisha]

Education definitely.

[AlexDenlinger]

education, after all, you can't have a good career without it.

[trop8cana]

I think both are very important....Some of us try to do both.Work a full time job and go to school p/t.Or work p/t and go to school f/t.I found myself having to do both.I think that even when we're finished with school we can always go back and learn something different.I believe in adding more skills,knowledge and trick and trades to my belt.When one fails you have another thing to fall back on.(So forth and so on).

[liljp617]

Keep in mind, of course, that a degree is only as good as your major. Someone who earns their Bachelor's in Accounting, for example, is extremely likely to earn more than someone who earns their 4-year degree in English. (I say this, being an English major    )

I would imagine the statistics take this into account and include it in the numbers.

[Nickxxx78]

education is more important in the long run.

[bungholiotgn]

It's not really a debate to be honest. 

One, you can work while getting an education. 

Two, the numbers speak for themselves:

PER YEAR

Professional Degree   $109,600

Doctoral Degree   $89,400

Master's Degree   $62,300

Bachelor's Degree   $52,200

Associate's Degree   $38,200

Some College   $36,800

High School Graduate   $30,400

Some High School   $23,400


LIFETIME EARNINGS (in millions)

Professional Degree   $4.4

Doctoral Degree   $3.4

Master's Degree   $2.5

Bachelor's Degree   $2.1

Associate's Degree   $1.6

Some College   $1.5

High School Graduate   $1.2

Some High School   $1.0



In conclusion, if you have the opportunity/ability to get higher education and you choose not to, well...you're somewhat of a terrible decision maker and I'll have to doubt your intelligence.

I could not agree more with you. If you don't make it through college, generally you can not expect to make too much. I just started college again last year and am finishing my AA before transferring to another college for a mechanical degree. Better than being a manager at a restaurant the rest of my life.

[sk8freak21]

Education will pay off in the long run, but after 13 years of school, I decided that was enough for me. I am a hard working average Joe. 

[kellz6ug]

These days I know it's hard to put education first because people need to work to make money to support themselves and their familis but I still think education should still come first. Without education there is no meaningful work. Without education our society would eventualy fall. I know that sounds drastic but that's what eventually would happen. Maybe not in this lifetime but in our childrens or their childrens lifetime and we don't want to burdon them with the fall of society.

[jkc715nyc]

I think with the economy the way it is, education is the way to go. I can't imagine what graduates are thinking this year. I know I would not want to be entering the work force now. If I was still in school, and coming up on graduation, I would look into some Master's course work.

[j_brehm2001]

Definitely education is the most important.