Why a higher ed degree is still relevant with COVID

It’s no secret that COVID-19 has disrupted nearly every aspect of our daily lives, but some of the most visible changes of 2020 weren’t born from the virus – merely accelerated by it. 

Demand for flexible and remote work options had been increasing for decades. Contactless payment options like Apple Pay were introduced and adopted by businesses years ago, but are increasingly the norm. Higher ed has been by no means immune. After all, the price tag of a college degree has been debated for a while. 

In 2019, it was reported that just over half of Americans think a college degree is “very important.” Now that many campuses have pivoted to predominantly virtual models, enrollment among undergraduates is down by 4% across the board, while enrollment among first-year students is down by 16.1%. Some students and families have gone so far as to sue their schools for refunds, prompting many to ask is college still worth it? Is Higher Ed going to be relevant in the post-COVID era? 

Yes. Why? Let’s dive in. 

Education, higher education specifically, has been the primary driver behind upward mobility for generations. For many families, especially immigrant families raising children in the United States, a child obtaining a college degree is just as emblematic of The American Dream as owning a home. Given that one quarter of all American children are children of immigrants, this is particularly salient.  

The numbers also don’t lie. In 2018, nine out of ten jobs were given to college graduates, while two-thirds of job openings required some sort of post-secondary education. While the cost of a college education has always been a strong point of contention, especially given the current climate, studies do show that college graduates do earn more money compared to those who don’t have degrees. According to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median weekly earnings for a worker with a higher school diploma, but no college, was $749 in 2019. Workers with bachelor’s degrees earned a media of $1,281 a week, while those with advanced degrees had media weekly earnings of $1,559. As coronavirus-related unemployment continues, job markets will be more competitive than they have been in decades, and degrees will continue to be a minimum requirement for even entry level positions. 

 

We’ve worked in higher ed for a long time. And during that time, we’ve met hundreds of students across the country. Their families. We’ve heard them ask, “But Is it worth it?” more than once. It even inspired a campaign we created for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. But, we’ve also seen the impact of those degrees. The happy tears at graduation. The personal and professional growth that comes from years of hard work for that diploma. The opportunities and connections that follow. 

Our ever-changing landscape has only further proved that being able to think critically and adapt as the world around us continues to is how we remain competitive, achieve success, and, ultimately, lead. 

As Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” 

COVID-19 will never change that.